Land of Rain
Hanzo noticed the movements of the various Various Ninja Villages. He had initially thought the war would gradually subside, but he hadn't expected it to intensify to such an extent.
Hanzo had done his best to minimize the war's impact on the transportation hub, but the war still significantly reduced the per capita income of the Land of Rain.
The Land of Rain used to be in constant turmoil, but now it was peaceful.
Hanzo also hoped that peace could continue indefinitely, and even more, he wished for this cursed war to end soon. He was truly worried that the war would escalate to an irreversible point. If the Five Great Ninja Villages used all their means, it might even affect the Land of Rain.
However, he knew very well that with his strength, he couldn't even protect the Land of Rain, let alone end the war.
Konoha, Hokage Building, Command Room.
"What, even Sunagakure..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up abruptly as he read the latest intelligence. Konoha's wars with Iwagakure and Hidden Mist were still manageable, but once Sunagakure joined, the pressure would not be a simple 1+2=3.
Most of Konoha's Ninja had already been dispatched to the battlefield. If a large force were sent to fight Sunagakure, Konoha would truly have very few defensive forces left.
"Leading the Suna forces is Chiyo, a Ninja skilled in puppet techniques and poison-making, and the Third Kazekage's right-hand woman."
Danzo Shimura frowned as he reported the intelligence gathered by Root's intelligence Ninja. What puzzled him most was why there was a monk, an elderly monk, in the Suna forces.
Root's intelligence Ninja hadn't gathered much information about that monk either.
"Poison-making, huh..."
Utatane Koharu's brows furrowed. She thought that only Tsunade and Orochimaru, with their impressive strength and mastery of Medical Ninjutsu, could potentially counter the poisons Chiyo created.
"To detoxify, we need Ninja skilled in Medical Ninjutsu. Currently, only Tsunade and Orochimaru can be sent to fight Sunagakure."
Homura Mitokado also considered this point. In terms of Medical Ninjutsu, he believed Orochimaru was slightly more outstanding than Tsunade.
Rather than sending Orochimaru to fight Sunagakure, he hoped Orochimaru could return to Konoha from the front lines fighting Iwagakure, instead of being reassigned to fight Sunagakure.
"No! Orochimaru cannot go! We should take this opportunity to recall Orochimaru. It's time for us old folks to go to the battlefield!"
Utatane Koharu truly felt that instead of sending Orochimaru to fight Sunagakure, they should go themselves.
"Koharu, can you formulate antidotes?"
Danzo Shimura looked at Utatane Koharu, asking a soul-searching question.
"..."
Utatane Koharu fell silent. She indeed couldn't formulate antidotes.
Let alone formulating antidotes, she was completely clueless when it came to Medical Ninjutsu.
"Hiruzen, who do you think we should send?"
Danzo Shimura looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Jiraiya will remain on the battlefield fighting Iwagakure. Tsunade and Orochimaru will go to rendezvous with the unit fighting Sunagakure. Order the logistics and medical units to prepare the herbs that might be needed for detoxification. Since we are facing a unit led by the Third Kazekage's right-hand woman, we cannot underestimate them."
Hiruzen Sarutobi worried that Tsunade alone might not have enough time to prepare antidotes. Having Orochimaru there would greatly help save the lives of poisoned Ninja.
"Then, I will lead the Root Ninja to reinforce the battlefield against Hidden Mist."
Danzo Shimura had had enough and didn't want to stay in the command room anymore. He felt his body was rusting.
"Danzo, don't forget you are the Assistant Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag from his pipe, reminding Danzo Shimura of his position. Since the war began, his smoking frequency had skyrocketed, and even Biwako was starting to find him annoying.
Who said the Assistant Hokage couldn't go to the battlefield?!
Danzo Shimura glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, suppressing his anger and not speaking those words aloud. He was furious!
"When Konoha's defenses are depleted, we are Konoha's last line of defense."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and said.
"..."
Danzo Shimura swallowed the words he was about to say.
Konoha's orders quickly reached Orochimaru and the others fighting Iwagakure.
"This time, we have to split up."
Jiraiya was somewhat reluctant to separate from Orochimaru and Tsunade.
"There's no choice. Sunagakure is attacking Konoha, and the Suna forces are led by Chiyo, who is skilled in puppet techniques and poison-making."
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