Naruto: Rise of the Medical Ninja

Dosuke was momentarily taken aback by Kakashi's outstretched hands.

"Otherwise, you all rest here. I'll head into the village to scout the situation before we make a plan," Dosuke suggested to Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded. Their priority was to gain an intelligence advantage. *Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated.* Though they weren't here to fight, gathering more information was essential.

Just as Dosuke prepared to leave, a kunai shot out from the darkness with a *whoosh*.

*Ding.*

With a sharp clang, Dosuke swiftly drew his own kunai to deflect the incoming attack. Beside him, Kakashi vanished in an instant.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.*

A wave of shuriken flew toward the group. Dosuke leapt in front of Obito and Rin, quickly forming hand seals. "Water Release: Water Formation Wall!" he shouted.

Water spewed from his mouth, guided by chakra to form a seamless barrier around the group, blocking every shuriken.

"Ambush!"

"Over here!"

"Quick, alert the village!"

The sounds of combat erupted around them. As the water wall dissipated, silence fell.

*Thud, thud.*

Kakashi reappeared, tossing several unconscious ninjas, each wearing Takigakure forehead protectors, in front of the group.

"Kakashi, you didn't kill them, did you?" Obito asked, eyeing the fallen ninjas and scattered shuriken.

"No, just knocked them out," Kakashi replied, sheathing his dagger.

"Well, no need to scout now," Dosuke said, crouching to inspect the unconscious Takigakure ninjas. "These guys seem too young to be patrol ninjas." Thankfully, they only had minor injuries.

Standing, Dosuke looked at Kakashi. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Kakashi said. "Just wait here. More Takigakure ninjas will show up soon."

Kakashi had deliberately let some of the attackers escape. Since they'd been exposed, and this wasn't an invasion mission to an enemy nation, there was no need to hide.

Soon, a series of *swish* sounds echoed as over a dozen ninjas wearing Takigakure forehead protectors appeared before them.

"Who are you, and why have you invaded our village?" a middle-aged ninja wearing a bamboo hat emblazoned with the character "Taki" asked.

"We're from Konoha, and we mean no harm," Kakashi said. He tilted his head to reveal his Konoha forehead protector.

"Konoha ninjas, state your purpose. Why did you attack our people?"

"They're only unconscious, not dead," Dosuke said. He clapped his hands to the ground, summoning a gentle stream of water that carried the stunned Takigakure ninjas a short distance away.

Several hooded Takigakure ninjas leapt forward to check their fallen comrades. "They're alive, just knocked out," one confirmed. They lifted the unconscious ninjas onto their backs and rushed toward the village.

"I'll explain our mission, but I need to speak with your village leader," Kakashi said. A matter involving a jinchuriki, the military backbone of a nation, required discussion with the highest authority.

The lead ninja hesitated before responding. "Konoha ninjas, I am Takikage, the leader of Takigakure. Speak your purpose."

"Takikage?" Kakashi and Dosuke exchanged a glance.

"Do you recognize this?" Dosuke asked, pulling a pendant from his pocket and tossing it to the self-proclaimed Takikage.

The ninja caught the pendant and examined it closely, his face registering surprise. He looked up, studying Kakashi and the others. His gaze lingered on the child strapped to Dosuke's chest, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought.

"I understand why you're here. Follow me," he said.

"Everything's settled. Disperse," the ninja, now confirmed as Takikage, ordered a subordinate wearing a breathing mask.

"Yes, Lord Takikage," the masked ninja replied, waving to the others. The group of Takigakure ninjas vanished instantly, leaving only the masked ninja by Takikage's side.

"Come with me," Takikage said, turning to lead the way.

Dosuke and Kakashi exchanged another glance before signaling Obito and Rin to follow. The group trailed silently behind Takikage.

As they walked, Kakashi passed something to Dosuke. Feeling the object in his hand, Dosuke realized it was the summoning scroll Minato had given Kakashi earlier.

The exchange reminded Dosuke of their days at the ninja academy, where a single glance from Kakashi conveyed everything. He understood immediately: this scroll, along with Fuu, was their lifeline if things went wrong. Following a self-proclaimed Takikage was risky, and in a worst-case scenario, Kakashi would sacrifice himself to buy time. A ninja who called himself a Kage exerted immense pressure on them.

If a jinchuriki died, the Tailed Beast would perish temporarily but revive years later. Fuu's life could determine their survival in a critical moment.

Takikage, walking ahead, noticed their exchange and smiled faintly. Though he didn't know what the scroll was, he was impressed. These four ninjas, barely ten years old, had not only defeated his village's patrol in an instant but also faced him with composure.

The strength of a major ninja village wasn't just in its elite fighters, he realized. These young ninjas were not to be underestimated.

"You don't need to be so tense," Takikage said calmly as he walked. "The moment I saw that pendant and the child, I understood your purpose. Rest assured, as the Kage of this village, I won't let the Tailed Beast be lost. And as a father, I could never let my daughter die before my eyes."

His words stunned Dosuke, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin. No wonder the chunin had insisted on sending Fuu to Takigakure, it wasn't just because she was Chomei's jinchuriki. She was Takikage's daughter.

Takikage continued walking without further comment. When they reached a residential house, he stopped. "Rest here tonight. I'll take the pendant for now. Fuu will stay with you. Mizusuke, make the arrangements for them."

"Yes, Lord Takikage," replied the ninja with the breathing mask, who then led Dosuke and the others into the house.

"Rest here for now," Mizusuke said before vanishing.