Chapter 8.1- Oak

I scowled at the fish in front of me. Even after hours of trying to pump it full with medical chakra, it still remained in the state of suspended animation that Chiyo had placed it in with only a tap from one of her fingers.

“Good. Finally, something you are truly terrible at. If you had continued at that pace, I would have begun to suspect you of being something not quite human,” Chiyo said after 10 minutes of my trying with no results at all. I could understand where she was coming from, though. In two weeks of medical training, I’d blitzed through most of the preliminary texts she had me study and had an easy time moving through the chakra control exercises she recommended. The first of those exercises, balancing a floating ball of water between my fingers, had awakened my chakra control skill. It was already at level fifty on account of me being the Gamer and all that, which was a boon. It also came with the detriment of being nearly impossible to train.

What I’d found in the last few months from my own training, seeing what Baki could do, that fight against the root anbu, and spying on other ninjas in the village was that level 50 was pretty much the bottom of Jounin-level, with level 25 forming the bottom of Chunin-level. Other people didn’t have levels since they didn’t have the Gamer’s body, letting them live their lives like games, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t gauge their abilities with pure observation. I had Jounin-level intelligence, after all.

“Maybe you should try a different method,” Chiyo commented as she entered the office and still found me struggling to revive the fish.

“Different method?” I asked, repeating her words, a habit I’d picked up recently because of how much it seemed to annoy the woman. Less than ten total hours spent together, and I was already beginning to pick up on the woman’s tells and hints.

“Your impersonation of a parrot is no more amusing now than it was the very first time you tried it out,” she said, scowling and drawing closer.

“Yes, a different method. Now, you are trying to use your chakra and guide it to go where it instinctively wants to go. That is how most medical ninjutsu works. You only need complex knowledge of anatomy to make sure you don't accidentally break anything in your attempts to ensure things get back to working. However, there is another method. More advanced, but maybe more suited to you. You must learn the exact nature of the injury and use your own willpower to heal the injury. You must not let your chakra flow as it wishes; you must instead force it to do what it needs to,” she said as she finally reached the fish in front of me.

“Maybe that will work just a bit better for you and get some actual results,” she said before leaning over and humming at the fish. “Or maybe you’re just a complete idiot, and the fish died over an hour ago.” I looked up at her, eyes wide. Nani? She shook her head at me, bursting into laughter.

Today, Baki showed up to training with a form that was already filled in. He only showed it to me to affix my signature to it and make sure the information there was accurate. It was a Chunin exam form, and I almost sighed in relief when I saw it. The bastard had been getting more and more abusive with his training methods, and I was just about done with dealing with him for any long periods of time. A promotion to Chunin was just what the doctor ordered.

“Good, you’re interested. It would have been a pain to force you,” he said with half a scowl visible. I looked at him and resisted the urge to act. For some reason, his words were beginning to get on my nerves even more. It might have been my frustration with medical ninjutsu bleeding over to the rest of my life. It might also be that I’d just had enough of his bullshit over the years. “The exams will be held in Kusa. Your training from now henceforth will be aimed at polishing off every dull edge in your fighting style. You will be the only ninja from Sunagakure sent to this exam, so your victory must be a foregone conclusion. We risk much for you. The reward must be equally great,” he said before blurring into motion and making for my head. I backflipped out of the way of the attack before catching myself in a cocoon of sand to avoid the follow-up that was sure to catch me mid-air.

“What do you have for me, Three?” I asked the ANBU agent kneeling on the floor, the head of our counterintelligence operations. “The other villages are aware of Gaara’s participation in the exams at Kusa. Their spies sent the reports last week, and word from our spies is that even isolationist villages like Kumo are mobilizing to send their representatives. Gaara’s participation has stirred the hornet’s nest,” he said, and I smiled. All was going according to plan. “Beautiful. And the Daimyo?” “The wind Daimyo has been convinced to attend, and he has similarly sent out letters to all his cousins to attend the exams.” There was nothing I loved more than a plan coming together. All the great nations danced according to my tune, and at the end of the day, Sand will land on top. “Thank you, Three,” I said before looking to the other side and facing Baki. “Is he ready?” I asked, unsure of how much of my concern was that of a Kage risking his village’s future on the shoulders of a six-year-old and how much was that of a man who wanted to know the fate of his youngest son, Karura’s sacrifice. I did it all for her. He would never know, but it was all for her. Everything was for her. “Yes. He might not have the strength of a Jounin, but he is more than crafty enough to kill one if it comes to it. It won’t. He will be facing Genin and will be the strongest of them all by a fair margin.” I nodded at Baki’s words and waited for him to continue.

“However, if the others in the Great Five are truly stirring, then he might face stiffer competition. I have no doubt that each of the other villages would have their own monsters ready to face him down,” he said, head still bowed and tone doubtful. I could understand the doubt. It was unbelievable that there could be other Genin as strong as Gaara out there. He was a jinchuriki, and one with almost perfect control over his creature’s gifts. The only other village with a chance of having even a similar weapon was Kumo, and it was well known that they would never endanger their weapon beyond times of war.

“Might I ask why, my lord?” The ninja bowed in front of me, bringing my head from my thoughts, and I gave him a look before ceding his request.

“You may. Suna is not in a good state. You of all ninja can see this. Our position in the Great Five has never been more at risk. Kusa stumbles and grows bolder and bolder every year. Konoha whispers of reevaluating our alliance. Our own Daimyo contracts other villages to fulfill his missions. This village has never been in more peril, but we’ve also never had such an opportunity to turn things around before,” I said, taking a deep breath before continuing as my sense of his chakra told me he was paying rapt attention.

“Gaara is strong. I have never seen a Genin so strong. He is, without a doubt, the future of Suna. If he sought it, this seat would be his one day and I would never deny him. He is strong, and he is young. That is why we are sending him out now. A six-year-old at the Chunin exams will draw eyes. A six-year-old at the Chunin exams alone would draw even more eyes, and that same child winning the entire thing would be the show of the century. Gaara’s victory will secure the future of Suna. That is why I am so willing to risk her present. Genin who ought to participate in this year’s tournament will be forced to wait another six months. I will stall their development for Suna’s future, and their sacrifice will be nothing,” I said, standing up at the end and projecting my voice. I had my own doubts about the plan. I had my own worries, but I needn’t have bothered with them. The plan will work. It just has to.

“Yes, my lord,” Baki said, and I nodded before dismissing him. I pulled out the drawer on my desk and took out the photo frame within. It was Karura, heavily pregnant as she was, and smiling with the radiance of the sun. All for you, my dear. You dreamed of a supreme Suna. I will deliver.