Uchiha Gen reached out a finger to dab some of the remaining powder, putting it into his mouth and sucking it clean.
As he experienced the restorative effects on his chakra, he also tried to analyze the medicinal ingredients of this soldier pill using his sense of taste.
Unfortunately, his skill in pharmacology—a field requiring both talent and extensive experience—did not quite match the medical ninjutsu level he had forcibly raised using the Young Tsunade character card; it was only barely sufficient.
Asking him to prescribe medicine for a ninja's sword wounds was no problem, but expecting him to figure out the exact ratio of ingredients from a single taste was something not even Tsunade herself could do.
He could only roughly analyze a few of the main ingredients used in larger quantities to see if the formula was similar to current mainstream soldier pills.
"Hmm, most of the main materials should be the same, but the medicinal power is very potent."
"The age and quality of the ingredients are incomparable to normal soldier pills."
"I just don't know how they managed to eliminate the side effects and reduce abnormal statuses."
Uchiha Gen smacked his lips, savoring the sweet yet astringent taste in his mouth, and carefully collected the remaining powder in a paper wrapper.
Later, he would borrow Tsunade's equipment to perform a precise analysis of the detailed medicinal ratios and see if he could replicate the formula.
Even if the quality of medicinal materials available in reality was limited, a weakened version with those additional effects would still skyrocket in value and completely dominate most soldier pills on the market.
The next morning.
The reinforcements Mitarai Zixiao requested yesterday arrived early.
It was just that the scale of the forces was surprisingly large.
"Shouldn't it just be another detachment?"
"Why are there so many people?"
Uchiha Gen looked at the dense crowd and the sudden appearance of Tsunade and Orochimaru before him, speaking in surprise.
It seemed like nearly half of the main force was here, along with two top-tier combatants, Orochimaru and Tsunade.
"We followed Chiyo here,"
Orochimaru explained.
To maintain pressure on Sunagakure, they had to pin down Chiyo, a powerful enemy combatant.
Tsunade was strong in close combat and could neutralize poison, while Orochimaru had high poison resistance and comprehensive abilities.
The task of countering Chiyo naturally fell to the two of them.
To salvage the situation, Chiyo had been moving between multiple locations, trying to avoid the two of them while frequently leading an elite puppet brigade between various strongholds.
However, as Sunagakure actively contracted its forces, the number of strongholds decreased.
With the front lines moving further back, Chiyo was being pursued more closely.
"What Chiyo wants most right now is to lead her team to break through our blockade."
"Only then can she revitalize this game of chess."
"We've chased her for three months, and she's run for three months."
"Many battles, large and small, have occurred."
"Now it's your turn here."
Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Gen and spoke leisurely.
"Then what should we do, Lord Orochimaru?"
Mitarai Zixiao asked with a hint of respect.
Orochimaru only smiled at Mitarai Zixiao before turning his gaze back to Uchiha Gen.
"What do you think should be done, Gen?"
"There's no need to overthink it; just attack directly."
"We have more people, stronger forces, and we hold the initiative."
"There's no need to drag it out."
Uchiha Gen honestly shared his thoughts.
Sunagakure's logistics were destroyed, and the Asuka Mountains were blocked, significantly increasing the difficulty of restoring their supply lines.
However, the efficiency of ninjas was not low.
Even though Konoha had been continuously pressuring Sunagakure for three months to hinder their logistical recovery, if things dragged on, it wasn't impossible for Sunagakure to stabilize their footing.
After all, they were one of the Five Great Ninja Villages and still had their foundation.
"Exactly, we just attack directly."
"Chiyo is pinned down by us, but isn't she also trying to stall the two of us?"
"She will definitely be there."
"Now, even if she wanted to replicate the 'base-trading' tactic we accidentally pulled off before, she lacks the foundation."
"If she can't stall us, we can just roll over this stronghold and keep pushing forward."
"Time always stands on the side of the one who has gained the advantage."
Orochimaru smiled confidently.
Strategic base-trading was indeed a good way for the weak to defeat the strong when at a disadvantage, but the premise was that you actually had to be able to trade.
If you were flattened in one wave before you could even trade, leaving only an isolated army without a base outside, that was simply seeking self-destruction.
In this battle, as long as they were determined to fight, even if Chiyo didn't want to, she would have to.
If the Sand Shinobi could hold it, everything would remain the same, and they could stay pinned here, continuing to look for a chance to counterattack.
If they couldn't hold it, they would have to continue retreating, passively gathering their final forces for a desperate gamble.
If they lost again, the vast Land of Rain would no longer have any place for Sunagakure to stand.
Over a thousand Konoha ninjas soon finished assembling, surrounding the Sunagakure stronghold like a swarm of ants.
Everything seemed like a repeat of last year's campaign.
The only difference was that the scale was several times smaller, and the role Uchiha Gen played in it had also changed.
He was now the leader of the entire team's Fire Release Squad; the Combined Fire Release Ninjutsu would be coordinated through him.
Besides the two basic requirements of Jonin-level Fire Release Nature Transformation and excellent chakra control, the real reason Uchiha Gen was appointed to this position was his pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan could clearly see through the flow of chakra.
Combined with dynamic vision that keenly perceived changes in chakra, it could produce much better results than an ordinary Fire Release Jonin in situations where guiding chakra was required.
The facts proved that this choice was not wrong.
Flames swept across the sky, overpowering the wild winds and burning continuously toward the Sand Shinobi's stronghold.
Under Uchiha Gen's leadership, the advantage of Konoha's superior numbers was fully utilized, forcibly suppressing the Combined Wind Release Ninjutsu that the Sand Shinobi were best at.
They had more people, and Wind Release was naturally countered by Fire Release.
As long as they could correctly exert every bit of their power, they would naturally win this stage of the clash.
"Boom!"
The surging flames overpowered the wind nets, smashed through the earth walls, and opened a gap in Sunagakure's defense.
One Konoha ninja after another rushed inside, carving out a path for those following behind.
Only the elite among elites could handle this task, holding off the siege of a large number of enemies.
Uchiha Gen was among them.
Within his Sharingan, the pupils surrounded by three tomoe spun rapidly, precisely capturing every incoming attack and every opening in the approaching enemies.
Amidst the sea of people, a figure wearing clothes emblazoned with the Uchiha clan crest maneuvered back and forth.
On the Sengoku Ninja Sword in his hand, flames flickered as he swiftly and fiercely harvested lives.
Uchiha Gen found that he seemed to enjoy this kind of battle a little.