The hallway to the underground medical facility hidden in the Hokage tower was quiet, but tension lingered in the air like a thick fog. Most shinobi and medic in the building knew the stakes—knew who lay inside the sealed medical chamber below and how delicate her condition was.
Genma Shiranui led the way, his steps were brisk but steady. Daichi walked silently behind him, his hands loosely tucked into his pockets, his gaze sharp and unwavering. They passed a few Anbu ninjas who gave a small respectful nod at Daichi. But none dared disturb the silence.
When they reached the reinforced door, Genma stopped and glanced at his new student. "She's inside. The medics haven't left her side since last night."
Daichi gave a small nod. "Please open it."
Genma palmed a seal and slid the reinforced door aside. Sterile white light shone out over them and the air carried the faint, mineral-clean scent of medic-grade cleanser.
At the center of the room, beneath a large chakra-stabilizing array carved into the floor, lay Tsunade Senju. The bed at the center of the array was built more like an altar with seal-script running in concentric rings around the mattress like ripples.
Her body was partially covered with white sheets, her chest gently rising and falling with each slow breath. Several tubes connected her to IV drips and chakra monitors, and seals covered her arms and forehead to manage the chaotic fluctuations in her chakra system.
Genma jerked his chin. The senbon in the corner of his mouth didn't so much as tilt. "This way."
Daichi stepped in the room and soon came near the treatment chamber.
The medics inside looked up and made space without being asked.
Daichi stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he activated his Observe ability.
[Subject: Tsunade Senju
Status: Critical Condition.
Metamorphosis Stage: Stabilizing, but incomplete.
Foreign Cell Integration: 52.8% — Slowed.
Chakra System: Volatile.
Cerebral Function: Low activity.
Lymphatic and immune response: Semi-Active.
Projected Outcome: Uncertain.]
'Aggressiveness of the foreign cells have slowed. The integration curve flattened by forty… forty-three percent since last check. But the metamorphosis cascade is still live. Cells are still competing for oxygen, glucose, raw chakra but not as much as before. Wood-protrusions sprouting at the peritoneal margin—there and there… She's still in danger… but the rejection process has slowed. That's good… but I don't have much time.'
One of the medics stepped closer to the Genin. "We've got her on a balanced crystalloid at one-twenty an hour, micro dosing analgesia through a chakra nerve-block field. She… keeps trying to form wood-tendrils internally. We're damping it, but—"
"I can see it." Daichi's voice was calm, crisp.
Daichi placed his hands above her sternum and began examining her condition. Soon an overlay of her body and its current state was built in his mind.
"Your nerve-block placement was good. Shift your field anchor three centimeters inferior and one lateral; it'll spare the phrenic branches and cut the diaphragmatic spasms."
The medic blinked, startled at being corrected so gently, and adjusted. The monitors examining the vitals settled a hair for the better.
The medics inside were surprised. 'He was able to instantly find the problem and adjust the treatment to the most minute degree. Incredible. Lady Tsunade taught him well. His medical skills are a league above anyone here. I can see why the Hokage trusted him with her treatment.'
The Genin leaned forward slightly, brushing a stray lock of blonde hair away from her face. Her skin was paler than before, and her pulse chakra was erratic—an eerie echo of the cellular warfare occurring beneath the surface.
"You'll get through this stronger than ever. I'm sure of it." Daichi whispered to his beloved sensei.
He exhaled softly and then formed a seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
In a puff of smoke, a copy of him appeared beside the bed. Daichi looked at him and spoke. "You know what to do, don't you?"
"Yeah. Trend the chakra variance every thirty seconds and monitor her vitals." The shadow clone replied.
Daichi nodded. "Use healing chakra to maintain cellular balance. Only act if the foreign cell destabilizes her. And if the wood flares return, use Yang chakra at the microscopic level and cauterize."
"I know. I'll keep her stable." The clone nodded and replied as he moved to Tsunade's side. He placed green glowing hands just above her chest and began his work.
Daichi had a peace of mind knowing that it was himself keeping an eye on Tsunade. 'Now I can focus all my attention on modifying the serum.'
He turned back to the medic-nins who were observing from a distance. "You're all relieved for now. Get some rest. I'll keep an eye on her."
The medics nodded, clearly exhausted, and filed out. Daichi followed, his shoulders heavy with the weight of what was to come.
Outside the chamber Shizune was waiting for him.
She stood just outside the threshold line, hands folded so tight together her knuckles were bloodless, hair down, the skin beneath her eyes bruised by no sleep.
The moment she saw Daichi, her expression softened slightly with visible relief.
"Daichi."
He didn't make her ask. "She's stable. I tightened the seals. The foreign cell integration has slowed, but she's still in metamorphosis. It's… a tightrope." He watched the muscles in her jaw relax and then go soft with exhaustion. "I've placed a clone to monitor minute-to-minute. The others are off the floor for a bit. I'll keep an eye on her."
The fear and tension slowly left Shizune and breathed a small sigh of relief. "Did you find a way to save her?"
Daichi nodded. "I have a few ideas. I'm sure I can come up with something."
Shizune nodded. "What do you need me to do?" She asked him.
"What I need you to do is get some sleep."
"Daichi, I've already-"
"Some real sleep. In a comfy bed. 5 hours minimum. Not the forty-five minutes you've been stealing in a chair."
"But-"
"If you collapse then I lose a pair of trusted hands and you won't be able to help sensei." Daichi's words stopped any arguments from Shizune.
"He's right, you know." Genma spoke as he came near them. The special Jonin looked at the medic with a small smile. "You've done more than enough for now. This kid can handle it for the time being. Go get some proper rest. After that you can join him here."
"Alright," she finally murmured, shoulders slumping in surrender. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Daichi watched her walk away, her steps sluggish as she disappeared into the recovery wing. Only once she was gone did he turn his attention back to Genma, who waited a few paces away.
"Lab?" the Jonin asked.
"Lab," Daichi confirmed.
They moved through another series of corridors until they reached a reinforced steel door bearing multiple sealing arrays. Genma placed his palm on the chakra-encoded panel beside it, and the barrier seals unraveled with a hum.
Inside was Daichi's new personal laboratory—meticulously organized, brightly lit, and filled with cabinets of rare ingredients, specialized chakra containment tubes, and a reinforced table at the center. Cold-storage lockers hummed with chakra suppression tags and a chakra-frequency spectrometer stood humming beside an old-fashioned centrifuge.
"Lord Hokage arranged for everything you've asked for. Including the blood samples of the first Hokage. The medics have also taken biopsy samples from Lady Tsunade and had them prepared for you to examine." Genma spoke as the two stepped inside.
He then pointed to the back of the lab. "The equipment and other items you guys raided from Orochimaru's lab are over there."
The place was quiet, but Daichi could see the vast potential of the lab. 'Oh yeah. This will do nicely.'
Genma saw the look on Daichi's face and smiled. "I take it you're satisfied with the lab."
"Definitely. This is perfect."
"Good."
Genma took a seat near the door out of the boy's way. "I'll be here if you need anything."
Daichi looked at the man and nodded. "Guess it's my turn."
The Genin moved without wasting a second. He retrieved the scroll he had sealed earlier that morning and unfurled it on the table, releasing a set of vials, syringes, and a small containment cube holding the filtered serum he had engineered back at his own lab.
'Time to begin.'
He carefully set out several chakra calibration instruments, pulled out a fresh notebook, and began outlining his next course of action. After a minute he created three Shadow clones.
Without a word, all three of them moved to different locations in the lab.
The first clone immediately began examining the blood samples of the first Hokage. 'Good thing I memorized the lab reports I took from Root Headquarters and Orochimaru's labs in Sound village. I already have a solid head start.'
The second shadow clone took the scroll Daichi brought and took it to another side of the lab. His task was to recreate 'The Storm' serum to a stabilizing agent. He took some of the blood samples of Lady Tsunade and began conducting his experiments. 'I have to modify this according to her DNA for maximum effect.'
The third and final clone went to where the items from Orochimaru's lab were placed. 'Time to see if I can get any clues from here.' He carefully went through the vials and notes placed on the table. 'If I can find anything from these that can help, it'll be worth it.'
The real Daichi went to the table that held the biopsy samples of his current patient. 'Let's see what's happening.'
—-
With Hiruzen.
The mid day light filtered through the wide windows of the Hokage's office, casting long shadows on the floor. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood near his desk and was garbed in his official attire.
Kakashi stood nearby, one hand tucked in his pocket, the other holding a sealed scroll. His usual slouched posture remained, but there was a noticeable edge in his eyes.
"Are you ready?" Hiruzen asked the Jonin without turning.
Kakashi gave a small nod. "Of course. But do you really need me for this when you have Lord Second to escort you."
"You're needed if the Daimyo has any questions. Usually he wouldn't be involved in our missions but this time…"
"Circumstances are different. Since Lord Jiraiya is away tracking down the rest of Orochimaru's operations and Lord Second's identity can't be revealed and Daichi is here working on the cure, you want me to be present. I understand." Kakashi sighed and crossed his arms. 'The Daimyo will definitely try to take advantage of this information. I just hope he doesn't make this difficult for us.'
Suddenly Tobirama arrived without warning. The white mask settled over his face as the Second Hokage glanced between Hiruzen and Kakashi.
"Let's go, Take my arm," Tobirama instructed simply.
Hiruzen stepped forward, placing a hand on Tobirama's shoulder. Kakashi followed suit, maintaining his usual air of indifference even as he felt the surge of chakra gathering beneath his feet. A moment later all three vanished from the room.
They reappeared in a shaded courtyard of the Fire Capital.
"Lord Taji first," Hiruzen said. "Courtesy matters."
An attendant recognized the Hokage at once and nearly tripped over himself to lead them through the quieter wing of the ministerial residence.
Lord Taji met them in his office.. He rose the moment they stepped in, face lined with a night of poor sleep and hard reading. "Lord Hokage. I didn't expect your visit. Forgive my improper appearance. "
"It's alright. I'm the one who should apologize for this unannounced visit." Hiruzen smiled and shook hands with the minister.
Lord Taji then turned his attention to Kakashi. "Kakashi. If you're here then does that mean Lady Tsunade is rescued?"
Kakashi nodded. "Yes. She is back in the village."
The minister was surprised. 'So soon? I thought it would take a few days longer.'
The silver haired Jonin took out a sealed packet from his pouch—untouched, immaculate.
"This belongs to you," Kakashi said. "We didn't need to use your letters of introduction after all. Thank you for trusting us with them."
Taji's gaze flicked from the envelope to the Hokage, searching. "Then you found a way forward without stirring his rivals?"
"We had… an unexpected encounter with someone." Hiruzen answered, careful with every syllable. "But the intelligence you gave us helped a great deal in our search. You have my gratitude."
"It was nothing. I'm glad I was able to help. How is Daichi?" The minister asked them.
"He's with his teacher." The Hokage politely gave a simple short answer and the minister knew not to ask further on the matter. The wisdom of a courtier was knowing when to stop digging.
Taji exhaled and looked at the sealed packet. "You used none of it. That's good. Assets are not easy to cultivate in the Land of Earth."
Hiruzen smiled and nodded. "We won't take any more of your time minister."
"I take it you're going to meet Lord Ryuga?"
The Hokage nodded his head. "Yes. I've already sent a message this morning. There is much I need to inform him…"
"I understand."
"Minister Taiji."
"Lord Hokage."
With that, the three man team from the Leaf village left the minister's home and made their way to the Daimyo's palace.
Out in the corridor, Hiruzen turned to his Jonin. "Kakashi."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
"You did well with Lord Taji last time. He should remain a friend to the Leaf. We might never know when we'll need his assistance."
The Jonin nodded silently. They crossed into the inner palace where Yondu met them.
"Fire Daimyo will see you now," the messenger of the royal court invited them inside and took them to the Daimyo's private office.
The Daimyo stood and greeted the kage of the Leaf village. "Hiruzen. You wouldn't have come to me if your mission didn't have an impact on the Royal court."
He motioned and both leaders of the Fire nation took their seats and faced each other.
"So tell me. What happened?" The sharpness in Daimyo's eyes rose as he gazed at the aging kage.