Hatake Sakumo.
Why was he here? And with a wounded teammate?
A strong sense of déjà vu hit Taiichi hard.
But he didn't have time to dwell on the plot. Meeting up with Sakumo and treating the wounded man were his top priorities.
When the two parties closed the gap to within a hundred yards, Hatake Sakumo obviously sensed Taiichi approaching. In Taiichi's sensory range, he could feel the legendary "White Fang" drawing his blade, shifting into a combat stance.
Taiichi immediately slowed down. At fifty yards, he called out first. He had zero desire to test the sharpness of the White Fang's chakra saber with his own neck.
"Captain Sakumo, it's me! Matsushita Taiichi!"
Hearing the voice, Sakumo paused, clearly surprised. However, he didn't lower his guard, his eyes locked onto the direction of the voice, blade still raised.
It wasn't until Taiichi stepped out of the dense forest that Sakumo finally let out a breath of relief. A look of genuine joy washed over his face.
"Taiichi! Thank god. I have a critically wounded man here. He needs immediate medical attention!"
Without waiting for a reply, he used the Body Flicker technique, appearing instantly in front of Taiichi, reaching out to grab him.
Taiichi side-stepped smoothly, dodging the grab. Seeing Sakumo's confused look, he explained, "Captain Sakumo, careful. This is just a Shadow Clone. If you grab me and flicker at high speed, I might pop."
Sakumo looked at Taiichi with surprise. At this close range, he could sense the dense, stable chakra inside the boy. It didn't feel like a clone at all—it felt like a main body. Has he improved this much in such a short time?
But Sakumo wasn't the type to pry into others' secrets. Saving his teammate was the only thing that mattered.
Taiichi followed Sakumo into a makeshift cave hideout. He looked at the man lying on the flat rock. External injuries were minimal, the worst being a puncture wound on the shoulder, but the blood loss didn't look fatal from the outside.
Taiichi's hands glowed green as he scanned the internal damage.
Organs displaced. Severe internal bleeding caused by the shockwave of an explosion. If we don't fix this now, even if he lives, his ninja career is over.
Before starting the procedure, Taiichi remembered the situation outside. He quickly explained that he had "tails"—pursuers—following him. He had intended to distract the Sand ninjas, but inadvertently led them right to Sakumo.
Sakumo waved off the apology. He didn't care about the tails.
"You just focus on saving Yusuke. I'll handle the pests outside."
Without waiting for Taiichi to respond, Sakumo turned and walked out of the cave.
"What a straightforward guy," Taiichi thought.
He looked back at the wounded ninja, Yusuke. Judging by his gear, he was a Special Jonin. If Taiichi's guess was right, this was the mission—and the man—that caused the White Fang's downfall.
Taiichi stared at Yusuke. The man's face was pale from blood loss. If Taiichi simply did nothing... if he let nature take its course while Sakumo was fighting outside... this man would die. And Sakumo's "disgrace" might never happen.
For a long moment, Taiichi hesitated.
Finally, green light flared in his hands, and he pressed them against Yusuke's chest.
Taiichi wasn't a saint, but he couldn't kill a man to prevent a future that hadn't happened yet. That crossed a line. If he operated like that, guys like Obito should have been strangled in their cribs.
The green light enveloped the patient. Mystical Palm to stop the bleeding, Extraction Jutsu to clear the blood clots. He worked with mechanical precision.
A few minutes later, a blur of motion signaled Sakumo's return. He had already wiped out the pursuers.
Taiichi didn't look up. "What kind of mission puts the White Fang in such a mess?"
"Top secret," Sakumo sighed, looking frustrated. " ran into a tricky opponent. Yusuke took a heavy hit. I had no choice but to grab him and retreat."
"Who was it?"
"Chiyo of the Sand. That old woman might be aging, but her sensory skills are sharp. She spotted me."
Sakumo explained that with Yusuke critically injured by explosive tags, he had to abandon the assassination plan to get his teammate out alive.
"So, you abandoned the mission," Taiichi said quietly.
It was clear Sakumo didn't realize the gravity of his situation. Usually, a failed mission just meant a mark on your record. Nobody has a 100% success rate. But Sakumo didn't realize there were people back home waiting to weaponize this failure against him.
Taiichi glanced at the oblivious legend. He kept his hands working on the patient but spoke up.
"The Sand ninjas are currently scouring the desert for you two. That means the security around your actual target is probably nonexistent right now. Have you considered doubling back and hitting them while they're celebrating?"
Sakumo froze.
He honestly hadn't thought of that. His priority had been the wounded man. But looking at Taiichi steadily stabilizing Yusuke, the gears in his head started turning.
"How long can your Shadow Clone last?" Sakumo asked.
Taiichi smirked. "If I don't have to fight? Once I finish the surgery, I can hang around for about half a day."
"Done," Sakumo decided instantly.
He wanted to complete the mission, obviously. He had only prioritized his friend's life. Now that he had a chance to do both, he wouldn't hesitate.
Before leaving, Sakumo created a Shadow Clone of his own to stay behind. The location was compromised since he had just killed Sand ninjas nearby. Once Taiichi was done, they would need to move.
Watching Sakumo leave, Taiichi's worry didn't fade. Sakumo's suicide wasn't just about village gossip; it was about the collapse of his own code and beliefs.
I'll take it one step at a time, Taiichi thought. I owe his family for the training. I have to try.
Thirty minutes later, the treatment was done. Thanks to the quick intervention, Yusuke's career was saved.
Taiichi looked at the sleeping man and shook his head. Did this guy resent Sakumo in the original timeline because his career was ruined? Is that why he badmouthed the man who saved his life?
Taiichi pushed the thoughts away. "Captain Sakumo, let's move."
Two Shadow Clones carried one wounded man, speeding through the dense forest. Two hours later, they found a secure hideout.
Sakumo's clone dispelled itself, sending the new coordinates to the main body.
Taiichi's clone settled in. Aside from checking the patient's vitals, he sat in meditation to conserve chakra, trying to extend his timer.
Another thirty minutes passed. A groan broke the silence.
"Water..."
Taiichi grabbed a canteen and held it to Yusuke's lips.
After a few gulps, clarity returned to Yusuke's eyes. He saw the unfamiliar surroundings and the stranger, and panic set in. He tried to sit up, but pain shot through his body, collapsing him back onto the ground.
"Relax. I'm a Leaf ninja," Taiichi said calmly.
Yusuke took a moment to breathe. He turned his head slowly. "Who are you? What... what happened to me?"
He sounded devastated, clearly assuming his body was wrecked.
"I'm Matsushita Taiichi. And you're fine. Just rest up, and you'll make a full recovery."
"You're Matsushita Taiichi?!" The despair in his voice was instantly replaced by shock and joy.
"You know me?" Taiichi asked. Am I really that famous?
"Captain Sakumo talked about you. He said you were a medical genius," Yusuke said, sounding like he might cry. "Thank god. I thought... I thought I was done for."
"Thank you. Thank you so much, sir," Yusuke added, using respectful language despite being older.
"Where is Captain Sakumo?"
"He went back to finish the mission. He'll be back in a day or two."
"Good. Good," Yusuke muttered, guilt washing over his face. "He abandoned the mission because of me. If he can fix it... that's a relief."
A smile of redemption appeared on his face.
They chatted for a while. Taiichi tried to fish for details about the mission, but Yusuke was a professional—he shut down any talk of "classified intel."
Six hours later.
"My time is up," Taiichi announced suddenly. "Wait here. Sakumo will find you."
Taiichi placed some supplies next to Yusuke.
Poof.
He vanished in a puff of smoke.
Yusuke stared at the empty space, dumbfounded. I've been talking to a Shadow Clone this whole time? Wait... was the doctor who performed surgery on me a clone too?
He shivered. Kids these days are absolute monsters.
---
Back at the convoy, the main body of Taiichi received the memories.
He smiled. So far, so good. He had done everything he could. The rest was up to fate.
His team noticed the shift in his mood and gathered around.
"It was Hatake Sakumo," Taiichi explained. "He abandoned a mission to save a dying teammate and was being hunted by the Sand..."
He filled them in. Yohei and Saori were starry-eyed. To them, Sakumo's choice was the epitome of the "Will of Fire"—never abandoning a comrade.
Captain Yamaguchi, however, frowned.
He wasn't heartless, but he knew the game. If the village sent the White Fang, the mission was critical. Abandoning it could have severe consequences for the village.
Even if he went back to fix it... delaying a strategic objective is risky, Yamaguchi thought. He kept his worries to himself, letting the kids enjoy the heroic story.
---
Meanwhile, in the Capital of the Land of Rivers.
Sakumo slipped into the city like a ghost.
His mission was simple: eliminate ten high-ranking officials—the inner circle of the new Daimyo.
The backstory was classic politics. The eldest son of the previous Daimyo had taken the throne, but immediately stabbed Konoha in the back. He broke the alliance and started cozying up to the Sand Village.
Konoha doesn't tolerate traitors.
Sakumo's job was to send a message. Killing the Daimyo was too messy, but slaughtering his cabinet? That screams, "You're next if you don't get back in line." It would also clear the board for pro-Konoha officials to step up.
Ideally, this was supposed to be a silent job. But earlier, they had walked in on a meeting between a target and Chiyo of the Sand.
Chiyo, being a veteran monster, spotted them instantly. That led to the chase, Yusuke's injury, and the initial retreat.
But now?
Sakumo smirked. He looked at his final target.
Because they thought he had fled the country, the security had been relaxed. They assumed the threat was over.
Sakumo moved. One hand over the mouth, a blade across the throat. Clean. Silent.
He vanished into the night.
It wasn't until Sakumo had left the city entirely that the first body was discovered. Panic spread like wildfire. The city went into lockdown, but it was all theater. The Daimyo knew exactly who did this. And he was terrified.
---
At the Sand Diplomatic Outpost.
Chiyo stood with several Jonin, watching the chaos at the palace.
"I miscalculated," a Sand Jonin muttered. "I didn't think Sakumo would have the guts to come back."
"Elder Chiyo, what now? The Daimyo is going to fold. He's scared," another asked.
"He's already on the boat; he doesn't get to get off just because the water is choppy," Chiyo snapped. She was furious. Her son's killer had slipped through her fingers twice in one day.
"If Konoha wants to play assassin, fine. We fight with words," Chiyo ordered coldly. "Spread the news. Tell everyone Konoha ninjas are slaughtering foreign nobles. Let's see how they handle the diplomatic fallout."
"Yes, Ma'am!" The Sand Jonin grinned.
It was a bloodless way to damage Konoha's reputation. If they could make the nobles of the Land of Rivers fear Konoha, the Sand could step in as "protectors."
---
By the next day, Sakumo arrived back at the cave.
Seeing Yusuke sitting up and eating, Sakumo silently thanked Taiichi again. Without that kid, this mission would have been a total disaster.
"Let's go home," Sakumo said, hoisting Yusuke onto his back.
They moved fast. The desert wasn't safe.
On the way, Sakumo told Yusuke the good news: the targets were dead. The mission was a success.
Yusuke let out a long breath of relief against Sakumo's back. We made it.