Returning to the Konoha front-line operational area, Shun quickly untied Yukari and motioned for her to put away her Kusagakure ninja headband.
Yukari silently complied, her heart filled with apprehension about the unfamiliar environment and what lay ahead.
After walking for a few minutes, they ran into Inaho and Tekka.
Tekka's face lit up with surprise, and he hurried over, his voice filled with concern. "Shun, it's great that you're alright."
Inaho's gaze fell on Yukari, and he asked with a puzzled expression, "Shun, what's the deal with this woman?"
Shun's lips curved into a smile as he introduced her, "She is Yukari, my woman. You should call her sister-in-law."
At these words, Inaho and Tekka exchanged glances, then respectfully called out in unison, "Hello, sister-in-law."
Yukari had never experienced such a scene. Her cheeks instantly flushed, and she shyly replied in a soft voice, "Uh... hello."
Seeing the grim faces of the surrounding Konoha ninjas, coming and going in a hurry, Shun felt a hint of doubt, as he had only been gone for two days.
So, he looked at Inaho and asked, "Inaho, it's only a little past 9 o'clock. Are you heading back to the base now because something happened?"
Inaho sighed helplessly, his expression weary. "Ah, the supply quota for the past two days has only been half of what it used to be. Our kunai and explosive tags are all used up, and we're just about to head back to the base for resupply."
Tekka added, "Shun, you don't know, Iwagakure's offensive has been much fiercer recently. But the village's logistical supplies have been delayed. This has led to a 30% increase in casualties over the past two days. I heard that the higher-ups are considering abandoning the front-line base in the Land of Grass."
Shun's eyes flickered slightly, his mind filled with thoughts, but he did not immediately comment.
He changed direction and said, "Let's go back to the base first. It's not very safe here."
"Alright."
Before long, they arrived at the base.
Shun looked at Inaho and Tekka and instructed, "Inaho, Tekka, please take care of Yukari for me. I'm going to report on my mission."
"Don't worry, Shun, we'll take good care of her." The two patted their chests and promised.
Shun turned and walked towards the command room. Before he even entered, he heard a fierce argument coming from inside.
"Ryuna, 53 members of my Kurama clan have died in your medical department within two days! You must give me an explanation, or I'll kill you today!"
Kurama Unkai's voice was filled with anger and grief.
Utatane Ryuna's voice trembled slightly as she tried to appease him, "Kurama clan head, please calm down."
"Calm down? Calm down my ass! Since the war started, 1,000 ninjas from my Kurama clan have seen 401 dead and 172 crippled. Over half are casualties. How do you expect me to calm down?! Ryuna, if you don't give me an explanation right now, I'll kill you!" Unkai's roar made the table tremble slightly.
Ryuna said with red eyes, "You want an explanation? Fine. Due to the prolonged delay in logistical supplies, there's a severe shortage of medicine, leading to many people's wounds getting infected. Some critically injured patients chose suicide to save medicine. Our medical team hasn't slept for days trying to comfort other injured patients. We've done our best."
Unkai clasped his hands together, looking up and roaring, "Ah... Shimura Kotaro... I'll kill you."
"Unkai-kun, please calm down. This isn't my fault. As you know, the last Iwagakure elite squad ambushed the logistical transport team, resulting in the destruction of supplies. Three days ago, I applied to the village for emergency supplies, but the village hasn't delivered them. So even if you kill me, it won't do any good." Kotaro's voice was filled with helplessness and grievance.
Hearing this, Shun roughly understood the situation. He gently knocked on the door and said loudly, "Clan head, I have important intelligence to report!"
Fugaku's cold voice came from inside the tent. "Come in."
Shun gently pushed open the door, walked in, and closed the door behind him.
Seeing who it was, Kotaro frowned and said in an unfriendly tone, "Shun, weren't you captured by an Iwagakure Jonin? How did you get back? Did you betray the village?!"
Shun remained calm, activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and said with a stern gaze, "I pretended to be captured, then used genjutsu to control the Iwagakure Jonin, and finally infiltrated Iwagakure to gather important intelligence."
Fugaku's eyes were sharp, and his fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a thudding sound.
Then, he slowly said, "Shun, what intelligence did you gather? Tell me."
"After Iwagakure ambushed and killed the Third Raikage, two factions have emerged within Iwagakure. One is the radical faction, who believe that morale is currently high and they should take the opportunity to cripple Konoha, making Iwagakure the strongest ninja village in the Ninja World. The ones currently attacking our base are these radicals."
Shun paused, then continued, "The second is the conservative faction, who believe that after the Third Raikage's son takes power, he will inevitably wage war against Iwagakure. At that time, the war between Konoha and Kumogakure will cease, and Konoha and Kumogakure might even join forces to attack Iwagakure. To defend against a sneak attack from Kumogakure, Iwagakure's conservative faction has already begun deploying forces to the Land of Waterfall border."
After the report, everyone in the room exchanged glances, their expressions varied.
Mimura Hamaki looked at Fugaku and asked, "Commander Fugaku, since Iwagakure's personnel and supplies are being moved to defend against Kumogakure, should I still take 100 people to defend Kannabi Bridge as ordered by the village?"
Fugaku pondered for a moment, then said, "Since it's a village order, you should still take people to garrison it."
Upon hearing this, Shun quickly interjected, "No! Kannabi Bridge is at the border of the Land of Waterfall and the Land of Earth. Jonin Hamaki taking 100 people there won't be able to defend it at all. Sending them there is purely sending them to their deaths."
Hearing someone question the village's orders, Kotaro slammed the table and roared, "Impudent! That's an order from the village's higher-ups. Sending them there naturally has the village's considerations! Shun, you always speak for Iwagakure. I suspect you've been bought by Iwagakure and must be interrogated!"
Seeing that the atmosphere was getting tense, Hamaki quickly tried to smooth things over, "The order says that Minato will be sent by the village to provide support, so it won't be too dangerous."
Fugaku also sternly said, "Shun, you may leave for now. Regarding the intelligence about Kannabi Bridge, I do not wish for you to disclose it."
Shun said, "Minato is the overall commander of the eastern battlefield. If the village can send him here, it means the village's higher-ups have reached a peace agreement with Kumogakure. If the war with Kumogakure has stopped, then the conservative faction can withdraw over 3,000 ninjas. If the village truly intends to support our northern battlefield, then they should at least send 1,000 reinforcements. But the village didn't send reinforcements. Instead, they sent Minato, so he's not here to support us, but to steal credit."
After saying this, Shun saw everyone's faces instantly turn gloomy, and he directly turned and left the room.