Once a newspaper is stained with filth, can its words still be read clearly?
Can it ever be seen the same way as a clean one?
Mikoto fell into deep thought. After what had happened, she no longer knew where her future lay.
Half a month later.
Shimizu's leisurely life didn't last long.
He was once again summoned to the battlefield.
This time, there were some new faces—and fewer familiar ones.
Those who were missing had left their lives behind in the war.
Some didn't even have complete remains. It was impossible to tell which body part belonged to whom. There was no returning home, no resting beneath the leaves. All they could do was hastily dig a pit and bury what was left.
Otherwise, with the limited graveyard space in Konohagakure, there would be nowhere to bury them all.
From the First Great Ninja War until now, the death toll had reached well into the tens of thousands.
On this day, Shimizu was treating the wounded as usual.
"Did you hear? The Kamizuru Clan from Iwagakure is rising in fame. Word is they've mastered the power of fusing with ninja beasts."
"You sure it's fusion? They look more like monsters to me."
"What else could it be? Must be some kind of secret technique. Or are you saying they're actual yokai?"
The speaker pulled a fierce face deliberately, trying to be dramatic.
"No joke—my grandfather once said he saw a yokai in the mountains. Let me tell you the story…"
As the wounded passed time with idle gossip and wild speculation, Shimizu listened silently.
Looks like Suzumebachi had gotten quite adept at channeling the cursed seal transformation.
It was time to test the results. And if things didn't go well, he'd just collect a few more test subjects.
"All right, you guys keep chatting. Just remember what I told you."
"Thanks for your help, Medic Shimizu."
The patients spoke with respect.
Anyone who had been healed by Shimizu knew firsthand just how skilled he was.
Though sometimes, they almost wished he weren't that good.
After all, if wounds healed too quickly, they'd be sent back to the battlefield even faster.
Shimizu lifted the white curtain and stepped out, walking toward the medics' rest area.
His tent was situated near Shizune's.
But Shizune was nowhere to be seen—she had been busy at another hospital outpost these past couple days.
As he studied the cellular mechanics behind the power of the wraith-like chakra, Shimizu saw Minato Namikaze approach, brow furrowed.
And not just Minato—Rin Nohara, who had been resting in the adjacent tent, also seemed to sense something was wrong.
"You should all strengthen the perimeter defense," Minato said, calling over the entire Team Minato.
"Iwagakure's done something big, haven't they?"
Kakashi saw the look on Minato's face and had already put the pieces together.
"You're right, Kakashi. It's Iwagakure."
Minato gave a brief rundown of the situation, leaving both Rin and Kakashi visibly shocked.
Iwagakure had dispatched over ten thousand shinobi to intercept the Third Raikage. Their battle was shaking the heavens.
Even from a distance, the chaos could be heard.
No one knew when Kumogakure's reinforcements would arrive—or how they would react. One thing was certain: their rage would be explosive.
All of this would push the war into even deeper chaos and bloodshed.
"You'll all be relocating this afternoon—switching to a new forward base."
Minato dropped this command and left before anyone could respond.
The greater the power, the greater the responsibility. As a master of the Body Flicker Technique, Minato was invaluable for relaying intelligence and scouting enemy movements.
He wasn't a babysitter for Shimizu's group. He had his own duties to carry out.
"What're you guys doing?"
Obito strolled over, hands resting behind his head, looking idle as always.
Rin turned and recounted what Minato had just told them about Iwagakure and the Third Raikage.
Obito's blood surged with excitement. That was what it meant to be a true man—one against ten thousand!
If he could get that strong, winning Rin's heart would be a breeze.
"Obito, you're not a kid anymore. Stop acting like one," Rin sighed.
Seeing Obito all fired up again, she knew he was dreaming of becoming a war hero.
Having ambition was fine—but not at the cost of rationality.
In war, there were no true victors.
Obito's reckless nature could get him hurt again—or worse.
And she couldn't keep pleading with Shimizu to patch him up every time.
This had already pushed her to her limit.
"If you're still a child, maybe it's time to re-enroll in the Academy, Obito," Kakashi said dryly.
He'd matured a lot over the past weeks. His white hair had grown long enough to nearly cover his ears.
"What'd you say, Kakashi?!"
Obito and Kakashi began bickering again, lightening the tense mood.
Rin watched the two of them and couldn't help but smile.
If only things could stay this peaceful forever.
"Obito and Kakashi sure are full of energy."
A voice shattered that moment of tranquility.
Rin turned. It was him—the man who had dragged her into this abyss.
If it weren't for him, how much better could her life have been?
She could've achieved her dreams… been with the Kakashi she loved… watched Obito mature little by little.
Maybe one day Obito would even surpass them both and support her and Kakashi.
That was how her life was supposed to go.
But Shimizu Uchiha had changed everything.
"I'm going back to rest," Rin said, turning to enter the tent.
Shimizu raised an eyebrow. Rin sure was stubborn.
He wondered whether, after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, she would still be this strong-willed.
That battle—Shimizu had no intention of changing much.
Uchiha Madara needed a successor. Only then would he feel safe enough to remove his own breathing tube and rest in peace.
If Madara stayed alive, he'd remain too big a wildcard. With Yin-Yang Release and the Gedo Statue at his back, he could pull a "Shinno from Naruto: Bonds" and rejuvenate at any moment.
Better to keep a low profile for the next few years.
If Shimizu stood out too much, Madara would start getting suspicious.
Even if Madara did invite him in, he would definitely leave traps behind—like the cursed seal on Obito's heart.
Madara never trusted anyone but himself.
That's why, in the end, he lost to the manifestation of his own will—Black Zetsu.
Once Madara was dead and buried, the shinobi world would have no more overwhelming threats.
Isshiki Ōtsutsuki was still a corpse in some monk's ear, and the Sage of Six Paths was sealed in the Pure Land. Without Indra and Asura's chakra being passed down, he couldn't manifest.
With no Six Paths-tier opponents left, even Kage-level and beyond wouldn't be wiped out in one blow.
The sky was clear that day—no clouds in sight. A cool breeze stirred the air.
Far from the frontlines, this place had become a perfect retreat for healing, a temporary pocket of peace.
And among Team Minato, only Shimizu knew they were standing on the verge of a life-altering turning point.
--
Support me & read more advance & fast update chapter on my patreon:
pat reon .com/yuuwand