Although Tsunade and Jiraiya were fighting fiercely on the front lines, Konoha was, after all, fighting two enemies at once. It couldn't gain much of an advantage in the early stages. After a short, bloody battle, all three sides entered a stalemate.
The successive brutal battles completely turned both battlefields into meat grinders, devouring countless Ninja lives, spitting out scorched earth, blood, and corpses, transforming the world into purgatory.
Intelligence from the war front was updated daily. Whether they won or lost, someone always sacrificed their life on some distant land, thousands of miles from home.
Some of them could only leave a blood-stained forehead protector for their relatives and friends, to be buried in an endless cemetery in their stead, silently, like a drop of water merging into the vast ocean.
No one knew whose son or daughter, whose parents, whose friend, or whose partner would be the next to sacrifice their life.
The shadow of war loomed over Konoha Village, casting a gray pall over what should have been a vibrant summer. Laughter and joy almost vanished, replaced by a growing anger and hatred in people's hearts.
When the young men trained and went on missions, an air of impatience and silence always permeated their teams. The once lively and energetic atmosphere was nowhere to be found.
Even the Jonin leading the teams tried their best to adjust, but to little effect.
Fortunately, after the beginning of autumn, the weather quickly turned cold, and it even snowed as winter approached, severely slowing down the pace of Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
Coupled with their significant losses, they had no choice but to slow their offensive, taking the heavily-casualties teams off the front lines to rest and rotate new units in.
Konoha also gained a chance to breathe and rotate its forces, allowing the Ninja fighting on the front lines to return home and reunite with their families.
—Although, many were no longer able to see their loved ones one last time.
Konoha, Underground Research Base.
"Cough, cough."
Naraku turned his head and coughed softly twice into the crook of his arm, then steadied his right hand to write the last incantation, his expression calm, as if he had accidentally choked due to dry weather.
But his pale complexion and the faint dark circles under his eyes spoke volumes about how terrible his condition was.
After persevering to finish the last bit, his vision suddenly blurred, and he stumbled backward a few steps, on the verge of losing his balance.
Suddenly, a pair of large hands supported Naraku's back and shoulders, preventing him from falling to the ground.
Naraku turned to see who was holding him, and under the interference of heavy shadows in his vision, he even had to squint to make out the other person's face.
"Orochimaru-sama…?"
"I've only been away from the lab for a few days, and you've already worked yourself into this state. It's truly unacceptable."
Orochimaru's tone was flat, his expression normal, and there was even a faint smile on his face.
But Naraku knew he was serious about this, and with a slightly flustered look, he explained, "I'm sorry, Lord. I've already taken my medicine, you don't need to worry."
"Medicine isn't a panacea; it might even be your death warrant. For you, the safest treatment is rest."
Orochimaru knew that Naraku's symptoms were caused by the continuous progression and worsening of his bloodline limit sickness. Taking medicine was already almost useless for him, and taking large amounts might even increase the burden on his internal organs.
Now, with the freezing weather, if he were to get sick due to overexertion, this winter would be even harder to bear.
He reached out and confiscated all the drafts from the table, and with a helpless smile, he joked, "Tsunade will be back soon. I don't want her to smash my lab."
A hint of urgency flashed in Naraku's eyes. He grabbed Orochimaru's sleeve and shook it, "Lord, I beg you, the Sharingan Reincarnation Seal still needs many adjustments. I must finish it quickly…"
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru tilted his head, seemingly moved by his persistence, and examined the array patterns on the draft paper, created with countless efforts.
Then he showed a slightly mischievous smile and firmly refused, "Even so, no."
If he let this kid work himself to death, that joke just now might very well become a reality.
After all, Tsunade had specifically instructed him before she left that if he couldn't control Naraku, this experimental base would be hammered into a pile of scrap metal.
Orochimaru didn't doubt for a second that she could make good on her word.
He had repeatedly experienced her extremely protective and fearless nature since his youth.
Even if he wasn't worried about Tsunade coming to settle accounts with him, just for the sake of having a long-term assistant in the future, Orochimaru wouldn't agree to Naraku overdrawing his body like this.
"Lord…"
Naraku's stubbornness seemed to remind Orochimaru of something. A faint smile quietly appeared in his eyes, and his tone of voice became a bit more cheerful, whether he was comforting or teasing:
"There's no need to rush with the Sharingan Reincarnation Seal. Children Kakashi's age won't set foot on the battlefield until the main forces have suffered more than half their casualties."
Naraku, of course, knew that there was still some time before Kakashi went to the battlefield, but he still pretended to have his thoughts exposed and, with a sigh of relief, averted his gaze.
"Indeed, nothing can be hidden from you."
"Well, I suppose I do know a thing or two about Summoning Jutsu and Sealing Jutsu."
Orochimaru put away the drafts and said seriously, "That's enough for today. From now on, you can only come here for half a day each day."
"Yes."
Watching Naraku leave the lab, Orochimaru pulled out the draft papers again, and the more he looked, the more he admired the former's creativity.
If Uchiha Naraku didn't have the bloodline limit sickness, how many more miracles comparable to "Spirit Vein Sealing Jutsu" and "Sharingan Reincarnation Seal" could he create in the future?
He took out the scroll used to contact the Uchiha and invited Fugaku to the base.
It was time to show some things to the Uchiha Clan Head… Returning to the clan compound, Naraku didn't enter the small courtyard where he and Kakashi lived, but instead went directly to the Clan Head's residence to see Mikoto and Itachi.
Since Kakashi wasn't home yet, he might as well play with the child to pass the time.
"Oh, Naraku, you're back so early today? Is your research going smoothly?"
Mikoto smiled and motioned for him to sit by the warm stove, then handed him a hot water bottle.
Naraku took off his outer coat, accepted the hot water bottle, and tucked it obediently into his arms. He nodded and said, "Yes, the research is going very smoothly, so Orochimaru-sama let me come back early."
"That's good," Mikoto picked up the kettle, poured a cup of hot tea, and pushed it towards him. "The weather has been getting colder and colder lately, and you always come back after dark. I was a little worried…"
Naraku held the hot tea, which was warm to the point of being a little scalding. The heat spread from his palms, warming his entire body.
Listening to Mikoto's caring chatter, he wanted to smile at her, but his persona didn't allow it, so he could only use a gentle and soft gaze instead.
Itachi had already learned to crawl and was circling around him, even trying to grab his clothes and climb up, occasionally making short, loud syllables: "Bro…ther…!"
"Mmm, Little Itachi is so good!"
Naraku put his hands together, and after even his fingertips were warm, he picked Itachi up from the tatami mat and placed him between his legs, letting the latter grab his fingers and pull them back and forth. His free hand occasionally rubbed Itachi's little head.
The infant's hair was short and soft, with an excellent feel. Naraku couldn't help but stroke it a few more times, quickly messing up the hair Mikoto had combed neatly.
Itachi was completely unaware of this, only knowing that his brother's hands were soft and warm, and he giggled happily.