Chapter 58: Nine-Tails Chakra's Special Properties
Shinobi possessed strong execution ability and obedience.
Even so, the various clans only submitted their lists to the Hokage Building one week later.
Though the clans controlling various departments wielded considerable power, their files and information were completely exposed, impossible to falsify.
Except for clan members who hadn't yet graduated or hadn't been assigned to departments, every active clan member's name and shinobi registration number, along with their rank, mission record, and even specializations, all lay before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Just as Hiruzen had said, none of the major clan heads chose to personally lead forces into battle.
However, the lists included several jonin-level members who served as each clan's representatives.
To command these clan members required first conquering these representatives.
The Legendary Sannin and Hatake Sakumo, along with Danzo Shimura—all entrusted with heavy responsibilities—began selecting members and organizing combat forces.
Combat forces came in many varieties. There were reconnaissance squads responsible for infiltration and intelligence gathering, surprise attack units testing enemies, mid-range squads specializing in weapons and projectiles, close-combat squads charging the front lines to eliminate enemies, combat squads handling prolonged battles, long-range squads supporting front lines and protecting logistics, and special combat squads skilled in unique jutsu and secret techniques.
Beyond the combat forces organized by Orochimaru and the others, various departments also assembled support forces.
Support forces provided logistics, medical care, sensory abilities, and intelligence support.
These tasks fell to designated clans and genin, requiring even longer preparation time.
Additionally, there was the Assassination Tactics Special Force—abbreviated as ANBU—operating in darkness to assist combat and support forces with unseen work, representing the Five Kage's will.
As combat forces took shape, squads began leaving Konoha one after another, heading for the borders.
This departure meant for many—unless war didn't erupt—their last farewell.
Support forces, backed by Fire Country's financial resources, began organizing supplies for immediate transport to the borders.
"War is actually breaking out!"
Watching people continuously depart the village, Kushina never expected her words to become prophecy.
She looked at Yoru leaning against the balcony railing beside her. "Yoru, has Orochimaru-sensei left too?"
"Yeah, he told me a week ago he'd be stationed at the border." Yoru nodded.
"Orochimaru-sensei didn't take you along?"
"No. War hasn't actually erupted yet." Yoru smiled. "I heard Rain Country and Wind Country are fighting. The village is just preparing for the worst. If the war doesn't spread to Fire Country, once the conflict between Amegakure and Sunagakure ends, they'll return before long."
"Besides, our Fire Country and Konoha represent the shinobi world's strongest nation and village. We don't need genin at the front lines yet."
"Even if joining the war, they'd only handle logistics support."
'Of course, that's for ordinary genin.'
Yoru didn't speak this final thought aloud.
After the First Shinobi World War ended, Konoha had recuperated for so many years. National power had already recovered to its peak—possibly even stronger than during the First Shinobi World War.
Even with Mito Uzumaki's death and the Nine-Tails jinchuriki not yet matured, Konoha feared no single nation.
They certainly wouldn't need to send genin to the front lines.
If the butterfly effect appeared, causing insufficient Konoha firepower, genin might participate.
There might even be situations requiring academy students to graduate early and be sent to the battlefield.
Once reaching such critical circumstances, Kushina as the Nine-Tails jinchuriki would enter standby status.
However, for now, Konoha didn't need the jinchuriki deployed.
Yoru's situation differed entirely!
Though Orochimaru hadn't stated it explicitly, Yoru could sense the village would utilize his Flying Thunder God Technique.
His positioning was extremely special.
"I see."
Kushina naturally didn't know Yoru's thoughts.
Hearing Yoru wouldn't go to the battlefield—and even if participating, would only handle logistics—her heart secretly relaxed.
Though Yoru had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique with extremely strong survival capabilities, Kushina couldn't help worrying about him.
After all, having witnessed Whirlpool Country's destruction, Kushina understood war's cruelty all too well.
"Yoru, let's train." Kushina suddenly spoke, her eyes filled with determination. "I want to train in both sensory abilities and sealing techniques simultaneously, plus the Great Ball Rasengan you mentioned."
War's potential eruption filled Kushina with motivation to grow stronger.
Lady Mito's chakra could only last a few years.
During these years, if she didn't awaken the Adamantine Sealing Chains and possess power to restrain the Nine-Tails, she might be affected by Nine-Tails chakra at any moment.
Yoru possessed the Flying Thunder God Technique. Kushina wasn't worried about hurting him.
Her desire to grow stronger stemmed from remembering Mito Uzumaki's dying words.
The Nine-Tails was a chakra-manifested creature. If one could gain a Tailed Beast's acknowledgment, a special bond would form, granting the jinchuriki incredible power. This special bond was called a "Perfect Jinchuriki."
Even without taming the Tailed Beast, one could forcibly suppress and seize its chakra through overwhelming power and sealing techniques.
Moreover, this chakra could be shared with others.
Like the good-evil sensing ability, this was the Nine-Tails chakra's special property.
If someone consumed the Nine-Tails' flesh and blood, they could also possess Nine-Tails chakra.
Yoru's current weakness was his chakra reserves. He couldn't even use two Fire Release: Rasengans.
If he went to the battlefield, he definitely couldn't freely use trump cards like the Rasengan.
Supposedly, even elite jonin like Orochimaru couldn't use the Rasengan many times. Even after Yoru reached adulthood, he might not manage the Great Ball Rasengan or Rasenshuriken he'd described.
Therefore, Kushina desperately wanted to help Yoru.
If she could share Nine-Tails chakra with Yoru, he could not only freely use the Flying Thunder God Technique but also fully realize his ninjutsu talent.
Yoru likewise didn't know Kushina's thoughts.
Seeing Kushina suddenly filled with motivation to grow stronger, he assumed she'd remembered the jinchuriki's strategic weapon positioning, worried about being sent to the battlefield, and felt pressured.
Raising his hand to pat Kushina's head, Yoru smiled. "Don't worry, Tomato-na. I won't give them the chance to force you onto the battlefield."
Kushina froze slightly. Realizing Yoru had misunderstood, warmth immediately flooded her heart.
Simultaneously, her motivation to grow stronger intensified.
However, outwardly she teased: "Then you'd better work hard too, Foul-mouthed Yoru. Otherwise, when you need my power for protection, don't blame me for mocking you."
"Save your daydreams for actual sleep, Tomato-na." Yoru smiled confidently. "You'll never get that chance!"
"Hmph... We'll see about that."
The competitive pair, without Orochimaru's supervision, trained even harder than before.
***
20+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces