The ruins of Uzushio echoed with the sound of waves crashing against the reddish stones. At the center of a structure that had once served as a sealing hall, Tsunade Senju set down her cup of sake. Her honey-colored eyes, sharpened by decades of war, fixed on the entrance.
—I told Shizune I could smell a familiar Konoha arrogance approaching — she said, with tired disdain. — A dying Uchiha and a Yamanaka who looks like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. What makes you think I'd lift a finger for you?
Itachi stepped forward, but a violent coughing fit brought him to his knees. Blood stained the stone floor. Shin placed a hand on his ally's shoulder, stabilizing his frequency to prevent Itachi's nervous system from going into shock.
—We didn't come to beg for charity, Tsunade-sama — Shin said, his voice cold. — We came for the only thing that justifies your reputation: your skill. Konoha has changed. The peace your grandfather dreamed of is finally being built, but it depends on this man's survival.
Tsunade let out a bitter laugh and stood. Her chakra aura was overwhelming, a physical force that made the ruins tremble.
—Peace? Built on the shadows of ANBU and the eyes of a cursed clan? — She walked up to Shin, stopping just inches from his face. — You talk about logic and destiny, boy. But medicine is about absolute control. If you want me to save your friend, you'll have to prove your mind can handle what I'm about to demand.
Tsunade pulled a small crystal vial from her robe. Inside, a blue flame of chakra pulsed erratically, like a frantic heart.
—This is an unstable vitality seal — she explained. — It fluctuates across a thousand different frequencies per second. To operate on Itachi, I'll need someone to keep his chakra flow perfectly synchronized with my instruments, without a single microsecond of deviation. If you fail, his heart explodes. If your brain can't handle the load… you black out.
Shin looked at the vial. He realized this wasn't just a medical test; it was a pure challenge of Latent Induction. He would have to process information at a speed that defied human biology.
—I accept — Shin replied, without hesitation.
Tsunade laid Itachi on a stone table and began releasing her medical chakra, green and vibrant. Shin positioned himself on the opposite side and closed his eyes, entering a state of absolute concentration.
The outside world vanished. The sound of the waves and the winds of Uzushio became irrelevant noise. In Shin's mind, only two data points existed: Tsunade's chakra and the weakened rhythm of Itachi's heart.
The challenge began. Tsunade did not make it easy. She deliberately altered the rhythm of her healing, forcing Shin to read her intentions before they were even executed. Shin had to sense Tsunade's synaptic movement, predict the chakra discharge, and adjust Itachi's cellular resistance in real time.
Sweat ran down Shin's face. His brain felt like it was being cooked from the inside. The frequency of the crystal vial was chaos, but through absolute focus, Shin began to "sing" mentally on the same note. He wasn't just observing; he was becoming Itachi's heartbeat.
—Faster, boy! — Tsunade shouted. — His lung is collapsing!
Shin felt a piercing pain behind his eyes. The image of Ino, the glimmer of the necklace, and the promise of a peaceful future shone in his mind like a shield. He couldn't fail. He expanded his awareness until the table, Itachi, Tsunade, and the ruins themselves became a single musical note in his mind.
In one final effort, Shin released a wave of Total Synchronization. The crystal vial stabilized. Tsunade's chakra flowed into Itachi like a calm river, repairing the damaged tissues without any resistance.
Tsunade pulled her hands away, breathing heavily. She looked at Shin, who remained motionless, a thin line of blood running from each ear, but with his eyes open and fixed.
—You… you did it — she whispered, her tone of disdain replaced by genuine respect. — I've never seen a Yamanaka, not even Inoichi, reach this level of processing. You didn't just control chakra; you controlled his biological time.
She looked at Itachi, whose breathing was now calm and deep. Color was returning to the Uchiha's face.
—He will live — Tsunade declared, picking up her sake vial again. — But you, Shin… you are dangerous. If you ever decide the world should stop spinning, I fear you might have the power to convince the sun not to rise.
Shin relaxed his posture, feeling the crushing exhaustion finally hit him. He touched the necklace on his chest and took a shaky step.
—The sun will rise tomorrow, Tsunade-sama — he said, with a faint smirk. — Because there's someone in Konoha who likes to watch it. And I'll be there to make sure no one blocks her view.