"Renya-kun, what did Mikage-sama say to you?"
Koharu Utatane stepped forward the moment she saw Renya walk out of the tent.
However, she couldn't help but notice that Renya's expression seemed a bit strange.
"You two proceed to the battlefield as planned," Renya said.
Shimura Danzō, hearing this, turned around without hesitation and prepared to head out.
He could hardly wait to kill enemies and earn military merit.
Every enemy he cut down now would bring him one step closer to the position of Hokage.
In time, he was sure he could rightfully become Hokage!
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Danzō turned back to look at Renya.
"If Koharu and I are heading to the front lines, what about you?"
Koharu also realized at that moment—Renya hadn't said anything about joining them in battle.
"Renya-kun, aren't you coming with us to the battlefield?"
In response to their questions, Renya shook his head.
"I'm staying back to work on developing an antidote. I won't be joining the battle."
Upon hearing this, Danzō's eyes lit up, and he couldn't hide the joy on his face.
This was great news!
If this guy wasn't going to the battlefield, then he wouldn't be earning merit through kills.
His only source of military merit would be making antidotes.
That meant if Danzō killed enough enemies, he could quickly surpass Renya in merit.
The thought nearly made him burst out laughing.
"Danzō, you look really happy," Renya noticed Danzō's expression and couldn't help but ask.
Danzō quickly wiped the smile from his face and replied with a serious tone:
"I'm only going to the front lines to protect the village. You're working on antidotes in the rear—you're protecting the village too."
"We're both doing our part for the village. Whether you're on the battlefield doesn't matter."
As he spoke, he patted Renya on the shoulder with a solemn look.
"Do your best. We'll be counting on those antidotes out there!"
A flicker of confusion passed through Renya's eyes as he murmured, "Is that so?"
Now that he thought about it, it actually made sense.
Still... something felt off...
For some reason, Danzō seemed like a different person once he stepped onto the battlefield—speaking with such clarity and reason.
"You focus on the antidote. We'll head out now."
Danzō gave Renya a final glance, then left with Koharu.
"Renya-kun, good luck!"
Renya watched the two leave and sighed helplessly.
Nara Mikage came up beside him, his expression thoughtful.
"Danzō-san's sense of duty is admirable. As expected of Hokage-sama's disciple."
Renya didn't respond. Right now, Danzō truly seemed to have the village's best interests at heart.
Maybe... he wouldn't be such a bad choice for Hokage after all...
"Mikage-sama, the venom sample has arrived!"
Two shinobi approached, carrying a poisoned comrade on a stretcher.
Renya: "???"
He looked at Mikage in disbelief.
His expression seemed to say, This is the venom sample?!
He had expected a poison-coated weapon or something, not a poisoned ally.
Seeing Renya's look, Mikage scratched his head awkwardly and quickly changed the subject.
"Renya-san, the venom sample is here. Please start working on the antidote as soon as possible."
Renya knew the matter was urgent, so he didn't dwell on the oddity.
He rolled up the poisoned shinobi's sleeve, revealing a dark, bluish-black rash on the arm.
He sniffed the wound, then pressed the patient's wrist with his fingers.
Medical-nin from the medical unit had caught wind of what was happening and gathered around, hoping to witness Renya's antidote-making process firsthand.
"Renya-san, can you handle it?" Mikage asked nervously.
"It's a little better than before, but..." Renya paused, "not by much."
Mikage's face lit up with a smile. He turned to the surrounding medical-nin and said:
"Everyone, return to your posts. Don't interrupt Renya-san."
Hearing that, the medical-nin quickly dispersed back to their duties.
All they had to do now was wait for Renya to deliver the antidote.
After analyzing the poison, Renya entered the tent to begin working.
Mikage turned to the nearby shinobi and instructed:
"Set up a dedicated tent for Renya-san at the medical unit."
"Yes, Mikage-sama!" The shinobi took the order and left.
On the battlefield of the Land of Wind, Renya was a precious asset.
Forget building a separate tent—Mikage would've given up his own command tent if needed.
Just as he was about to enter the tent, he saw Renya coming out.
Assuming that a key ingredient was missing, Mikage rushed forward.
"Are you short on supplies? I'll have someone fetch them right away!"
"No," Renya shook his head. "The antidote is finished."
Mikage froze in place.
"The antidote... is finished?!"
He stared at Renya in disbelief, face full of shock.
It had only been a few minutes, yet the antidote was already ready.
Seeing Mikage stunned, Renya explained:
"This poison isn't that difficult. Its components are fairly easy to break down."
Once he knew the components of the venom, it was just a matter of using the right ingredients to formulate an antidote.
From the patient's symptoms alone, he had identified the major compounds, and after two attempts, succeeded in creating the antidote.
Mikage finally snapped out of his daze.
Renya handed him a batch of the antidote.
"Have someone take these to the front lines. I'll deliver the rest to the medical unit."
Mikage nodded and left with the antidote.
With it in hand, Sunagakure's poisons were no longer a threat.
With direct combat restored, Konoha would undoubtedly win!
That would relieve all pressure on the southwestern front—possibly even eliminating the need for reinforcements there.
The village's forces could then support other battlefields.
Mikage couldn't help but smile, excitement welling up inside him.
"With Renya here, we really can defeat the Land of Wind!"
Before Renya's arrival, Mikage had been under immense pressure as commander.
He had no counter for Sunagakure's poisons—only the hope that the medical unit could develop an antidote.
But in his heart, Mikage knew the first group of poisoned shinobi likely wouldn't survive long enough for that to happen.
He had prepared for the worst—but Renya's appearance had completely changed the tide.
This news had to be reported to Hokage-sama immediately!
...
Front Lines
"Jajajaja! So what if Konoha developed an antidote? Our village's genius poison maker has already invented something even stronger!"
A Sunagakure shinobi slashed his short blade toward a Konoha shinobi.
The Konoha ninja, frustrated, could only dodge repeatedly.
Just then, several Konoha ninjas appeared on the battlefield.
"Everyone! Renya-sama has developed the antidote!"
At those words, the Konoha forces erupted in cheers, their fear vanishing as they raised their weapons and launched a fierce counterattack.
Now it was the Sunagakure shinobi who were left dumbfounded.
Why did this scene feel... oddly familiar?
...
Sunagakure Command Tent
"Hahaha! As expected of the Land of Wind's genius poison master!"
The Sunagakure commander burst into laughter after hearing that Konoha shinobi were being overwhelmed again.
The silver-haired girl smirked confidently.
"My newly refined poison—no matter how skilled Konoha's experts are, there's no way they'll crack it so soon."
Just then, a Sunagakure shinobi rushed into the tent in a panic.
"Matsuda-sama! Something terrible has happened!"
Hearing that, both of them immediately felt a deep sense of foreboding.