Patreon.com/Plotkiss
The next morning, the wind and rain finally subsided.
Chiye and a radiant Tsunade stood outside what was originally Konoha's defensive line, with the towering steel buildings in the distance glinting coldly in the morning light.
A Konoha communication Ninja Hawk swiftly arrived, landing in front of Tsunade.
It vanished with a 'poof' of white smoke, leaving only an intelligence scroll in her hand.
"The main camp has moved. It will take us about an hour to get there."
"Mm. Then let's depart early!"
Tsunade put away the scroll and glanced at Chiye beside her.
His eyes were no longer bandaged, but a faint, tired darkness still lingered in the depths of his pupils.
He recovered quite quickly.
She muttered to herself, but unconsciously slowed her pace.
"Everyone, pack up and prepare to depart!!"
"Yes!! Lady Tsunade!"
...
At the Konoha main camp on the outskirts of Hidden Rain Village.
Chiye, Tsunade, and others arrived, passing through layers of checkpoints before finally meeting the overall commander of this campaign, Sakumo Hatake.
He was a tall man with short, silver-white hair standing up like steel needles, a resolute face etched with a few shallow scars, and an air of seasoned composure between his brows.
He wore a standard Konoha vest, and the short sword 'White Fang' on his back, even sheathed, subtly emanated a sharp killing intent.
Sakumo nodded slightly upon seeing Tsunade, his voice deep and powerful.
"Tsunade."
"Were you attacked earlier?"
Tsunade crossed her arms and snorted coldly.
"Sunagakure ambushed a squad, but it's already been dealt with."
Dealt with?
Sakumo Hatake was stunned.
"Do we have specific casualty statistics?"
Upon hearing this, Tsunade lowered her head, took out a notebook from her embrace, and handed it over.
Everyone on this roster would one day be etched into the Memorial Stone as Konoha heroes.
"They're all in here."
Sakumo Hatake took it, flipped it open, and quickly scanned it.
Seeing the casualties recorded for yesterday, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Konoha had almost no deaths. It seemed the number of attacking Ninja from Sand Ninja Village wasn't large.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Tsunade, you will still be in charge of coordinating medical supplies and Medical Ninja here."
Tsunade nodded helplessly upon hearing this.
"Cough, cough!"
Chiye coughed, and Tsunade turned to look at him with concern.
"Chiye, are you alright?"
This scene made Sakumo Hatake keenly aware of the unusual dynamic between the two.
Sakumo Hatake shifted his gaze, secretly appraising the person Tsunade was so concerned about.
Sakumo Hatake had not returned to the Village previously due to being constantly on the front lines.
He was unaware of what Chiye had done.
Especially regarding the establishment of the medical system.
He had only received intelligence from the Village stating that Tsunade was to lead Medical Ninja to the front lines.
He naturally welcomed Medical Ninja to the front lines.
The usefulness of Medical Ninja was clear to this commander, who had spent years on the front lines.
No one wanted their friends or comrades to suffer a painful death from severe injuries without treatment one day.
Medical Ninja, ah, who knows how many lives they could save!
He gazed at the pale-faced, black-haired, black-eyed young man.
Could this be the Uchiha that Tsunade had previously entrusted him to find?
His subordinate had another mission to carry out; he could ask him when he returned.
Just then, a hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent.
"Report!"
A Jonin lifted the flap, his face showing unconcealed joy.
"Lord Sakumo, yesterday's battle report has been compiled!"
Sakumo glanced at Tsunade, Chiye, and the Medical Ninja behind them, then pondered briefly before speaking.
"Read it directly."
The Jonin straightened his back, his voice resonant.
"Yesterday, our forces ambushed the Sunagakure camp, eliminating a total of 137 enemies!
All combat units dispatched by Sand Ninja Village were annihilated."
The Ninja inside the tent immediately showed delight, some unable to resist murmuring in admiration.
"I didn't expect such a battle outcome this time..."
"If Lord Sakumo hadn't seized the opportunity yesterday, how could we have achieved such a great victory!"
"Indeed, this was a great victory for Konoha, and Lord Sakumo, charging at the front and breaking through the puppet forces, deserves the most credit!"
...
Sakumo heard the compliments from the crowd but did not become arrogant.
Instead, he frowned slightly, thinking of Tsunade's roster from earlier, and turned his gaze to her.
"Your ambush also happened in the afternoon?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Approximately."
Sakumo's fingertips tapped lightly on the table, his voice deepening.
"At that time, I was leading a raid on the Sunagakure main camp..."
Could it be a diversion?
His eyes were sharp, clearly contemplating whether they had fallen into an enemy trap.
If Sand Ninja Village knew the location of Tsunade and the medical team, why didn't they send elite forces to intercept them?
Could there be some hidden truth he was unaware of?
Just then, a faint voice came from a corner.
"This... can this be considered a great victory?"
Everyone froze, turning to see a young Medical Ninja who had accompanied Tsunade.
The Ninja saw everyone's gaze fall upon him and was startled by his own rashness.
But thinking of Uchiha Chiye's display of Kamui yesterday, he still mustered the courage to continue.
"Lady Tsunade's battle report must be even more astonishing, right?
Chiye-sama single-handedly annihilated three to four hundred elite Sand Ninja, and even Ebizo of Sand Ninja Village fell to Chiye-sama's hands..."
His voice grew softer and softer, finally becoming a mumble.
The tent instantly fell silent.
Everyone's eyes turned to Chiye in unison, and the air seemed to solidify.
The Jonin who had been reporting the battle opened his mouth wide, not even noticing the scroll slipping from his hand.
Sakumo Hatake's pupils suddenly contracted.
Three to four hundred?
If that was the number of attackers, then it made sense!
Prioritizing the complete elimination of the enemy's Medical Ninja team was the simplest and most effective outcome.
Using the elimination of the opposing Medical Ninja to gradually expand the advantage and boost morale.
As for why the casualty numbers were so low...
Could it be!
He suddenly looked at Chiye, his gaze for the first time filled with shock.
The silent Uchiha youth still stood there calmly.
But Sakumo only now noticed the faint, almost imperceptible oppressive aura emanating from him.
Like a demonic blade sheathed.
"Details."
Sakumo's voice unconsciously became serious.
The Medical Ninja swallowed, stammering as he described it.
The overwhelming Sunagakure Ninja forces, the desperate encirclement, and then... those Sharingan eyes, like a nightmare.
"They... they were like they had been drained of moisture, instantly turning into mummified corpses..."
The temperature inside the tent seemed to plummet.
Almost all the Ninja who had just learned the truth had changing expressions, from shock to horror.
Some even unconsciously took half a step back.
This was no longer just strong; this was a battlefield meat grinder!
Sakumo Hatake remained silent for a long time, then strode over to Chiye.
Under everyone's astonished gaze, the 'White Fang of Konoha' solemnly extended his hand.
His voice held an unprecedented excitement.
"This achievement is enough to be recorded in Konoha's history."
"With your addition, I believe this war should end very soon!"
His voice was no longer just polite praise, but genuine respect.
Chiye smiled slightly and shook his hand.
"Just good luck."
Tsunade stood to the side, watching their clasped hands, then sweeping her gaze over the eyes of the people in the tent, which held both awe and fear, a complex emotion stirring within her.
These idiots...
She knew all too well the true cost hidden beneath Chiye's understated words.
"Hey."
She suddenly spoke, breaking the tense atmosphere in the tent.
"Where's the casualty camp? I need to check on the treatment situation."
Sakumo keenly detected the impatience in her tone, glanced thoughtfully at Chiye, then pointed to the west.
"The newly built medical tent, medical supplies, etc., have been prepared as per the Village's requirements..."
Tsunade had already turned and was walking out, her blue-purple outer robe cutting a sharp arc through the air.
Chiye watched her retreating figure, the corners of his mouth curving in an almost imperceptible smile.