Kurenai earnestly explained her thoughts.
Kyohiko smiled faintly, taking the booklet directly from her hands. As he flipped through it, he said, "Since when have we been so formal with each other?"
He skimmed a few pages.
Kurenai's proposal suggested distinguishing between field medics and specialized medical-nin during the chūnin promotion process, lowering the medical proficiency requirements for field medics and positioning them more as supplementary roles.
She had also listed the types of shinobi best suited for dual-training in medical techniques.
It was clear Kurenai had put genuine thought into this, incorporating her own field experiences and observations while advocating for specialized medical-nin to return to their traditional roles.
This was essentially a division of specialization paths.
However...
He wasn't entirely convinced.
Seeing Kyohiko reading intently, Kurenai remained silent—her expression a mix of hopeful anticipation and nervous apprehension.
Hoping for his approval.
Fearing his criticism.
Kyohiko read quietly before eventually sitting down against the tree. Kurenai anxiously crouched in front of him.
Nearby, Kakashi—who had initially come over upon hearing voices—halted mid-step, too embarrassed to approach further.
Hiding in the branches, his young mind raced.
Could it be...?
Gasp!
Kakashi felt his heartbeat quicken as he peeked out with one eye from behind the trunk.
Tsk!
Looks like Kurenai's the one making moves here.
Makes sense.
Kyohiko might seem like he understands everything and treats everyone kindly, but in reality, his brilliance makes him unattainable.
Pursuing someone like that must be incredibly daunting!
Kakashi, who had yet to meet a girl who caught his interest, nodded sagely as if he were an expert on the matter.
However—
Kyohiko had already finished reviewing the booklet.
With a soft sigh, he said, "Kakashi, since you're here, why hide? We're not discussing anything particularly private."
With covert admirers like Kakashi, leaving things unspoken would only let wild assumptions fester in their minds.
Kurenai looked around in confusion.
Kakashi's stealth skills were good enough to fool her, but the subtle sounds hadn't escaped Kyohiko's sharp hearing.
A moment later, Kakashi awkwardly appeared via Body Flicker.
"Am I interrupting?"
"Not at all. I was just consulting Kyohiko about medical-nin matters."
Kurenai gave Kakashi a puzzled look before her face flushed red with indignation.
What was this guy imagining?!
Though... well...
Fine.
She didn't exactly dislike being misunderstood this way.
Kyohiko was exceptional—brilliant yet gentle with his comrades. Any girl spending time with him would naturally develop feelings.
Kurenai sighed inwardly.
Kyohiko remained unperturbed and continued reading.
Once done, he tossed the booklet to Kakashi.
"You might not know medical ninjutsu, but you've completed more missions than us. Take a look and share your thoughts."
"Sure."
Kakashi accepted it.
After a glance, he confirmed—this was definitely not a love letter.
A proposal on medical-nin restructuring.
He noted silently.
The air grew quiet again.
After a long pause, Kakashi set the booklet down.
"Well?" Kurenai asked nervously.
Kakashi responded, "It's a decent supplementary idea, but specialization shouldn't happen the way you suggested. Though I can't quite articulate why."
"Exactly. That's my view too."
Kyohiko nodded.
Kurenai elaborated on her reasoning.
"I thought creating an intermediate role—combining the strengths of both—could let specialized medical-nin focus on their core duties."
After all, medical-nin required extensive training and study, making it unsuitable for most.
"The issue remains the same."
Kyohiko pointed out. "Specialization comes later. You're jumping the gun. Implementing this now would only regress progress."
Kakashi pondered briefly before suddenly understanding—
He'd felt Kurenai's proposal was off but couldn't pinpoint why. Now Kyohiko's words clarified it.
"Specialization is something only elite chūnin and above should consider. At the genin-to-chūnin level, most shinobi haven't even figured out their aptitudes yet."
"That's part of it."
Kyohiko agreed.
Then he smiled. "Mainly, these skills can coexist. If medical-nin master just a few additional techniques, they can support their squads without compromising safety."
"Poisons?"
Kurenai immediately thought of Shizune's toxin research.
"Right. Also the chakra scalpel I mentioned earlier. And puppet techniques could complement medical fields too."
"Puppetry? That's Sunagakure's specialty."
Kurenai looked surprised.
Kyohiko chuckled. "We can adapt other villages' innovations. Don't be rigid. Prosthetic modifications could incorporate puppetry."
"You mean... human prosthetics?"
Kurenai's eyes widened.
Then it clicked.
Of course.
Whether in past wars or the recent skirmish with Iwagakure, many shinobi suffered untreatable limb necrosis or amputations.
Such cases typically required prosthetics.
If they could develop puppet-based prosthetics, even disabled or amputated shinobi could continue serving after retraining.
As expected of Kyohiko!
Kurenai marveled silently.
While she'd only considered medical-nin specialization, he'd drawn from recent experiences to propose advancements benefiting the entire medical field.
Truly remarkable!
"Any other ideas?"
Kakashi sounded even more eager than Kurenai.
Though he knew little about medicine, Kyohiko's forward-thinking insights fascinated him.
Kyohiko shook his head.
"Between genjutsu, toxins, chakra scalpels, and medical puppetry—isn't that enough for medical-nin to integrate into squads?"
"Oh. Right."
Kakashi scratched his head.
The goal was resolving medical-nin's awkward role in squads. Mastering just two of those four skills would suffice for combat readiness.
More would be overkill.
Kurenai grabbed her pen, hastily jotting down Kyohiko's suggestions.
"Kyohiko, I'll credit you in the proposal. I should go!"
She hurried off.
She needed to organize these ideas into a proper draft before returning.
---
Several days after the ambush...
Ōnoki had reinforced the border, even stationing himself there to prevent further sneak attacks.
However.
His back—injured by the Rasengan—hadn't fully recovered. While regular jutsu remained unaffected, techniques like Rock Fist combined with Added-Weight or Super Added-Weight Rock were now problematic.
The slightest misstep could aggravate his injury.
Thus, he dispatched a squad to negotiate in the Land of Grass.
"Father, your injury is serious. You should rest..."
"Rest? Rest my ass!"
Just mentioning his injury reignited Ōnoki's fury.
The Konoha shinobi had fought dirty, ambushing him and leaving lingering damage that now hampered his movements.
Yet the frontlines couldn't function without him.
Furious but resigned, he sighed.
The Third Hokage had retired, yet here he remained—solely because his son and village lacked competence.
He exhaled wearily. "Kitsuchi, you must learn to think!"
Kitsuchi scratched his head silently.
Ōnoki pondered for a moment before arriving at a decision. "After we return, I'll resign on the grounds of our defeat and have you succeed me as the Fourth Tsuchikage."
Tsuchikage?
Me?
Kitsuchi stood frozen in place.
Ōnoki nodded firmly.
"You must learn to handle village affairs and share my burdens. Even Konoha's Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped down to become an advisor. I shouldn't block the path for the next generation. Among all our youth, you're the only halfway decent candidate."
He continued rambling.
In the past, Ōnoki would never have considered stepping down to train Kitsuchi—because in his eyes, his son simply wasn't qualified.
However.
Konoha's younger generation had risen with vigor, transforming the village in ways unseen before.
While he still lived, he could contend with Konoha.
But if he died?
The Third Kazekage had already fallen—who was to say Konoha couldn't kill him too?
This realization instilled a sense of urgency in Ōnoki.
He needed to cultivate a successor!
In the distance, Konoha shinobi approached. Ōnoki raised a hand, silencing Kitsuchi's protests before levitating upward.
On the opposite cliffside.
Jiraiya watched him from afar.
"Ōnoki, what do you want to discuss?"
"A ceasefire. While Konoha has resolved matters with Sunagakure, Kirigakure remains a significant threat. Meanwhile, Iwagakure has tens of thousands of shinobi. A full-scale war would devastate both sides."
Ōnoki flew closer, his words laced with veiled threats.
Below, Kakashi glanced at Kyohiko and Minato. "Do they really have that many shinobi?"
"Probably."
Kyohiko couldn't be certain, but given how Ōnoki had once overwhelmed the Third Raikage with sheer numbers, Iwagakure's forces were undoubtedly vast.
This was the rock village's advantage.
Their ninjutsu might be limited, but their mastery was deep—likely due to unique training and educational systems.
"Originally, all Five Great Nations had tens of thousands of shinobi. Though numbers dwindled after the wars, Iwagakure is an exception."
Minato's explanation aligned with Kyohiko's assumptions.
Iwagakure excelled in Earth Release and taijutsu training, enabling rapid mass production of competent shinobi and a swift postwar recovery.
A full-scale conflict would undoubtedly drag both villages into a protracted war.
Yet Jiraiya showed no fear. "Konoha isn't what it used to be. Even in total war, the outcome won't be the mutual destruction you envision."
"Oh?"
Ōnoki snorted coldly. "Last time, four of you ganged up on me and still failed to defeat me. And I was holding back. If we truly fought all-out..."
He formed hand seals.
Instantly—
A glowing sphere shot forward.
BOOM!
The ground erupted in successive explosions, the devastation spreading rapidly.
Particle Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu.
"I can make this technique far more expansive. But how will you counter my flight? Remember, my techniques aren't limited to just myself."
Ōnoki smirked. "If we attacked daily, could you withstand it?"
"You're welcome to try."
Jiraiya's gaze flicked toward Kyohiko.
Before, they'd lacked reliable counters. But now, Kyohiko's new techniques could prove decisive.
"Hoh?"
Ōnoki's brow furrowed.
So Konoha did have an answer to flight!
He nodded stiffly.
"Fine! If you can knock us down this time, Iwagakure will compensate your losses!"
"Agreed. We only need four."
Jiraiya pointed to himself, Minato, Kyohiko, and Kakashi.
Then he descended, using the Super Light-Weight Rock Technique to levitate Kitsuchi and several Explosion Corps members.
In moments.
Seven figures hovered midair.
Such a formation would typically be formidable.
However—
From below, streams of water shot upward.
Water?
Ōnoki almost laughed.
Did they really think Water Release could—
His amusement died instantly.
Kyohiko's water jets converged, reaching astonishing heights—even their elevated position offered no escape.
Worse—
Three shinobi dodged initially, only for—
SNAP!
The liquid lashed like a whip, ensnaring and yanking them downward.
This wasn't ordinary water—it was some kind of adhesive!
Ōnoki paled.
"Don't let it touch you!"
"Understood!"
They frantically countered with ninjutsu, but Kyohiko's water techniques required minimal chakra, while their defenses drained them rapidly. Moreover—
Ōnoki realized—
Mastering such water techniques wasn't overly difficult. And Konoha had developed this counter in mere days.
Given time, they'd fully neutralize his advantage.
His stomach dropped.
If flight ceased to be invincible, Iwagakure and Konoha would be locked in brutal, direct combat!
In fact—
The next moment, Jiraiya and Kakashi began mimicking Kyohiko's tactics.
Though lacking his range, they seized the three grounded shinobi, dragging them back with adhesive streams.
Meanwhile, others blocked the Explosion Corps' bombs with defensive techniques.
Above, Kyohiko's strategy evolved further.
Previously relying on whipping and sticking, now—
The viscous liquid dispersed like rain—larger droplets, some shimmering strangely, as if concealing something.
Rain?
Concealment?
Oh no!
Ōnoki's instincts screamed. "Evade those droplets!"
Panicked, Kitsuchi summoned an earthen dragon to scatter the liquid.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Dragon!
He had no choice.
Without Particle Release, this was his only airborne option to deflect the attack.
The Explosion Corps hurled clay insects.
While incapable of large avian constructs, small flying bombs were manageable.
BOOM!
Explosions lit up the sky.
Yet instantly, a yellow flash appeared.
Flying Thunder God!
THUD!
Minato materialized midair, kicking one shinobi downward before teleporting him away.
Moving like a phantom, he darted between floating water-encased markers—now nearly invisible amidst the chaos.
To counter, Ōnoki would have to obliterate them all with Particle Release.
Descending abruptly, he unleashed Particle Release toward the ground.
Eliminate those three first!
But—
In that split second, Minato teleported the remaining two Explosion Corps members straight into Konoha's ranks.
As the light faded, both sides halted.
Kyohiko had already retreated.
The adhesive rain ceased, but Ōnoki's forces were now reduced to just himself and Kitsuchi.
Silence gripped both sides.
Konoha hadn't anticipated Iwagakure's weight manipulation being applicable to others—combined with Explosion and Earth techniques, it posed a severe threat.
Iwagakure, meanwhile, was stunned by Konoha's rapid adaptation.
"Well, Tsuchikage? Convinced?"
Jiraiya grinned.
"Let's call this a draw. No need to continue!"
Ōnoki descended, his stance clear.
He'd had enough!
Konoha's progress unnerved him.
Specialized Water Release combined with Flying Thunder God...
This synergy overwhelmed Ōnoki's defenses, especially since Minato had only used shadow clones—expendable assets.
In the end, Iwagakure stood to lose more.
"A draw?"
Jiraiya chuckled.
Against Ōnoki, attrition remained their only viable strategy. Restricting his aerial bombardment of Konoha forces was nearly impossible—though Kitsuchi was another matter.
Kitsuchi scowled in frustration.
He felt utterly useless—
Aerial combat wasn't his forte.
Ōnoki sighed. "Iwagakure will cover Konoha's losses. Regarding Kusagakure... appropriate reparations will be made."