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-ar4ngel
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-Splendid
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-HADES
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The news of the fallout between Midorima and Shimomura spread like wildfire, drawing nothing but disdain from Bu.
In this day and age, even what you saw with your own eyes might not be true—let alone rumors. Without a second thought, he tossed an A-rank mission Shimomura's way.
Midorima had already completed S-rank missions, so handling an A-rank shouldn't be a problem, right?
Shimomura promptly threw the mission scroll straight into the toilet.
"Can't even handle an A-rank mission? Are the ANBU just freeloaders or what?"
Igawa was so furious he nearly twisted his nose off in anger. He immediately issued an S-rank mission next.
This time, Shimomura softened slightly—instead of flushing it, he sent the mission back untouched, with an added note: "Until Midorima learns S-rank medical ninjutsu, he won't be going on any outside missions."
Igawa waited patiently for two months, but the Medical Corps showed no signs of movement. Growing desperate, he sent someone to persuade Midorima. The boy's response was even more blunt:
"Learning medical ninjutsu won't help me survive. Sending me on S-rank missions is just asking me to die."
"The ANBU members assigned to you are all highly skilled," the messenger added.
"If they're "all" so strong, then what do they need me for? Move aside, don't interrupt my training."
Only then did Igawa realize that his carefully laid plans had come to a standstill—all because of a clash in principles between two stubborn individuals. Even Yagura caught wind of the situation, but neither side was willing to back down.
They were locked in a battle of wills.
As both of them put it—this was a matter of pride. One of them "had" to yield.
Both of them surrendering?
Out of the question.
Since he couldn't eliminate Midorima outside the village, Igawa had no choice but to take the initiative.
"What has Midorima Asachi been up to lately?" he asked an ANBU member who had been monitoring the boy.
"He often appears behind the mountain in the evenings to train in ninjutsu. Over the past month, he's also been sparring with others—winning more than he loses."
Igawa's brows furrowed deeply.
'What's wrong with this kid? He's a medical ninja—shouldn't he be focusing on healing techniques instead of hand-to-hand combat? So damn troublesome.'
He crooked a finger, signaling the ANBU operative to lean in.
"Use your brain and find a way to resolve this."
"I'll just eliminate him right now," the ANBU member replied, making a slashing motion.
Igawa smacked him hard on the head. "If you kill him outright, it'll point the finger straight at me! "Think" for once… Don't be so stupid."
"Think?" The ANBU rubbed his forehead, then nodded solemnly.
...
Ever since his fallout with Shimomura, Midorima's life had become simple—a three-point routine: home, the Medical Corps, and the back of the mountain.
The "back mountain" was actually the shaded side of a hill facing Kirigakure, only a few hundred meters from the village. It was a common training spot for ninjas, and since mission-bound shinobi often passed through, it was relatively safe.
At first, Midorima only practiced water-release techniques, but as time passed, he drew more and more attention. People couldn't help but wonder—why was a medical ninja training in water-style instead of healing arts? It made no sense.
A month later, some troublemakers grew tired of what they saw as Midorima's showboating and decided to teach him a lesson. To their shock, they ended up losing to him—and then had to accept treatment from the very person who beat them.
Initially, Midorima accepted all challengers. But he soon realized that most of these ninjas had no special skill in ninjutsu—their techniques weren't even advanced enough to activate his [Analysis Lab]. He already knew all of them.
So he changed tactics, only sparring with genuinely skilled opponents. As a result, the [Analysis Lab] managed to dissect twenty to thirty earth and lightning-release techniques, but only succeeded in deciphering one B-rank jutsu—"Earth Dragon Bullet"—giving him a firsthand lesson in what "10% success rate" really meant.
'Couldn't some stronger opponents show up? I'm not asking for the Seven Swordsmen—would Kisame be too much to ask for?'
'Or at least Zabuza?'
'I'm not picky.'
But no one came.
The truly talented among his peers were all busy with missions—ones that kept them away for at least a week. Even Mei Terumī, whom Midorima hadn't seen in nearly a month, was occupied.
Older ninjas, on the other hand, were too prideful to risk losing to him.
'He's just a medical ninja, after all.'
So after a month, Midorima had won far more fights than he'd lost.
He hadn't gained many high-quality jutsu, but his combat experience and confidence had grown significantly.
Now he was questioning whether his strategy was even effective. If he didn't get his hands on some decent techniques soon, he'd have to find another approach.
After knocking down a teenage ninja, Midorima wiped his sweat and glanced at the sky. It was getting late—time to call it a day. But just as he was about to leave, a child stepped forward.
"You! I challenge you!"
"Huh?" Midorima looked down.
The kid was around six or seven years old, with silver hair reaching his ears and an excited grin that exposed his jagged teeth. Hands on his hips, he stared up at Midorima like a proud little rooster.
'He looks familiar… weirdly familiar.'
After a brief pause, a name flashed in Midorima's mind.
Hōzuki Suigetsu—years later, he'd join Sasuke as part of Team Hebi.
A spark of excitement flickered in Midorima.
Not for the kid, but for his 'brother'.
'Hōzuki Mangetsu' was one of Kirigakure's most renowned geniuses—arguably even more talented than Kisame.
He 'had' to know some high-level techniques.
"Where's your brother?" Midorima asked.
Right now, Mangetsu was the only one he cared about.
Suigetsu pouted, his eyes filled with contempt. "You wanna fight my brother? Can you even beat 'me' first? Don't think just because you've beaten a few losers, you're something special."
'Lo… losers?'
The ninja Midorima had just defeated clutched a handful of dirt, squeezing it tightly as tears welled up in his eyes.
'Humiliation! Utter humiliation! Can't he at least spare my dignity? I still have some pride left!'
But no matter how humiliated he felt, he had to endure it. If the kid got hurt, his big brother would come looking for revenge.
The downed ninja debated whether to keep playing dead or… just keep playing dead. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Midorima approach Suigetsu. Seizing the opportunity, he scrambled to his feet and slipped into the crowd, which erupted in laughter.
"My brother? Beat me first, and he'll come for you," Suigetsu declared confidently.
"You 'want' me to hit you?" Midorima wondered if he'd misheard—he wasn't 'that' old to be going deaf already.
Suigetsu nodded firmly.
It was the first time Midorima had encountered such a bizarre request. But if it meant meeting Mangetsu, he'd oblige.
'Kids should be spoiled, after all.'
He reached out and lightly patted Suigetsu's cheek.
"There, I hit you. Where's your brother?"
Rising onto his tiptoes, he peered behind Suigetsu.
"..."
Suigetsu's face burned with anger. "You're treating me like a 'kid'?"
'You're not a kid? Then what are you—an adult?'
Baffled, Midorima barely had time to react before Suigetsu's hands flew into a series of seals. A surge of mist shot toward him.