Returning to the Konoha camp, Chao Yanqian finally felt relieved. This decisive battle with Sunagakure may have been a deadly struggle for other Chūnin, but for Chao Yanqian, it was nothing more than a minor skirmish, and he took the opportunity to gain some military merit.
In the early stages of the battle, most of the medical-nin in the squad were assigned to various teams, and only about twenty medics, such as Asagrechi, were left as decoys. Under the protection of Konoha shinobi, they didn't encounter any real danger.
It wasn't until Rasa's Gold Dust Ninjutsu struck that Chao Yanqian feared for his life for the first time.
But in the later stages of the battle, under the protection of Uchiha Chizuru, Chao Yanqian was completely safe on the battlefield.
When the Sand shinobi attacked, Chao Yanqian didn't even need to act—he was protected entirely by Uchiha Chizuru and other Konoha ninjas.
"Boy, don't forget our agreement," Chizuru Uchiha said with a scowl before parting ways.
"Don't worry, I'm very trustworthy. Maybe we'll have other opportunities to work together in the future," said Asagrechi.
"Hmph! Don't count on it. There won't be another chance," Uchiha Chizuru replied coldly before turning and walking away.
"That's not very nice!" Chao Yanqian muttered, watching Uchiha Chizuru's back.
What Chao Yanqian appreciated most about this battle was the opportunity to connect with Uchiha Chizuru. Although Chizuru had the typical Uchiha arrogance, his strength was undeniable, and being from the Uchiha clan could be valuable later on.
As the captain of the medical squad, Chao Yanqian needed to report to Orochimaru and summarize the casualties among the medical-nin during the battle.
He arrived at the medical squad's camp. The whole area was filled with the wounded. The medical-nin were already overwhelmed. Even with Tsunade's powerful healing techniques, many of the injured couldn't be saved.
He gathered his unit's medics, asked about their casualties, gave some quick instructions, and then rushed off to find Orochimaru.
Upon entering Orochimaru's camp, Chao Yanqian casually glanced around and saw Konoha elites like Minato Namikaze and Shikaku Nara already gathered. It looked like they were discussing the aftermath of the war and the situation between Konoha and Sunagakure.
"Lord Orochimaru!" he greeted respectfully.
"Chao Yanqian, why did you return so late?" Minato Namikaze asked.
"Oh! I was with Captain Chizuru and Jōnin Itō, chasing after the Sand shinobi," Chao Yanqian explained.
"As a medical-nin, why didn't you return immediately to treat the wounded after the battle?" Minato asked with concern.
"Our team's mission was to provide immediate treatment on the battlefield. I followed them to tend to any wounded as needed," Chao Yanqian replied.
"Alright," Orochimaru said, waving his hand. "How were the casualties among the medical team?"
"Forty-eight were killed in action," Chao Yanqian reported.
It was a shame that the medic Kira, whom Chao Yanqian had high hopes for, was killed by Rasa's jutsu. His plan to recruit Kira had failed.
"How many wounded are in Konoha now? How many have minor injuries, and how many need to be sent back to the village immediately?" Orochimaru asked further.
"The squad leader is still compiling the numbers. I estimate it'll take a bit more time to finalize the statistics," Chao Yanqian replied.
"I heard you had a dispute with Uchiha Chizuru?" Orochimaru asked in a low tone.
Chao Yanqian understood Orochimaru's intentions. If he pinned the failure to protect the medics on Chizuru, the higher-ups would use it as justification to suppress the Uchiha clan's growing influence.
"Yes, we did have a disagreement," Chao Yanqian said. "At the time, I sensed that Rasa was targeting the medical unit and noticed the terrain could easily be used to manipulate sand. I advised Captain Chizuru to prepare for evacuation, but he refused. His idea was to lure Rasa in, let the medics retreat with the wounded, and then try to eliminate Rasa during the process."
"Damn that Uchiha Chizuru!" Minato said angrily. Rasa's large-scale jutsu had nearly wiped out hundreds of Konoha shinobi, most of whom were already injured and unable to escape.
"Actually, it wasn't entirely Captain Chizuru's fault," Chao Yanqian continued, glancing at Minato. "By the time I realized Rasa's intentions, it was already too late. Even without Captain Chizuru's interference, we wouldn't have escaped Rasa's jutsu."
Orochimaru's expression darkened slightly at Chao Yanqian's explanation.
If Uchiha Chizuru were held responsible, Orochimaru might've been able to study the secrets of the Uchiha clan through him. But with Chizuru gone, that chance had vanished.
Chao Yanqian had his own reasons. Uchiha Chizuru was powerful, and there might be future opportunities to work together. Chao Yanqian couldn't afford to let Orochimaru see through all his motives just yet.
"Hmm. Understood. If there's nothing else, you may leave now," Orochimaru said, dismissing him after a few more routine questions.
Chao Yanqian didn't mind,he wasn't in the mood for more conversation. If Orochimaru had asked him for his opinion on Sunagakure, he honestly wouldn't know what to say.
After all, the original Naruto manga only gave brief coverage of the Third Great Ninja War,just an overview of major battles, with few specifics. So Chao Yanqian couldn't accurately judge Sunagakure's future military strength.
Based on what was shown, Sunagakure would later clash with Kirigakure and Iwagakure separately, but the exact timeline was unclear.
Returning to the medical squad camp, Chao Yanqian got back to work.
Post-battle was always the busiest time for medics. Many injured shinobi still hadn't received treatment. Despite his fatigue, Chao Yanqian had to summon his strength and continue helping the wounded.
He stayed up working until the early hours of the morning. Only then did he find a moment to rest.
He slept until noon the next day before dragging himself out of bed.
Fortunately, Chao Yanqian had trained extensively, and his stamina and endurance far surpassed that of most shinobi his age. Though his body ached slightly, it wasn't a major issue. His minor wounds had already healed thanks to the Palm Sage Technique.
After a quick wash, Chao Yanqian stepped out of the camp and called over a fellow medic.
"Sakurada, come here!"
Chao Yanqian figured the squad leader had likely finished counting casualties by now, so he casually asked, "How are Konoha's casualties?"