The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers had been completely reduced to ruins by the war.
"Lord Rasa, Konoha has retreated five kilometers away, backed against a large mountain within the borders of the Land of Fire."
"Should we continue the attack?"
A Sunagakure ninja awaited Rasa's decision.
Rasa crossed his arms, gazing at the distant mountain, his eyes flickering with contemplation.
"Rasa, we have the advantage on open plains. If we move into the mountains, the power of the One-Tail will be significantly weakened," Chiyo stated decisively, saving him the trouble of pondering.
"After all, even the One-Tail can't flood an entire mountain with sand in an instant."
She was right. The One-Tail, Shukaku, excelled in manipulating sand and wind, but dense forests and rugged terrain would diminish its effectiveness. This was precisely why Sunagakure always chose to fight on the plains—to maximize Shukaku's power.
"I know, but the One-Tail's condition is unstable right now," Rasa replied.
"Tell the sentries to stay vigilant. Any unusual movement must be reported immediately."
"Hmph, good thing that old monk can keep Shukaku under control for now. Otherwise, we'd be in serious trouble."
Rasa's tone was laced with frustration, but there was little he could do. Sunagakure was plagued with internal strife, and if they failed to gain the upper hand in this war, the future looked bleak.
The so-called "old monk" was none other than Bunpuku, the current Jinchūriki of the One-Tail. His indomitable will allowed him to keep Shukaku in check. Even Rasa had to admit—the man was remarkable, having suppressed a Tailed Beast so effectively.
But vigilance was crucial. No matter how stable things seemed, they could never afford to let their guard down.
...
At the rear of the encampment, Bunpuku sat in meditation, communicating with Shukaku within him.
"Shukaku... you've endured a lot these past few days."
"Amitabha..." The old monk's voice carried a trace of helplessness.
"Tch, old man, cut the crap. I finally get some freedom to move—this isn't bad at all."
"But are you sure your body can still handle it?"
Shukaku eyed the old monk. Normally, he was arrogant and prideful, but this time, there was an unmistakable hint of concern in his voice.
If the shinobi of Sunagakure witnessed this scene, they would be utterly shocked.
Shukaku had caused immense destruction to the village over the years, and only Bunpuku had ever been able to keep him in check. Yet, no one knew their relationship had reached such a level.
"Heh heh heh..."
"Shukaku, I appreciate your concern, but this old monk knows his limits."
"Don't worry. I'll take you back to the village and continue teaching you about love."
At the mention of "love," Shukaku's expression darkened.
"Get lost! Who the hell wants to hear you preach about love?!"
"Hmph! Just call me when it's time to fight!"
Watching Shukaku turn away in irritation, Bunpuku chuckled softly. He pressed his palms together and continued his silent recitation of sutras.
A few days later, at the foot of Kikyō Pass.
"Tsk tsk, this mountain is really dense."
"Sensei, we're counting on you this time. With you here, I doubt the One-Tail will even stand a chance."
Kazuyama followed behind Orochimaru, with his three students trailing after him, and a whole unit marching behind them. The sight of it all made the Three Little Ones feel utterly elated.
"Hehehe, Kazuyama, are you joking?"
"That's a Tailed Beast—it's not so easy to handle."
"But I know you watched the battle between the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails in the Land of Grass, and you even fought the Eight-Tails yourself."
"If you ask me, this mission should be yours."
The older ones were a mess, the younger ones were a mess, and the three smallest ones were no better. Kakashi carried two swords—an heirloom short blade and the Lightning Blades, Kiba. If you looked closely, you'd notice him trembling every so often. That was the electricity he was channeling through his chakra. Even while running, he refused to stay still, constantly stimulating himself with lightning.
Obito Uchiha was no exception, though his situation was far more amusing. His once short hair had been shaved down to a buzz cut...
When Kazuyama saw it, he froze for a moment. A bald Obito? That was just too funny.
Uchiha were known for their pride, yet here was Obito—an oddball among oddballs—shaving his head in the name of training.
...
When the group arrived at the base, they were shocked by the sight before them.
The Konoha encampment was in bad shape. Wounded were everywhere, and even those with minor injuries remained at their posts, refusing to stand down.
The brutality of the Land of Rivers battlefield was clear.
"The front line has retreated again since I left..."
"Tailed Beasts..."
Orochimaru's eyes flashed coldly as a chilling aura radiated from him.
"Rin, go help the medical unit. Kakashi, Obito, you two as well."
Kazuyama fell silent for a moment but quickly sent his disciples to assist.
Then, he followed Orochimaru toward the command tent.
"Who's in charge here?"
At the sound of Orochimaru's voice, the busy crowd froze, turning to face him in unison.
"Lord Orochimaru, you've arrived."
"Jōnin Shirakumo is recovering from his injuries..."
Orochimaru nodded at the report, but Gekkō Kazuyama raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Shirakumo?
"Don't look so shocked. That guy's a battle maniac—he goes wherever the fighting is."
"He was in the Land of Grass before, but since we lacked high-level fighters, he was reassigned here to the Land of Rivers."
"Even he got injured..."
Orochimaru's expression darkened. After all, the only reason he had previously returned to the village injured was that he chose to go back—not because he was truly wounded.
But Shirakumo? His injuries were real.
...
They stepped into the command tent.
"Hahaha! Orochimaru, Kazuyama, you're here!"
"Come on, take a seat and rest for a bit."
Shirakumo, wrapped in bandages across half his body, grinned as he welcomed them.
"Huh? Wait... isn't that Fugaku?"
"What are you doing here?"
Seeing another familiar face in the tent caught Kazuyama off guard. Fugaku was the last person he expected to see.
"Hmph, this is a battlefield. Why wouldn't I be here?"
"But you bastard—weren't you supposed to be at the Daimyō's manor? What are you doing in the Land of Rivers?"
Nothing beats running into an old friend on the battlefield. Kazuyama laughed as he clapped Fugaku on the shoulder.
Smack! Smack!
The sound echoed through the tent, drawing everyone's attention.
Anyone could tell—those slaps were heavy.
"You bastard! You did that on purpose!"
"Aha, so you did notice!"
Kazuyama dodged Fugaku's incoming swipe, grinning ear to ear—but his expression quickly turned serious.
"Brother! I'm here to back you up! Don't worry, if you happen to fall..."
"I'll take care of Mikoto for you!"
Fugaku: ...Where's my Sharingan… Where's my sword…
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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