Disaster! Burn treatment! (training/solo)

[LunarCataphract]

(I am training *[Iijutsu • Burn Ointment Technique])

“Setsuko-chan! We’ve got another one!” The makeshift medical room was in an uproar. People ran too and fro with water, clothes, burn ointments, disinfectant and other medical supplies and with a good reason: a fire had broken out. It was a rare thing to have occurred in the aptly named Village Hidden in the Mist, a mostly water based village, but they did happen. Be it due to some accident, a fool playing with a lighter or some hapless fool simply trying their hand at a fire jutsu but they did happen and today’s was so bad even Fujikawa had been drafted.

“Understood! Put them down on the spare bed and treat any first or second degree burns with the ointment! I’ll be there momentarily!” The aids, having been assigned to her simply due to how she was the first available medical nin that required their help, carried the patient in and placed him upon a spare bed. He was screaming in pain, most of his skin simply coloured in painful red patches, swelling and blisters. Only first and second degree burns. Good. The staff under her knew that her room was exclusively for patients suffering first and second degree burns. Worse ones went elsewhere as part of the triage process.

“Burn ointment technique!” Chakra channelled through Fujikawa’s body, spreading from her core to her arms and then her hands. Lime green energy, barely visible and highly transparent, coated her hands as she stepped away from her current patient. An aid immediately stepped in to offer water, apply pain soothing ointments and anything else that they needed before assisting the patient with being discharged. The triage system was rather text book yes but it did the job, getting patients of a yellow priority in and out in the shortest amount of time possible.

Fujikawa held her hands above the burns of her next patient, the tenth in the past hour with more arriving she bet, applying chakra through her palms to sooth the burns, heal the cells and reduce any chance of infection taking hold to zero. When it came to burns not only did one have to heal the damage, they also needed to protect the victim from infections taking hold. Then there was the risk of shock from the injury but fortunately enough, that was taken care of by first responders.

“Hah…hah…having to use a new jutsu this soon and so often….” The burn ointment jutsu…it was indeed a useful Ijutsu that had ensured many patients would heal well but for Fujikawa, it was rough having to learn and deploy something in such an incredibly short span of time. Yet, that was fine! It had to be fine! Life was a cherished thing! To be fully explored! To be filled with art, creation and the crafting of a legacy! Fujikawa’s own twisted sense of virtue would not allow her to simply accept the idea of one’s life being limited by injury or disease! That was the conclusion she had reached as a medical nin! Bahahahaha! It was funny, that this was where her pride came from.

“Ugh….my daughter…” Fujikawa’s current patient, a middle aged man on the cusp of his forties, coughed and sputtered, trying to sit up, to look around, to desperately search for his daughter but no. He could not do such a thing, doctor’s orders. Fujikawa pressed her hands upon his shoulders, keeping him firmly upon the bed, a scowl decorating her face. Her red eyes stared into the brown of this man, an angry and infuriated glare that swiftly softened. Yes…she supposed it only made sense that this father was worried about his daughter. One’s progenity carried on many things. Beliefs, genes, ideology, knowledge, jutsu. It was the formation of the strong bond between parent and child.

“Your daughter is fine sir. She was brought in with only minor burns, thanks in part to yourself shielding her if field reports are to be believed.” Her expression softened ever so slightly as she took her hands away from the now relaxed father’s shoulders.

“Thank you…when will I be able to see her?” It was an innocent question, a logical one at that, but honestly? Fujikawa could not help but feel a slight tinge of annoyance. Just let her work please. That would be the fastest way for this father to get back to his daughter, especially given how there were undeniably other patients to heal.

“The moment your burns are suitably treated, you’re very lucky on that front by the way, we will be happy to discharge you.” Fujikawa’s hands returned to their work, transitioning from the father’s face, to his arms and then to his legs, clearing up the entire array of second degree burns. How many did this make? Ten? No no. Fifteen. She knew the fire had almost consumed an entire apartment block but this number of patients…she could only wonder how the rest of the medical staff were holding up.

“You’re clear. Nurse. Discharge this patient and help him find his daughter. If you have any pain over the coming days come back to us.” And off the father went, escorted out from the makeshift treatment centre and eventually reunited with his daughter. Yet, for Fujikawa the work continued. Removing clothing, treating burns, providing pain relief, triaging patients. She realised the residential buildings of Kirigakure, especially those in the high density districts, contained a far higher amount of people than the richer districts but this amount? Something felt very wrong about this all.

“Setsuko-chan. You are relieved. Go replenish your chakra.” A voice snapped the red headed medical nin away from her own internal monologue, eyes coming to rest upon one of the chunin put in charge over all. At their side was, assumedly, the one who was relieving her: a young looking blond male, who was easily recognisable as a student from the academy. Hmmm very well. Fujikawa supposed that this emergency, while fairly important, was the exact kind of opportunity to give those students some practical experience .

“Alright.” And that was it. Fujikawa was relieved, having spent a good handful of hours rapidly learning a new jutsu and being forced to put it into practice. It was no wonder that, now she had stopped to get some sustenance inside her, the medical nin realised just how exhausted she really was. Sitting down here, on a beach outside of the makeshift triage centre, staring up at the sky above she realised such a thing all at once. Ah….the life of a shinobi was a truly exhausting one, especially when it came to treating people enmass.