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Fire Country and the River Country Border. Konoha's encampment.
Due to the onset of war, the previous hidden posts had been transformed into a full-fledged frontline camp. However, the situation within the camp was far from ideal.
The camp echoed with the groans and cries of pain from the wounded.
In the center of the encampment, the area was divided into two distinct sections.
On the left were rows of stretchers, each occupied by ninjas with blue-tinged faces, groaning in agony.
On the right were ninjas with similarly blue-tinged faces, though they appeared to be in less pain, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
Soon, one of the cross-legged ninjas spat out a mouthful of purple blood, and the blue tint on his face quickly faded.
Sakumo swiftly appeared beside this ninja.
"How are you feeling?"
The ninja opened his eyes, his face pale, yet he forced himself to speak despite the discomfort in his body.
"The basic inner technique can indeed expel the poison, but it comes at the cost of a significant amount of chakra."
Hearing this, Sakumo's expression softened with relief.
The ninja who had expelled the poison also felt that the price was not too steep. A few months of rest and they would recover.
Since these ninjas had acquired the basic inner technique, it had become rare for them to run low on chakra.
For now, it felt like a return to their previous state, though the initial inability to use ninjutsu was particularly frustrating.
"Commander Sakumo, the number of people who have exchanged for the basic inner technique is still small. If this continues, we'll be overrun," a female ninja wearing glasses reminded him from nearby.
Sakumo's expression grew serious.
"Is there really no way to develop an antidote for Chiyo of the Sand Village's poison?"
"The poison's components are too complex," the female ninja shook her head.
Ever since they had encountered Chiyo of the Sand Village, they had been forced to retreat continuously. This was primarily due to Sakumo Hatake's decision to preserve the lives of his subordinates.
The entire frontline in the River Country had been given up.
The female ninja didn't know how to judge this decision. If the cold strategist Orochimaru had been in charge, he would never have made such a choice.
Giving up the stronghold meant they would have to pay a much higher price to retake it. Not only had they lost the stronghold, but now a large portion of their forces were poisoned. If an antidote couldn't be developed soon, the camp would be on the verge of collapse.
At this moment, they were barely holding on with the unpoisoned ninjas and those who had recovered by using the basic internal technique.
Looking at Sakumo's emotionless face, lost in thought, the female ninja sighed.
"Right now, the only ones who can solve this poison are Tsunade-sama from the rear, and that ninjutsu genius, Uchiha Jin."
"Tsunade-sama might be able to create an antidote, and Uchiha Jin could potentially develop a ninjutsu to counteract the poison."
Her words made Sakumo's eyes light up.
"Notify the village immediately to send Tsunade to assist us, and inform Jiraiya to dispatch Uchiha Jin to collaborate with us."
"Yes, sir!" The female ninja knelt on one knee, acknowledging the order. In the next moment, she turned into a puff of smoke and disappeared.
Sakumo then turned his gaze toward the direction of the Sand Village.
"What has been lost can naturally be taken back."
Known for his ability to read people's hearts, Sakumo understood the female ninja's thoughts. But to him, people were more important than land.
...
Sand Village Frontline.
Chiyo, still in her prime, studied the map of the River Country and the planned routes into the Fire Country. Unfortunately, all the routes into the Fire Country had been destroyed by Sakumo.
As smoke rose beside her, Ebizō appeared by Chiyo's side.
"Sister, I couldn't stop Orochimaru. There's a troublesome individual on their side, and Orochimaru has mastered a very tricky ninjutsu."
Upon his return, Ebizō quickly summarized the intelligence he had gathered on Konoha. The troublesome individual was a ninja named Might Duy, who had long been a genin after failing the Chūnin Exams multiple times. Yet he had suddenly risen to become someone even Ebizō found difficult to handle.
As for Orochimaru's technique, Ebizō's later analysis suggested it wasn't a new shadow clone technique; otherwise, Orochimaru wouldn't have been the only one in Konoha capable of using it. It was more likely some technique that allowed a clone to continue fighting indefinitely.
Chiyo massaged her temples. "Bad news, one after another."
Initially, she had intended to cripple eighty percent of Konoha's forces with her poison. Unfortunately, although Konoha's antidotes couldn't completely neutralize her poisons, they were enough to keep the ninjas from succumbing.
Moreover, some of them could even expel the poison from their bodies.
Now, the resistance from Konoha's frontlines hadn't diminished as much as she had hoped, and the breakthrough she had anticipated in the Land of Rain had been blocked by Konoha.
The Third Kazekage now had to remain vigilant against the Stone Village, and the Sand Village couldn't spare additional forces.
Although Konoha was in a precarious position, the Sand Village wasn't faring much better.
"Let's divert some of our forces here. We can afford to reduce our presence in the Land of Rain," Chiyo decided.
Both Orochimaru and Sakumo were dangerous opponents, but the situation in the Land of Rain was too complicated.
It wasn't just the Stone Village they had to worry about; there was also a formidable presence in the Rain Village's defenses.
Here, they still had an advantage. It was best to break through here first.
...
Stone Village Frontline.
A small team of Stone ninja raced through the forest. This was a squad of Chūnin, three men moving swiftly through the trees. Their mission was to bypass the frontlines and investigate Konoha's supply lines.
Suddenly, Minato appeared, brandishing a kunai.
The three ninja quickly scattered, causing Minato's strike to miss its mark.
However, the other two routes were also blocked by new arrivals.
Team 7 had intercepted them in a triangular formation, cutting off all escape routes.
"Sorry, but you can't pass through here," Jin said with a smile, twirling his long blade.
Kushina, with a stoic expression, blocked another route. "You shouldn't have tried to breach our defenses."
"I'm afraid you'll have to die here."
The three Konoha ninjas charged at the Stone ninja, and the battle was over in an instant.
Jin wiped his long blade clean, letting the blood droplets fall to the ground.
The three Konoha ninja had already begun to bear the marks of war. However, since entering the battlefield, Kushina had lost much of her former liveliness.
"How much longer do we have to stay here?" Jin leaned against a tree, watching the falling leaves.
"We'll stay until the war is over," Minato replied, his expression turning distant.
With the war now in full swing, both Minato and Kushina were deeply affected by its harsh realities.
"Until it's over, huh?" Jin gazed up at the sky. He remembered that the Second Great Ninja War had dragged on for several years.
This was only the beginning.
The three fell silent, unable to recapture the playful banter they once shared.
Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, the weight of war heavy on their minds.
Their silence was broken by the sudden appearance of smoke. A man wearing an Anbu mask emerged, holding a scroll in his hand.
"New orders: Uchiha Jin is to be immediately transferred to the Sand Village frontline."
(End of Chapter)