Apart from the Kohaku no Jōhei (Amber Purifying Pot), Natsuki and Tenten genuinely didn't care about any other reward.
After all, they weren't short on money, and their strength was more than decent now. There just wasn't much left they wanted, so rewards weren't a big deal.
After dinner, Natsuki and Tenten still had to remain in the conference room so they could transmit messages or jump to assist at a moment's notice. But with the broad preparations already set, A, Tsunade, Gaara, and the assembled staff were hashing out the detailed unit assignments, and the pair wasn't immediately needed.
So Natsuki and Tenten simply curled up on the sofa together and fell asleep.
The people in discussion saw this and unconsciously lowered their voices.
After a night's rest, Natsuki finally felt recovered, while Tenten was still a bit wilted, struggling to wake up.
Natsuki took Tenten home for a bit; they showered together, did this and that, and only then felt completely refreshed before returning to the conference hall in Kumogakure.
Seeing the couple come back beaming with vitality, the all-nighters couldn't help the twitch at the corner of their mouths.
Young people really were too young—endless energy. Yesterday they were so tired they could barely lift their chopsticks, yet after one night they were bursting with life. Impossible to compare.
Gaara (aside): I'm young too. I just have heavy dark circles, that's all.
A few days later, the stationing plan for the alliance corps was finalized.
First, the combat arm would be split into five main divisions: First Division Captain—Darui; Second Division Captain—Kitsuchi; Third Division Captain—Kakashi; Fourth Division Captain—Maki; Fifth Division Captain—Mifune.
Next was the Medical and Logistics Corps, with Shizune as captain, assisted by Sakura and Megumi.
The Strategy Section would be handled by Shikaku and A's secretary, Mabui; Intelligence would be managed by Inoichi, Aoba, Ao, and others.
The Daimyō Guard Unit would be commanded by the Mizukage, Mei.
There were also reconnaissance units, surprise-attack units, and so on, each with its own arrangement.
With officers chosen, summons would go out for each village's shinobi to gather at Kumogakure for centralized allocation.
They would even issue unified "Shinobi" forehead protectors.
The most critical piece, however, was the Jinchūriki Guard Unit.
Naruto and Fū were still on Mount Myōboku and didn't need to be contacted yet—it was better to let them remain there. Even if the jinchūriki on this side were captured, there would still be two no one could find.
It was a clever plan.
The current jinchūriki were Bee, Sasuke, and Gaara.
As overall field commander of the alliance, Gaara would basically remain with Tsunade and A, so his safety was assured. That meant only Bee and Sasuke required special arrangements. A's idea was to put both jinchūriki on the Island Turtle and layer multiple Kekkai (barriers) over it—no one in, no one out—and, crucially, the Island Turtle's location was hard to discover.
In that case, Obito could abandon his hopes.
Of course, just in case, heavy forces would be stationed outside the multi-layered barriers.
Natsuki and Tenten had no fixed combat assignment for the moment. Their main job was messaging and transport; if the situation changed after the march began, they would be reassigned.
Per A and Tsunade's plan, Natsuki and Tenten's fighting power had to be reserved for critical moments—such as dealing with a possible Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) body of Madara. With Natsuki's strength, he should be able to hold the line while Tenten used the Rikudō no Dōgu (Six Paths Tools) to seal the target. Even someone as strong as Madara would surely get caught.
As for Obito, Kabuto, and Black Zetsu, special strike teams would be dispatched to assassinate them.
With the war plan arranged, the next step was mustering. With a total force exceeding eighty thousand, there was no way to gather everyone in a short time. And for such numbers, food, latrines, weapons, and equipment all had to be prepared.
In short, a thousand headaches. It would take at least ten days to half a month.
And that was with Natsuki and Tenten helping. At normal speed, double that time would be considered fast.
While the shinobi world was preparing for war in full swing, the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku finally woke.
Jiraiya had waited a long time. As soon as Fukasaku delivered the word, he hurried over with a great scroll in tow.
On a high dais, an ancient, massive toad lounged with casual ease.
"Ohh, you finally came. And you are… who again?" The Great Toad Sage's chronic forgetfulness flared.
"Elder, that's Jiraiya!" Fukasaku scolded.
"Seriously, you've met Jiraiya plenty of times. How do you keep forgetting? You doddering old man!" Shima couldn't help but grumble.
"Shima, you can't call the elder a doddering old man. Mind your manners!" Fukasaku rushed to correct her, afraid of angering the elder.
"Now, now, no squabbling between husband and wife. Get along. By the way, you are… who again?" No sooner had he finished than the Great Toad Sage forgot Jiraiya a second time.
Jiraiya's forehead darkened. He truly had no energy left to complain.
After Fukasaku explained yet again, the Great Toad Sage finally remembered. "Oh, little Jiraiya. You're looking older too. So, what brings you here so suddenly?"
"There's something I'd like you to see."
Jiraiya unfurled the great scroll on the floor.
Fukasaku and Shima leaned in for a look—and their faces changed at once, disbelief written on them. "Jiraiya, where did you get this?"
Jiraiya answered honestly. "From Natsuki of Konoha. He received a dream-message from the Sage of Six Paths and recorded the truths of this world to share with us. I've come to ask, Great Toad Sage—are these truths real? In your prophecies, is Kaguya the catastrophe of the shinobi world?"
The Great Toad Sage fell silent, clearly lost in memories.
Only after quite some time did he sigh. "Hagoromo and Hamura… such nostalgic names. Little Jiraiya, though there are parts I don't know, I believe these truths are real. At the very least, regarding Hagoromo, Hamura, and Kaguya, they match my memories."
Jiraiya was overjoyed. "Then the coming calamity is Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) being cast and Kaguya's release? Great Toad Sage, who will be the savior? Please tell me!"
But the Great Toad Sage shook his head. "Now that the truth is out in the open, I can no longer see the future. The future is in your hands. Perhaps everyone will be a savior. Jiraiya, you've been bound by my prophecy your whole life. Now it's time to make your own decisions."
(End of Chapter)
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