"I thought you called me out here because you had something important to say!"
But... that's it?
Rolling his eyes, Takuya turned back toward the cave, waving dismissively, "Got it, I'm not dumb enough to stick around and die fighting. If things get tough, I'll definitely run, and I'll take Nawaki and Minato with me, don't worry, your foolish brother isn't that easy to kill."
Despite his seemingly carefree words and constant complaints about his 'foolish brother', deep down, Tsunade was always genuinely worried about her brother's safety.
Well, enough said. Having a sister like her is indeed a blessing.
"What did your sister tell you?"
When Takuya returned, Nawaki, like a curious child, kept nagging him for answers.
"Your sister said she's worried you'll die on the battlefield, so she asked me to keep an eye on you, to make sure you don't actually kick the bucket. She said her brother can only die by her hands."
Takuya replied sarcastically.
"Get lost."
Nawaki laughed off his irritation. Would my sister really say that? You must be joking.
"The Senju clan isn't afraid of death; don't try to fool me. My sister would never say that, I trust her character."
Nawaki was confident.
Takuya looked at him with pity.
The Senju clan no longer exists; you two don't even use the Senju surname anymore, still harping on about 'Senju', which is already a thing of the past.
And besides, I was just saying it's good to have a sister, and you get all worked up?
I might believe Minato won't die, but you, Nawaki, who were supposed to be blown up by an explosive tag, where do you get the confidence to say such things?
"No wonder your sister likes to deal with you; you really do need handling, truly."
Takuya patted Nawaki's shoulder meaningfully and waved him off, "I'm going to rest now, don't disturb me unless it's necessary. We're heading to the frontline tomorrow, and who knows how many people from the Sand will come to stir up trouble."
It's inevitable that the Sand will interfere in the massive battle between the Leaf and the Rain; the question is just how many people Chiyo will send to cause trouble, and she might even come in person.
"What does he mean by that?"
Looking at Takuya leaning against a rock, closing his eyes to rest, Nawaki nudged Minato, who was busy scratching his head with a scroll.
Minato, initially unwilling to deal with Nawaki, reluctantly set down the scroll, "Takuya means you're a bit foolish, so Tsunade-senpai likes to straighten you out."
"....."
This isn't fun at all. Takuya is like this, and so are you, Minato. You're the foolish ones.
Unable to get a straight answer, Nawaki gave up asking further and sulkily sat down to rest.
It wasn't long before his snores began to sound.
Typically heartless, with a huge heart.
Would anyone else be able to sleep if they were preoccupied with concerns?
But Nawaki was different; no matter how big the issue, he could always let it go quickly.
Like the time his sister stole his allowance to gamble.
Minato continued his studies, not disturbed by Takuya.
He looked forward to the day Minato would become the fastest man in the ninja world, even if it took a long time.
A night without words.
The next morning, after eating, the squad packed their ninja tools and headache-inducing dry rations and pills and set off.
Along with Takuya's squad to the frontline were many other ninjas.
These accompanying ninjas all shared one thing in common—they were of average strength, even among chūnin, they were just mediocre.
With a major battle looming, Orochimaru, as the commander, couldn't afford to pull away strong ninjas to guard against the Sand.
This battle's focus was on the Leaf and the Rain; the Sand was just there to stir trouble.
In the temporary camp of the Sand, Chiyo looked at Masa, who was covered in mud and disheveled, with an unhappy expression.
"So, the Leaf is also facing a shortage of supplies, forcing Orochimaru to escort the supplies personally?"
"Yes, Chiyo-sama, I'm certain it was Orochimaru."
The news that Takuya could also summon Manda hadn't spread. Seeing Manda, Masa was convinced the person he encountered was Orochimaru.
After all, no other reports suggested anyone other than Orochimaru in the Leaf could summon Manda.
"And the squad you led?"
Chiyo asked coldly.
Sweat formed on Masa's forehead as he bowed respectfully, "Chiyo-sama, it's my lack of strength, I'm no match for Manda. My subordinates were chased down and devoured by Manda..."
To die in battle is at least an honorable death, fighting for the village, sacrifices are inevitable.
But the type of death matters.
Being eaten alive by a snake is particularly hard to accept.
If they had died on the battlefield and couldn't bring back the bodies, it would be one thing.
But to be eaten alive by a snake is another level of pain.
Masa felt as if he had a stone stuck in his heart, suffocating him.
Orochimaru, that bastard, was too bullying.
Not engaging directly, instead summoning Manda to chase and bite them was downright humiliating.
"Alright, I understand. Go and rest. Although the mission you led failed, you brought back some useful intelligence. This mission's failure won't affect your military merits; you may leave."
Chiyo waved him off, signaling he could leave.
"Thank you."
Masa felt a surge of relief, standing straight, he respectfully bowed before leaving the tent.
His subordinates were eaten, leaving only him alive to return.
Masa had been worried about punishment, but thankfully, there was none, and even his military merits weren't deducted.
"Chiyo-sama is truly kind-hearted."
Masa gratefully issued Chiyo a metaphorical 'kind person card.'
If only the contemplative Chiyo knew, she might kick him to death.
I've lost a son, a daughter-in-law, and I'm fretting over this nonsense, and you're giving me a kind person card?
"What do you think?"
Chiyo turned to her brother Ebizō, who was in charge of the Sand's intelligence.
Because of the need to gather a lot of information about the Rain, Chiyo had messaged the Third Kazekage to send Ebizō to the Land of Rain.
The Third Kazekage agreed to Chiyo's request.
So the siblings found themselves together in the Land of Rain.
"It has some credibility, but we can't fully trust it."
Ebizō, who had been handling intelligence, said, "Maybe this is a Leaf ploy to deceive us, pretending to be weak to give us an opening."
"Based on the spy's information, Hiruzen's three disciples all have numerous complaints about Danzo, the commander, so it might be intentional."
"Or..."
Ebizō paused, looking at his sister Chiyo.
"Or Orochimaru is returning to the Leaf camp, perhaps transporting a batch of supplies to the frontline en route."
Hearing this, Chiyo nodded, "Then how credible do you find Masa's intelligence?"
"Not very credible, but it doesn't hinder our plans to attack the Leaf camp."
Ebizō smiled, showing a few missing teeth.
***********
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