Tsunade's anger over recent events was palpable, and she had no desire to engage with the Third Hokage at this moment. Her focus was squarely on strengthening the Anbu.
The silence from the Third Hokage was telling, and Koharu Utatane and Mitokado Hamura exchanged knowing looks—they could see that Tsunade hadn't been cooperative.
Hope for an antidote was dwindling.
Shifting the conversation, the elders turned to the pressing matter of supplies. Whether or not an antidote could be developed, supplies were non-negotiable. Without them, how could Konoha's frontline continue the fight?
Taking a deep breath, the Third Hokage spoke firmly, "We need to find a way to send rations to the front. Prepare a batch of ration pills immediately. As for ninja tools and supplies… I'll have to speak to Tsunade."
The supplies seized earlier were still under Shinki's control, and she wasn't about to let them go without compensation. The Third Hokage's attempt to take them without proper recompense had already been thwarted.
Now, faced with the consequences of his previous greed, he was left with no choice but to pay for what he needed. But even after parting with the funds, there was still no guarantee of receiving the supplies on time.
At the front-line camp, Shinki addressed Nawaki and Minato Namikaze. "The village can't get the necessary supplies to us right now, so your intensive training will have to pause for now."
With medicinal ingredients running low and supplies scarce, the strenuous training regimen was temporarily halted. Meals were reduced, and even Shinki had to scale back cooking for his own sustenance.
"If supplies don't come through soon, we may have to figure out how to scavenge or secure food ourselves," Shinki said, half-jokingly.
"Sensei, will everyone really have to fight on empty stomachs?" Nawaki asked, legs crossed as he sat on a chair, concern clouding his expression.
"That's not your concern," Shinki replied, rolling his eyes. "The village has the resources, but the supply lines have been disrupted by the Sand Village. Some convoys have even been destroyed. This will be resolved soon, because there are people more desperate than we are."
While the camp could endure with some complaining, the Daimyo of the Fire Country could not. The Third Hokage was worried, but the Daimyo was livid. Until the infiltrators were dealt with, the Fire Country would be in turmoil, and the consequences could be disastrous for Konoha.
Shinki tossed a few books from a sealed scroll toward Nawaki and Minato. "Since you won't be training as intensely, focus on brushing up on your knowledge. Especially you, Nawaki. If I hadn't checked myself, I wouldn't have believed that a graduate of the Ninja Academy could be outclassed by Minato in terms of basic knowledge."
"Hey, come on!" Nawaki's face fell as he glanced at the books. In contrast, Minato picked up a book and started reading with enthusiasm. He was the model student, eager to learn whatever Shinki assigned him.
Nawaki, on the other hand, was a reluctant learner, and studying was torture for him.
Shinki added with a smirk, "Just remember, if your sister asks, I'll tell her how poor your academic performance is. She might find it… an eyesore."
Minato stifled a laugh, and Nawaki's face turned beet red. "That's going too far! Am I really that bad?"
Reluctantly, Nawaki picked up the book. To avoid Tsunade's wrath when he returned to the village, he had no choice but to study.
However, it didn't take long before Nawaki was scratching his head in confusion and asking Minato for help. Fortunately, Minato was already advanced in his studies and could tutor Nawaki in the basics.
Shinki didn't expect Nawaki to become a scholar. He just needed him to know enough to avoid being as academically weak as a future Naruto.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Hanzo of the Salamander swung his deadly sickle, dispatching the last of the Konoha ninjas who lay at his feet. He surveyed the scene, his expression unreadable beneath the gas mask.
Of the forces he had brought with him, more than half were now dead. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Konoha…"
The Rock Village and Sand Village had retreated, but Konoha remained, determined to see the war through. Hanzo understood why—they wanted to claim victory. Konoha wouldn't withdraw until the Rain Village, and he himself, accepted defeat.
"Leader, we've eliminated all the enemies, but our casualties…" A Rain Village ninja reported, glancing around with a bitter expression.
Hanzo set his sickle down on a nearby rock, leaning on the handle as his face darkened. If the fight continued like this, he would soon be a leader without an army. Even if Konoha paid dearly for victory, the Rain Village was on the brink of collapse.
There were only two options left: fight to the last man or concede defeat. Hanzo loathed the idea of surrender, but the Rain Village couldn't withstand much more.
"Did we get any recent intel from the Sand Village?" he asked.
"Yes." The ninja handed him a scroll.
The intelligence had been sent by Chiyo herself. Despite her disdain for Hanzo, she had provided the Rain Village with crucial information after the Sand Village's retreat. It was a strategic gesture, hoping to keep the Rain Village engaged in the fight against Konoha.
Hanzo knew Chiyo's motives were far from altruistic, but he accepted the information regardless. Free intelligence was free intelligence, after all.
The scroll detailed the unfolding war in the Land of Rivers, the chaos in the Land of Fire, and the disruption of Konoha's supply routes. The Sand Village's operatives had recorded everything meticulously.
Even if it was meant to stoke the flames of war, Hanzo knew he needed to use this information to weigh his next move carefully.
>>>>>
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