Besides these six forces, the others didn't even qualify to be at the table; they were just side dishes.
Qingshui closed the document.
"This batch of Ninja Academy students will be sent to Outpost Four to guard the ninja tool storage. The original second-line troops will be reassigned to Jushu City for defense."
"So, are we continuing our advance into Konoha's heartland, or are we pushing northwest to link up with Third Generation?"
Pakura took the document, looking down at Qingshui, whose head was resting on her lap. She reached out and tapped his forehead.
"Also, my leg's gone numb. You should get up."
"Leg numb? How about I give you a massage? You know, my Medical Ninjutsu is excellent, and I know a lot about the human body. The massage will definitely be comfortable!"
A helpless, older-sisterly expression appeared on Pakura's face.
"Don't get any ideas."
"I'll just touch... massage a little. I promise I won't do anything else."
Qingshui grinned and sat up, his hands already stealthily reaching for her long, jade-like legs.
The Medical Ninjutsu Chakra, glowing with a soft green light and accompanied by faint sparks of Lightning Release, caused a tingling sensation as soon as it touched Pakura's thigh. She couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, her back arching sharply to lean against the wall.
"We're definitely heading north first, but Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato Namikaze's main Konoha forces are still in the east. I'll definitely have to stay here and pin down these Konoha Village experts. Come on, lift your feet, both of them."
"What are you doing?"
A captivating blush spread across Pakura's face. Though puzzled, she obediently lifted her legs.
This allowed Qingshui to easily scoop up her two fair, tender legs and place them on his lap.
"You've been busy all day; your feet must be sore. Let me continue massaging them for you."
Since they were on a tatami mat, Pakura wasn't wearing shoes. Her pair of snow-white, jade-like feet resembled freshly peeled spring bamboo shoots, with a faint pink tint.
His fingertips traced her arch, causing the girl's toes to curl up instantly.
"I just took a shower. You really shouldn't."
"Just took a shower? That just makes it more appetizing."
"Ugh... I told you not to get any ideas. How can you use... how can you massage like this?"
"Why not? This is my unique Medical Massage Ninjutsu, developed just for you!"
Pakura rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Anyway, I'm being transferred tomorrow, so I'll put up with you just this once."
"Good sister, you said it yourself. Put up with me just this once tonight..."
Qingshui grinned at Pakura.
"I said, don't get any ideas! Don't push your luck!"
"It's fine, just right here."
His two hands once again ascended her fair, jade-like feet.
A long time passed.
Feeling released, Qingshui stretched and pulled Pakura into a hug.
The girl's face was burning, a pink flush spreading from her ear tips to her collarbone. She held a pillow with both arms, resting her chin on it.
"How... how could you come up with such a messy thing? My feet are so sore. Ugh, it's disgusting, I can't even wipe it clean, it's all sticky. I'll have to wash my feet again when I get back."
"Wait, don't rush off. What did you mean just now about being transferred somewhere else?"
"What else could it mean? You're going to be pinning down Konoha's main forces here, so only I can lead the team to clear the northern path and connect with Third Generation's occupied territory, right?"
"Ahem, actually, you don't have to. Today, Sasori's team just intercepted a small squad of Sarutobi Clan ninjas and obtained several pounds of Chakra metal. Sasori is already making new prosthetics for Rasa. I believe once Rasa recovers his strength, he'll be very keen to go on missions again."
Pakura tilted her head, looking at Qingshui, her eyes narrowed.
"Why didn't you say that earlier?"
"Ahem, if I had, you wouldn't have..."
"Get out!"
Pakura kicked out at Qingshui.
"Hey! Where are you kicking?! You can't kick there! It hurts a lot!"
"Does it really hurt?"
"Really. Why don't you blow on it for me? It'll get better quickly if you blow on it."
"Get out! Pervert!"
...
...
The next day.
Morning dew slipped from the leaves.
The early spring weather was cold, and white mist rose from people's mouths when they spoke.
At the main gate of the Sand Village encampment.
"Rasa, I don't need to tell you your objective for this trip. The only thing the Third Generation and I ask is speed. Once these two territories are connected, we'll have the geographical advantage. The western and northwestern parts of the Land of Fire will be ours for the taking.
Our village has coveted this land since the First Great Ninja War, Rasa. This final step is in your hands."
Qingshui earnestly encouraged Rasa.
"You can rest assured. After such a long period of silence, I will use my power to announce my return to the Ninja World."
Rasa clenched his iron fists, his eyes filled with confidence.
Though his real hands had not yet returned, the Puppet prosthetic arm Sasori crafted, with Chakra metal replacing some of the meridians, could be used to form hand signs and cast Ninjutsu. This allowed him to recover 70 to 80 percent of his strength from before his hands were sealed.
Additionally, during this time, because he couldn't use Ninjutsu, and Rasa wasn't the type to give up easily, he dedicated his time to Taijutsu training and achieved a relatively high level in his Breathing Style.
While he couldn't be compared to Shinazugawa Sanemi, he had learned Constant Breathing, which significantly enhanced his close-combat and endurance capabilities, effectively compensating for a previous weakness.
Even if his strength wasn't what it used to be, his self-preservation and ability to contend with powerful enemies had greatly improved.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Konoha encampment.
Behind the command center, a small laboratory had been set up, filled with the scent of various potions.
"Orochimaru, Hanzo might be tied up by a Cloud Hidden Village expert. The firepower in the northwestern direction of the Sand Village has decreased. They'll definitely send people north to break through and connect the two areas. Shouldn't we do something?"
Jiraiya walked slowly into the room, his hands clasped behind his head.
"I've already made arrangements. What about the things I left for you to handle?"
Orochimaru put down the test tube in his hand, his face etched with deep fatigue, and turned to look at Jiraiya.
"I left them for Minato to handle, hehe. You know, those logistical documents and such, they give me a headache just looking at them."
Jiraiya scratched his head sheepishly.
"Hmm, a good choice. Your disciple's brain is certainly more useful than yours. After Minato finishes, have him bring them to me so I can review them again."
Orochimaru said to Jiraiya while organizing the various instruments on the table.
"By the way, what's the situation back at the village? Any news?"
"I was just about to tell you about that."
Jiraiya pulled out a large scroll from behind his back and handed it to Orochimaru.
"Back at the village, with Tsunade's return, things are temporarily under control. Tsunade also sent what you asked for, but… she doesn't want you to use this Jutsu."
"If she truly didn't want me to, she wouldn't have sent it. Jiraiya, we are ninjas. Holding onto irrelevant morals is ridiculous. Compared to the crisis of the village's destruction, certain so-called taboos are utterly insignificant."
Orochimaru took the scroll, quickly scanned it, and set it aside.
The scroll contained information about the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu developed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
He had already seen this Ninjutsu before; now, he simply had it to justify its use.
Two years prior, with Danzō's help, he had secretly obtained copies of some forbidden Ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage from the Scroll of Seals, along with other forbidden Jutsu for research.
Whether it was Impure World Reincarnation or the Spirit Transformation Technique, Orochimaru had studied all Ninjutsu related to souls in Konoha Village.
This was because at that time, he had already begun researching Living Corpse Reincarnation.
According to the original timeline, Orochimaru would have only completed the development of Living Corpse Reincarnation and begun researching Impure World Reincarnation several years later, at the end of the Third Great Ninja War.
However, circumstances had changed. The Third Hokage had died in battle, and Orochimaru had taken over as Hokage. With Konoha facing a disadvantage against Sand Hidden, Orochimaru's most important short-term task was no longer the pursuit of eternal life, but rather to fulfill his role as Hokage and lead Konoha through this Great Ninja War.
At this point, he was not yet the cold-blooded snake who had severed all ties with Konoha.
The research into Living Corpse Reincarnation was temporarily put aside, and Orochimaru instead focused part of his energy on Impure World Reincarnation, which offered the most potential for quickly increasing Konoha's high-level combat strength.
For Orochimaru, learning an existing Ninjutsu, even a forbidden one, was far simpler than developing a new one from scratch.
Orochimaru continued to ask Jiraiya.
"Did you bring those two idiots?"
"Fujin and God of Thunder have been brought in. They're currently locked up in the secret prison in the camp, clamoring for food. Orochimaru, are you really going to…"
Jiraiya hesitated.
Fujin and God of Thunder were two simple-minded fools with enormous appetites.
However, their bodies possessed incredibly vigorous vitality and super strength, exceeding even Jonin-level power. In the original story, they even defeated two Jonin, Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi.
But because they were too simple-minded, they would kill their comrades during missions if they didn't get food, so they were never deployed to the battlefield.
The brothers listened to no one but Tsunade, because her strength was greater than theirs.
Orochimaru suspected that these two might have a deep connection with the Senju Clan, making them perfect material for Impure World Reincarnation.
"Not right now. Feed them first. The physical condition of the sacrificial offering affects the Impure World Reincarnation. Bring in the Sand Hidden spy we captured last time. I'll summon the Second Hokage first. The improvements to Impure World Reincarnation aren't complete yet, and there are some areas where I need the wisdom of that former Hokage."
Orochimaru removed his white gloves and led Jiraiya out of the room to a secret chamber, where they brought an unknown Sand Hidden spy.
He took a small tissue sample from Tobirama Senju's remains. Accompanied by complex summoning incantations and the Sand Hidden spy's screams, a ninja with silver hair, red eyes, and blue armor bearing the Senju clan crest appeared before Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
"Am I… Impure World Reincarnated?"
Tobirama Senju looked at his cracked hands, then raised his head and saw the Konoha ninja headband on Orochimaru's forehead, feeling a sense of certainty.
"Second Hokage, I truly apologize for summoning you back from the Pure Land after all these years." Orochimaru said in a raspy voice, observing the Second Hokage, whose face was identical to the sculpture on the Hokage Rock.
"You're the one who summoned me? What's your name, and what year is it?"
"I am Orochimaru, the acting Hokage of Konoha, and the Fourth Hokage designated by my teacher Sarutobi before his passing. It is currently the 42nd year of Konoha, and the Third Great Ninja War is underway."
"So many years have passed? How did the Monkey die?"
Orochimaru explained, "Last year, to cover the retreat of the village's main forces, he voluntarily stayed behind and died from exhaustion. His body is still with Sand Hidden."
Tobirama Senju nodded slowly. So he died in the same way as his teacher?
Tobirama Senju carefully observed Orochimaru and Jiraiya again. Although this body likely held less than twenty percent of his peak power, as a top-tier sensory ninja, he could still sense how powerful Orochimaru and Jiraiya were. These two juniors were excellent ninjas.
"You were both trained by the Monkey? It seems he did quite well. What about Tsunade and Nawaki?"
"Tsunade and I were both students of Teacher Sarutobi, once known as Konoha's Sannin. Her current condition isn't very good; due to the brutality of the war, she developed Hemophobia. She's currently stationed in the village to guard against any troublemakers. As for Nawaki..." A hint of sadness flashed in Orochimaru's snake-like eyes before quickly disappearing. "He was my disciple, and he died after falling into a trap during the Second Great Ninja War."
Tobirama Senju was silent for a moment. As a direct descendant of his elder brother Senju Hashirama, he had high hopes for Tsunade and Nawaki's future. He never expected to hear such news after being revived by Impure World Reincarnation years later.
"Tell me, why did you use Impure World Reincarnation on me?"
"That's because the village's current situation is extremely difficult. It all started with a young ninja from Sand Hidden Village named Qingshui..."
...
...
In the dense forest, Aburame Shiro released insects from his sleeve to gather information about the surroundings.
"One hundred and one, one hundred and two, one hundred and three... If I don't finish, I'll punish myself with a thousand more squats!" A ninja with a Ninja Blade on his back squatted on a rock, observing a Genin in a green leather suit who was continuously doing push-ups in the distance.
"Hey, eternal Genin, you're about to go to the battlefield. You should save your strength. Maybe you'll have a better chance of survival later. We won't have time to look after you then."
"Oh! Naoki Chunin, don't worry! I'm ready to give my all in this war!" The "Green Skin Watermelon" did push-ups with one hand, giving the Chunin a thumbs-up with the other, grinning to reveal his shiny teeth.
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