When it came to survival skills, even with the Spore Technique, Umino Yoru still couldn't compare to Orochimaru.
Especially when it came to his Serpent Shedding Replacement Technique—a true masterpiece of evasion.
Faced with such an incredible escape ability, Yoru naturally wouldn't let it slip by. After trading several vials of Kaguya Hyakusen's blood and bone marrow, he finally secured the technique.
Among all substitution techniques in the shinobi world, Orochimaru's Serpent Shedding stood in a league of its own—the most flawless replacement jutsu in existence.
With this technique, Orochimaru could use his outer body as a medium to freely transfer his real body, even shedding himself from his own mouth.
What made it even more astonishing was that no hand seals were required, and Orochimaru himself suffered no damage—only expending chakra. Even something as fearsome as Amaterasu could be effortlessly dodged.
However, this technique had one fatal flaw: the limit on cell division. If the body sustained fatal internal injuries, even Orochimaru couldn't use it indefinitely.
But for external wounds? He could shed his skin like a snake—theoretically, without limit.
"Brother-in-law Number One, don't worry! I'll take good care of Sis when we get to the Land of Grass battlefield!"
Senju Nawaki thumped his chest with youthful enthusiasm.
"Take care of your sister? Worry about yourself first."
After all this training, he'd better not get blown up by a paper bomb trap again.
"I'm not your 'Brother-in-law Number One.' Your sister was just joking back then."
"Don't be shy! Sis said she likes rich, handsome guys like you."
"I already explained—those explosive tags were chakra replicas, not real money. I've got a whole clan to feed now; I'm not exactly rolling in it."
"Sis's nose is sharp! She says you smell like money—like even your breath is cash. Trust me, she's never wrong about this stuff. No matter where I hide my allowance, she finds it. So even if you're broke now, you'll definitely be loaded later!"
Nawaki had zero faith in his sister's gambling skills, but her money-sensing sixth sense? Absolute trust.
"If she says you've got the scent of wealth, then you do."
Yoru was speechless. Tsunade was wasted as a shinobi—she should've been a treasure-hunting rodent.
"Only a woman who loses every bet could develop a sixth sense for sniffing out cash."
"Brother-in-law Number One, have some confidence! Sure, you're not as strong as Jiraiya or Dan, but you're rich, handsome, and—oh yeah—you awakened the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai!"
Nawaki's eyes sparkled. "When you and Sis have a baby, it'll inherit Ice Release too! I can play in the snow with them!"
"Who said I awakened Ice Release?" Yoru frowned. Where did that rumor come from?
"Come on, it's all over the place! Don't hide it—wasn't Hanzo's summon, Ibuse, killed by your Ice Release?"
Nawaki smirked, as if he'd seen through the act.
Before Yoru could explain, the Sannin finished assembling the troops. Nawaki gave a quick wave and dashed to Tsunade's side.
Despite the noise and distance, Yoru's sharp hearing caught one word:
"Baby."
Tsunade—usually bold and brash—actually blushed and glanced his way.
Yoru's face warmed. He nodded politely.
Jiraiya, however, immediately blocked Tsunade's line of sight, glaring at Yoru like a territorial wolf.
Orochimaru simply nodded, then led the troops onward.
The Weight of Victory
Watching the departing army, Yoru felt the pressure.
The Umino Unit's achievements in the Rain Country battles were monumental—shattering Rain's defenses, massive enemy casualties, and Yoru himself slaying Ibuse, Hanzo's legendary salamander.
Even Hanzo had fallen to his tactics, humiliated in defeat.
After the Land of Fire and Rain signed a ceasefire, Iwa's forces pushed into Grass Country. Most of Konoha's Rain frontline troops were redirected, leaving only a skeleton crew—with the Umino Unit as the backbone.
Originally a mobile support force, they were now Rain's occupying garrison.
Thankfully, Hanzo remained holed up in Amegakure. Otherwise, holding Rain would've been impossible.
"Who's the victor here?"
Yoru watched as shipments of supplies from the Land of Fire poured into Rain.
"No reparations, no land concessions—just Fire Country bankrolling Rain's recovery."
Last month, they were killing each other. Now, they're brothers.
"Whatever. Back to Wave Country for research."
Leaving shadow clones behind, he teleported to Wave using the Cooperative Flying Thunder God.
Wave Country's Boom
Wave was a hive of activity.
Hiring rogue ninjas as laborers, the nation had embraced large-scale infrastructure projects, transforming into a construction frenzy.
Despite the war disrupting continental trade, Wave's maritime commerce thrived, positioning itself as the shinobi world's premier port city.
"Hiruzen, any progress on the salamander neurotoxin?"
"Some breakthroughs, Lord Yoru."
"The Ghost Limb Fusion Technique can wait. Focus on mass-producing the toxin first. War profits won't last forever—we need funding for future experiments."
"Give me a week. I'll crack mass production."
"I'm counting on you."
Yoru patted Hiruzen Sarutobi's shoulder approvingly.
Compared to the Sannin's glory, Hiruzen had languished in obscurity—stuck as a Chunin for years.
If not for Yoru's intervention, he might've never made Special Jonin.