"Don't need treatment? Who's talking nonsense—believe it or not I'll—huh?! Lord Kai?!"
The medical squad captain's face darkened the instant he heard those words.
But halfway through his outburst, he looked up—and froze.
Standing right there… was Kai.
The latter half of his sentence died in his throat.
At the same time, everyone else turned to look at Kai, their expressions all different.
"Kai… you're awake."
"Lord Kai!"
"That's great—since you're up, hurry and let us send him back to the medical department!"
Most of the reactions were filled with relief.
Especially Shikaku. The moment he saw Kai awake, he immediately raised his hand, signaling the medical squad to proceed.
The medical captain let out a quiet breath, assuming he must've misheard earlier.
He turned around, preparing to lift Naruto onto the stretcher.
But right then—
A calm voice sounded again.
"It's fine. No need to go back."
"…What?"
This time, the medical captain's brows knit tightly.
He turned back toward Kai, forcibly suppressing his temper as he explained,
"Lord Kai, you can clearly see the state this jinchūriki is in. He's far too young, and his recovery ability is limited. If he isn't treated immediately, he really might not make it."
The words were steady, but anyone could hear the anger underneath.
Yet strangely, no one blamed him.
Medical-nin didn't care who you were.
If you got in the way of saving a life, even the Hokage would get chewed out.
That was why medical specialists were treasured in every village.
After all—no one could guarantee they'd never need saving.
"Exactly. If you want to save him, let us take him now. Otherwise—"
The medical captain nodded firmly, reaching out again for Naruto.
啪.
This time, his hand was stopped mid-air.
Kai gently waved his hand, his tone unchanged.
"It's fine. Really. No need to return to Konoha."
Again.
Again and again, he blocked them.
The medical captain finally snapped.
He straightened up, arms crossing sharply as he stepped aside.
"Fine. Then you do it."
His lips curled into a cold smile.
"You're the doctor now? If you're so capable—you do it."
The words landed heavily.
Shikaku and the others felt their expressions darken.
That was blatant disrespect.
But Kai didn't react at all.
Instead, he simply nodded.
"…Alright."
He lightly patted Shikaku on the shoulder.
"I'll do it, then."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Every Konoha ninja present stared blankly at him.
Shikaku tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to reason with him.
"Lord Kai… your strength is unquestionable, but healing the wounded is—"
He didn't finish.
Everyone understood.
Combat and healing were entirely different disciplines.
Power didn't mean you could save lives.
Even the medical captain looked over with open skepticism, arms still crossed, eyes filled with disdain.
In his mind, this was pure nonsense.
Medical ninjutsu isn't something you brute-force your way through.
If strength alone could save lives, why would medical-nin exist at all?
Even Jiraiya finally managed to squeeze his way forward, clutching his chest.
"K-kid… are you sure about this?"
But when he met Kai's eyes—
He swallowed the rest of his words.
Those eyes were calm.
Cold.
Absolute.
"…Tch," Jiraiya muttered. "Fine… if this goes south, I'll have Gamabunta send him back instantly."
Then—
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
Crimson chakra suddenly rose from Kai's palm.
"This is—!"
"Tailed Beast chakra?!"
"What is he trying to do?!"
The medical captain frowned deeply, finally turning fully back toward Kai.
"Showy tricks won't save a patient."
But Jiraiya's expression changed.
Slowly.
Sharply.
"…Wait."
A distant memory surfaced in his mind.
A rumor he'd once dismissed as nonsense.
"…I once heard," Jiraiya said slowly, "that Tailed Beast chakra isn't just destructive."
"It also possesses… terrifying regenerative power."
The crowd went silent.
Shikaku's pupils shrank.
"…That was just a rumor, wasn't it?"
Jiraiya didn't answer.
Because at that moment—
Kai pressed his palm down.
噗嗤.
Crimson-gold chakra spread gently over Naruto's body.
It wasn't violent.
It wasn't corrosive.
Instead, it felt… warm.
Like a cloak.
A soft, flowing chakra mantle wrapped around Naruto, entirely different from the savage tailed-beast aura earlier.
"No… impossible…"
The medical captain's face stiffened.
Under everyone's gaze—
Burned flesh regenerated.
Muscle fibers rewove themselves.
Charred skin peeled away, replaced by fresh, healthy tissue.
Like spring grass breaking through scorched earth.
Three minutes.
Only three minutes passed.
Naruto—who moments ago looked half-dead—now lay peacefully, breathing steadily, his skin restored, his body whole.
"…Healed?"
One of the medical assistants whispered in disbelief.
Another sucked in a sharp breath.
"This… this is better than our best emergency treatment…"
Shikaku stood frozen.
So did everyone else.
Only one thought echoed in their minds:
So when he said he could do it…
He actually meant it.
The medical captain stared at Naruto.
Then at Kai.
His arms slowly dropped to his sides.
For the first time—
He felt his pride crack.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/SorenSwiftTL