Night fell. Kakashi remained at command center. Shuji and Yamato returned to their assigned rest area for temporary recovery, awaiting new orders.
"Mori-senpai, what are you doing?"
After returning to the tent, Shuji pulled out scrolls and busied himself with something. This made Yamato very curious.
"Training."
Yamato was silent for a moment, tone carrying undisguised admiration. "Just after experiencing such high-intensity combat, using so many powerful techniques, massive chakra consumption... yet you can still immediately throw yourself into training. Mori-senpai, you are far stronger than I am."
This was not mere courtesy. From using Wood Release on the battlefield, Yamato could feel that even as users of the same kekkei genkai, the Wood Release Shuji used seemed somewhat different from his own.
His Wood Release leaned toward different form transformations of wooden constructs. Shuji's Wood Release constructs were more active, with stronger chakra hunger and greater effect on jinchūriki.
Kakashi, who had long partnered with Yamato, precisely because he discovered this difference, made the judgment to have Yamato cover Shuji.
"Just a rare opportunity."
While speaking, Shuji put away two sealing scrolls, placing them in his tool pouch while donning his mask.
Seeing this, Yamato also silently put on his own mask.
The tent flap lifted at that moment.
Jiraiya did not enter directly. He paused at the entrance, seemingly confirming the situation inside before stepping in.
"Yo! Today, good work."
"Without you two, handling those two jinchūriki would have been troublesome." Sitting casually on the ground, Jiraiya wore a relaxed smile. "Though we couldn't capture the jinchūriki, managing this much is acceptable."
"Jiraiya-sama," Shuji spoke calmly, cutting straight to the point. "Is there something you need to convey?"
If there was not something to directly convey to Shuji and Yamato, he would not need to personally come here.
Their current identities were Hokage direct Anbu, not regular sequence shinobi. There was no notion of superior commanders coming to offer condolences. Any follow-up missions could be conveyed directly to Kakashi.
"Really not cute, boy." Jiraiya exaggeratedly sighed, scratching his wild white hair. But he also set aside some casualness. "Fine, business. The current situation is that forcing Iwa's main force back to the Kannabi Bridge line basically achieved the village's initial strategic expectations. You have rendered great service."
"But with those two jinchūriki not confirmed withdrawn, you two cannot leave either."
Shuji said nothing. This was natural.
"Then," Jiraiya spread his hands, revealing a trace of helplessness. "That Kakashi guy thinks that compared to you two key combat forces, him staying at main camp means little. So he's already taken a team forward on covert reconnaissance."
Yamato's call nearly burst out. "Again?!"
Then under Shuji and Jiraiya's gazes, realizing his lapse, he awkwardly fell silent and adjusted his posture uncomfortably.
"Looks like you're also having it tough, Tenzō." Jiraiya laughed unconcernedly. "That brat Kakashi is also someone who does as he pleases."
After laughing, his tone became formal again. "Anyway, the situation is this. Until Kakashi returns or this mission phase clearly ends, you two temporarily fall under my command."
This was no problem. As the only one of the Three Sannin who had not defected, Jiraiya's position in the village was no less than the advisors.
Especially now he also held the status of frontline forces supreme commander. Nara Shikaku was the strategist, the actual field commander.
Having finished business, Jiraiya chatted casually for a bit, asking about their current condition, whether they needed tool supplies and such, then stood and left the tent.
—
Iwa's frontline command atmosphere was far heavier than Konoha's side.
"Wood Release. Troublesome power."
Having witnessed the First Hokage's power that pacified chaotic times and suppressed tailed beasts, he would never underestimate Wood Release's strength in the slightest.
Precisely because of this, he had fallen into a dilemma.
Continuing to commit a jinchūriki before opponents possessing Wood Release shinobi who could effectively restrain tailed beasts had become high-risk, low-reward gambling.
Jinchūriki were the village's strategic weapons. They could not be lost.
But without tailed beast power as the assault spearhead, trying to forcibly break through the current Kannabi Bridge defensive line would inevitably evolve into an exceptionally brutal war of attrition. Investment too high, cost too great, success rate too low.
Not only was Jiraiya on the opposite side, the Third Hokage lurked unmoved. He could not act rashly himself.
The original plan hoped that after seeing Konoha's western line in trouble, Kumogakure would seize the chance to pressure or even attack the eastern line, forcing Konoha to fight on two fronts, unable to manage both ends.
He Ōnoki had all the patience to wait for this opportunity.
The result was against his wishes.
Just on the third day after Konoha pushed the battle line back to Kannabi Bridge, Konoha began widely proclaiming news that a Konoha envoy delegation led by Advisor Mitokado Homura had formally entered Frost Country and would soon commence peace talks with Kumogakure.
The moment this news arrived, Ōnoki understood. The Fourth Raikage A was clearly using Iwa's offensive as leverage to haggle at the negotiating table with Konoha!
Continuing to stalemate here, Iwa and Konoha would bleed. But Cloud might ultimately pick the peaches and take the benefits.
Were Iwa and Cloud's relations good? The Third Raikage had died at Iwagakure's hands.
When both sides had profits to gain, Ōnoki did not mind making some cooperative moves first. But now Iwa would most likely gain no benefits.
And Sunagakure's position also needed consideration.
According to Konoha's propaganda, Suna remained Konoha's ally. Of course, just settling Suna was useless. Otherwise he would not appear here.
But if Cloud compromised while Iwa still bitterly battled on the western line.
Kazekage Rasa might very likely instantly transform from a wavering ally into Konoha's active friend, cooperating with Konoha to counterattack, seizing interests originally belonging to Iwa in Silence Country or even further north.
The scales of risk and benefit had tilted.
Ōnoki slowly landed, giving orders in a deep voice to Kitsuchi waiting beside him.
"Plan change. Kitsuchi, arrange the forces. Withdraw from current positions in batches, orderly. Prioritize transferring severely wounded and important supplies."
"Tsuchikage-sama?" Kitsuchi was slightly stunned. He felt surprised at this sudden order. Though the battle situation was unfavorable, it did not seem to have reached the point requiring full retreat.
"Execute the order."
"Yes!" Kitsuchi asked no more and immediately turned to deploy.
Pouring effort into planning, launching offensives, even committing two jinchūriki at all costs... yet ultimately nothing seemed to have changed. No substantial progress had been achieved.
Rasa sat on both fences. Raikage A also refused to actively cooperate. Allied with such people, Iwagakure always seemed unable to truly break the deadlock and achieve decisive breakthrough.
His age was already so great. In his remaining years, could he find another opportunity?
Ōnoki was unclear.
But he knew he should prepare to entrust hope to the next generation.
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild