Overdrafting the Future, Starting in Naruto

Chapter 23: It's Here!

The future held infinite variations. Kinoshita Genichi needed to accumulate enough capital in the present to build a foundation for that future. The fact that Konoha Hospital allowed students like Shizune to study there was actually the implementation of an idea Tsunade had proposed during the Second Great Ninja War.

Specifically, the idea was to equip every squad with one medical ninja.

But at the time, not even her fellow Sannin, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, had supported the idea. During wartime, there simply weren't enough resources to do it. However, after the Second Great Ninja War ended, Sarutobi Hiruzen began to put it into practice. Allowing students still in the Ninja Academy who were aspiring to become medical-nin to study at Konoha Hospital was one of these measures.

Of course, equipping every single squad with a medical ninja was an extremely difficult goal to achieve, even for Konoha.

But none of this concerned Genichi. He was happy to just enjoy the convenience of the policy. Politics was not his concern; he wasn't in a position to influence it.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the resources to set up a research lab. In reality, Genichi's current knowledge base wasn't enough to support a lab anyway. Or rather, it wasn't enough to support the body modification and cell transplantation he was so eager to get into.

"Can't rush it. Take it slow, accumulate knowledge slowly, and overdraft a few more times..."

Genichi gave the anatomical subject a full-body examination, trying to suppress the restless urges in his heart. This subject was a ninja, and their body had been stitched up many times. Still, Genichi was extremely careful, dissecting layer by layer, and then stitching it all back up again. This was a sign of respect for the subject, even if they had once been an enemy.

After spending half a day in the dissection room, Genichi felt like he couldn't smell anything else.

Looking at the sun, which had not yet set, Genichi grabbed Shizune's hand. "Come on, let's go to the hot springs."

"Huh?" Shizune was startled. "Go to the hot springs now?"

Genichi smiled. "We've been working hard all day. Of course we need to relax."

Without waiting for an argument, he pulled Shizune and started running.

When they arrived at the hot spring house, the two separated.

What, a mixed bath? Of course not. It's not that mixed baths didn't exist, but the great God of Censorship wouldn't allow it.

After soaking for half an hour, Genichi's sense of smell returned to normal. Shizune, who had just come out, had a healthy pink blush on her fair cheeks, making one want to reach out and pinch them.

Looking at the already dimming sky, Genichi smiled. "Shizune, shall I treat you to some dango?"

"No, that's okay. It's too late today."

"I have to go home!"

With that, Shizune ran off.

Genichi was helpless. "Why are you running so fast? It's not like I'm going to eat you."

Resigned, he could only put his hands in his pockets and stroll home alone.

Meanwhile.

Shizune got some takeout for dinner, but she didn't go home. Instead, she went to Tsunade's house. As expected, Tsunade was drinking alone, several empty bottles already on the floor.

Sighing softly, Shizune put down the dinner, cleaned up the empty bottles, and then said, "Lady Tsunade, please eat dinner first!"

Tsunade plopped down at the table, waiting for Shizune to set out the food before finally putting down her bottle and starting to eat.

At this point, Tsunade was already tipsy. She glanced at Shizune and asked, "I don't think I saw you at noon."

Shizune quickly replied, "I went to the Konoha Hospital with Genichi."

Tsunade took a sip of her drink. "Genichi?"

"That little brat you mentioned before?"

"You like him?"

Shizune's face immediately turned red. "Lady Tsunade, it's not like that."

Tsunade said faintly, "Good that it's not."

"It's better not to fall in love. Lest you get your heart broken when he dies."

Shizune immediately retorted, "Lady Tsunade, Genichi is amazing."

Tsunade snorted and pursed her lips. "Isn't he just a genin who recently graduated?"

Shizune didn't know how to explain, so she could only say, "Anyway, he's just really, really amazing."

"Tch!" Tsunade scoffed, then asked, "How is your Mystical Palm Technique coming along?"

A smile appeared on Shizune's face. "I'm already able to use it."

Tsunade nodded. "Not bad. I'll teach you a new jutsu tomorrow!"

Shizune was overjoyed. "Yes, Lady Tsunade!"

After finishing her meal, Tsunade picked up her sake bottle and started to walk out, but she suddenly stopped at the door. "I might be leaving Konoha. Are you willing to come with me?"

Shizune, who was cleaning up, froze in shock.

...

Genichi, of course, knew nothing of Tsunade's plans to take Shizune away. After he ate dinner, he once again began to study the Kuji-kiri hand seals. At night, this was all he could really study.

Time flew by. Winter passed, and spring arrived. Before he knew it, it was March.

Just as the time for his next overdraft was approaching, Genichi, who had only been resting for two days after finishing a mission, was notified by En of an urgent mission. It was evening.

Genichi said goodbye to his parents, packed his things, and went to the village gate.

When Sakumo saw that everyone had arrived, he commanded, "Move out!"

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Genichi followed, leaping up and using the Body Flicker Technique to keep pace with the three in front of him. He could clearly feel that this mission was different. Sakumo's travel speed was off; it was too fast.

Just like that, without a word spoken on the journey, they traveled in one breath all the way to the border of the Land of Fire before finally stopping.

"Rest! Replenish your stamina!" Sakumo ordered.

The three of them silently nodded, then sat down to eat soldier pills and drink water. The toll had been immense. Especially for Genichi; if they hadn't stopped to rest, his stamina would have been completely depleted.

After resting for half an hour, Sakumo finally spoke. "This is a top-secret mission. We cannot leave behind any information that identifies us."

The three of them tensed up.

Sakumo took out four masks and distributed them, saying, "The target is the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers."

This shocked them again.

En subconsciously asked, "Captain, isn't the Land of Rivers our ally?" Not long ago, they had just completed a mission protecting that very same daimyō.

Something must have changed, Genichi guessed internally.

Assassinating the daimyō of another country, and one that was, on the surface, an ally of the Land of Fire... If they failed... Genichi had a feeling that this was the very mission that led to Sakumo's suicide.

Facing En's question, Sakumo explained simply, "The Land of Rivers is indeed an ally of the Land of Fire, but their daimyō has betrayed the alliance. He married the daughter of the Land of Wind's daimyō."

"Furthermore, several mines that were originally planned to be handed over to the Land of Fire were instead given to a major merchant from the Land of Wind."

Namiichi said coldly, "Does this also mean that the missions that originally belonged to our village were taken by the Sand Village?"

Sakumo nodded, then continued, "The target is the daimyō of the Land of Rivers. I will handle him."

"En, you are in charge of creating a path and providing support!"

En immediately nodded.

Sakumo took out a stack of explosive tags and handed them to En, then looked at Genichi and Namiichi. "Namiichi, Genichi, you two are responsible for drawing the attention of the daimyō's guards."

"Remember, you do not need to fight to the death."

"I will eliminate the daimyō as quickly as possible, and then we will retreat."

Genichi and Namiichi nodded in unison.

Sakumo added, "According to the latest intelligence, the daimyō's guards, aside from samurai, consist of three ninja squads, but there is only one Jonin."

"That Jonin will not leave the daimyō's side, so you don't need to worry about him."

"However, we cannot rule out the possibility that the Sand Village has dispatched its own ninja squads, hidden in the shadows."

"Therefore, this mission is extremely dangerous."

"Namiichi, Genichi, you must be extremely careful."

Hearing this, their expressions turned grave. The possibility of the Sand Village not sending a ninja squad was very small.

"Captain, let me go with you!" Namiichi couldn't help but say.

Sakumo shook his head. "I'm faster alone."

"Besides, creating a diversion is also very important. Genichi cannot complete that task by himself."

Namiichi fell silent.

Genichi didn't speak. He knew his own strength, so he didn't try to act tough. If he had the chakra reserves of Senju Tobirama, he might have dared to propose handling the diversion by himself.

But he didn't.

(End of Chapter)