TN : Sorry I got the chapters messed up yesterday, kinda predictable when you work on 6 story at the same time, anyway here is the chapters + a bonus one.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Ishiki Kujo arrived back at the main camp, he went straight for Might Guy.
Despite having bandages wrapped around one arm and a cast on his leg, Guy was still grinding out one-handed push-ups like his bones were made of spring steel. The sight eased Ishiki's chest of its tightness.
He dropped his full weight onto Guy's back with a thud. "Good, you're not dead."
"Yeah."
But the fire was gone from Guy's voice. His rhythm never broke, but his sigh and sluggish cadence said it all—he was grieving. Heavy-hearted.
Ishiki wasn't great with comfort. So he said nothing more. Just stayed with Guy in silence.
Kuriyama Yako—he didn't recognize the name. Another fallen shinobi, one among many. Fire and Lightning had littered the border fields with corpses. Most, like her, would be forgotten.
After parting with Guy, Ishiki visited Yasuda Tobira. Already under treatment by the med-nin, his injuries looked minor. A few days of rest and he'd be back in action.
That put Ishiki's nerves to bed.
With the watchtower on the border blown to bits by a Kumo ambush, there wasn't much to do. Even if they wanted to return to patrol duty, they'd need to wait for a construction team to haul in enough supplies.
That's when Orochimaru summoned him.
"You've mastered the ninjutsu-style taijutsu of the Kujo line," Orochimaru said, flipping through a thick folder of mission evaluations. "That alone qualifies you for jōnin. But your mission count is lacking, so for now we can only promote you to chūnin."
The assessment came from the task force that had been monitoring his patrols and support assignments. And their judgment?
High praise. Especially for his medical ninjutsu.
An A-rank classification. Potential to become a medical jōnin.
Orochimaru himself looked intrigued. But he knew the Third Hokage already had his eyes on Ishiki. Making any overt move now could attract unwanted attention. And Orochimaru had no desire to tangle with Hiruzen. Not yet.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," Ishiki replied simply.
Truth be told, he would've preferred staying a carefree genin.
"With your promotion, it won't make sense for you to continue missions under Mirina," Orochimaru mused aloud.
From his perspective, letting someone with Ishiki's combat and medical skill rot on the border was a waste. His healing alone could save countless shinobi from the jaws of death.
Ishiki stood by in quiet patience, awaiting orders.
He knew that revealing his medical talent would shift things. But since Orochimaru hadn't asked about Mystic Palm, maybe he was in the clear. He'd been ready to lie and blame his "father" for teaching it—but hadn't needed to.
"For now, stay in camp," Orochimaru finally decided. "If I'm not mistaken, your rotation back to the village begins in two months. Until then, you'll lead one of the med-nin squads. Heal the wounded. Also use this time to hone your surgical precision—you're still lacking in finesse."
Ishiki's taijutsu was solid, but the injuries he'd treated on Kawagen Shunji's team showed his medical skill was needed far more here than on the front lines.
Besides, he was still young. Camp work meant more clinical experience.
And with Kumogakure already raising Ishiki's threat ranking, sending him to the battlefield now might just paint a bigger target on his back.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," he said again, bowing.
He exited the tent, Orochimaru giving a faint nod of approval.
Leading a med-squad in camp wasn't the worst outcome. The place was safe, stable—though some problems couldn't be solved with scalpels or chakra alone.
But with The President by his side, Ishiki had options. The Stand's pocket dimension could handle complications the battlefield couldn't.
Orochimaru's composed reaction reassured him. Ishiki hadn't wanted much interaction with the man, especially knowing what was coming. If memory served, the Snake Sannin's defection from Konoha wasn't far off.
And after Orochimaru betrayed the village? Konoha's power plunged off a cliff.
The Third Great Ninja War had been the village's last true golden age.
Back then, the Third Hokage commanded from the heart of the village, the Fourth Hokage led on the battlefield, and the Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru—formed Konoha's unshakable wall.
Then the Fourth died. One Sannin vanished. One wandered. One defected.
Konoha's only remaining elite? Uchiha Shisui, the rotting shadow of Danzo, and the aging relic that was the Third Hokage.
And even then… they tore themselves apart from the inside. The Uchiha wiped out, all but Sasuke left to carry the name.
What was truly baffling—none of the other Great Nations pounced on that chaos. Kumo and Iwa absolutely had the strength to kick Konoha while it was down after Orochimaru's betrayal and the Uchiha's demise.
Unless something else happened during that span. Something that clipped Kumo's wings before they could move.
Ishiki was curious—if war had reignited then, who would've stood at the border?
The Third Hokage himself? Or would he have sent Danzo?
Maybe they would've dragged Jiraiya back?
Anyone else… Ishiki couldn't imagine them holding off a Kage-level assault alone.
His thoughts swirled as he found Mirina and explained the situation. In just over two months on the border, Ishiki had already cycled through four different squads. It was like fate was determined to keep him from forging deep bonds.
Mirina pouted. "Fine, whatever. But when we get back to the village, you owe me a meal."
"I saved your life! Shouldn't you be the one buying me dinner?" Ishiki replied with a smirk.
"Sure," she said instantly. "Then I'll treat you. Deal." She grinned sweetly, like a mischievous fox that had planned the whole thing.
Something felt… off. Ishiki couldn't put his finger on it, but ever since returning to camp, Mirina had been acting strangely. Her gaze lingered. She blushed sometimes.
Was it possible…?
No way. Not Mirina.
He reached out and pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. "You don't have a fever…"
Her face turned bright red. Whether from anger or embarrassment, he couldn't tell. She shoved him toward the tent flap.
"Get out! Don't wanna see your face!"
Outside, Ishiki stumbled straight into a soft warmth.
He turned—and found himself chest-to-chest with crimson-eyed, raven-haired Kurenai Yuhi. Beside her, Chika's eyes lit up in delight.
Kurenai gave Chika a sharp look for pushing into her. Then took two quick steps back.
Ishiki chuckled. "Yo, Kurenai. Chika. Back already? I just finished up with Mirina, so I'll leave you two to it. Later!"
Puff.
He vanished in a swirl of smoke.
Kurenai raised an amused brow at the two girls glaring at each other like cats over cream.
She murmured, half to herself, half to the air: "He really is quite the charmer, that Ishiki-kun."