When Ishiki arrived at the main gate, Shisui and Aoba were already waiting.
After a round of brief greetings, the group quietly waited for their fourth.Their team's resident mood-maker, Mirina, hadn't arrived yet.Without her, the squad atmosphere was all dull silence.
Mirina showed up nearly on the dot, flashing a radiant smile that brought the warmth of spring sunlight.
Once assembled, they re-confirmed the mission parameters and travel route.Then the squad set off, with Shisui leading, Ishiki and Mirina in the middle, and Aoba bringing up the rear.
From the moment they departed, Ishiki began pondering.
There's no way our mission is simply to reach the frontlines.
If that were the case, they would've departed alongside the main force—which was scheduled to leave two days later.
That meant their early deployment must involve a separate assignment.
The mission scroll laid out their route and time constraints for arrival,but once a shinobi leaves Konoha, there's no room for hesitation. The path forward is sealed.
Ishiki was arguably the most "idle" member of the team.In the absence of injuries, he only took on basic combat duties.The real burden in battle would fall on Shisui and Mirina.
Aoba handled reconnaissance and rear guard.
Once they were outside the patrol perimeter, Aoba would intermittently use sensory ninjutsu to sweep for threats.He'd also released several ninja crows—his summoned familiars, trained to manipulate chakra and perform scouting.
Interestingly, Shisui also had a known affinity with ninja crows.The two quickly bonded over training and handling them, and Ishiki—curious about familiars himself—joined in.
He was also intrigued by Aoba's sensory techniques, though asking directly was a bit touchy,and trying to analyze it with his Sharingan would've been too risky—especially with an actual Uchiha on the team.
If Shisui learned he had a Sharingan disc implanted, there was a high chance he'd attack on the spot.
Despite his usual warmth, Shisui had walked out of the battlefield.He was Uchiha, through and through.
Still, as the journey progressed, Ishiki exceeded expectations.
When the team was first formed, all three had harbored concerns.No one wanted a deadweight Genin dragging them down.
Even if he was a medical-nin, someone with no real experience could become a liability fast—especially if his so-called "skills" were just theoretical.
But once they set out, they saw a different side of Kūjō Ishiki.
His grasp of ninjutsu was excellent,his medical knowledge and techniques surprisingly professional.
And he was eager to learn.Whenever they rested, Ishiki would pull out medical texts or politely ask questions.He never overstepped, and was sensitive about personal matters or sensitive jutsu.
"No wonder you scored first in the medical-nin assessment," Mirina praised, grinning."If I'd been half as diligent as you back then, I'd probably be a Jōnin already!"
"It's never too late," Aoba said, poking her with a smirk.
He'd actually changed his opinion of Ishiki.
Aoba remembered the boy from the Academy.He'd never been bottom-tier, but was always plain—no notable talents or grades.
"No way," Mirina pouted. "My life's about enjoying the ride."
"Careful," Ishiki joked. "Praise me too much and I might start getting cocky."
"You've got a real gift for Fire Release too," Shisui added."You could probably pass the Chūnin Exams without much trouble."
To become a Genin, you just needed a few D-rank jutsu and decent aptitude.Chūnin wasn't that much higher—if you could use a B-rank jutsu, you'd be in the upper tier already.
Ishiki had one: a B-rank medical ninjutsu.When paired with his taijutsu, it gave him surprising combat capability.
On top of that, his Fire Release proficiency was solid.Becoming a Chūnin wouldn't be difficult.
Of course, Shisui didn't know the truth—that Ishiki had a Uchiha Sharingan disc jammed in his head,and had absorbed the chakra flow patterns of a three-tomoe Sharingan user.
No wonder his fire-style was sharp.
"Still," Shisui added gently,"you show even greater talent in medical ninjutsu.If you dedicated yourself fully, you could accomplish great things."
Ishiki's chakra control was more precise than most Chūnin-level medics.
He even knew Delicate Extraction Technique, a C-rank jutsu many medics couldn't master.
Over the past few days, Ishiki had peppered Shisui with smart questions—often flattering the Uchiha in passing.
Shisui could tell the kid's respect for his clan was genuine.
If only more people in the village were like Ishiki, he thought with a tinge of sadness.
Ishiki did admire the Uchiha.In Naruto, no other clan could match them in fire-style or genjutsu.
Sure, their Police Force had a bad rep lately,but it was undeniable that Konoha's peace owed a lot to their vigilance.
In the hospital, Ishiki had interacted with many Uchiha.Yes, they were proud—but that pride stemmed from a sense of responsibility, both toward their clan and the village.
On the night of the Nine-Tails attack, the Uchiha Police Force had fought on the front lines.Their loyalty was clear.
To Ishiki, if any clan truly loved Konoha, it was the Uchiha.
And yet…Rumors had begun circulating in the village.
Claims that the fox's eyes had Sharingan.That someone from the Uchiha Clan had used it to manipulate the Nine-Tails.
Others whispered that despite the Uchiha's sacrifices, they had never produced a Hokage,and this injustice had sparked resentment.
In short—the Uchiha were being set up.
Ishiki didn't need proof to know who was behind it.
Shimura Danzō.
That old vulture had coveted the Sharingan for years.
And now, with Danzō and Hiruzen—both students of Tobirama Senju, a man who'd always distrusted the Uchiha—calling the shots,it was impossible to believe they'd let the Uchiha thrive unchecked.
Plus, Ishiki was certain foreign agents were stoking the flames.
Other Hidden Villages feared the Uchiha.Konoha's dominance in the previous wars had come in no small part thanks to them.
The other nations had suffered under Uchiha firepower long enough.
But all of that… for now, was beyond Ishiki's reach.
He was still too weak to meddle in something so big.
And he knew it.
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I will post bonus chapter if we reach 300 power stones !
300 power stones = 1 bonus chapter