[Victor: Wow, so the Hidden Cloud Village finally couldn't help but make their move?]
[Tsunade: It's not just them. The Hidden Mist Village has also sent troops to the border of the Land of Fire.]
[Tsunade: Right now, only Iwagakure hasn't made any moves, but I think it's only a matter of time.]
Based on her understanding of Ohnoki, that old bastard who loved nothing more than waiting to pick the bones of others, his lack of movement meant he was probably sitting back, watching. He'd wait until the other three villages had beaten each other bloody before swooping in to take advantage.
[Victor: Alright, I'll be there right away.]
[Tsunade: Anyone else want to experience the thrill of war? You're welcome to join us.]
Though Victor alone would be more than enough to end this war, Tsunade wouldn't mind having a few more powerful allies on her side. The faster they could wrap this up, the better.
[Lumine: On my way, doc.]
[Stelle: I'm in the middle of training, so I'll pass.]
[Kiana: Same here.]
In the end, aside from Victor, none of the other girls expressed any interest in getting involved.
[Victor: I'll bring a few people with me.]
This was a good opportunity to let some of the girls back home see real blood. Having physical strength without the mental fortitude to match would only limit their potential in the future. If they couldn't shoulder the weight of what came with power, they'd never reach their full potential.
After closing the chat group panel, Victor called Kujo Arisa, Nakiri Erina, and Arato Hisako to his side.
"I'm going to take you all to another world to participate in a war," he said directly. "If any of you don't want to go, tell me now."
Victor wasn't going to force anyone. The choice was theirs to make.
The three women immediately understood his intention. Though fear flickered through their hearts, none of them backed down.
"I want to go!" Kujo Arisa was the first to speak up. "I refuse to be nothing more than a decoration!"
"Me too!" Erina said firmly.
"And me!" Hisako added, not to be outdone.
Victor nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Let's go."
With a sweep of his hand, a dimensional gate opened before them. Victor led the three women through to the ninja world.
The girls looked around curiously, finding themselves in a small, functional office. Sitting behind the desk was the busty beauty they'd met at previous banquets, Tsunade herself.
"You're here," Tsunade said, setting down the stack of documents she'd been reviewing. She rubbed her temples, trying to brush away the fatigue, and looked up at the four visitors from Black Feather Castle.
"Looks like you haven't been having the best time lately," Victor remarked as he pulled out a chair and sat down without ceremony, as though this were his own home.
"What do you think?" Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Endless documents to review every day, constant friction at the borders, it'd be strange if I could enjoy being Hokage right now."
She sighed. "I'm regretting it more and more. I never should've taken this damn position."
Though she'd known being Hokage would be exhausting, actually sitting in this chair had shown her just how draining it truly was. It wasn't the physical toll, it was the mental weight, the responsibility pressing down on her shoulders day after day.
She'd severely underestimated what this position would demand of her.
"If it's really that bad, just find someone suitable to pass the hat to," Victor suggested casually.
"That's exactly what I'm planning," Tsunade admitted. "Once this war is over, I'm handing the position off to someone else."
She honestly couldn't understand how the old man Sarutobi Hiruzen had been willing to sit in this position for so long. Even more baffling was Shimura Danzo's obsession with wanting it for himself.
Of course, the main issue was that Tsunade had no desire for power, so she simply couldn't comprehend their motivations.
"Let's get to the point," Victor said, changing the subject. "How do you plan to use us?"
Tsunade looked surprised. "You want me to give you orders?"
"I thought you'd just charge to the front lines and do your own thing."
Victor shrugged. "You're the Hokage, aren't you? And I'm just a mercenary you hired. Might as well make use of me properly."
"Fair enough."
That actually made things easier. Tsunade pulled a document from her drawer and quickly signed her name at the bottom with practiced efficiency.
"I know you're here to help, and you also want to train the three girls you brought with you," she said, sliding the document across the desk to Victor. "So I'm handing command of the Kumogakure battlefield over to you. Here's your official appointment letter."
Victor took the letter without hesitation and stood to leave. Just as he was about to open the door, Tsunade spoke again.
"Wait. Before you go, I need you to deliver some supplies to the front lines."
Victor nodded. "Alright. Where are they?"
Tsunade turned to her assistant. "Shizune, take Victor and the others to collect the war supplies."
Shizune bowed her head slightly. "Master Victor, ladies, please follow me."
A few minutes later, they arrived at the warehouse used to store war supplies. Shizune gestured to the neatly stacked crates and boxes.
"These are what need to be delivered," she explained.
Victor simply raised his hand and waved it. An invisible force swept over the supplies, and in an instant, they all vanished, stored away in his system space.
The ANBU ninjas hidden in the shadows, tasked with guarding the warehouse, were shocked. They'd seen the Hokage use similar spatial techniques before, but never on this scale. They weren't even sure if Lady Tsunade could store this much at once.
Just who was this man?
Shizune then handed Victor a rolled-up map. "This is the latest version of the ninja world map. I've marked the location of our main forces. I hope it helps."
No wonder Shizune was Tsunade's secretary, she was incredibly thorough. Knowing Victor might not be familiar with the area, she'd prepared a map for him in advance. Even Tsunade hadn't thought of that.
"Thanks," Victor said, tucking the map away. "Let's go."
He turned to the three girls beside him, and together they took flight, heading toward the border of the Land of Fire.
Meanwhile, at the garrison on the border of the Land of Fire...
"Report to Master Jiraiya! The vanguard of the Hidden Cloud Village has crossed the border of the Land of Hot Springs!"
"Report to Master Jiraiya! The third scouting team has been ambushed by Kumogakure forces!"
"Report to Master Jiraiya! Two thousand Kumogakure ninja have been spotted in the Land of Sound!"
Inside the command tent, Jiraiya felt increasingly overwhelmed as reports continued flooding in, one after another.
"Tsk... Is there no good news?" he muttered under his breath.
As if the universe finally decided to take pity on him, a messenger burst through the tent flap with something resembling hope on his face.
"Report to Master Jiraiya! News from the rear! Lady Hokage's reinforcements have departed and will arrive soon!"
Jiraiya's head snapped up. "Do you know how many reinforcements she's sending?"
"Uh... I'm sorry, Master Jiraiya. I don't know the exact number yet."
Jiraiya waved him off. "That's fine. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir!"
As the messenger left, Jiraiya leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling of the tent.
'I hope these reinforcements can turn the tide Tsunade,' he thought.