The next day, their group arrived at the front line fighting Iwagakure.
Unlike patrol missions, Yubi felt a huge difference as soon as they reached their destination.
Because this wasn't an outpost, but a camp where Sunagakure was stationed and active.
Tents set up by Sunagakure dotted the Gobi ground and the areas behind the mountains.
Even the distant mountaintops had Sunagakure footholds.
The number of Ninja coming and going was quite large; it was truly the scale of an army.
"This is considered the front-line headquarters. All patrol outposts in the vicinity, including defensive forces, are dispatched from here... Once any situation arises, we can react immediately." As soon as Yubi and his companions stepped into the front-line combat zone, comrades immediately came to meet them, brought them here, and began explaining.
It was mainly directed at Yubi.
Because among their group, strictly speaking, Yubi was the only one on a first-line mission for the first time.
"This is different from the border with the Land of Rain..."
Yubi thought to himself.
There wasn't such a large Sunagakure force stationed at the border near the Land of Rain.
It also showed that for Sunagakure, the threat level of Iwagakure was not on the same level as Amegakure.
Their current location, going further north, was the Land of Birds.
Like the Land of Grass, Iwagakure also regarded the Land of Birds as a strategic buffer zone, but unfortunately... Sunagakure didn't have Konoha's ability to push the war into the hinterland of the Land of Birds.
This way, even if there was any conflict with Iwagakure, it would not damage or endanger their own territory.
This also made Iwagakure even more reckless.
Logistics, Medical, Intelligence, Puppeteers, Military Affairs Administration, Analysis Squads, Reconnaissance Squads, and so on, according to the leader's introduction... the personnel configuration of this Sunagakure force deployed here was undeniably comprehensive. Excluding the personnel in scattered outposts, the number of people in the daily garrison alone was nearly two thousand.
For Sunagakure's current combat strength reserves, this force was already quite considerable.
It also made Yubi feel the true battlefield atmosphere for the first time.
It was a completely different feeling from the missions he had done before... "Isn't that Yubi?"
"Yo... Yubi, you little guy actually came!"
As they went deeper into the garrison, some Sunagakure Ninja around them saw them and greeted them with smiles.
They called out to Yubi.
Some of them clearly knew Yubi.
Their words were very warm.
After all, when Yubi was in the hospital, he treated many people, and some Sunagakure Ninja were able to live until now thanks to his medical skills.
Yubi also nodded in response to each of them in a very friendly manner.
Sasori glanced at Yubi... this guy was quite popular.
Even he hadn't quite expected it.
"Shimizu-sensei... these are the people sent by the Village. This is Yubi... this is Sasori." At this moment, a thin-faced, dark-skinned man walked over.
Seeing this, the leader immediately stepped forward to report and introduce Yubi and his group to the other party.
"Is this all the people...?"
Jonin Shimizu's eyes showed some disappointment, but he didn't say much.
Instead, he turned his gaze to Yubi.
He had been on the battlefield for many years and wasn't too familiar with the Village's genius who had risen in the past two years... He had only heard some things about Yubi, and this was their first meeting.
As for Sasori, he had known him for a long time.
Both were Puppeteers... he was well aware of Sasori's talent.
"This is their mission record and roster." The leader handed another document to Shimizu.
Shimizu lowered his head, opened it, and reviewed it.
Yubi stood in the queue, observing the Commander-in-Chief.
"Gather a few captains and Squad Leaders..." Shimizu said while looking at the document.
"Yes."
The leader turned and left.
"Yubi..."
Shimizu called out.
"Here."
Yubi responded.
"You are a Medical Ninja, right?"
"Yes."
"Hmm... in that case..."
Shimizu was about to say something when he suddenly stopped, because he saw Yubi's mission data in the document.
At this age, he had already completed many A-rank and B-rank missions... It should be noted that A-rank missions must be taken by Jonin, and this number of missions, for a ten-year-old boy, could no longer be described as merely outstanding.
This... is he really a Medical Ninja?
Combat Ninja and Medical Ninja are different... most Medical Ninja participate in battlefield missions for long periods, so the number of missions naturally wouldn't be high.
"What type of missions were these of yours?"
Shimizu asked curiously.
"Mainly intelligence and solo squad assault missions." Yubi smiled.
"..."
Shimizu's eyelids twitched.
From a duty perspective, Yubi joining the Medical Squad was a given, but with such combat power, putting him in logistical rescue was somewhat a waste.
"Who was your mentor?"
"Arai-sensei."
"Most of these missions were completed by Sasori and me together." Yubi added.
"Not bad."
Shimizu didn't know what to say.
"To complete so many missions, he must have relied mainly on Arai and Sasori... After all, he is just a Medical Ninja. Although he became a Chunin early, the assessment for Medical Ninja is also different from other Ninja, mainly focusing on medical skill level. I heard he is also a Bloodline Limit user... Is it to hone his power in that aspect...?" A thought flashed through Shimizu's mind.
He hadn't returned to the Village for a long time and wasn't aware of many new things. Plus, he had too many daily affairs to manage, so he hadn't inquired much about Village news.
He wasn't aware that Yubi's Chunin assessment was personally overseen by the Third Kazekage.
"Shimizu."
At this moment, several captains and a group of Squad Leaders from the unit slowly walked over from afar, and the one leading them called out.
"The people have arrived, here is the roster... you all can pick." Shimizu put away his thoughts, looked in the direction of the voice, and said to his friends.
"You must be little Yubi... you're so cute!"
Before others could get a good look at Yubi and the others, a figure suddenly darted out, rushed forward, hugged Yubi, and spoke affectionately.
Yubi was also stunned; he was certain he didn't know the person.
The woman clearly treated him like a child, so she didn't hold back at all with physical contact.
She gave him a full hug.
"You guys don't try to snatch him from me, Yubi is a Medical Ninja, so he's definitely joining our Medical Corps." The woman, holding Yubi as if she had found a treasure, turned her head and said to the other captains and Squad Leaders.
"Sigh... Saori, don't scare him." A captain with stubble sighed and kindly reminded her.
"I don't care... anyway, Yubi is mine, none of you can take him."
Saori, holding Yubi, showed hostility in her eyes.
The Medical Corps and the Medical Squad are not the same thing.
Medical Squads are to be equipped in every large and small squad; every team has them, and the number of people is relatively small.
The two are similar to a main hospital and branch hospital system.
Many people in the queue showed envious looks... As expected of a genius, he was internally designated as soon as he arrived at the unit.
A typical case of having connections 'upstairs'.
"Yubi is very important to the Village, and I can't explain it clearly to you smelly men... In the Corps, his medical skills can be perfectly utilized, and he doesn't have to risk danger. If he joins a Medical Squad under your command... he would still have to leave the garrison to perform missions, which is absolutely unacceptable! He can improve the overall treatment capabilities of the entire army... Don't underestimate him just because he's a child... In the Corps, his individual role can be fully brought into play."
"So... if anyone tries to snatch him from me, you'd better pray that you and your subordinates don't get injured, otherwise... even if I can cure you, the process will definitely be unforgettable!"
Saori's words clearly carried a 'threat'.
It was clear that she knew Yubi more than just casually.
"..."
Everyone fell silent.
You can play like this?
"Cough cough cough... Saori, don't be so anxious, we didn't say anything." A Jonin coughed a few times, helplessly.
"Yubi... Big Sister heard you were coming, and I was so excited..."
Saori, with short black hair and appearing to be in her early twenties, ignored everyone else and rubbed her cheek against Yubi's.
"..."
This passionate attitude made even Yubi, who considered himself outgoing, a bit flustered.
He also couldn't push the woman away.
He could only twitch the corner of his mouth and let out an awkward laugh.
"Um..."
Yubi raised his hand as if asking for help, looking at Commander-in-Chief Shimizu, "Can I choose... where I go myself?"