Takuma took a deep breath, grabbed the parallel railings on either side of him, and exhaled as he let his arms support his weight. He grunted in pain and extreme discomfort as he tried to walk forward; his legs and hips trembled like a newborn faun. To re-learn how to walk, something that was as natural as breathing, was a miserable experience.

“One more step,” said the nurse beside him.

Takuma had never felt humiliation like this ever before. He was a shinobi who could skip rooftops, scale mountains, and move at speeds unimaginable by civilians—but now he was worse than an infant who had learned to walk.

Sweat dripped from his eyebrows as he took labored breaths. He fought the instinct to let his uninjured arms take over the weight of his body weight from his legs and let them rest, but he knew this was the only way to return to form. He couldn’t wait for the day he would return to the Ring and thrash opponents to the ground—he yearned for the rush.

“I-I can’t do anymore,” Takuma said.

“A few more steps would be your personal best,” the nurse replied. “Come on, you can do it.”

Takuma gritted his teeth and took trembling steps. He had thought only one of his legs was screwed up, but adrenaline had been supporting his other leg and even his spine during the fight. He was aware that he would fully recover, but the journey to the destination was miserable. It didn’t help that his organs were shredded in the process and couldn’t handle solid food—he was on a “mush” diet.

“That’s it! Good job!” the nurse cheered when Takuma made it to three-quarters of the path.

The moment he heard the praise, Takuma lifted his lower body up with his arms and dangled in the air, breathing heavily. He stared at the sweat drops that fell down on the mat below him.

He wanted to scream.

“Officer Takuma.”

Hearing his name, Takuma turned his head to see Jonin Uchiha Sayuri, the Head of the Department of Organized Crime, standing a distance away from him with two guards behind her. She was his boss’ boss. She was the one to greenlit the Narcotics Taskforce, and the one Takuma used in the newspaper as spokesperson whenever they did a big bust to ensure he and the Narcotics Taskforce were in her graces.

“Let’s talk,” she said.

They settled in the corner of the physical therapy hall. Sayuri’s guard stood a distance away from them as the two sat around a desk across from each other.

“I must admit, I’m surprised with your visit, ma’am,” said Takuma.

“It’s not every day one of my officers is almost assassinated,” said Sayuri.

“The Narcotics Taskforce was uncharted territory, ma’am. We must’ve scared the drug lords. I see this as a positive,” he chuckled. Sayuri smiled in return. Takuma could sense small talk about his health coming, so he cut it short. “What’s the reason behind this visit, ma’am? I’m sure this isn’t just a social visit.”

He had been getting visits from his friends and colleagues the entire week. His Narcotics Taskforce subordinates, some colleagues from Organized Crime, Sango, Iruka, Aburame Susumu from the Hidden Frost mission, the genin and chunin from the farm raid mission—people had been trickling in to see him—and it was kind of them, but he was fed up with having the same conversation again and again.

Sayuri sighed as she set an envelope on the table.

Takuma looked at her in confusion as he ripped the envelope. Both the envelope and the letter inside had the official seal from a Hidden Leaf shinobi office stamped on them.

As Takuma read the letter, his confusion grew.

“Conscription?” he looked at Sayuri with a heavy frown. “I am getting conscripted for the conflict between the Land of Hot Waters and the Land of Frost? Ma’am, I’m not sure if you realize, but I’m in no condition to serve in an office, much less at a battlefield.”

“Of course, you’re not being asked to go immediately. You will be deployed after you pass the standard physical,” she said.

Anger began to bubble inside Takuma.

“And why are they conscripting from the Police Force?” Takuma asked, heeling his words from jumping.

“Every division has been asked to send some of their shinobi to help our allies in the Hidden Steam.”

“I see. But I can’t go, ma’am. The Narcotics Taskforce is at a critical stage. We can’t let the drug lords think that the assassination attempt has us scared. It’s time for us to increase the intensity and aggressively target them to show that we mean business. My team needs me; I can’t leave them right now. You must stop this order.”

What Takuma said was true. The Narcotics Taskforce couldn’t plateau right now. But the intention behind his words was to hear how Sayuri would reply.

“I agree with you. Unfortunately, I don’t have the authority to stop the order. We can’t be seen as not wanting to support our allies.”

‘Bullshit,’ Takuma spat. He asked, “Then what happens to the Narcotics Taskforce? Who will lead it?”

“Someone capable will replace—”

“Is it already decided?” asked Takuma. “Am I already out? Is my replacement already chosen and they’re preparing to take my place in the next few days? Or has that selection process not started yet?”

Sayuri didn’t answer the question immediately.

“Who is it?” he asked.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Takuma, you must understand. We can’t allow the taskforce to remain without leadership—”

“Who is it, ma’am?”

“Chunin Uchiha Yakumi.”

“Of course,” Takuma scoffed.

Uchiha Yakumi was Kano’s direct supervisor when Takuma worked under her and became Takuma’s direct supervisor when he established the Narcotics Taskforce. Yakumi wasn’t involved with the task force, but Takuma was required to give regular reports to Yakumi so that the higher-ups were in the loop.

“So, it’s not that you can’t stop the order, you don’t want to stop the order,” Takuma said.

He had, of course, expected it. He had known this would happen for months and had even prepared himself for it—but now that it was happening, he couldn’t help but regulate his burning emotions. He didn’t care if he was talking rudely to a jonin; he felt a righteous anger burn within him.

Sayuri’s eyes sharpened at Takuma’s words. She had been passive until now, but her body language was enough tell-tale signs that had changed.

“Mind the words you use, Officer Takuma,” she said. “This is the department’s final decision. It will be announced later today, and the decision will go into effect in a few days.”

“And what if I ask Lady Uchiha?” said Takuma.

Sayuri’s eyes narrowed as she glared at Takuma. “Jonin Mikoto never joined the Police Force. Feel free to go to her if that’s what you desire, but I don’t think it will change anything.” She stood up to walk away but left behind a few more words, “You might be her student, but she’s Jonin Uchiha Mikoto—do you think she will go against the clan to support you?”

“Thank you for visiting, ma’am,” Takuma said in reply.

After Sayuri left, Takuma stood up from his chair and yelled,

“Nurse!”

Rage was a good motivator.

———

.

“I can ask my husband to stop the conscription order,” said Mikoto, “but do you think that will be wise?”

It had been three days since Sayuri had given Takuma the news. Because Takuma couldn’t leave the hospital, Mikoto had to come to the hospital. At first, he wanted to transport himself to Mikoto’s home, but after refusal by Dr. Oichi, Mikoto offered to visit him.

“What do you mean?” asked Takuma.

They sat on the chairs in Takuma’s private room, which the Police Force was nice enough to provide for him while he recovered.

“Let’s say that I ask him to stop the conscription order. Do you think you will be able to return to the Police Force and continue to lead the Narcotics Taskforce like before?” she asked.

“Can’t he revert the change in leadership back to me?” asked Takuma.

“He could,” Mikoto shrugged, “but why would he do you two favors?”

“You can ask—”

Mikoto stopped him. “I can’t make Fugaku do anything he doesn’t want to, Takuma. I never joined the Police Force, so I have limited sway over their affairs. Let’s say I ask him. To reinstate you, he will have to go against Sayuri. Fugaku might be the Clan Head and the Chief of the Police Force, but that doesn’t mean he can just do anything he wants. Organized Crime is Sayuri’s department; he will have to give her something in return.

He won’t deal with her for you. You are my student, not his.”

Takuma bit his lip. Mikoto was right; Fugaku won’t help him. Fugaku knew about his Ring career; even though the man was fine with it, others would not. That was enough reason for Fugaku not to support him; it might damage his position in the clan and the Police Force.

“And are you sure you want to return?” said Mikoto. “I can make the conscription go away, but because of your contract, you will have to go back to work with the Police Force. You will be made to work in the Narcotics Taskforce. Is that what you want? Let’s say you somehow get transferred from Organized Crime to some other department. Do you think you will get the same opportunity as you did with the Narcotics Taskforce?

“And depending upon how much you pissed Sayuri, she might just feel vindictive, and release the information in your file that you so much want to keep hidden. Even Fugaku can’t stop rumors.”

Takuma felt irked by how calm Mikoto was when talking about his career. He had known her for several months, so he knew that’s how she was always, but it still irked him, even though she was making sense.

“So, you’re saying I should just give up?”

“I won’t lie; this situation isn’t optimal for you, but you can still make something out of it,” said Mikoto. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you must’ve thought about pursuing a rank promotion soon.”

Takuma hesitated for a moment before nodding.

He had some plans for becoming a chunin within the next twelve-month period. There was a Chunin Exam in less than two months, but Takuma had no intention to attend. He was aiming for a field promotion—his achievements in the Police Force were coming along great, and he thought that if he continued to develop the Narcotics Taskforce, he would be able to rack up enough to get promoted through the Police Force.

Because the Leaf Military Police Force was a “Division” like the T&I Division or the Intelligence Division, they had certain promotion slots every year—moreover, even individual jonin had one chunin promotion slot every year. Takuma was aiming for one of those slots to get promoted—which was why he had doubled down with the Police Force.

His initial contract with the Police Force would have expired a month ago, but Takuma had signed an extension to show he was serious about a career in the Police Force.

Mikoto knew about the extension as it had come up in one of their conversations.

“A Chunin Exam is coming up. If you sign up now, what do you think about your chances of getting a promotion?” asked Mikoto.

“…Not good,” Takuma sighed.

He was confident in his academic, combat, and survival ability; his resume because of the Police Force was also quite attractive. But there was a problem.

“I don’t have a team.”

Genin, participating in a Chunin Exam, started preparation early. Nenro and Masaaki had started preparing when the exam was a year away. Every Chunin Exam was unique, but there was one thing common among all—genin participated in teams of three. And those teams were locked in early as the genin wished to improve their teamwork for the exams.

Nenro and Masaaki both had already locked their teams four months ago and regularly trained with them. Even Takuma’s subordinates in the Narcotics Taskforce, who were participating, had already locked in their teams.

With less than two months from the exam, Takuma was doubtful he could get on a team. And even if he did get on one, he knew it wouldn’t be a good one. A bad team could ruin a genin’s chances in the exam.

Moreover, the upcoming Chunin Exams were being hosted by the Hidden Rock, and that cut into the registration time because of the travel.

It was already too late.

If he wanted a real chance, he needed to aim for the next Chunin Exam.

“So you can aim for the next Chunin Exam eight months from now, but you will have to work at a demoted position in the Narcotics Taskforce, which will reflect on your record,” said Mikoto. “Or you can take the conscription and earn war achievements.”

Takuma was shocked. He couldn’t believe Mikoto had just told him to accept the conscription.

“Don’t look so surprised,” Mikoto chuckled. “A war is a land of opportunity for a shinobi. A war is where shinobi careers take off, heroes rise, and legends are created. There’s nothing more attractive than war accomplishments.

Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage, became the ‘Yellow Flash’ in the Third Shinobi World War. The legend of the ‘Sannin’ was minted in the Second Shinobi World War. Hatake Sakumo came to be known as the ‘Konoha's White Fang’ during the Second Shinobi World War and later became the Jonin Commander. Fugaku made himself known to the world during the Third Shinobi World War and became the feared ‘Wicked Eye’.”

Takuma unconsciously straightened up as he heard the illustrious names and titles. He had lived in this world long enough to know of the illustrious shinobi and their war accomplishments.

“It’s obvious that most shinobi would be averse to wars due to the danger, but those who embrace it and survive are showered with rewards for their contribution. Make a mark, make yourself known, and they won’t have a choice but to promote you. If you return to the Police Force after the war, even Sayuri will have no choice but to treat you fairly and respectfully.” said Mikoto. “There’s a golden opportunity in front of you—it’s up to you if you want to grab it.”

After Mikoto left, her words were the only thing Takuma had on his mind for a very long time.