It was her.
As Ishiki was sent flying, tumbling through shattered trees, he locked eyes with the figure that had appeared in his place —
Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki.
Her speed was monstrous.
Had she already caught up to the Hyūga?
Blood welled in Ishiki's mouth.
That strike had crushed two trees and nearly broke his ribs.
But there was no time for pain.
His Sharingan spun to life —
and before he could even rise, a massive wooden gate thundered from the heavens, crashing toward Yugito.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Not one, but three colossal torii-like gates slammed down, sealing her path —
the Triple Rashōmon.
"Not bad. You're from the Kujō clan, aren't you?"
The voice that echoed behind him was silken and cold, its tone like ice gliding across glass.
Ishiki turned.
His eyes dimmed.
But the man before him was unmistakable.
Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin —
pale, poised, and terrifying in silence.
Behind him, a massive white serpent slithered into view, jaws unhinging.
From its mouth spilled three battered figures: Kawahara Shunji, Aoba, and Reitou.
But then the Rashōmon gates shattered.
A bestial roar tore through the battlefield.
The Two-Tails had fully emerged.
A monstrous, feline demon cloaked in blue spectral fire —
her chakra petals danced like burning sakura blossoms.
Her jagged fangs gleamed. Her wrath focused solely on Orochimaru.
Ishiki's pupils tightened.
He'd underestimated the Bijū.
This level of violent, boundless Reiryoku —
no, chakra —
wasn't something just any opponent could contain.
He considered:
Was the Two-Tails just weak?
Was Yugito not syncing with her fully?
Or... had he grown stronger?
Whatever the case, something told him:
if this was the Two-Tails' full might, then maybe — just maybe — he could face her someday.
But not now.
He didn't have a death wish.
Still, watching Orochimaru face off against a Tailed Beast might prove invaluable.
He felt his heartbeat quicken in anticipation...
And then Yugito turned.
She ran.
Straight toward the direction where the Kumo-Konoha battle had raged.
She didn't stay to fight.
Orochimaru gave Ishiki one last unreadable glance —
and vanished.
The serpent hissed low, scanned the treetops, and slithered away in silence.
In a blink, only Ishiki and the wounded remained.
Shunji looked pale but conscious.
A quick scan told Ishiki his condition was stable, so he focused on healing Reitou, who was in far worse shape.
Ishiki's own arms were scorched, bones groaning from Yugito's strike —
but he didn't heal himself.
Not yet.
Reitou's condition was critical.
If he delayed, it would be too late.
The Sannin's presence had steadied the battlefield.
Even Ishiki's taut nerves relaxed slightly.
But Orochimaru's final gaze had left behind a chill.
Unease nestled in his chest.
Suddenly, energy surged through his body.
Nutrients. From Highway Star.
It meant his Stand had found prey again —
likely deep in Lightning Country.
His shadow clone was already en route, but perhaps it was wiser to have Highway Star retreat slightly.
Better safe than sorry.
Once his clone arrived, Ishiki could properly monitor and guide his Stand from a distance.
The situation had stabilized thanks to Orochimaru.
But judging by the ashen faces of the revived team, the mission had failed.
The scroll — their real target — was likely lost.
Heiichi of the Hyūga Clan was probably dead.
Yugito's sudden retreat made sense.
Her task was complete.
No need to clash with Orochimaru unnecessarily.
But what truly caught Ishiki off guard —
was when Kawahara Shunji looked at him and spoke.
"Ishiki... you're powerful. But more than that, your conviction, your heart — I admire you. I misjudged you. I'm sorry."
He bowed his head, voice sincere.
In his mind, Shunji had already decided:
He'd write a new report to the Third Hokage —
a correction to the slander he'd once filed.
He'd describe his own prejudice.
How he'd underestimated the young Kujō.
He'd write how Ishiki had followed the Three Medical Ninja Rules to perfection.
How he'd risked his life to shield his comrades.
How, at the most desperate hour, he'd stood as their light.
Shunji had seen it —
that moment when Ishiki leapt in front of Yugito's attack,
arms crossed, blood flying.
That moment had seared itself into his soul.
He would never forget it.
Even as Ishiki bled,
even as his arms trembled —
he prioritized Reitou's survival first.
"So this..."
"...this is what the Third Hokage meant when he spoke of the Will of Fire."
Kujō Ishiki had become, in Shunji's heart,
its truest inheritor.
Aoba and Reitou stared at Ishiki as well — eyes full of respect.
They had known the truth already.
On this battlefield, medical-nin were the pillar of survival.
Without Ishiki, they wouldn't have merely failed their mission —
they'd be corpses now.
It was Ishiki who'd raised the alarm from the tower.
Ishiki who had returned with reinforcements.
Ishiki who had come back for them again.
To them, Ishiki was the teammate they'd trust with their lives.
"You three shouldn't be thinking about missions anytime soon," Ishiki said calmly.
"Organ damage like this takes months to fully recover from. At least one or two. And I'll still be out here."
He'd declined the offer to join their squad, as gently as possible.
But it was true.
Even with Yang Release Ripple Healing,
they'd need time to fight again.
And Ishiki...
Ishiki enjoyed the quiet patrols along the frontier.
Real battles raged deep in Frost Country —
but here, on the Fire Country border, it was relatively peaceful.
He hoped it stayed that way.
The three were clearly disappointed,
but none pressed further.
Ishiki noticed, and simply turned away, heading toward Merina.
After all, on paper, he was still just a genin on Merina's team.
When he reached her, he learned the full toll.
The support squad that had gone to assist Might Guy's unit —
had been decimated.
Only two survivors.
Even Guy's own squad had suffered heavy losses.
Ishiki didn't hesitate.
He didn't wait for orders.
He vanished, flash-stepping across the trees like a crimson blur.
Only one thought echoed in his mind:
"Please... let Guy be okay."