As Senganzuchi and Hanzo clashed, Nagasawa Jo and others from the Rain Village joined the fray. Meanwhile, Ke Dong and the younger Rain ninjas moved back toward Reiki and his group, knowing that their level wouldn't make much difference in such a high-stakes battle.
"Are you really a medical ninja?" Ke Dong asked Reiki, still puzzled. Reiki's performance in battle had been formidable, yet here he was calmly setting Kato Dan's bones and healing injuries with skill well beyond what Ke Dong was used to seeing from medical ninjas.
"Yes, I am," Reiki answered cheerfully. "But who says a medical ninja can't learn other skills?"
Ke Dong was taken aback. Of course, medical ninjas could practice other forms of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and so on, but…
"Your medical ninjutsu is incredibly advanced," Ke Dong said, still bewildered. "How do you find the time to train in all these other areas?"
"My constitution is a bit special, so I progress quickly in taijutsu," Reiki explained. "During the day, I spend time in the hospital and training grounds, treating injuries in the village for free. At night, we do actual combat training and chakra refining. That's about it."
Reiki's matter-of-fact answer left Ke Dong in awe. Here was someone immensely talented, but beyond that, he made intensive training sound so simple. He felt a deep pang of inadequacy—no matter how hard he worked, it seemed impossible to catch up to people like Reiki.
"Keep working at it," Reiki said with an encouraging smile. "One day, you might even become the Rain Shadow of Amegakure. You're strong, and you have a lot of potential."
After this, Reiki turned his attention back to Kato Dan, continuing his work with a focused expression. Ke Dong felt something shift in his perspective.
At that moment, Aburame Shibi approached, his tone serious. "We've identified the intruders. They're from Kumogakure, led by the son of the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki."
Tsunade nodded knowingly. The ambition of Kumogakure was no secret; after the passing of the First and Second Hokages, the village had become increasingly aggressive. They believed that Sarutobi Hiruzen was weak compared to his predecessors, and with their own military strength growing, their aspirations to dominate the ninja world had become evident.
"Should we intervene?" Minato asked, awaiting Tsunade's instructions.
"No," Tsunade replied, shaking her head. "The entanglement between these three forces is complicated enough. Let Hanzo know that Hidden Cloud Village has forces lying in ambush nearby."
Tsunade vanished onto the battlefield, and upon her arrival, the Iwagakure ninja looked apprehensive. If Konoha joined the fray, their already slim chance of victory would disappear entirely.
"Hidden Cloud Village?" Senganzuchi growled, furious as he realized the source of the ambush that had delayed their escape.
Hanzo's anger grew as he learned of Hidden Cloud Village's involvement. To him, both Iwagakure's attack and Kumogakure's interference were unforgivable.
"Do they think they can profit by reaping the spoils? Let Senganzuchi know about Hidden Cloud's involvement and see how he reacts," Tsunade suggested. "Remember, the enemy of your enemy can be a useful ally."
Hanzo's face broke into a grim smile, understanding her point. Senganzuchi likely held more anger for the Hidden Cloud's interference than for Amegakure at this point. With a new plan in mind, he turned to Senganzuchi.
"Senganzuchi, let's change locations—I have a surprise for you," Hanzo called out, charging directly toward the Hidden Cloud ambushers.
---
Soon, the forces from Iwagakure and Amegakure clashed with Kumogakure, escalating the battle to a new level.
Back with the Konoha team, Reiki had just finished treating Kato Dan. "Thanks, Reiki," Kato Dan said gratefully, though he was still wincing from the painful process.
"What's the current situation?" he asked, having been unconscious during much of the chaos.
"Iwagakure launched a sneak attack, and Lord Hanzo went to fight them," Reiki explained. "But Kumogakure is blocking Iwagakure's retreat, hoping to make gains from the chaos. This could cost Kumogakure dearly."
Kato Dan nodded, digesting the update, then stood up resolutely. "I'll join the battle!" he declared and activated his Spiritual Transformation Technique without hesitation, eager to contribute.
Tsunade, noticing the sudden decision, looked curiously at Reiki.
"Kato Dan wants to prove himself and bring Konoha more leverage in the talks," Reiki replied with an innocent smile.
Tsunade glanced at him, clearly skeptical, but let it slide.
On the battlefield, the Kumogakure ninjas found themselves under heavy fire. Facing attacks from both Iwagakure and Amegakure, their chances of success were dwindling rapidly. To make matters worse, Kato Dan's Spiritual Transformation Technique had already taken out several unsuspecting Kumogakure ninjas, leaving some to even turn on their own allies in confusion.
"Brother, we need to retreat!" Gulal said in panic. The relentless attacks from both sides were overwhelming.
Ai's expression hardened. As the son of the Third Raikage, he was determined to prove his strength and secure his future.
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Gimme Power stones I'm Poor