As a medical ninja, Chao Yanqian worked with relative ease on the front lines. In addition to directing other medical-nin to treat patients, he handled the more severe injuries that ordinary medics couldn't manage. Compared to standard shinobi who risked their lives on missions, Chao Yanqian was incredibly fortunate gaining merit without facing danger.
But no one would have expected that the "lucky" Chao Yanqian now had little time left.
When Minato Namikaze returned from a mission with Kakashi and his team, Chao Yanqian immediately cleaned himself up and prepared to pay a visit to Minato-senpai.
However, before Chao Yanqian could leave the medical camp, Minato's team had already arrived at the medical unit.
"Senior Minato! Long time no see!" Chao Yanqian called out from a distance.
"Chao Yanqian, you're here!" Minato responded with a smile.
"Hmm." Chao Yanqian nodded, then looked over at Obito Uchiha and asked, "Are any of you injured?"
"Hey! Why are you looking at me when you ask that!?" Obito shouted, feeling targeted.
"Idiot," Kakashi said coolly with a glance, causing Obito to immediately bristle with irritation.
"Alright, knock it off," Rin Nohara said with a sigh. Those two were like oil and water arguing almost every time they met. Still, their teamwork on missions was nearly flawless.
Obito wasn't injured, so the injured one must be
Chao Yanqian's eyes turned to Kakashi. He noticed Kakashi's pale face and the way he was holding his right arm with his left, as though in serious pain.
"Come in, all of you," Chao Yanqian said.
"How did Kakashi get hurt?" he asked as they walked inside.
Minato explained, "Kakashi created his own jutsu, but it's incomplete. He used it during the mission, and it caused an issue with his right arm."
Raikiri? So Kakashi had already begun developing it by this point!
As he thought about it, Chao Yanqian glanced at Kakashi only to find Kakashi looking back at him, eyes flashing with intensity.
Kakashi had never truly accepted being defeated by Chao Yanqian and he had always wanted a rematch to prove he was the strongest of their generation.
However, due to the outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War, Kakashi had never gotten the chance. Meanwhile, Chao Yanqian's consistent success had earned him widespread recognition. He was recently promoted to tokubetsu jōnin, becoming the youngest jōnin since Konoha's founding.
Driven to prove himself, Kakashi had used his unfinished jutsu in the mission resulting in damage to the meridians of his right arm. Now, he couldn't move it at all.
"Is it lightning chakra causing cellular and meridian damage?" Chao Yanqian asked.
"Yes," Rin confirmed. "Kakashi's right arm was injured by lightning-natured chakra. His meridians were badly damaged. I did emergency treatment, but this is beyond what I can handle."
"Understood. Leave it to me," Chao Yanqian replied.
Because the situation concerned Kakashi's well-being, even Obito remained quiet for once.
After examining the injury, Chao Yanqian said, "It's serious, but not irreversible."
"Then please take care of it, Chao Yanqian," Minato said.
"Of course," Chao Yanqian nodded, and guided Kakashi into the operating room.
About an hour later, Chao Yanqian emerged with a weakened but conscious Kakashi. Rin rushed forward.
"Kakashi, how's your arm?"
"It's fine," Kakashi replied coolly.
Seeing that Kakashi was no longer in danger, Obito immediately jumped in with a smug grin. "Hey! Don't forget to thank the great, handsome me! If not for me dragging your unconscious body here, you wouldn't even be breathing right now!"
"Idiot." Kakashi rolled his eyes and smirked. "Thanks, 'genius of the Uchiha clan.'"
He emphasized genius mockingly, and Obito exploded.
"Damn you, Kakashi!"
Watching the team's banter, Chao Yanqian couldn't help thinking how much people change with time.
The cold Kakashi would grow into a brooding sensei. The bright and eager Obito would become a dark, tormented man. Asuma Sarutobi matured from a rebellious teen into a thoughtful jōnin. Kurenai, once quiet and reserved, grew into a beautiful, confident woman. Even the tsundere Anko Mitarashi became a sharp, intelligent leader.
Chao Yanqian couldn't help wondering what would he become if he survived the next ten years?
By the time the events of the main series began, he would be fifty years old. Perhaps he, too, would become much more composed than he was now.
"Thank you so much, Chao Yanqian," Minato said sincerely.
"No need to thank me. I might be the one thanking you soon," Chao Yanqian replied, steering the conversation toward the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Oh? What do you need?" Minato asked curiously.
With his sharp intellect, Minato easily picked up that Chao Yanqian had something to discuss. He had clearly been preparing to go out earlier, but had dropped everything when Minato's team arrived. This made his intention obvious.
"Yes," Chao Yanqian said. "I made contributions on the Sand Village front. Lord Third rewarded me with a jutsu of my choice. I asked for one but with my current ability, I can't master it yet."
"It's the Flying Thunder God Technique, isn't it?" Minato said, already knowing.
"Right." Chao Yanqian smiled. "Ever since I saw your fight with the Fourth Kazekage, I've admired the jutsu. So I asked for it when the opportunity came."
He smiled bitterly. "But I didn't expect it to be this difficult."
"It is," Minato agreed. "It demands a lot from the user, and the Sealed Scroll doesn't provide any real training guidance."
"But I've already mastered the technique," he added. "While I'm here in the camp, feel free to come find me anytime. I'll write out my training notes maybe they'll help you."
Minato's tone was kind and sincere just as Chao Yanqian had hoped. As expected, Minato wasn't stingy with knowledge, but generous and selfless.
In the manga, Minato later taught the Flying Thunder God Technique to his personal guard squad because he believed it was a powerful strategic asset. Unfortunately, few were able to learn it. Even so, Minato never hesitated to share it.
And with Tsunade's connection to Chao Yanqian, Minato was even more willing to help.
"Thank you so much, Senior Minato!" Chao Yanqian said gratefully.