The frontlines were set deep within the forest, where shinobi from both sides clashed in fierce combat.
A Sunagakure jōnin weaved hand seals, sending out Wind Blades at high speed, only for them to be blocked by a Konoha jōnin using Earth Release.
Elsewhere, a Sunagakure chūnin controlled a puppet that swung a massive blade toward a tree trunk. The Konoha chūnin dodged with a flicker of movement, throwing a kunai wrapped with an explosive tag as he did. The blast echoed throughout the forest.
The battlefield was a chaotic mess, with each side fighting their own battles, locked in a stalemate.
But if one had to say who held the advantage—it was Sunagakure.
They had coated their weapons with poison, forcing Konoha's shinobi to focus on defense and long-range ninjutsu to avoid being struck.
Meanwhile, the Sunagakure ninja only needed to keep their distance and stay out of range of the ninjutsu attacks.
This situation was deeply frustrating for Konoha. Too far, and their ninjutsu lost effectiveness. Too close, and they risked being grazed by a poisoned blade.
The suffocating helplessness was unbearable.
"Damn it! Just wait till the Medical Corps finishes developing the antidote—you're all dead meat!" a Konoha jōnin growled, clenching his fists in anger.
Not far away, a Sunagakure jōnin sneered.
"Heh. By the time you develop an antidote, the war will already be over."
With that, he lunged forward, brandishing a short blade.
The Konoha jōnin gritted his teeth and forced himself to meet the attack head-on.
"Shrrrkk—"
The sound of fabric tearing rang out as the blade sliced through, and the Konoha jōnin stared at the wound on his arm, cursing silently—this was bad!
After landing the hit, the Sunagakure jōnin immediately pulled back, keeping his distance and waiting for the poison to take effect.
"You'll be unable to manipulate chakra soon."
The Konoha jōnin glared at his enemy, unwilling to accept defeat. He could already feel the disruption in his chakra flow.
If this continued, death was inevitable.
While he could still move his chakra, the best option was to take the enemy down with him.
With that resolve, he gripped his kunai and launched an attack.
But the Sunagakure jōnin realized what he was planning. Rather than engage, he continuously retreated.
Since the enemy was already poisoned, there was no need to fight. All he had to do was wait for the poison to disable him.
One advanced, the other retreated, slowly drawing away from the center of the battlefield.
The Konoha jōnin felt his movements slowing, and anxiety gnawed at his heart.
The Sunagakure jōnin's lips curled upward, clearly enjoying the growing panic on his opponent's face. He burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! I told you! By the time you make your antidote, the war will be long over."
"And the Land of Wind will seize the Land of Fire's territory as the victor!"
The Konoha jōnin's face darkened at his words.
Whether from the poison or sheer rage—or both—his body trembled.
...
Just then, a cold voice rang out behind the Sunagakure shinobi.
"I don't know if what you said is true or not..."
"But I'm certain you won't live long enough to find out."
The Sunagakure jōnin's smile froze on his face. He turned around in shock.
Three Konoha shinobi were now standing behind him, though he hadn't sensed them arrive. His heart sank.
By coincidence, Renya and the others had run into a fleeing Sunagakure ninja on their way to the battlefield.
Of course, Renya wouldn't pass up such a head-on offering.
He had just reached for his blade when a figure darted past him.
"Renya, leave this one to me!"
It was none other than Shimura Danzo, already charging forward with a kunai in hand.
Renya: "…"
Why is Danzo acting so enthusiastic the moment he steps onto the battlefield?
He's like a completely different person.
The wounded Konoha jōnin relaxed a little when he saw the forehead protectors of Renya's group.
Seeing Danzo engaging the enemy, he quickly warned:
"Be careful! His kunai is poisoned!"
Of course, Shimura Danzo knew that.
But he wasn't worried—wasn't Renya right here?
If he got poisoned, he could just ask Renya for the antidote.
The Sunagakure jōnin had no idea Konoha had already developed an antidote. Seeing Danzo charging in fearlessly, he instinctively swung his poisoned kunai in counterattack.
Renya could tell the Sunagakure shinobi was only at jōnin level—not a real threat to Danzo.
He stepped up to the injured Konoha jōnin and handed him a pill.
"What's this?" the jōnin asked, confused, but still reached out and took it.
"Antidote," Renya said simply.
Hearing that, the jōnin looked at Renya in disbelief.
"The Medical Corps developed an antidote?!"
Renya gave no response. Instead, he gripped his sword and watched Danzo's battle.
Though he didn't get an answer, the jōnin wasn't upset. His eyes blazed as he stared at the pill in his hand.
With an antidote, he no longer had to fear getting hurt. He could fight at full strength—no more hesitation, no more holding back.
He swallowed the pill without hesitation.
Almost immediately, the chaotic chakra in his body began to stabilize. The pain faded away.
Feeling the change in his body, the jōnin let out a hearty laugh.
"Haha! It's real! The Medical Corps really did it!"
The Sunagakure jōnin in combat overheard the commotion and his expression drastically changed.
"What?! That's impossible!"
How could Konoha have developed an antidote so quickly?
It had to be a bluff!
But then he saw the previously poisoned jōnin suddenly moving with vigor again—and his mind went blank.
So... Konoha really did make an antidote.
Shimura Danzo didn't waste the opportunity. As his opponent froze in shock, Danzo drove his kunai straight into the man's heart.
"Shhk—"
The sound of blade piercing flesh rang out. The Sunagakure jōnin collapsed with a thud, his eyes wide in disbelief.
How did Konoha manage to develop an antidote…?
Sadly, he'd never get an answer.
Danzo looked down at the corpse, a satisfied grin on his face.
Killing a jōnin meant plenty of military merit.
As long as he kept racking up kills, he'd eventually surpass Renya.
There was no time to waste. Danzo turned around and urged,
"Don't just stand there—hurry to the battlefield!"
Without waiting for a response, he dashed off.
The other three quickly followed after him.
Renya tossed a small porcelain bottle to the jōnin beside him and said:
"This is the antidote. Distribute it to the others when you get the chance."
The Konoha jōnin carefully caught the bottle and tucked it into his robe.
With this antidote, they no longer had to worry about injuries.
In battle, getting hurt was commonplace. But against Sunagakure, even a single cut was dangerous—it could mean poisoning, and death.
Now, with the antidote in hand, those risks were gone.
They could finally fight without restraint!
Konoha's shinobi were stronger overall than their Sunagakure counterparts. It was only the poison tactics that had been suppressing their advantage.
...
Soon, the group reached the battlefield.
Konoha's forces were struggling—forced into a passive stance as they defended against Sunagakure's assault.
If it weren't for the fear of being poisoned, their enemies would have already been wiped out!
...
"Everyone! Fight with everything you've got—the Medical Corps has developed the antidote!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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