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A day and a night after disengaging from the Third Raikage, the Sakumo Squad, moving at top speed, made a wide detour to completely avoid Kumogakure's patrol units, preparing to head towards the Land of Fire.
However, before that, the squad encountered another major problem.
A very serious problem.
"O-type, besides these two, is anyone else O-type blood?"
"Iryo Jutsu: Blood Coagulation Slowing Technique."
"Hey, that's not the hemostat!"
"Don't move the shadowless lamp, Shin, you hold it for him for a bit."
All the personnel of the Anbu medical team were busy around a figure covered in blood and gore, while other Ninja with some medical knowledge also helped out.
Mokume Kodachi was currently lying on the cave floor, with multiple comminuted fractures throughout his body, several organ deficiencies, and his Chakra almost completely depleted; he was now in a state of shock, with insufficient blood supply.
A major full-body surgery in a wilderness environment was an extremely difficult undertaking for any Village, not to mention that most of these Anbu medical team members were self-taught, with less than two and a half years of practice.
However, a veteran Jonin expert proficient in Taijutsu and some large-scale Ninjutsu was an extremely valuable asset to the Village; as long as there was even a glimmer of hope, they had to find a way to save him.
So, even if they had to bite the bullet, they had no choice but to proceed.
Sawara Kiri was not O-type blood and had no medical knowledge, so he could only wait nearby, while most others were busy with their own tasks, either on alert outside, organizing Ninja tools, or resting quietly like him.
However, even though no one spoke.
The silent gazes, when gathered, carried a considerable weight.
While the Anbu medical team was busy, everyone was subtly glancing out of the corner of their eyes at the pale figure sitting deep in the cave.
Tsunade, the 'Medical Saint' renowned throughout the Ninja World, was excluded from the medical team.
No.
To be precise, it shouldn't be 'excluded,' but rather she was no longer able to assume medical responsibilities.
From the moment she was brought back, Lady Tsunade had shown extremely obvious signs of war trauma; her entire body trembled uncontrollably because of the bloodstains on her.
After they stopped moving, she even disregarded her appearance, directly using the muddy rainwater on the ground to wipe off the bloodstains on her body, showing an extremely violent stress reaction to red things.
It was nearly a day later before the trembling symptoms slightly subsided.
Later, to treat Jonin Mokume Kodachi, the Anbu medical team leader specifically invited her to a consultation, and considering her current mental state, only requested her to provide guidance rather than perform the operation directly.
Out of a sense of responsibility, Tsunade bit the bullet and went to take a look.
Then, she lay outside the cave, intermittently vomiting for nearly two hours.
After returning from outside, she sat there alone, holding her head without a sound.
Everyone present was a mature Ninja; even the Anbu medical team leader merely shook his head with pity upon seeing this scene.
Hemophobia.
One of the most common types of psychological stress reactions in war trauma.
Tsunade's Ninja career was probably over.
However, unlike their worries.
Sawara Kiri stared at Tsunade for a completely different reason.
Ever since she had a big vomit in the morning, a white halo had appeared above Tsunade's head.
"Shallow Knot"
However, no matter how long he stared, there was no information feedback within this halo.
Sawara Kiri compared it to the previous two times he encountered a knot object and felt that it was probably because he had no 'bond' with Tsunade.
If so, how to intervene in her 'Knot' became a big problem.
"Puff, puff."
Hearing the sound from the cave entrance, Sawara Kiri turned his head to look over there.
Then, he saw Miss Megumi looking mysterious and waving towards him.
"What's wrong?"
Sawara Kiri walked out with a strange expression.
Miss Megumi pulled him away and whispered a reminder: "Let's stay a bit further away, so we don't get blood on us if there's a hemorrhage inside later."
"Huh?"
Sawara Kiri looked confused.
Then, he heard Miss Megumi mysteriously say: "I heard everything just now."
"Lord Sakumo talked to those two Jonin of the Kurama Clan, saying he hoped they could help regulate that woman Tsunade's mental state with Genjutsu."
"If he brings Tsunade back like this now, Lord Third, that old man, will certainly throw the blame on him."
"Throw the blame?" Sawara Kiri also subconsciously lowered his voice.
"Hmph." Miss Megumi grumbled unhappily, "Our Clan Head said at the Clan meeting that Sarutobi is incompetent, only capable of internal strife and external tolerance, and he is short-sighted, valuing small gains over righteousness, and is foolishly cautious in big matters."
"Now the Village is in a fierce struggle with the west, and he doesn't dare to start a war in the north; since he can't avenge, and so many elites have died, the failure of the Tsunade Squad can only be blamed on someone."
"You'll see, at the Jonin Meeting, someone will definitely say the reinforcements were not timely."
Upon hearing this, Sawara Kiri almost looked at Miss Megumi with new respect.
A profound insight, indeed.
However, hearing this, Sawara Kiri suddenly realized and asked: "Can Genjutsu also treat war trauma?"
"Normally, yes." Miss Megumi's voice rose slightly, and she puffed out her chest, "Our Uchiha Clan has elders who specialize in using the Sharingan to reverse the psychological trauma of our clan seniors, it's just that the success rate is relatively low."
Sharingan?
Sawara Kiri imagined that famous scene.
A mentally ill person treating a mentally ill person.
It would be a miracle if that succeeded.
"If it can succeed, why did you tell me to stay far away?" Sawara Kiri asked, puzzled.
"Because…"
"Boom!"
Just as she was speaking, a terrifying tremor suddenly came from inside the cave, and the Jonin of the Kurama Clan stumbled out, even the medical team performing surgery moved the patient out from inside.
"Get, get out!"
Tsunade's voice was almost hoarse.
Uchiha Megumi's voice also paused for half a beat.
Seeing no more movement, she continued: "Under normal circumstances, this kind of Genjutsu treatment must be done slowly after the patient's emotions have settled for a period of time."
"Using Genjutsu treatment on a patient now will only make her immediately recall the person she misses most, or the thing she fears most."
Hearing her say this, Sawara Kiri immediately understood what had happened inside and looked at Miss Megumi with some helplessness:
"Why didn't you remind Lord Sakumo?"
Miss Megumi complained in a low voice: "How could they not know! For Genjutsu Ninja, this is common sense."
The girl's tone was clearly a bit aggrieved.
"Hmm?"
Sawara Kiri was startled.
Only then did he realize.
Hatake Sakumo was probably desperate.
"Sorry, sorry."
"I want ice cream~!"
"Hmm, how about adding ramen? And three-color dango."
"Hehe, you said it, alright."
Miss Megumi is so easy to coax.
As the two of them were talking, Sawara Kiri touched his Ninja tool pouch and suddenly remembered something, his movements pausing.
Genjutsu.
Mental regulation.
Knot?
Kyōka Suigetsu, complete hypnosis, common sense modification, ethical oblivion.
Lady Tsunade, the Widowed, and Hypnotic Ring!
Suddenly, a great inspiration popped up in the depths of Sawara Kiri's mind.
'If it's Kyōka Suigetsu, it should be able to do it, right?'
'Tsunade is currently in a state of massive Chakra depletion…'
'Since that's the case.'
He immediately stood up and walked towards the cave.
"Kiri?"
Miss Megumi subconsciously wanted to follow.
"Megumi, wait for me here for a bit." Sawara Kiri waved his hand at her, "I have a slight idea I want to try."
"Eh?"
Soon, Sawara Kiri strode into the cave.
Only Tsunade was left in the entire cave, squatting in the corner, her entire head buried between her legs, her fingers deeply entangled in her hair, and a painful, suppressed sob could faintly be heard.
However, as if hearing footsteps, her voice suddenly lowered, hoarsely saying:
"Didn't I say, get—"
Not until she looked up and noticed that the person who came was the young man she had met once before, Tsunade's voice couldn't help but pause.
"It's you…"
"Is there something wrong?"
Her voice was hoarse, but she still softened her tone slightly.
When people are under extreme pressure or on the verge of a mental breakdown, they don't have much energy to consider others.
Being able to speak to him to this extent was already her limit.
"No."
"I just suddenly remembered something I forgot to return to you."
Sawara Kiri stood in front of her, his tone gentle.
His hand pulled out a necklace with a blue crystal from his Ninja tool pouch.
Noticing the necklace in his hand, Tsunade's eyes paused, and her fists clenched suddenly.
"…"
After a long silence, she finally whispered in a very heavy voice: "Sorry, it's not mine."
"If you like it, take it."
"You can throw it away too."
"Are you really okay with that?"
Sawara Kiri bent down slightly, the fifteen-year-old boy's face gradually shedding its immaturity, yet still carrying a unique innocence belonging to his age.
His clear blue eyes met Tsunade's.
"I can see it, you know."
"Lady Tsunade, a long-haired middle-aged man, a short-haired child, and a long-haired young man's soul imprints reside within it."
"Although I don't know how this crystal was formed by Chakra, or why it possesses such immense vitality that it can bear such a large amount of memories."
"However, the traces within are quite profound."
"?!"
Almost the instant his words fell, Tsunade suddenly looked up at him.
Her expression was stunned.
This necklace was her private possession, and its formation from her grandfather's Chakra was a top secret among top secrets; since her grandfather gave it to her, she had only passed it on to Nawaki and Dan.
How could he…?
Wait!
Tsunade suddenly reacted, impulsively grabbing Sawara Kiri's sleeve, staring intently at him.
"You said, soul imprints?"
"How can I see them!?"
Sawara Kiri was slightly startled, not expecting her to bite so easily.
He did not realize that this woman, who had just suffered mental trauma, was at the most vulnerable point in her life.
However, Mr. Sawara did not dwell on it too much.
"I can see them, yes."
Sawara Kiri looked a bit troubled, quite helplessly saying: "But, because they are just fragmented soul traces, even if I see them, it won't change anything, Lady Tsunade."
"Just… just to see them one more time, even one glance is fine."
Tsunade looked up, gripping his hand tightly, her reddish eyes faintly moist, her pale and beautiful face showing a desolate expression, her voice carrying a plea that was almost weak:
"I'll do anything."
"Please."
"Help me!"
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