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The List of The "ANBU" Member:
-ar4ngel
-Cain
-Ryan biggins
-Kreios
-Sabo
-Goha21
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"...Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the best medical ninja are in Konoha—not just because of their vast shinobi system, but because they have elite medics like Tsunade-hime, one of the Legendary Sannin... Outstanding talents emerge endlessly, driving the advancement of Konoha's medical ninjutsu. In comparison, we in Kirigakure still have a long way to go."
Shimomura Shūsaku, the head of the Medical Corps, was a ninja nearing fifty. His hand rested on a life-sized skeleton model as he addressed the three young shinobi before him.
This was a speech he gave almost every year, hoping to spot potential among the newly graduated. Yet, it always ended in disappointment.
Two years prior, Kirigakure had engaged in conflict with Konoha.
The operation had been... peculiar.
Separated by the sea, the Mist Village rarely clashed with other nations. Yet this time, they had launched an unprovoked attack on the Leaf.
The result? Heavy casualties, even among the elite Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
As the village leader, the Third Mizukage bore undeniable responsibility. After his "voluntary" resignation, the position of Mizukage was left vacant.
The Elders struggled to maintain stability—outwardly calm, but beneath the surface, tensions simmered. The policies enforced by the Third Mizukage couldn't be overturned overnight.
It was in this environment that Zabuza slaughtered nearly every participant in the graduation exam... yet few in the village condemned him.
Everyone knew—'the bell tolled for them all.'
Then, Yagura pushed through reforms to the exam system, earning widespread support and becoming the new Mizukage.
For the past year, Kirigakure had been in a state of "recovery and renewal."
But the Medical Corps? They were struggling.
After the war with Konoha, the village was devastated, with countless wounded.
Many medics, traumatized by the endless severed limbs and gore, resigned en masse.
The Corps faced a severe shortage.
Shimomura had hoped new graduates would replenish their ranks—until Zabuza staged his "Hundred-Kill Massacre."
Talent became scarce, not just in the Medical Corps, but across the entire village.
Fortunately, this year's recruits included a promising candidate.
"With my years of experience, I'm certain at least one of you can advance Kirigakure's medical ninjutsu!" Shimomura closed his book, his gaze lingering on Midorima Asachi.
His interest in Midorima stemmed from this year's exam.
Kirigakure's graduation test resembled other villages' 'Chūnin Exams'—even without the "kill your comrades" rule, it was brutal.
This year's task: Four-genin teams were to hunt rogue ninja hiding near the village.
The rogues' strength and numbers were carefully calibrated—four genin could handle them. Even in danger, sacrificing one would allow the rest to escape.
'Making tough choices was part of being a shinobi.'
But one team encountered an 'anomaly.'
Their target rogue was killed by another, unknown ninja.
The result? Near-total annihilation—two genin died instantly, the other two severely injured.
Shimomura had seen the aftermath—a demolished building, blood staining the ground.
It was a miracle anyone survived.
Yet 'two' did.
One was Mei Terumī. The other? Midorima Asachi.
Mei's talent had long been recognized, but no one foresaw 'this.'
Midorima, however, was a mystery.
Intel suggested he'd only used Water Release before. Yet in this incident, he not only survived but 'healed' Mei—whose injuries included a foot-long gash on her back.
Not deep enough to damage organs or nerves, but fatal if untreated.
Midorima carried her to safety. Mei recovered fully in four days.
'That was the work of a seasoned medic.'
Digging deeper, Shimomura found something even more shocking—the year before, Midorima had suffered 'fatal wounds' in the exam, yet walked again in 'a month.'
His chakra reserves must be extraordinary.
Untrained in medical ninjutsu, Midorima couldn't use it fluidly yet. But Shimomura was determined to mold him into a proper medic.
Though they survived, neither Midorima nor Mei passed the exam.
So Shimomura "recruited" Midorima under the pretext that "medics don't need frontline combat skills."
He wasn't fooled.
Did failing the exam mean they were weak?
'This was beyond the test's scope.'
Even Zabuza would've "failed" under those conditions.
Thus, Midorima became Shimomura's student—through "official channels."
Noticing Shimomura's intense stare, Midorima awkwardly lowered his head.
'Old man, quit looking at me like that. People might get the wrong idea.'
He mentally reaffirmed his 'very' mainstream romantic preferences—no interest in men, 'especially' crusty old ones.
Even for a teacher, he wouldn't compromise his principles!
Shimomura, misreading Midorima's expression, nodded approvingly.
'A medic must endure solitude and remain humble. Midorima fits perfectly.'
"You're all young. Even Tsunade-hime only gained fame on the battlefield. Focus on fundamentals now, and one day, you too may advance medical ninjutsu... Any questions?" Shimomura's gaze settled on Midorima.
"Sensei! I have one!"
Playing along, Midorima raised his hand and presented a document.
"This is...?"
"My analysis of medical ninja potential. I believe... current medics are shackled by outdated norms! Even you, sir, are limited. Medical ninja deserve a grander stage—to show the Mizukage that talents like you can shine in battle!"
His performance was exaggerated, borrowed straight from anime tropes.
Embarrassing? Absolutely.
But his urgency was real—'Why did they assign me to the Medical Corps?!'
'Just tell me what to fix, and I'll change it!'