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In the bustling village of Sunagakure, a hot pot restaurant named "West Lai Shun" was packed with diners. The place was famous for its copper hot pot, known for its flavorful broth, tender lamb slices, meticulously crafted dipping sauces, and fair prices. The restaurant's innovative dining style had won the hearts of the villagers.
West Lai Shun had already opened branches in the Moon Lake District and the Land of Rain, and there were even rumors of plans to expand to Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village).
This establishment was a private venture owned by Jinghang, handed over to a group of retired and injured shinobi to manage. The working conditions were excellent, and the staff were happy to serve under Jinghang's name.
One of the shinobi, renowned for his exceptional knife skills, was currently putting on a live demonstration for the customers. With a few swift flashes of his blade, a fresh piece of lamb weighing over a kilogram was sliced into over a hundred paper-thin pieces, each as delicate as a cicada's wings. The performance was both delicious and visually stunning, earning rounds of applause from the diners.
At one table, Hidan and Ban no Shō were completely ignoring their table manners. Plate after plate of lamb slices were dumped into the boiling pot, and as soon as the meat turned a pale pink, they would scoop it out, dip it in sauce, and devour it with abandon. After all, today's test had drained them significantly, and they were desperate to replenish their energy.
Meanwhile, Furong Wu Zhong (Wu Zhong Furong) and Shūki Akasuna (Shūki of the Red Sand) were eating more gracefully. They dipped and ate one slice at a time, but their chopsticks never stopped moving.
Once the pace of their eating slowed, Shūki Akasuna put down his chopsticks and spoke.
"You can keep eating, but I need to discuss something."
The three students looked up at their teacher, though their chopsticks didn't pause.
"Lord Kazekage has announced that in three months, a joint military exercise with Konohagakure will be held in the Land of Rivers. The operation is codenamed Wind and Fire."
Hearing this, the three of them stopped eating and turned their full attention to their teacher.
"Although it's being called a military exercise, there will be real combat involved. The plan is to eliminate several secret military outposts set up by Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village) in the Land of Rivers. Normally, newly formed ninja squads don't participate in such operations."
"But I think this is a rare opportunity. It will give you exposure to real combat and help hone your teamwork and strategies. It's a great way to improve your overall strength. So, I'm planning to submit a report requesting our participation. What do you think?"
"Of course, I'm in!" Hidan said enthusiastically.
"No objections here," Ban no Shō replied, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"I agree too," Furong Wu Zhong said firmly.
"Good. I'll submit the report tomorrow. I don't think there'll be any issues. I've set the stage for you; now it's up to you to perform well!"
"Yes!" the three of them responded in unison.
"Excellent. Objectively speaking, your individual combat skills are quite strong, but you lack teamwork. That's understandable since you're still getting to know each other. Over the next three months, our focus will be on addressing this weakness."
"I have some ideas. Let's start by analyzing today's capture-the-flag battle…" Shūki Akasuna picked up his chopsticks to use as props and began explaining his strategies to the team.
Scene Transition
"What's on your mind? You've been quiet for a while."
Tsunade, dressed in a loose purple robe that barely concealed her curves, was drying her freshly washed hair with a towel. Her alluring figure, with its half-revealed chest and long, seductive legs, was enough to make anyone's heart race.
Reclining lazily in a chair, Jinghang snapped out of his thoughts as he looked at the stunning woman before him. Unable to resist, he pulled Tsunade into his arms.
"I was wondering… if I had fought Madara back then, what were my chances of winning?"
Tsunade slapped away Jinghang's wandering hand and replied, "It's hard to say. He was the pinnacle of his era. Even in his old age, his strength is unfathomable. Who knows what tricks he might have up his sleeve? Even his subordinate, White Zetsu, is incredibly powerful. If it weren't for Lord Buck, I wouldn't have been able to capture him."
"Exactly. Who knows what other cards he's hiding?" Jinghang said, staring at the ceiling in frustration.
In the cave, Jinghang had considered eliminating Madara—the root of so many future problems—once and for all. But every time he saw that eerie Sharingan, he hesitated.
The Sharingan was undoubtedly one of the most troublesome abilities in this world. Beyond its powerful techniques like Susano'o and Chibaku Tensei (Heavenly Subjugation of the Stars), there was always the risk of Madara using forbidden ocular jutsu like Izanagi or Izanami. These techniques could warp reality and trap opponents in endless loops. With only his Iron Sand Technique and half-mastered Sage Mode, Jinghang knew he stood little chance of victory.
Moreover, Black Zetsu was lurking nearby, and the Gedo Statue (Demonic Statue of the Outer Path) contained thousands of White Zetsu. If Madara unleashed them, Jinghang would be overwhelmed.
Such an uncertain gamble was something Jinghang couldn't afford. He had worked too hard to establish himself in this world, rising to the position of a village leader. Dying in some godforsaken cave was not an option.
Still, Jinghang believed that Madara wouldn't act recklessly either. After the Mangekyō Sharingan's illusions failed to work on him, Madara likely realized he couldn't guarantee victory. The poem Jinghang had inscribed on the stone bench with his Iron Sand was partly a joke, but it also served as a show of strength. Jinghang was confident that Madara wouldn't dare target Sunagakure for at least the next decade.
This gave Jinghang time to consolidate resources and grow stronger. He believed that disrupting any key point in Black Zetsu's plans could thwart their schemes. And if all else failed, he could always follow the original timeline. With careful planning, his future in Sunagakure looked promising.
"How about I notify Lord Hiruzen right now? Whether that old man is real or not, we should deal with him first," Tsunade suggested.
"Lord Hiruzen, huh…" Jinghang pondered. At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in his prime, far from the elderly figure seen later in the series. As the prized student of the First and Second Hokage, teaming up with him might actually work.
But after a moment's thought, Jinghang shook his head.
"Unfortunately, I was too careless this time. I've probably already alerted him. If I'm not mistaken, that old fox has likely fled by now. Think about it—why did he hide for so many years? It's because he feared trouble from Konoha."
Tsunade frowned and tapped Jinghang's forehead. "You should've told me about this earlier."
"How could I? If White Zetsu hadn't attacked the underground lab, would you have even believed me?"
"Fair point. By the way, what's your plan for White Zetsu?" Tsunade asked.
"I'll starve him for three to five days first. He barged in here uninvited; he deserves some suffering. But enough about him. Let's focus on something more important—I've got unfinished business with you!"
Jinghang, unable to contain himself, flipped Tsunade onto the bed. She pushed him away in annoyance.
"Go take a bath first! You stink!"
Translator's Note: The author's afterword mentions the difficulty in crafting the confrontation between Madara and Jinghang, opting for a subtle approach instead. This decision leaves room for future developments without altering the story's trajectory.