[NTU] [ARC-06-WAR] Chapter : 83 (Patreon)

In this brutal battlefield, nearly every ninja meets their end after exhausting all their strength, casting aside fear, unwillingness, and other emotions to deliver a last, desperate attack on the enemy. At this critical moment, one must be extremely cautious, as a dying ninja can unleash several times their usual strength, posing a significant threat even in their final moments.

Such was the case with Uchiha Tamako.

With a swift movement, Toshiro extracted the ninja sword lodged in Tamako's abdomen. Blood gushed out uncontrollably from the wound. However, due to the severe blood loss she had already suffered, the bleeding soon slowed to a steady flow. If this bleeding wasn't stopped quickly, even the 'blood-increasing pill' Toshiro had given her wouldn't keep her alive for long. Medical ninjutsu, though powerful, wasn't quick enough to stop such extensive bleeding in the short time they had.

As the stimulant's effect peaked and began to wane, Toshiro knew time was against them. If they delayed any longer, even a legendary medic like Tsunade wouldn't be able to save her.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Toshiro created a clone, determined to use every resource to save Tamako.

"Keep her steady, Kirishima! Don't let her move or faint," Toshiro instructed, as he and his clone worked in unison to treat the young girl, who was barely twelve.

With his clone controlling the bleeding, Toshiro focused on carefully channeling chakra into Tamako's abdomen, meticulously probing the wound.

"There are two internal bleeds, and the abdominal wound penetrates about three centimeters," he noted as his chakra explored the wound's intricacies.

He knew he had to be cautious. With a rare move, he brought his hands together to form a seal, concentrating his chakra over Tamako's wound. His hand hovered above the wound, infusing it with chakra to heal the damaged tissues both externally and internally.

“There are two sources of bleeding inside the abdominal cavity, and the penetrating wound extends about three centimeters,” Toshiro assessed. He didn’t waste any more time; he instructed Kirishima to place a wooden block in Tamako’s mouth to prevent her from biting her tongue in pain.

Toshiro then controlled his chakra to target both the external wound and the injured intestines, carefully applying his chakra to stop the bleeding. "come on, close.." he whispered, causing his fire chakra to burn the capillaries around the wound, effectively cauterizing it.

Tamako's agony was evident. She began to struggle violently against the pain, tears streaming down her face. Without the block in her mouth, she would have screamed. Toshiro remained focused, undeterred by her suffering.

He quickly attended to her fractures and external injuries, knowing the stimulant's effect was temporary. The immediate goal was to stabilize her, despite the intense pain this treatment caused.

It wasn't that he was being cruel; the severe blood loss necessitated such drastic measures. Even the blood-increasing pill couldn't prevent her death if the bleeding continued. This method, though painful, was essential to buy her time.

Thanks to the combination of his own efforts and those of his shadow clone, Tamako's condition began to stabilize. The risk of her losing her life due to her injuries and blood loss lessened considerably. Though there might be long-term consequences, for now, her life is no longer in immediate danger. With medical ninjutsu's restorative powers, she could begin to heal, and further surgery could address any lingering issues. The critical thing was that Tamako was out of immediate peril, thanks to Toshiro's timely intervention.

Toshiro exhaled deeply, relieved, as he looked at the now-unconscious Tamako. The worst was over; Tamako's condition had stabilized, and Toshiro had done everything within his power. The rest was up to Tamako and the blessings of the Sage of Six Paths. He hoped that the ancient sage, often aloof and distant, would watch over his descendants.

Kirishima and the two guys assisting Toshiro also sighed in relief. Watching their comrade endure such 'cruel' treatment had been nerve-wracking. They had held their breath, fearing that any distraction might lead to a fatal mistake. Now, seeing Tamako's condition improve, they allowed themselves to relax, though the tension and exhaustion made it hard to stand steady.

The Uchiha children had always been sheltered to some extent by their elders. While they faced the Iwa Ninjas on the main battlefield, the intensity was often regulated to ensure they could handle it. They rarely faced the full brunt of the enemy forces, unlike Toshiro's front-line team. Without this protection, they might not have lasted until Toshiro and Kirishima's support arrived.

---

A week later, in the Konoha camp in the Land of Grass, a group of young Uchiha gathered in Toshiro’s tent. As precious assets, their downtime was maximized by the village to maintain their combat effectiveness. The young ninjas, unqualified for their own tents, often congregated in Toshiro’s tent, where he, as a special talent and an Uchiha with three-tomoes, enjoyed better accommodations.

Toshiro had managed to bring some comforts from Konoha, including a portable natural gas tank, a rarity in this world, and a set of specially designed pots and stoves. In the center of the tent, a large pot of beef, potatoes, vegetables, and other oden-like dishes simmered, providing a rare treat.

“Toshiro! This natural gas setup you got Uncle Tetsu to make is really convenient! Not only is it easy to use, but it’s also smoke-free…” one of his friends remarked, eagerly awaiting the meal.

“Of course. I plan to take it on missions too! I’m tired of the village’s rations and food pills!” Toshiro replied.

“Hey! Is that safe? Won’t it reveal your position?” Another friend questioned, concerned about the open flame during missions.

“Don’t worry. I’ll only use it in safe situations. Even if not for cooking, it’s useful for keeping warm at night. Of course, only in absolutely secure places,” Toshiro assured them.

They discussed the practicality of the setup while waiting for the food, finding Toshiro’s idea appealing. As young ninjas, they quickly accepted new concepts that broke from tradition.

“Ah! You guys started eating without waiting for me!” a friend exclaimed, diving into the food as soon as it was ready.

“You’re too slow, Taro!” another teased, grabbing a piece of beef.

Amidst the playful scuffle over the meal, Toshiro smiled and joined in. He had chosen this method to help his friends relax and ease their anxiety. Despite their ninja training, they were still young and constantly faced the harsh realities of war. Over time, this could lead to mental strain or abnormalities. Adults might cope with such stress through alcohol or other means, but those methods were unsuitable for these young ninjas.

Toshiro hoped that these gatherings, providing comfort and camaraderie, would help his friends cope better with their experiences. He wasn’t entirely confident in its effectiveness, but it was worth a try. At worst, they lost a bit of money on a good meal, something Toshiro could afford. And judging by the relaxed, joyful atmosphere, it seemed to be working.

Not long after, the large pot of stew was completely devoured by the group, with even the soup base scraped clean. It vividly illustrated what it meant for hungry teenagers to live in tough conditions. Not only did they consume all the ingredients in the pot, but they also finished off the side dishes that were meant for the next meal, treating it all like a feast.

Watching from the side, Toshiro couldn’t help but feel a mix of heartbreak and amusement, the corners of his mouth twitching. Yet he was relieved to see his friends' expressions transform from numbness to lively cheerfulness. His efforts had not been in vain.

“Speaking of which, Toshiro, you’re really something! Tamako told me, and she still thinks about what you did to her to this day,” Asuka said with a smile after their meal, initiating the chat session. Asuka had just returned from the rear hospital and was clearly in a good mood.

“I didn’t expect you to be so ruthless with her. You know, she even lost all her dignity in front of you…”

Thanks to medical ninjutsu, Asuka's injuries had healed within a week. During her stay at the hospital, she met Tamako, who was also recuperating, and learned from Tamako about her ordeal and Toshiro’s role in it.

“???”

Words like 'ruthless,' 'obsessed,' 'cruel,' and 'embarrassed' mixed together in a story involving a man and a woman, immediately sparking curiosity among the friends in the tent. They eagerly leaned in, their gossip senses tingling, hoping for more juicy details.

Seeing their reactions, Toshiro sighed. These guys couldn't stay idle without letting their imaginations run wild. “Asuka, don’t talk nonsense! Tamako was in critical condition, and I had no choice. The treatment might have been rough and painful, but it saved her life,” Toshiro quickly explained, wanting to prevent any misunderstandings.

Hearing this, the friends seemed a bit disappointed, realizing the 'cruelty' was merely part of Tamako’s life-saving treatment. They turned their attention to Asuka, still hoping for more gossip.

“That’s true, but when a girl sheds tears in front of you, losing all her composure and dignity, she’ll probably remember you for life!” Asaka continued teasingly, her tone playful, which only fueled their curiosity.

Toshiro felt helpless. Tamako had been on the brink of death, and the intense pain from the treatment caused her to lose control. Although his friends on the battlefield might not have noticed due to the chaos, Toshiro, who treated Tamako, knew 'every' detail. Tamako, under the effects of pain and medication, was barely conscious, her body in turmoil.

At the hospital, recovering and recalling the ordeal, Tamako felt immense shame and anger. Her girlish heart was shattered. In that vulnerable state, Asuka, who also stayed in the hospital, managed to coax the story out of her.

Now, Asaka brought this tale to tease Toshiro, making him squirm with guilt over knowing things he shouldn't have.

“To change the subject, let’s congratulate Ryu on successfully awakening the Sharingan!” Toshiro interjected, using a diversion tactic. The newly awakened Sharingan in Uchiha Ryu quickly captured everyone’s attention.

“Hmph, coward,” Asuka muttered, displeased at being thwarted. She had more to say but couldn’t compete with the excitement over Ryu’s achievement. Toshiro ignored her, understanding the deeper implications of her teasing.

In this time of war, Toshiro had no intention of pursuing a romance with a 12-year-old girl. There was a significant gap in their mental ages, and the uncertainty of survival made investing in such emotions impractical. Both he and Tamako were still very young, and focusing on survival and improving their skills was far more important.

For now, the rest could wait until they were older and the war was over.