The sharp scent of antiseptic permeated every corner. Inside the predominantly white and blue room, various medical instruments and examination devices lay arranged. In the distance, two medical-nin constantly monitored the condition of the room's patient. This ward was situated on the third floor of the wartime hospital. Unlike facilities within Kumogakure proper, this hospital was built at the foot of the mountains, facilitating the transport of the wounded.
Furthermore, this hospital served a special function: providing treatment for enemy prisoners of war and isolating patients with unique injuries.
This marked the fourth day since the silver-haired boy had been found, and also the fourth day he remained unconscious.
A young woman, the girl who had arrived with him, stayed vigilantly by his bedside, dark circles clearly visible beneath her eyes.
These two youths, claiming to be Genin from the Land of Water, hadn't initially drawn much attention from the Land of Lightning's upper echelons. Shinobi seeking refuge with allies while being hunted by their own nation were far too common; during the last war, the Land of Lightning had aided dozens of allied shinobi. This time seemed no different.
However, their situation held a peculiar twist.
Shortly after the pair sought help and were admitted to the hospital, the Third Raikage himself announced the breakdown of peace with the Land of Water. Now, these two were technically enemy shinobi. At the very least, they should have been expelled from the Land of Lightning. Yet, the leadership issued directives to treat them first, even attempting recruitment – provided they were willing to supply maps of the Land of Water's defenses.
Those privy to the situation within the hospital found it perplexing, wondering how much a mere Genin could possibly know about national defense layouts. Nevertheless, they faithfully carried out their superiors' orders, explaining the situation – or rather, delivering the thinly veiled threat – to the uninjured girl.
They expected the orange-haired girl to react with humiliation, anger, or the pained expression of someone coerced into betraying their village upon hearing the conditions. Who could have known she would agree so readily? She immediately drew a map from memory, outlining the approximate safe route she and Kakashi had taken to escape the Land of Water, and handed it over to the Kumo ninja. As a bonus, she included details on every high-ranking official she could name in the Land of Water, information on Kirigakure's internal affairs, its combat strength, and even thoughtfully explained how to counter Mist shinobi within their concealing fog.
The Kumo leadership was stunned upon receiving the map and intelligence from the Land of Water.
The conflict hadn't even truly begun, and already two enemy defectors had turned coat, delivering intelligence of such critical importance.
They deserved a reward, a significant one.
The leadership immediately decided to bestow upon Mei Terumi and the still-unconscious Kakashi the honorary rank of Jonin of the Land of Lightning. However, this status was limited to external combat operations; internally, they wouldn't enjoy the various benefits and privileges afforded to Jonin within the village, nor could they reside inside Kumogakure itself.
Even Mei understood this maneuver perfectly – discarding them once they were no longer useful. If the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning were to cease hostilities, she and Kakashi would instantly become diplomatic gifts, sent back to Kirigakure.
But for the time being, they were safe.
The attending physician completed his daily examination of the silver-haired boy, meticulously recording the data. The boy had suffered piercing wounds to the chest – eight distinct injuries. Any normal person would have died eight times over. Yet, looking at him today, the wounds over his heart had healed so completely it was as if they had never existed. It was utterly baffling.
Equally baffling was his metabolism, which had slowed drastically these past few days, almost like hibernation. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything for days. If not for his breathing and heartbeat, he might as well have been dead.
All in all, he was an extremely valuable experimental subject. If the secrets within this young man's body could be understood, perhaps countless severely injured patients could be saved in the future.
After changing the IV drip, the doctor, filled with a fervent passion for research and the aspiration to save lives, left the ward and headed towards his laboratory. He intended to study the boy's cells, to extract whatever valuable secrets they held.
Mei rested her head on one hand, half-slumped over Kakashi's bedside. Her eyelids grew heavy, drooping relentlessly. Even the bright light from outside couldn't fend off the overwhelming wave of drowsiness washing over her. Her thoughts began to drift... With a soft thud of her head hitting the bedding, the girl fell into a deep sleep.
Mere minutes after she drifted off, the fingers of the silver-haired boy she guarded twitched once, then twice. Then, he startled awake abruptly. His suddenly opened eyes felt slightly dazzled by the harsh sunlight. Glancing down at the various tubes and bottles connected to his upper body, he felt utterly baffled.
Where was this? What was he doing here?
His hand gently brushed Mei's hair. Stirred by the movement, the girl struggled to open her eyes, which immediately lit up.
"You're awake!"
"..."
Her voice was soft, slightly hoarse. But that wasn't what struck Kakashi as unbelievable. It was the forehead protector she wore.
What's going on? Is Mei... a Kumo ninja now? Maybe I should just go back to sleep.
Deciding this, Kakashi closed his eyes again.
"I'm not awake."
"You're finally awake!" Mei used her fingers to pry Kakashi's eyelids open, her face suddenly looming large in his vision.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Noticing the dark circles under her eyes, Kakashi spoke slowly.
"Alright, explain. How long was I out? What did you do after I passed out? Where are we? And why have you become a Kumo ninja?"
"A Kumo Jonin," Mei corrected, a hint of delight in her voice. "Just like you, I'm a Kumo Jonin now!"
"Me??"
Grasping the crucial part of the problem, Kakashi finally noticed the metal plate now resting on his own forehead. Reaching up, he felt its texture. The boy simply couldn't fathom how he had inexplicably changed nationalities.
Konoha... must be gone...
That was the only conclusion he could reach.
The monitoring ninja in the distance observed the silver-haired boy waking up and immediately notified the attending physician. They quickly began resampling data from all the instruments. Simultaneously, a machine that had been sitting unused in the room whirred to life. Kakashi felt one of the tubes connected to his chest begin to draw his blood.
"Mei, help me pull this thing out!"
"Please, don't be alarmed," the attending physician arrived quickly, stopping the two youths' attempts to resist, offering a friendly smile. "This is merely a necessary blood test. See? It's already finished."
As he spoke, the blood-drawing tube detached and retracted into the machine. Kakashi glared unfriendly at the white-robed doctor, whose face was alight with academic curiosity, while secretly gathering his chakra.
"Please refrain from actions that might cause misunderstandings, Jonin Terumi Sai."
"Terumi Sai? Huh?" Mei turned her head aside, trying to hide her slightly unnatural expression.
"Is your name not Terumi Sai?" the doctor asked.
"...I guess so," Mei mumbled.
Seeing the orange-haired girl's reaction, Kakashi instantly understood what had happened. He could only resign himself to this strangely familiar-sounding name mix-up with a sigh.
"Now," Kakashi said, "can someone tell me what's going on?"
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