At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.
Konoha's camp.
Due to the outbreak of war, the covert outposts along this border had been transformed into a frontline camp.
However, the situation at the camp was far from ideal.
The sound of agonized groans filled the air.
The center of the camp was divided into two distinct areas.
On the left were neatly arranged stretchers, each bearing a ninja with a pallid complexion, writhing in pain. On the right, ninjas with similarly ashen faces sat cross-legged, though they seemed less distressed.
Suddenly, one of the seated ninjas coughed up a mouthful of purple blood, and the dark hue on his face quickly faded.
Hatake Sakumo appeared beside him in an instant.
"How do you feel?"
The ninja opened his eyes, his face still pale, but he forced himself to report despite the discomfort.
"The Basic Internal Energy Technique can expel the poison, but it also drains a significant amount of chakra."
Hearing this, Sakumo's expression relaxed slightly.
The ninja who had expelled the toxin also felt the cost was manageable.
A few months of recovery would suffice.
Since these ninjas had exchanged for the Basic Internal Energy Technique, chakra depletion had become a rare occurrence.
This was merely a temporary return to their former state.
Though the initial inability to use ninjutsu was admittedly frustrating.
"Sakumo-sama, only a few have exchanged for the Basic Internal Energy Technique. If this continues, we'll be overwhelmed," a bespectacled kunoichi reminded him.
Sakumo's face darkened.
"Can't we develop an antidote for Chiyo's poison?"
"The composition of her toxin is too complex," the kunoichi replied, shaking her head.
Ever since their encounter with Sunagakure's Chiyo, they had been forced into retreat.
The decision to withdraw had been Sakumo's, made to preserve the lives of his subordinates.
The entire Land of Rivers front had been ceded.
The kunoichi wasn't sure how to judge this choice.
If it had been Orochimaru—the so-called "Cold Sannin"—he would never have made such a call.
Recapturing lost territory would require even greater sacrifices.
Now, not only had they lost their foothold, but most of the camp's combatants were also poisoned. Without an antidote, the front would soon collapse.
For now, they were barely holding on thanks to the unaffected ninjas and those who had recovered using the Basic Internal Energy Technique.
Watching Sakumo's pensive expression, the kunoichi sighed.
"The only ones who can counter Chiyo's poison are Lady Tsunade in the rear and that jutsu-inventing prodigy, Uchiha Kin."
"Lady Tsunade might be able to neutralize the toxin, while Uchiha Kin could develop a technique to resist it."
Her words sparked a glimmer of hope in Sakumo's eyes.
"Send word to the village immediately. Request Lady Tsunade's assistance and inform Jiraiya to dispatch Uchiha Kin for joint operations."
"Yes!"
The kunoichi knelt briefly before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Sakumo turned his gaze toward Sunagakure's direction.
"What's lost can be reclaimed."
As someone known for his insight into human nature, Sakumo understood the kunoichi's concerns.
But to him, lives mattered more than land.
Sunagakure's Frontline
Chiyo, still in her prime, studied the map of the Land of Rivers and the routes extending into the Land of Fire.
Unfortunately, all paths into the Land of Fire had been destroyed by Hatake Sakumo.
A swirl of smoke appeared beside her, and Ebizō materialized.
"Sister, I couldn't stop Orochimaru. He's accompanied by a troublesome individual and has mastered a dangerous jutsu."
Ebizō proceeded to share his intelligence on Konoha.
The "troublesome individual" was a ninja named Might Dai, who had long failed the Chūnin Exams and remained a Genin. Yet, he had suddenly emerged as a formidable opponent.
As for Orochimaru's technique, Ebizō deduced it wasn't a new clone jutsu—otherwise, more Konoha ninjas would know it.
It was likely a method to sustain clones in prolonged combat.
Chiyo massaged her temples.
"One piece of bad news after another."
Her plan had been to cripple 80% of Konoha's forces with her poison.
Though Konoha's antidotes couldn't fully neutralize her toxin, they allowed the afflicted to endure.
Some could even expel the poison entirely.
Konoha's frontline resistance hadn't weakened significantly, and their hoped-for breakthrough in the Land of Rain had been blocked.
The Third Kazekage was busy defending against Iwagakure, leaving Sunagakure stretched thin.
Konoha was in a dire situation, but Sunagakure wasn't faring much better.
"Redirect some forces here. We can afford to pull back from the Land of Rain."
Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo were both dangerous foes.
But the Land of Rain's situation was too complex—beyond just Iwagakure, the Rain ninjas seemed to have produced a formidable figure.
Since they still held the advantage here, this was where they'd strike.
Iwagakure Frontline
A small squad of Iwa-nin raced through the forest.
This was a Chūnin team, moving with precision.
Their mission was to bypass the frontline and scout Konoha's supply routes.
Suddenly, Namikaze Minato lunged at them with a kunai.
The trio scattered, evading his strike—only to find their escape routes blocked.
Team Seven had them cornered in a triangular formation.
"Sorry, but this path is closed," Kin said with a smile, twirling his long sword.
Kushina, expressionless, cut off another route.
"You shouldn't have come this way."
"Unfortunately, you'll die here."
The three Konoha ninjas attacked.
The battle ended swiftly.
Kin flicked his blade, sending droplets of blood flying.
Now, all three bore the marks of war.
Since entering the battlefield, Kushina had grown quieter, her usual vivacity subdued.
"How much longer do we have to hold this position?" she asked.
Kin leaned against a tree, watching fallen leaves drift.
They'd been stationed here for days, intercepting stragglers.
The real fighting was happening farther ahead.
"It'll end when the war ends," Minato replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
The war had taken its toll on him and Kushina.
"'When the war ends,' huh?"
Kin looked up at the sky. He remembered the Second Shinobi World War had dragged on for years.
This was only the beginning.
Silence settled over the trio, a far cry from their former camaraderie.
Each was lost in their own thoughts.
Then, a puff of smoke interrupted the quiet.
An ANBU agent appeared, holding a scroll.
"New orders: Uchiha Kin is to report to the Sunagakure front immediately."
...
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(Chapter End)