My Kekkei Genkai Is Kinda Weird?!

Chapter 19 – The Beginning of the Third Great Ninja War

Not long after the end of the Second Great Ninja War, ambitious forces within the ninja world began to stir once again.

Half a year later, the disappearance of the Third Kazekage from the Hidden Sand Village only intensified the already tense atmosphere.

With the rise of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, he urgently needed to demonstrate his power to solidify his position. In a reckless move, Rasa used the pretext of searching for the missing Third Kazekage to launch a large-scale invasion of the Land of Rain.

Everyone could see through the Sand Village's actions: a show to mask their true intention—Konoha.

And Konoha responded with full alertness, immediately dispatching a large number of ninja to the Land of Rain. Once again, this perpetually sorrowful country was becoming the battleground of great powers.

---

Konoha Hospital.

Rin was gently changing the bandages on a wounded soldier in one of the wards. Her movements were soft but practiced. Outside the window, hurried footsteps echoed. Medical personnel bustled through the corridors; the air was thick with tension.

"Did you hear? The Sand Village troops have already crossed the Rain border!"

"The casualties at the front are severe. There aren't enough medical teams to handle them all…"

Whispers floated outside the door. Rin paused for a moment, then continued her work. In the past six months, the shadow of war had darkened Konoha, and now it had finally broken loose.

"Little Rin, your bandaging skills have improved a lot," a wounded ninja said weakly.

He was a soldier sent back from the front lines. With battles raging constantly and temporary positions overflowing with injured, those with severe wounds who could not return to combat were sent back to Konoha Hospital for treatment.

Konoha was doing well in this regard—not abandoning its warriors.

Rin smiled gently.

"You flatter me. The wound is taken care of. Please rest well."

She stepped out of the ward and took a deep breath. Since the Sand Village had provoked this war, Konoha had been on full alert. The Third Hokage was preoccupied with military affairs, and his personal guidance had become increasingly rare.Kenichi, as a jonin, had already been deployed to the front lines for two months.

"Rin!" Kobayashi Riko hurried over.

"The emergency room needs help. Come with me!"

Rin immediately followed Riko. Inside the emergency room, chaos reigned. Stretchers bore soldiers soaked in blood. Medical ninja worked frantically to save lives.

"These are wounded just returned from the Sand ninja battlefield," Riko said quickly.

"You take care of the external injuries; the seriously wounded will be handled by us."

Rin nodded and jumped into work. She formed hand seals with practiced ease, concentrating chakra in her palms to staunch bleeding and stitch wounds. Six months of medical training had prepared her well, but the grim reality before her weighed heavily on her heart.

---

Early Spring, Konoha Year 46.

The storm of war swept across the ninja world.

After the Sand Village's declaration, the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Mist soon followed with their own declarations of war, their armies pressing hard against Konoha's borders. The village was forced into multi-front combat.

Rin stood in the Hokage's office, clutching her newly issued forehead protector tightly. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood before the window, smoke drifting slowly from his pipe, swirling in the tense air.

"Sand, Cloud, and Mist have launched simultaneous attacks. Konoha needs every ninja capable of fighting," Sarutobi said, turning to her. The wrinkles between his brows were deeper than six months ago.

"Rin, although you haven't yet reached graduation age, your strength is sufficient."

Outside, the leaves rustled softly—as if whispering the hardships soon to befall the village.

Rin drew a steady breath and tied the cold metal forehead protector across her brow, feeling a slight tremor.

"I understand, sensei."

Sarutobi approached, placing a rough hand on her shoulder.

"You will be deployed to the Mist battlefield with a team from the Uchiha clan. Remember, the most important thing on the battlefield is to return alive."

"Uchiha?" Rin looked up, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

"Yes," Sarutobi's gaze was deep like still water.

"The Uchiha clan specializes in Fire Release, which counters the Mist's Water Release. You will be assigned as the medical ninja in their unit."

Fire counters water? Water counters fire too, right? Rin thought bitterly.

It's clear the Hokage is suppressing the Uchiha's chance to earn glory by sending them to the Mist front. Later, he'll probably hype up other battlefronts to overshadow the Uchiha's contributions.

Rin pressed her lips together but said only,

"I will complete the mission."

---

Three days later, at Konoha's village gate.

The morning fog still lingered when over thirty ninja gathered. Most were Uchiha, including Uchiha Shisui.

Rin stood at the back, accompanied by sensing ninja from the Hyuga clan and a few expendable genin. This was Sarutobi's arrangement—a small sensing squad to keep Rin less conspicuous.

"Are you the Third Hokage's disciple?"

A low voice came from behind. Rin turned to see a tall Uchiha ninja. He was about 25 or 26 years old, his black hair tied in a ponytail, and his Sharingan eyes glowed scarlet in the morning light.

Rude, Rin thought. Who just stares with Sharingan at someone like that? Showing off sharingan like it's a trophy?

"Yes. I'm Hanabuchi Rin," she replied sweetly, bowing politely.

"Nice to meet you."

"I'm Uchiha Hachidai, leader of this mission." The man's stern expression faltered slightly as he appraised her.

"Medical ninjas should stay at the rear, but since the Hokage assigned you to us, don't hold us back."

This group of thirty-three ninja was the vanguard, led by Hachidai. The main force would gather later, led by the Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Fugaku.

Hachidai's tone was skeptical. Rin didn't argue but nodded quietly.

"I will do my best, Hachidai-senpai."

---

The unit set off, moving through dense forests toward the border of the Land of Water.

Throughout the journey, Rin felt the faint, curious glances of the Uchiha clan members. Though no one knew she was a descendant of the Senju clan, her status as the Third Hokage's disciple made her stand out. Tensions between the Hokage faction and the Uchiha simmered, with the clan divided into doves and hawks—this mission seemed dominated by the latter.

"Don't mind them," a gentle voice whispered near her ear.

Rin turned to see Uchiha Shisui smiling at her.

"Long time no see, Shisui."

Since Rin had been chosen by the Third Hokage, their meetings had become rare.

Shisui nodded. The two exchanged brief words but otherwise traveled in silence.

---

Soon, the squad entered a forest by the coast, where humidity thickened the air and mist lingered like liquid milk, drifting low and dense—perfect for the Mist's stealthy ambush tactics.

The morning fog was so thick it could be parted by hand.

Rin stayed near the rear, the strap of her medical pouch bouncing with every step. Ahead, the black silhouettes of over twenty Uchiha ninja melded into the mist, their glowing red Sharingan the only clear markers of their presence.

Suddenly, one Hyuga ninja halted, activating his Byakugan. The fog was useless against his vision.

"Seven enemies spotted, 300 meters at ten o'clock."

Rin spotted the threat a moment before the Hyuga. Though she hadn't awakened Wood Release, her unique abilities—Sange no Chigiri—allowed her to extend her senses through plants. The forest was like an extension of her own body, countless eyes watching.

Her hand instinctively rested on the hilt of her short blade, but before she could move, Shisui silently drew his own knife.

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