"Renya-sama, did you really defeat the Gold and Silver Brothers?!"
Inside Konoha's command tent, the Nara commander stared at the group in disbelief.
From the start, he hadn't expected them to actually defeat the Gold and Silver Brothers. He only wanted them to hold the two off and relieve the pressure on Konoha's forces.
After all, how could two Kage-level enemies be taken down so easily?
But against all odds, Renya's team had actually defeated them!
The Nara commander was utterly stunned when he received the report.
"Strictly speaking, we gravely injured Ginkaku. Only then did Kinkaku choose to retreat," Sarutobi Hiruzen explained in a low voice.
"Hahaha! You've done an incredible job!" The Nara commander was grinning so hard it looked like his mouth might split.
Ginkaku being severely injured would take a long time to recover from. This not only weakened Kumogakure's top-tier forces but also significantly reduced the pressure Konoha faced on the battlefield.
During this window, Konoha could launch a counterattack.
Renya's squad would pin down Kinkaku, while the rest of the Konoha shinobi eliminated the Kumogakure forces!
This would surely cause massive casualties for Kumogakure...
He was already mentally drafting the next stage of the battle plan.
Just then, Renya's words froze everyone in place.
"Ginkaku wasn't just seriously injured..."
They instinctively turned to look at Renya, who wore a calm expression. The corners of his mouth curled into a confident smile.
"He was poisoned by a toxin I developed—he's as good as dead."
Shimura Danzō and Koharu Utatane immediately realized what he meant. Renya's blade had been coated in a deadly poison!
And they'd already seen the potency of that toxin on the southwestern front.
"Renya-sama, are you that certain Ginkaku will die from the poison?" the Nara commander asked, clearly doubtful.
Though he had read from the clan leader's letter that Renya was a master of poisons, he couldn't help but harbor doubts without witnessing it himself.
He didn't deny Renya's skills, but what if Kumogakure had developed an antidote?
As a battlefield commander, even if he trusted Renya, he couldn't make assumptions lightly.
If Ginkaku wasn't actually dead, misinformation could cost the lives of their comrades.
"Renya, what if Kumogakure manages to create an antidote?" Sarutobi Hiruzen voiced the Nara commander's concern.
Battlefields always had skilled medical-nin. It wasn't impossible that they could cleanse Ginkaku of the poison.
"Let's wait and see..." Renya had no intention of explaining. Time would prove him right.
Speaking now would be pointless.
Once word came from the Kumogakure camp that Ginkaku was dead, they would naturally understand.
"Renya-sama, I hope you understand. Every decision I make has to ensure the safety of our comrades on the battlefield."
The Nara commander explained, worried that Renya might be offended.
Without concrete proof, he couldn't inform the camp that Ginkaku had died from poisoning.
Giving out false intelligence could cost them dearly.
Renya didn't mind the commander's doubts—he hadn't expected him to go so far as to explain himself just to spare his feelings.
"It's fine. I understand."
Seeing that Renya wasn't angry, the Nara commander smiled and said, "Regardless of Ginkaku's condition, this is still a huge victory for us!"
"You are all heroes of Konoha. I'll report your contributions to the Hokage in full..."
At those words, everyone except Renya smiled.
Shimura Danzō clenched his fist in excitement. This was his chance to earn a ton of merit!
He was now one step closer to becoming the Fourth Hokage.
But when he saw the equally excited Sarutobi Hiruzen, his smile froze, and his eyes narrowed.
So, Hiruzen… you want to be Hokage too?
Hmph. In the future, the one who becomes Hokage...
It will be me!
As for his friend Hiruzen, he could line up behind him and compete for the Fifth!
Danzō's gaze swept over Uchiha Kagami, Mitokado Homura, and Koharu Utatane, then nodded in satisfaction.
Good. None of these guys pose a threat to me!
I will be the true future Hokage!
Danzō's lips curled upward uncontrollably as he pictured himself wearing the Hokage's robes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen caught Danzō's pervy grin from the corner of his eye and shivered.
What the hell is this guy smiling at me for?!
Danzō quickly wiped the grin off his face and returned to his usual frosty expression.
That was close—almost got caught by Hiruzen…
...
Kumogakure camp, inside the medical tent.
Under the dim candlelight, Ginkaku lay on the bed, his face pale as paper.
His severed right arm was oozing blackish-purple blood, and the poison had spread through his veins like a spiderweb, now covering most of his body.
"Bro… Brother…" Ginkaku's voice trembled. The usual brutality in his eyes was gone, replaced by sheer terror of death. "Help me… I don't want to die…"
Kinkaku stood at the bedside, clenching his fists so tightly they creaked.
"You useless bastards!" he suddenly grabbed a medical-nin by the throat and hoisted him into the air.
"Didn't you say you could detoxify him?!" Kinkaku's eyes were bloodshot as he roared, "If my brother dies, you're all going with him!"
The medical-nin's feet kicked helplessly in the air as his face turned purple from lack of oxygen. He barely managed to squeeze out a few words.
"This… this poison… never seen it… we need time…"
"Time?!" Kinkaku let out a furious laugh. With a vicious squeeze, he snapped the medic's neck on the spot.
"My brother doesn't have time!"
He tossed the corpse aside like trash and swept his gaze coldly over the remaining medical-nin.
"If you don't produce an antidote within an hour, every last one of you dies!"
The medics' faces turned even paler than Ginkaku's on the bed…
An hour to produce an antidote? That was basically a death sentence!
"Aaaaghhhh—" Ginkaku's agonized screams suddenly filled the tent.
Kinkaku quickly turned back and saw Ginkaku violently convulsing on the bed, black blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"Brother… help… help me…"
Ginkaku's pleading gaze pierced Kinkaku's heart like a blade.
He rushed to the bedside and gently reassured him, "Hang in there, brother. The antidote is almost ready!"
Then he turned and roared at the medical-nin:
"You idiots, what are you standing around for?! Make the antidote, now!"
The medical-nin immediately scrambled to begin their work.
"Urgh—!"
Ginkaku suddenly coughed up a massive mouthful of blood, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.
"Brother… I really… don't want to die…!"
His face twisted in utter despair, terrified of the looming death.
Before he could finish his sentence, his body started convulsing violently again, black blood pouring from his mouth without end.
Kinkaku panicked.
"Medical-nin! Get in here! Hurry!"
But before anyone could get to him, Ginkaku's body stopped moving.
His pupils began to fade, his head lolled to the side, and he drew his final breath.
"Brother… my brother!"
Kinkaku clutched Ginkaku's lifeless body tightly, letting out a heart-wrenching cry.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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