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Midorima, of course, wasn't going on a date. Instead, he went to a nearby deserted island to practice "Exploding Water Shockwave" and didn't return to his residence until the dead of night, his chakra nearly completely depleted.
After only two or three hours of brief rest, he hurriedly got up and rushed back to the medical division.
Just as he finished putting on his white coat, Shimomura called him into his office.
Ignoring Shimomura's teasing gaze, Midorima cut straight to the point: "Sensei, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Wait, wait, wait—how is there nothing?!" Shimomura, who had originally planned to tease him a little, immediately grew anxious upon hearing Midorima's words. He slammed the table and stood up. "Yesterday's meeting mainly discussed two things, and one of them concerns you."
Midorima took a deep breath. "Go ahead."
"First, among the four vacant positions in the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, one has already been decided." Shimomura started with the other matter.
"Who is it? It's not Zabuza, is it?" Midorima instinctively asked.
He remembered that Zabuza had wielded the "Executioner's Blade", which should currently be in the hands of Juzo Biwa.
"Zabuza? He's still a bit lacking." Shimomura waved his hand. "It's Hōzuki Mangetsu."
Hōzuki Mangetsu was the older brother of Hōzuki Suigetsu. Even among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he was a genius among geniuses, one of the few shinobi who had mastered all seven of the legendary swords.
No one would object to him becoming one of the Seven.
"And then… the matter about the medical-nin thesis?"
"After discussions among the middle and upper ranks, the Mizukage made an exception. For now, only you are allowed to join missions with the teams. Though the number is small, the hardest step is getting started. The fact that it was approved at all is already a good outcome." Shimomura seemed satisfied with the result.
If Midorima could deliver a few more outstanding performances, medical-nin would attract new recruits. With steady development, the expansion of the medical division was only a matter of time.
Midorima was overjoyed.
The two major upgrades to the [Cell Laboratory] had both been related to mission participation.
This suggested that in a stable environment, it was difficult to unlock the [Cell Laboratory]'s functions.
And indeed, in peaceful circumstances, there was no need for the [Cell Laboratory]'s full capabilities.
"However, the one thing that left me somewhat bewildered—even suspicious—was that the deciding vote came from Igawa Bu." After a moment of hesitation, Shimomura voiced his doubts.
Admittedly, he believed that even without Igawa's help, the Mizukage might not have rejected Midorima's thesis. But Igawa's involvement had completely tipped the scales in their favor.
Midorima, on the other hand, thought he had misheard.
His only connection with Bu was through Tai.
Of the three people involved in that mission, two had survived—the only casualty being Igawa's son.
Under such circumstances, the idea that Igawa would speak in his favor was nothing short of miraculous.
Recalling the fury in Igawa's eyes when he had looked at him during Tai's funeral, Midorima was certain that Igawa did "not" hold him in high regard—rather, there was deep-seated hatred.
"This… is probably not a good thing." Midorima frowned.
Shimomura sneered. "I knew that bastard was up to no good. Come on, tell me—what's really going on?"
Midorima gave a wry smile. "You were the one at the meeting, not me."
"True, but I didn't think much of it at the time." Shimomura shook his head, then added, as if to reassure Midorima, "Don't worry. If he dares to harm you, I won't let him off."
"No, thanks. Just throw an extra handful of dirt on my grave when the time comes."
Midorima was certain that if he died, Shimomura wouldn't dare make a sound—if Shimomura had that kind of courage, the Third Mizukage would have buried him long ago.
"Then why would he do this?" Shimomura forced an awkward laugh, changing the subject.
Midorima's studies before transmigrating had taught him one crucial thing—"empathy".
If he were Igawa Bu, he would choose the most effective method out of a hundred ways to kill someone.
"You should know the reason." Midorima looked at Shimomura, whose expression remained calm. "You're aware of how my shoulder injury and Mei's abdominal wound happened, right?"
The wounds from a sword and a sickle were different.
"I know. It was Tai who did it, wasn't it?" Shimomura braced himself. He had initially tried to play dumb, but now realized there was no avoiding the topic.
"We didn't kill Tai. But if you were Bu, what would you do?"
"Kill you. Can't let the truth about Tai attacking you get out. But since he agreed to let you join missions…" Shimomura trailed off, finally catching on.
"The way Tai died, he can make sure I die the same way." Midorima spread his hands. "And you won't be able to do a thing about it. After I'm dead, he can just say, 'See? Medical-nin are useless on the battlefield.'"
At the end, Midorima sighed. "Death isn't scary. What's scary is being stabbed in the back by your own comrades."
"Impossible!" Shimomura immediately retorted. "If he thinks he can touch my people, he's got another thing coming! But… the Mizukage already approved your request. If you don't go, that's also a problem."
Shimomura phrased it delicately, but the truth was—there was no way out.
Igawa Bu was using an overt scheme. Even knowing he would manipulate things, there was no way to stop him. They could only watch helplessly as Midorima walked toward the executioner's block.
This strike wouldn't just take Midorima's head—it would also sever Shimomura's dream of reforming the medical-nin system.
Seeing Midorima's furrowed brow, Shimomura suggested, "How about this? Say you need to study more medical ninjutsu and can't leave Kirigakure for now?"
"And if he asks, 'Then how were you able to leave last time?' What do I say then?" Midorima countered.
Last time, his opponent had been Katsuramaru—and Katsuramaru was no weakling.
If Midorima could handle Katsuramaru, then hunting other rogue ninja shouldn't be a problem either.
What if the enemy was stronger than Katsuramaru?
Easy—just assign a few more elite ANBU to assist Midorima.
Well, "assist" in collecting his corpse.
It was a perfect, closed loop.
Shimomura mentally played out the scenario, and his head instantly throbbed.
"What do we do?"
"Shut it down." Midorima could only offer this answer.
"Shut it down?" Shimomura's eyes widened in confusion.
This was the first time he'd heard this term.
"I'll need your cooperation." Midorima coughed lightly, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Outside the office, the janitor sweeping the hallway suddenly heard a fierce argument erupt inside. Then, the door was flung open and slammed violently against the wall.
"Old man Shimomura, listen up! If you won't let me learn water-style ninjutsu, then I'm done studying medical ninjutsu! No exceptions!" Midorima stormed out of the room in a huff.
"Hah! If you dare quit medical ninjutsu, don't even think about going on missions again! That's final!" Shimomura pointed at the door and roared.
The janitor stood frozen, utterly bewildered: 'What in the world just happened?'
...
Soon, word spread throughout the village that Midorima and Shimomura had gotten into a physical altercation over a clash of ideologies. Rumor had it that Shimomura's glasses had been shattered into pieces.
In his fury, Shimomura had cursed openly and declared that Midorima would never be allowed to leave the village again.
The proposal that had just been approved in the meeting was now "shut down" due to their irreconcilable differences.