Credits: Surge1301
In the forest valley, under a gloomy sky, cold rain poured incessantly.
"Feeling any better?"
Hiding under a large tree, Kushina looked visibly exhausted, while behind her, Shirou's hands glowed faintly with green medical ninjutsu light as he gently treated her head.
"Medical ninjutsu can't heal mental injuries, but it's effective for alleviating mental fatigue."
Shirou's calm voice resonated, and Kushina, half-opening her tired eyes, nodded. "Mm, it does feel nice."
Having split into hundreds of shadow clones, even though it wasn't for training, traversing through underground rivers while maintaining vigilance had drained her chakra and heightened her mental tension.
As the shadow clones dissipated one after another, the accumulating mental exhaustion left Kushina utterly worn out.
Seeing the weariness in Kushina's eyes, Shirou frowned slightly to himself. It seemed that without becoming a true jinchūriki, there was still a significant gap.
Naruto Uzumaki, as a half-Kurama jinchūriki, could effortlessly create hundreds of shadow clones for training without fatigue. On the other hand, Kushina, who only had a portion of Kurama's chakra sealed within her, could barely manage a hundred clones for reconnaissance.
The difference between the two was immense.
"It's all your fault! You insisted I come," Kushina muttered, her fatigue making her sound like she was complaining, almost like she was pouting. Instantly, her cheeks flushed red.
Sneaking a glance at the thinking Shirou behind her, Kushina secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Given the setting—dark skies, rain falling, the two of them alone in a small forest—and the fact that he was massaging her head, it all made her feel... strange.
"Hmph! Uchiha Shirou, don't underestimate me. Even though you're a jōnin now, I've been training my wind-style chakra nature transformation. Wind counters your lightning!" she declared stubbornly, trying not to show her vulnerability in front of him.
Shirou nodded in agreement. "I thought you were doing it for Mikoto. You're good with wind, Mikoto is good with fire—your jutsu could complement each other."
He chuckled as he spoke but then remembered Kushina's chakra natures: wind and water. In a terrain like the Land of Rain, where water-style techniques would have a natural advantage, she had instead chosen to focus on wind-style techniques.
Glancing at Kushina without revealing his thoughts, a warm feeling welled up inside him. Was it because of him? Despite her tough words, her actions spoke otherwise.
Their chakra natures complemented each other perfectly. Although he specialized in lightning-style jutsu, he was equally proficient in fire-style techniques.
Despite his calculating nature, which often dictated his actions, even a man couldn't help but be moved by beauty. He could honestly say that his feelings for her were genuine.
"If you're going to focus on wind-style ninjutsu, the clan records mention that the Second Hokage once trained a student, Shimura Danzo, who became exceptionally skilled in wind-style techniques. During the First Shinobi World War, he was even hailed as Konoha's strongest wind-style user."
As he said this, Shirou seemed to recall something amusing, and a smile crept across his face.
"Kushina, your chakra is a huge advantage. In terms of ninjutsu, I suggest you master a few specific wind-style techniques, particularly the offensive ones like Vacuum Wave, Vacuum Consecutive Waves, and Vacuum Sphere...
These techniques were documented by Elder Shimura Danzo during the First Shinobi World War. Since others have already paved the way, why not follow the path they've laid out?"
The more Shirou spoke, the more animated he became. Looking at Kushina in front of him, he seemed genuinely interested.
Danzo's signature ninjutsu—all of them were taught by the Second Hokage. The Senju clan must have detailed scrolls on these techniques.
In the original story, Shimura Danzo's wind-style ninjutsu was remarkably impressive. With the help of his summoned beast, he could even tear through layers of Susanoo. His wind-style shuriken, sharp and unparalleled, was like a deadly blade.
More importantly, the Rasengan could incorporate wind-style chakra nature transformations. Once Kushina became the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, she could master it as well.
A jinchūriki capable of throwing endless wind-style-enhanced Rasengans... imagining that, Shirou couldn't help but let his lips curl upward. She could become the strongest wind-style ninja, capable of bombarding her enemies endlessly with devastating Rasengans.
"I get it," Kushina replied, pouting. Her fatigued body instinctively leaned back and rested against Shirou's leg.
"Just rest for a while. The best way to recover from mental fatigue is to go back and get a good night's sleep."
As she felt no reaction from the body behind her and realized she was resting against his leg, Kushina silently justified it to herself.
I've been working hard. What's wrong with taking a little break? Besides, you're the one who knows medical ninjutsu.
This subtle thrill of intimacy was short-lived, however, as a shadow clone relayed information back to her. Kushina's expression immediately changed.
"One of my shadow clones just reached the Sand Shinobi's war zone, though only the outskirts."
Her countless shadow clones had been navigating the underground river, some hitting dead ends, others getting lost, and some unlucky ones being swept away by the raging currents.
Hearing Kushina's report, Shirou's expression turned to one of confirmation.
"My guess was correct. If there's a route through the underground river to the Sand Shinobi's territory, there must also be tributaries leading further in, maybe even to the Amegakure."
As Shirou spoke, he noticed Kushina becoming increasingly exhausted, prompting him to frown.
"That's enough, Kushina. Dispel the shadow clones. If you push yourself any further, you might suffer long-term mental damage."
His concern, voiced in the quiet solitude of just the two of them, made Kushina's cloaked face flush red. Her gaze darted nervously as she thought to herself.
Should I admit that I'm not that tired and I've been faking it a little?
"Umm… just a bit longer. I only have 36 shadow clones left," Kushina mumbled, her eyes filled with both embarrassment and guilt, almost as if she'd been caught in a lie.
Shirou, however, frowned and looked up at the sky, where the first light of dawn was beginning to appear. Her shadow clones had been active all night.
"Rain(Ame)! The Amegakure!"
Suddenly, Kushina's pupils contracted, and the memories from her shadow clone caused her to gasp in shock, her voice trembling.
"The Amegakure! I saw it! Tall, metallic buildings everywhere, and countless pipelines!"
Suppressing her astonishment, Kushina hurriedly relayed the memories from her shadow clone.
"One of my shadow clones was swept away by a raging current and happened to encounter one of Lady Katsuyu's smaller clones. It floated along the underground river all night and eventually reached a massive lake, like an ocean.
From there, I saw it! The Amegakure was in the distance, with towering metallic structures and endless pipes..."
As Kushina described what she saw, Shirou's expression turned to one of amazement.
To think they'd gotten this lucky—they'd stumbled upon the Amegakure.
Her description of the architecture was unmistakable. It was the Amegakure.
"Damn it! The currents were too strong, and it was pitch black down there. There were so many branching streams, I have no idea which one led to the Amegakure," Kushina growled in frustration, punching a nearby tree.
The tree shook violently, sending a cascade of rainwater down from its leaves like a sudden downpour.
"Uhh…"
Kushina widened her eyes as Shirou spread his arms, using his cloak to shield her from the falling rain. He, however, was completely drenched, looking like a soaked puppy.
Kushina gave an awkward smile. "Um… I didn't mean to…"
"Enough. Dispel your shadow clones. Let's head back and report to Sister Tsunade immediately."
"Alright!"
Kushina formed a cross seal with her fingers and shouted. In an instant, her remaining shadow clones dispersed, their accumulated fatigue and memories flooding her mind all at once. Her vision darkened, and she swayed, nearly fainting.
Shirou reacted quickly, catching her without hesitation. Without a second thought, he lifted her into a princess carry.
"Shirou…"
"You've worked hard, Kushina."
She opened her mouth to say something, but as Shirou carried her swiftly through the forest in a flash, she found herself staring at his focused face, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to protest. Instead, a sense of peace washed over her, and her tired eyes slowly closed. As Shirou made his way toward the nearby town, the corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.
Carrying someone on your back just doesn't compare to a princess carry.
...
"That was so reckless! We almost made a critical mistake!"
When Shirou's report reached her, Tsunade slammed her fist on the table, shattering it into pieces as her eyes filled with both anger and lingering fear.
That was close! A single oversight almost caused a disaster.
She wouldn't gamble on the possibility that the opponent wouldn't act, but as a ninja, they had nearly overlooked a fatal weakness.
"The leader of the Amegakure, Hanzō of the Salamander, is truly deserving of his title as a demigod. To endure and wait until the key moment to deliver a fatal blow—what patience!"
In the command center, not only Tsunade but even Jiraiya was filled with lingering fear. Soon after, Jiraiya smacked his forehead in frustration and blamed himself:
"It's all my fault. I'm in charge of intelligence, and yet I allowed such a major oversight."
"Jiraiya, this isn't your fault!" For once, Tsunade didn't argue with Jiraiya and instead spoke with a rare tone of seriousness to console him.
However, Jiraiya could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
"No, it is my responsibility. I've used the toads as summoned spies several times to gather intelligence, taking advantage of rivers and lakes, but I completely overlooked the underground waterways."
"All right, everything is still salvageable now. White Fang's message should be arriving any moment, so let's proceed according to plan. But three days after launching the main assault, we'll secretly dispatch elites to deliver a special gift to this so-called demigod!"
At this moment, Tsunade's expression was firm, but there was also an undercurrent of suppressed anger. This was her first time commanding such a large force, and she bore the heavy burden of the Land of Rain battlefield.
If her oversight led to failure, the blow to her confidence would be minor compared to the irreparable loss it would cause the village.
"Heh… looks like we've been underestimated."
With a hoarse laugh, Orochimaru slowly stood, his face taking on a serious expression. His pale golden snake-like eyes gleamed with cold light.
"Keep the intelligence hidden to avoid any leakage. Meanwhile, the rear clearing squad is preparing to return. I think we can use this opportunity to have them pass by this area. Even if we don't know where the Rain Ninja will appear—or if they'll appear at all—if they dare to show themselves, we'll make sure this so-called demigod of the Amegakure has an unforgettable experience."
As he spoke, Orochimaru let out his signature hoarse laugh, licking his lips with a bloodthirsty grin.
At this point, Orochimaru had yet to experience the harsh reality of defeat and didn't fully grasp the weight behind the title of demigod.
"Let Shirou join in as well. Secretly, I'll arrange for the Senju clan to transport a batch of explosive tags to this area for deployment."
It didn't matter whether the Rain Ninja had a plan or not. The explosive tags would be planted, and if the enemy showed up, that was fine. If they didn't, the terrain of the underground waterways could still be altered. Just blow it all up.
Better to act now than risk being outmaneuvered later.
...
In the vast deserts of the Land of Wind, under the scorching sun, a group cloaked in sand-colored robes moved swiftly.
Transitioning from the endlessly wet and rainy season of the Land of Rain to the blistering heat of the desert, even White Fang couldn't help but marvel privately at the wonders of nature.
Ninjas may be powerful, but compared to the forces of nature, they are still far too insignificant.
"Commander, the Sunagakure is only 300 kilometers ahead. Should we launch a surprise attack?"
The elite squad only knew they were tasked with completing an S-rank mission but knew nothing else.
Even as they crossed the desert of the Land of Wind under White Fang's leadership, the specifics of the mission remained unclear.
White Fang listened to his subordinate's report and looked at the map. Calmly, he pointed to another location on it.
"No. The Sunagakure is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even with a surprise attack, it would lead to casualties. Instead, we'll strike here."
He pointed to a location marked as an oasis on the map, causing the Konoha ninjas to suddenly understand.
"This is the closest oasis to the Sunagakure and a vital hub for countless trade routes. Attacking here will have a much greater impact and will alarm the entire Sunagakure."
At this point, Sakumo Hatake raised his head to look at the group and calmly explained their mission.
"Our mission this time is simple: attack all the oases within the Land of Wind and destroy their ecosystems. Plunge the Land of Wind into chaos during wartime. Once the Sunagakure dispatches large support forces, we'll kill them!
While we create chaos within the Land of Wind, the village will deploy a large-scale ninja army to the border of the Land of Rivers in a show of force. At that point, the Sunagakure will have no choice but to withdraw their forces."
The Land of Wind and the Land of Fire are separated by the Lands of Rivers and Rain. If Konoha amasses troops at the border of the Land of Rivers, the Land of Wind will naturally grow anxious and wary.
Meanwhile, White Fang's squad, wreaking havoc within the Land of Wind, would create additional pressure. With their backyard in flames, the Sunagakure would be forced to redeploy their elite forces from the Land of Rain.
In this way, with the Sunagakure's elite forces pulled back from the Land of Rain, only the Rain ninja would remain, leaving Konoha in a nearly guaranteed position of victory.