In a house within the ruined village, there is an area of about dozens of square meters used as a temporary combat meeting room. The room has been simply cleaned, but it contains only a wooden table and a few wooden chairs.
Tsunade, Orochimaru, Sakumo, and Jiraiya are exchanging information here, with at least dozens of ninjas guarding the house. Their figures are everywhere—on the roof, under the eaves, and outside the window. No one can approach this place; even if they pass by, they must take a detour.
"What is the current battle situation?" Tsunade asked. The dim light emitted a not-so-bright glow, illuminating Tsunade's pretty cheeks. In front of her was a sheepskin map with intricate lines and dots depicted on it.
Each of those lines represented the routes the Konoha ninjas had taken in the Land of Rain since the start of the Second Ninja War. The dots indicated locations where battles with ninjas from other countries had broken out.
"Two days ago, the day after I sent the information back to the village, Iwagakure attacked us, but I led my people to repel them," Jiraiya reported. Sakumo nodded, and Tsunade said, "The person we met just now was a Jonin from Iwagakure."
"Did you encounter Iwagakure's scout?" Jiraiya asked, not appearing overly surprised. Iwagakure is known for their Earth Release techniques, which can penetrate defensive lines. Even if they set up barriers, it's meaningless along such a long battle line.
"I took care of it," Sakumo said lightly, his tone suggesting it was nothing noteworthy.
"The information you sent back mentioned that, in addition to Iwagakure and Sand ninjas, you also encountered a small group of Cloud ninjas?" Tsunade asked Jiraiya.
"Yes, but they didn't seem to be targeting us. The last time we encountered Cloud ninjas was a month ago. They appeared to have fought with ninjas from other villages and were fleeing. I happened to come across them," Jiraiya explained.
"Really?" Tsunade seemed to have thought of something, looking at Sakumo, and said, "Speaking of the Cloud Ninjas, I seem to have heard that you fought with C from Cloud Ninja Village and defeated him several times."
Tsunade's words were full of admiration. Although she had never fought with C, he was well-known in the ninja world and considered one of the top strongmen in Cloud Ninja Village.
"A very tricky guy," Sakumo said, offering his evaluation.
Orochimaru, who had been silent on the side, narrowed his pupils and smiled, "Speaking of which, the three people who carried out that mission with you are all here now."
The mission in the Land of Hot Water involved many sensitive matters, so the details were known to Jiraiya and the others present. The three people who participated in that mission—Suzuka, Minato Namikaze, and Uchiha Yoruki—had all come to the Land of Rain as reinforcements.
"Yeah, if they weren't there for that mission, I'm afraid it would've been very difficult for me to complete it," Sakumo laughed, then looked at Jiraiya and said, "Thanks to you for teaching a good apprentice."
Jiraiya chuckled, his face full of pride.
"This guy is hardly ever in the village. He's called a teacher, but in reality, I haven't seen him teach anything," Tsunade said, rolling her eyes at the proud Jiraiya. His expression suddenly turned tense.
"As a master, you actually let a ten-year-old disciple participate in this kind of war. You're really competent," Tsunade continued, her face showing some displeasure. If it weren't for Minato, she might have been able to keep Nawaki in the village. The battlefield was too dangerous, and Nawaki's strength was too weak.
Jiraiya didn't understand why Tsunade held such a grudge. He laughed awkwardly and said, "It's precisely because I'm his teacher that I understand Minato. For him now, merely practicing is not enough to enhance his strength."
"Only through the tempering of life-and-death battles can he grow further!"
"So, to compete with you, the Uchiha also brought Uchiha Yoruki to the battlefield?" Tsunade asked.
"Those two little guys have been competing since the Ninja Academy. I believe the Uchiha Patriarch is aware of this. I've also seen the kid named Uchiha Yoruki. He indeed shows even greater potential than Uchiha Fugaku," Jiraiya commented. He had observed Uchiha Yoruki several times before. When Minato and Uchiha Yoruki had their first duel at the Ninja Academy, it was Jiraiya who stepped in to mediate.
"So, while war is a tragedy for others, for Minato and Uchiha Yoruki, it might be an opportunity," Hatake Sakumo said, agreeing with Jiraiya's perspective.
War is both a crisis and a chance for growth for these Konoha geniuses. But for countless families in the Land of Rain, it is a turning point that changes their destinies.
In a village somewhere in the Land of Rain, corpses littered the ground, and blood mixed with rain seemed to dye the land red. Inside a certain house, two Konoha ninjas looked at each other with uneasy eyes.
Not far from their feet lay two corpses, one male and one female. Their eyes were filled with terror, and their mouths were still open, as if they were shouting something when they were alive, but they were killed before they could realize it.
In the corner, a thin figure squatted, his body shaking violently. His red hair covered his face, hiding his expression, but from his trembling body alone, one could sense the sadness and anger in the child's heart.
"We didn't mean it," one of the Konoha ninjas said. They had been separated from the main force during the last battle and had come to this village to find some food. But when they arrived, the village was deserted.
They finally found a house with people, but just as they entered, a man rushed at them like a madman. They thought the enemy ninja hadn't left, but after they easily killed him, they realized the truth: the man wasn't a ninja, but a villager. He and his wife were just trying to protect their child.
One of the Konoha ninjas stepped forward, preparing to comfort the child in front of him.
"Ah!" At that moment, the child, still shaking in the corner, suddenly stood up and screamed wildly. Just as the child was about to charge at the two Konoha ninjas, a huge plant-like pitcher plant emerged directly from the ground in the corner. The pitcher plant opened, releasing a pink gas that spread out and enveloped the child. The red-haired boy collapsed to the ground after being enveloped by the gas. The two Konoha ninjas quickly covered their mouths and noses.
"Huahua!" Suddenly, vines sprouted from under their feet, quickly binding the two tightly. In front of them, the pitcher plant slowly emerged from the ground and opened. From within, a person with a pure white body appeared.
"Who are you?" one of the Konoha ninjas managed to ask. Before they could say anything more, the vines binding them grew barbs and slit their throats. Life quickly faded from their eyes, but the man showed no emotion as he looked at the red-haired boy who had fallen to the ground at his feet. In an obscure language, he murmured, "Descendant of the Uzumaki clan?"
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