Chapter 106: Return to the Battlefield
"Sorry… even when Konoha is facing a crisis, I still can't just stand by and do nothing."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya left, Tsunade walked over to Ling Yu with a heavy heart. She hugged him tightly, her face full of apology.
In the end, Tsunade couldn't bear to watch Konoha be defeated by the three-nation alliance. She agreed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's request and decided to help Konoha overcome this crisis.
However, she also set a condition: Hiruzen Sarutobi must publicly clear Ling Yu of the false accusations against him. Only then would she agree to fight.
Moreover, this would be the last time she fought for Konoha. Once the war ended and the remaining Senju clan members were settled, she would step back from leadership and no longer serve as a high-ranking official.
After that, she planned to fulfill the promise she made with Ling Yu, Kushina, and the others—travel the ninja world together and relax.
"It's fine. I don't blame you. No matter what decision you make, I will always support you."
Burying his face in Tsunade's astonishing softness, Ling Yu wrapped his arms around her slender waist and gently patted her back to comfort her.
He had long lost any sense of belonging to the Konoha led by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō. He was only willing to help Konoha for Tsunade's sake. Otherwise, even if Hiruzen Sarutobi knelt and begged him, Ling Yu wouldn't have given him a second glance.
"By the way, should we bring Kushina and Mikoto along too?"
Feeling Ling Yu's warm breath against her chest and hearing his affirmative reply, Tsunade's heart raced for the first time. Her face flushed slightly. She quickly released him, looked away awkwardly, and changed the subject.
"Let's bring them. With Kushina's personality—and now that she's just gained new power—if we don't take her to the battlefield to show off a little, she'll definitely throw a fit."
Ling Yu smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Then let's go inside and tell them. We'll pack some things, and then we can set out."
"Mm."
…
It must be said that Hiruzen Sarutobi acted quite efficiently. After agreeing to Tsunade's condition to clear Ling Yu's name regarding the accusation of killing fellow ninja, he personally stepped forward to vouch for him.
To convince the villagers, he even used a ninja imprisoned in the jail as a scapegoat—claiming everything was that person's doing—so the villagers once again believed Ling Yu was still their hero of Konoha.
Finally, under the farewell of a large crowd of Konoha villagers, Hiruzen Sarutobi led Konoha's last three thousand ninja toward the border of the Land of Fire.
After four days of travel, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the reinforcement unit arrived at the front lines and met up with Koharu Utatane, the overall battlefield commander.
"Sarutobi, you're finally here. We were barely holding on."
Koharu Utatane—his body wrapped in bandages—came personally with a pale-faced Hatake Sakumo to greet the arriving Konoha reinforcements.
"Lord Third Hokage!"
"The reinforcements are here! Lord Ling Yu is here too!"
"With Lord Ling Yu and Lord Third Hokage, we will definitely win!"
The Konoha ninja who came to welcome the reinforcements saw the Third Hokage personally leading the group, with Senju Ling Yu—who had created countless miracles for Konoha—among them. Hope reignited in their hearts. They shouted excitedly toward the arriving force.
They had been pushed back from the Land of Rain all the way to the border of the Land of Fire. They had fought desperately for four days, with casualties already in the thousands. Every single one of them carried wounds of varying severity.
Now that reinforcements had finally arrived—including Konoha's publicly acknowledged strongest combat power, the Third Hokage and Senju Ling Yu—it was like a calming pill for their battered morale. No wonder they were so emotional after repeated defeats.
"Let's go inside and talk. We'll head to the meeting room and have you brief me on the battlefield situation."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took in the scene with a solemn expression. After speaking to Koharu Utatane, he led Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the others toward the meeting room inside the Konoha camp.
Tsunade looked back at Ling Yu with some concern. After receiving his reassuring nod, she followed the group deeper into the camp.
"Alright, let's find a place to settle first."
Once Tsunade and the others left, Ling Yu took Konan and the two girls and walked toward a spacious area.
"Right here. Step back a little. I'll build the house first. From now on, this will be our residence."
After choosing a spot far from the main camp—wide, with a good environment—Ling Yu had the three girls step back a few paces. Then he formed hand seals.
"Wood Release: Four Pillars Home!"
Thick wooden pillars burst from the ground. They intertwined, connected, and assembled according to Ling Yu's vision. In moments, they formed a perfect single-story luxury house.
Inside were four bedrooms for Ling Yu and the others, a large living room, a bathroom, and more. For convenience, Ling Yu even designed the layout identical to the Senju compound in Konoha—just without the courtyard.
"How is it?"
Turning around, Ling Yu looked at the girls with an expression clearly asking for praise.
"Not bad. Well done. This lady is satisfied."
Kushina carefully inspected it for a moment, then spoke expressionlessly—as if Ling Yu doing this much was only to be expected.
"Thank you, Ling Yu. It's amazing."
Mikoto gave a slightly better evaluation, smiling as she complimented him.
"Wow! Big Brother Ling Yu is so awesome! He instantly built such a beautiful house!"
Konan clapped her small hands in amazement. As Ling Yu's little fangirl, she always cooperated perfectly whenever he showed off a new ninjutsu, satisfying his desire to act cool.
"Hehe, Konan has the best taste. Come on—big brother will take you inside to tour our new luxury house."
Very satisfied with Konan's praise, Ling Yu bent down, picked her up, and pushed open the door with a big smile, carrying her inside.
Next, Mikoto and Kushina began tidying up the house. Ling Yu used Space Power to move the pre-prepared beds, blankets, clothes, and other items into everyone's rooms. Then he used Wood Release to create tables, chairs, and other furniture.
While Ling Yu and the girls were settling into their new home, the meeting on Hiruzen Sarutobi's side had already begun.
"You're saying the ninja from the Land of Lightning, Land of Earth, and Land of Rain haven't gone all out yet? They're preparing some kind of scheme?"
Sitting at the head of the table, Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to Koharu Utatane's report. He took a puff from his pipe, his face growing extremely grave.
"Hm. Among their Kage-level fighters, the Raikage and Tsuchikage have never once taken action—they've just been watching from the rear. Their ninja forces also haven't been fully committed. They've consistently maintained a two-thousand-ninja advantage over us."
Hatake Sakumo had been constantly clashing with Kage-level opponents from the three-nation alliance, but he had only fought Hanzō and a few unknown ninja. After noticing this pattern, he reported it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"By the way, have you contacted the Hidden Sand Village? According to the previous cooperation agreement with them, they're also required to send part of their forces to support us."
Remembering the agreement made after capturing the One-Tail jinchūriki, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked toward Koharu Utatane.
"They've already agreed to send reinforcements. They said it will take two more days for their troops to arrive."
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