Shinichi's expression remained calm as he said, "Jiraiya-sama, this is currently the only method. We cannot delay. Every moment we delay means one more comrade will die."
As he spoke, he reached out to pick up the porcelain bowl filled with poison on the table.
The liquid in the bowl was pitch black like ink, reflecting an eerie sheen under the dim light.
However, at that moment, a hand suddenly gripped his wrist.
The force was astonishing.
"Kid!"
Jiraiya gritted his teeth, squeezing the words out: "I said, no!"
Shinichi looked at him quietly. After a moment, he said, "Jiraiya-sama, are we just going to watch our comrades die like this?"
Jiraiya fell silent, then said, "But that doesn't mean you should risk your life!"
Shinichi smiled, a particularly calm and open smile, and replied, "With my physical condition, even if I'm poisoned, I can endure for quite a long time, long enough to complete a preliminary analysis of the toxin. Moreover, I myself am a Medical Ninja. I know how to slow the spread of the poison and protect vital organs. The risk is controllable. I have absolute confidence that I can hold on until Tsunade-sensei returns, or even analyze the key components before that."
"So, don't worry, Jiraiya-sama. There won't be any risk."
As he spoke, he slowly broke free from Jiraiya's grip.
Jiraiya's hand froze in midair and did not grab him again. He simply looked at the boy in front of him, his expression extremely complicated on that still youthful face.
"Tsunade asked you to take her place…"
Jiraiya attempted one last persuasion, his voice low. "You're now the overall person in charge here. If something happens to you, who will handle all this?"
"Precisely because I am the one in charge here, bearing the lives of all our comrades, the one to test the poison must be me, the one in charge!"
Shinichi replied, then turned around, his gaze falling on the woman with short brown hair in the crowd.
"Nono Yakushi! Hear my order!"
Nono Yakushi trembled all over and instinctively straightened her back: "Present!"
"If, during the upcoming toxin analysis, I encounter any accident and am unable to fulfill my duties, then from this moment onward, Nono Yakushi, you will temporarily assume the position of chief of the medical and logistics unit for the southwestern front, exercising all related authority until Lady Tsunade or a higher directive arrives! This order takes effect immediately!"
"Acknow… ledged!"
In the end, she still spoke that word, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
The tent fell into a terrifying silence.
Jiraiya looked at the boy in front of him with a complicated expression and did not continue to stop him, because he knew Shinichi had already made up his mind. Even if he stopped him now, he would try it later in private. Rather than that… at least now he could watch.
At that moment, a weak voice came from the direction of the hospital beds.
"Shinichi…"
It was a middle-aged ninja, his face bluish-purple, lips darkened, even his breathing intermittent.
Yet he still struggled to lift his head and used all his strength to say: "Stop… we don't need you to risk yourself… if we die… then we die…"
His words were broken, but each one was clear.
The injured beside him, some nodded with difficulty, others expressed the same sentiment with their eyes.
Shinichi looked at him. That face was full of pain, yet he was still trying to force out a smile, as if comforting him.
At that moment, Shinichi also smiled.
The smile was light, faint, yet like a ray of sunlight shining into this tent filled with blood and the smell of medicine.
"Uncle Nakata."
"Life is so beautiful, you can't just say it's over and let it end."
After saying that, under the complex gazes of everyone present, he raised the bowl of poison and drank it.
Everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed on him in unison.
Jiraiya stared closely at Shinichi as well, not even daring to breathe.
A moment later, Shinichi opened his eyes again. Those eyes were still calm, as if what he had just drunk was not deadly poison, but merely a bowl of clear water.
He reached out, picked up the paper and pen beside him to write, then, after a moment, stopped writing and handed the paper to Nono Yakushi.
"Bis sister Nono, take people and prepare the items listed above. Be quick."
A moment later, with Shinichi taking the lead and other Medical Ninjas assisting, bottle after bottle of freshly made antidote was rapidly prepared.
The medicine was distributed and poured into the mouths of the poisoned and injured.
Inside the tent, groans gradually turned into steady breathing. Those lives that had been struggling on the edge of death were pulled back one by one.
Jiraiya stood to the side, silently watching this scene. The heart that had been hanging in his throat finally settled back down.
He let out a long breath, turned to Shinichi, and showed a relieved smile: "Good thing we have you, Shinichi. Although that was too risky…"
Risky!?
His words stopped midway as a thought suddenly popped into his mind.
Tsunade!
What would happen when Tsunade came back?
What would happen when she found out this kid had tested poison on himself on the spot, and he had failed to stop him?
Although the outcome was good for everyone, but…
Jiraiya's expression changed, and a chill shot up from his spine.
"Ahem."
Jiraiya cleared his throat, his smile becoming somewhat stiff. He patted Shinichi on the shoulder, who was wiping his hands, and suddenly spoke faster: "Well, Shinichi, you did very well! You're very brave! But I need to return to the command center right away. There's a pile of things waiting to be handled there, the battle situation needs to be summarized, intelligence needs to be analyzed, and the next deployment needs adjustments…"
As he spoke, he edged toward the tent entrance.
"If you need anything here, send someone to inform me immediately! I'll be paying close attention!"
No one cared why Jiraiya suddenly left in such a hurry. Everyone present only knew that they had all survived.
Countless gazes once again fell upon the boy standing at the center, who was wiping his hands with a damp cloth.
In those gazes were gratitude for surviving a disaster, heartfelt admiration, and an indescribable complex emotion.
He simply stood there quietly, and as if just standing there, he radiated a warmth that embraced everyone.
Shinichi's expression did not change, but he silently took in those gazes.
In truth, the moment he smelled the poison, he had already, relying on the Gourmet talent and his own medical knowledge, identified the complete composition of the toxin.
After obtaining the Gourmet talent, Shinichi discovered that its scope was far broader than he had imagined; it was not limited to ingredients.
Or rather, many medicinal materials are themselves ingredients. For example, ginger can help dispel colds, garlic can help sterilize, and licorice can help harmonize various medicines. These things are called medicinal materials in pharmacies and seasonings in kitchens, but in essence, they are the same type of thing, only their usage differs.
Many poisons are essentially just another form of medicinal material, or, in other words, ingredients.
Talking about toxicity without considering dosage is meaningless. A proper amount of arsenic can be used as medicine, while excessive lingzhi can be deadly.
For another example, the mushrooms beloved by people in a certain southwestern region in his previous life, handled properly, are a delicacy; handled improperly, they are a death sentence.