Event [Event - RRV] The First of Many

[Ashikawa Shun]

Shun’s breaths were quick and shallow, his body moving with a rhythmic urgency as he crossed the uneven terrain with the injured civilian doctor draped between him and his Medical Clone. The weight of the man in his arms was a constant reminder of the battle they had just narrowly survived. One of the doctor’s arm hung over Shun’s shoulder, while the other was draped across the Medical Clone’s, the clone’s calm and focused expression reflecting its unwavering dedication to keeping the doctor stable.

The inner workings of the clone’s jutsu were a blur to Shun as he focused on keeping his own pace steady, each step bringing them closer to the safety of the Byoin. The clone’s medical expertise was slightly lower than his own, but its jutsu stabilized the doctor with each calculated motion. While Shun’s body ached from the strain of carrying the man over the distance, he couldn’t afford to slow down. The pressure in his chest, a mix of worry and guilt, felt suffocating, but he fought it back, focusing solely on the task at hand.

The air around them was thick with the scent of ash, the remains of Crater City’s destruction still lingering. Shun’s mind kept flashing back to the battle - the screams of the fallen, the blood spilled. He could still hear the clash of weapons, the blazing heat of the flames, the chaos that had threatened to swallow them all. Despite the relief of surviving, the weight of the lives lost crushed his heart. He refused to let the heaviness consume him, not yet. The doctor needed him to stay focused, to get him to the Byoin as quickly as possible.

“Just a little farther,” Shun muttered to himself, pushing his legs to move faster, feeling every pulse of pain in his leg from the arrow. Despite his companion's healing jutsu, he still needed to properly care for the wound once he finished his task. His body was burning from the exertion, but he refused to stop. The Byoin was in sight now, a beacon of hope in the distance. He could see the familiar structure rising against the skyline, and a small sense of relief washed over him.

The Medical Clone’s silent presence at his side was oddly comforting, though Shun knew it was his own mind and heart that needed to be steady, not just his body. The clone was doing its part, using its medical jutsu to ensure the doctor remained alive, but Shun could feel the weight of responsibility resting solely on him. Every breath the doctor took, every moment of stability, was something Shun worked tirelessly to maintain.

Once they entered the inner village, Shun felt his pace quicken, his heart pounding in his chest as adrenaline coursed through his veins. He reached up with his free hand and tapped the headset clipped to his ear, his voice quick but steady as he spoke into it.

“Nao,” Shun’s voice came through, a little breathless from the long journey but controlled. “I’m on my way to the Byoin with a civilian doctor from Crater City. He’s stable for now, but he needs immediate care. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” His eyes remained focused ahead, knowing that time was of the essence.

The sound of the headset crackled lightly as he continued, his words filled with determination. “I’ll need assistance when I arrive. The man’s injuries are severe. I’m doing my best to keep him stable, but... it’s been a rough journey.”

Shun’s gaze flickered briefly toward the clone, and then back toward the Byoin, its silhouette now much closer. His steps quickened once more, each movement a final push to get the man to safety. “I’ll be there soon, Nao.”

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[Sazuki Nao]

It was true, Takeshi didn't leave a lot of papers behind for him to handle, but it was weird sitting at the Kage desk, making him feel a bit uneasy. He would open up the window to let in some fresh air before returning to the desk. Going through a few files before taking a stretch. He grabbed his headset and put it on in his ear before moving to the coffee machine. Another cup was drawn before the speakers of the computer started to make a noise. "A call..." He said and there it was, his headset crackled to life a few seconds later. "Funky..." He answered only after that word. "Sazuki Nao." then he heard an out of breath Shun.

"Civilian doctor of Crater City in bad shape, stable now. understood. I will meet you at the Byoin Shun." He would simply repeat as to what Shun had said, keeping the standards of headset talk direct and professionalism. He would first let his coffee drain in the sink, summon a clone to stay in the Kage place before moving towards the Byoin. He started to make more use of his clones now more than ever in the past. He was only able because of this to split his work a little.

At the Byoin Nao said that there would be a need for a trauma room, all the electronics would be needed present, and an additional comfy chair for a very tired person probably. All the things would be set in place before Shun would come to the Byoin. Technically... Nao didn't have direct control of this place anymore, but would still be assisting. He had yet to tell Shun that he wasn't the Sennin anymore but... well technically he was a Sennin, but just a step higher.

As soon as Shun arrived, a lot of the other doctors and nurses would take care of the doctor, while Nao would take care of Shun and keep an eye out. "Take a deep couple of breaths, here is some lukewarm water. " he would guide him to the chair and would only ask what was going on after he caught a little of his breath when the man was hooked on machines, blood was drawn and his body was being checked.

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[Ashikawa Shun]

Shun barely had the strength to keep moving as he stumbled into the Byoin, his muscles aching from exhaustion and the persistent throb of the arrow wound in his thigh. His grip on the civilian doctor had been firm until the very last second, making sure he was carefully transferred into the waiting hands of the medical team. Only then did Shun finally allow himself to let go, his clone dissipating once it was no longer needed.

As he stood there, swaying slightly, he watched as the medical staff worked quickly, their efficiency far beyond what he could have managed on his own. The machines beeped in steady rhythms, voices murmured orders, and clean, practiced movements replaced his own desperate, clumsy efforts from earlier. He should have felt relief. Instead, his stomach twisted.

Nao’s presence beside him was steady, grounding. Shun barely processed the gentle pressure guiding him to a chair, his body slumping into it without resistance. A cup of lukewarm water was pressed into his trembling hands. He blinked down at it for a moment before taking a careful sip, the warmth doing little to ease the tightness in his throat.

Nao instructed him to take deep breaths, and Shun obeyed, inhaling shakily, exhaling slow. The simple act of breathing felt like a battle in itself, his lungs tight, his body unwilling to relax even now that he was safe.

“The doctor… he’s stable?” His voice was trembling now, no longer needing to hold himself steady on the battlefield.

He already knew the answer. The man was alive, yes - but "stable" was another matter entirely. Shun had done everything he could with the knowledge he had, but it hadn’t been enough. The damage was done. The doctor would live, but Shun didn't believe the man would walk again. The realization gnawed at Shun’s chest like a dull blade, cutting slow and deep.

A shinobi knew the cost of battle. They were trained to accept injury, loss, and sacrifice. But this man… he hadn’t been a soldier. He had been a healer, caught in a war he had no part in. And because of Shun’s mistakes - his hesitation, his lack of skill - he would spend the rest of his life without the ability to stand on his own two feet.

Shun’s hands tightened around the cup, his knuckles turning white. He had wanted to save people. That had been his whole reason for training in the medical field. And yet, tonight, he had taken something irreplaceable from an innocent man. Nao began to question him about what happened. Only then did the weight of his first true battle make its presence known. Shun knew he needed to give a full report, he'd said it himself on the battlefield moments before leaving.

Shun wasn't sure he could put his regrets into words. A tired chuckle left his lips, bitter and self-deprecating. He finally turned his gaze down to his own injuries, acknowledging the dull, pulsing pain that had been lingering in his leg since the battle. Blood had seeped through the torn fabric of his pants, dark and spreading slowly. He should have cared sooner, as Akio had the moment he appeared at his side, but the wound felt almost insignificant compared to the weight in his chest.

“I should probably do something about this before I bleed all over your floor…” he murmured, forcing a weak smirk. But the humor didn’t quite reach his eyes. He wasn’t sure anything would, not tonight. Did I run? I left them there, with all those people. Shun trusted Akio to be able to handle his own, his healing touches were far more well-placed and thought out over Shun's own. Shun was his elder. I should go back. "I need to get back there. Help them with the rest of the civilians." His breath quickened for a moment again, unsure if he'd made any correct decisions in his panic. No. The man needed to be brought in. He knows things we don't. He was critical.

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[Sazuki Nao]

He had seen this all too many times, people rushing in, collapsing mere seconds later. But he had to give it to this child, he didn't collapse immediately. Maybe in a bit when his mind would settle, but not directly. He remembered his own first time when he rushed with a teammate who was on the brink of death. Watching how Shun did the breathing he did notice it helped at least a little. It was always a reasonable attempt to catch some breath before one could end up hyperventilating or worse. He replied to the question if the doctor was stable with a simple, let them worry about it. Since there were so many people around doing things, it was impossible to say how exactly he was doing... But still, the boy Nao took a glance at the monitor. "His BP is slightly elevated, but otherwise seems to be doing well," Nao replied calmly before crouching down beside the chair. A hand on the armrest to keep himself stable.

It seemed something was gnawing at him, because he remained silent for a long while. Frowning he would ask now since he felt something more was amiss. "Shun, what happened?" It wasn't a question that could be dodged, he said it with a bit of urgency. "Took another kunai to the knee?" He made a comment about the bleeding and simply pointed, he normally never really used chakra but in this case, he did. He used the most basic one to treat him but still did it in aan ttempt to reassure the child. "Go back there, where is there? What with civilians... You are here now, in a shape that is worse for wear. Give me a status report so we can reply to things, you headset me in. But what about reinforcements if you need them? At the Byoin, we always have a handful of personnel who are on standby for those cases. Talk to me."

 

[Ashikawa Shun]

"I killed someone today."

The words slipped from his lips the moment Nao finished asking him. There was no point in delaying it - no way to soften the truth. Shun decided to rip it off like a bandage, knowing that if he hesitated, if he tried to ease into it, it would only get harder to say. His throat felt tight, his pulse hammering against his ribs as he forced himself to take a deep breath. The pain in his leg had dulled, thanks to Nao’s treatment, but it was nothing compared to the storm of emotions raging in his chest.

"We got to Crater City and bumped into some mysterious people who spoke in riddles. Kota rushed off, but I answered. They led me to the market entrance, nothing more. I contacted a friend in the city, and he gave me a name. Elias Kane."Shun shook his head, exhaling sharply as he recalled how chaotic everything had been. He had barely absorbed the information before they were thrown into battle. Reaching into his pocket, he fished out the crumpled note and handed it over to his mentor.

"A fight broke out then. Three shinobi, one shot me in the leg right as the battle began." He let out a short, hollow laugh, his lips twisting in something that wasn’t quite amusement. It was ridiculous in hindsight - he hadn’t even had time to react before the pain hit. Nao would probably find some humor in it, but the moment was fleeting. His laughter died as his chest tightened, and the weight of what came next pressed down on his shoulders. "There was so much fire, Nao. The place is a wreck." His voice dropped, quieter now. "We managed to subdue the enemies, but in the chaos... I failed to offer proper medical care when it was needed most."

He swallowed hard, his throat dry as the memory replayed in his mind. The doctor's panicked shouts, the confusion in his eyes. "I believe the doctor thought I was trying to interrogate him. He shouted Elias's name in the midst of it all, so I know he has information. That's why I thought it important to rush him in. I left Kota and Akio to care for the rest of the people in the midst of the damage to the city, but they could definitely use the help getting everyone taken care of."

The full weight of his report had been given, but it didn’t feel like enough. None of it changed the truth that gnawed at him from the inside out. His gaze lifted to his mentor, searching for something. "I killed one of them."

His breath hitched. His fingers curled into fists as he fought to steady himself, but his resolve was slipping fast. "A few civilians died in the midst of it all, and I know there's isn't much I could do except try to keep more from dying. But I took a life with my own hand."

The realization truly sank in then, heavier than before. The panic from the battle had kept him moving, kept him focused. But now, in the stillness of the aftermath, there was nothing to shield him from it. Fear, regret, sadness - they all crashed into him at once, a tidal wave he couldn’t fight off.

Tears blurred his vision, his voice trembling as he finally let his doubts spill out.

"Am I even fit to be a medical shinobi?" The question was barely above a whisper, raw and uncertain. "I feel awful for killing a man. And the doctor - I was just trying to save him, but he thought I was interrogating him because I tried to heal his wounds before pulling him out from under the wreckage. I can’t even think straight in the middle of battle."

His breath shuddered as he pressed his palms against his thighs, trying to ground himself. What if I make the wrong call again? What if next time, someone dies because I hesitated?

It wasn’t just the fear of taking another life that shook him. It was the fear of failing when it mattered most.

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