The next morning, inside the Konoha front line command tent.
At the center of the tent stood a large sand table, with the distribution of Konoha and Sunagakure's battle lines marked on it in detail.
Hatake Sakumo stood before the sand table. His silver-white short hair gave off a cold glint in the sunlight. His firm face carried a heavy expression.
Chiya and Tsunade walked into the tent side by side, their gazes sweeping over everyone present.
Besides the familiar Konoha jonin, two unfamiliar faces stood in a corner.
They wore ordinary Konoha ninja uniforms.
But their eyes were sharp as a hawk's, and their posture was straight to the point of stiffness, forming a clear contrast with the slightly worn-out front line ninja around them.
"Tsunade, Chiya, you are here."
Hatake Sakumo gave a small nod and gestured for them to take their seats.
Chiya's gaze lingered on the two unfamiliar ninja for just a moment longer. His brow furrowed in a way that was barely noticeable.
The two had their presence suppressed extremely well, but a faint cold edge leaked through.
Completely unlike front line ninja. They seemed more like people assigned specifically to assassination.
"Everyone, let us begin."
Hatake Sakumo's voice pulled Chiya's thoughts back.
He pointed to several markings on the sand table and spoke in a low, firm voice.
"At present our advantage is significant. Sunagakure's main force has been pushed back to the border line. But there is one piece of bad news."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the room.
"Chiyo of Sunagakure has left the battlefield where Suna-nin were fighting against Amegakure, and has formally entered the fight against us."
Chiyo... In the shinobi world at this time, beyond the "strongest" Third Kazekage, she was the kunoichi with the greatest reputation in Sunagakure.
It was said this supreme-class puppeteer could control puppets with just a single finger.
Beyond that, she also possessed powerful medical ninjutsu and sealing jutsu. Calling her an all-around type would not be an overstatement.
The tent broke into an uproar at once.
Chiyo's name rang like thunder throughout the shinobi world. Her poison techniques and puppet techniques were in a class of their own, striking fear into the hearts of countless ninja.
"I did not expect her to enter the war. Konoha may have met a truly formidable opponent."
"Chiyo, is she the kunoichi that even the demigod of Amegakure, Hanzo, could not finish off?"
"It looks like the situation is not good."
...
Hatake Sakumo raised his hand and cut off everyone's voices at once.
"Chiyo's poison techniques and puppet techniques are what she is most skilled in, and what Konoha is most wary of. Based on intelligence we have received, several cases of poisoned ninja have already appeared, with extremely difficult symptoms to treat."
As he said this, his gaze shifted to Tsunade.
"Tsunade, how confident are you in breaking Chiyo's poison?"
Tsunade crossed her arms. A flash of sharpness passed through her bright brown eyes.
"No matter how powerful the poison technique, there is always a way to break it. Give me three days. I will analyze and produce the antidote formula."
Hatake Sakumo's brow eased somewhat.
"Then I am counting on you."
Tsunade thought it over and could not help but offer a suggestion.
"Besides preparing the antidote, we also need to continue training specialized medical ninja. Specifically to counter Chiyo's poison techniques."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
With that in place, the pressure on Konoha ninja when facing the wide variety of poisons Chiyo could produce would be greatly reduced.
Hatake Sakumo also showed an approving look.
"Tsunade is right. We need to make more preparations in the areas where the enemy is strongest."
Partway through the meeting, Hatake Sakumo turned to one of the two unfamiliar ninja and said:
"There are two more things to inform everyone of. You explain the situation."
That ninja stepped forward. His movements were stiff but precise, like a machine running on a set program.
His voice was low and steady, carrying not a trace of feeling.
"Everyone. I am a member of Root's special operations unit. Code name, Rooster."
Chiya understood inwardly. He had already felt from the start that something was off about these two. As expected, they were not part of the combat forces. They were Root ninja.
As for the code name, Rooster.
It reminded Chiya of someone from the past.
Then again, Root ninja and Anbu ninja using animal code names was common enough.
"According to our intelligence, a unit of Iwagakure ninja has appeared near Amegakure, numbering approximately five hundred. They are disguised as refugees and merchant caravans, but their movements are suspicious. They are very likely part of a military deployment targeting the Land of Fire."
The tent went instantly quiet. The air seemed to freeze.
Iwagakure's involvement meant the battle situation would become far more complicated.
"Iwagakure?"
A jonin could not hold back.
"Have they not maintained neutrality the entire time?"
"Military action does not equal a full declaration of war."
Hatake Sakumo spoke from the side to explain.
Hearing those words, everyone in the room could not help but feel speechless.
Iwagakure was really going this far without any shame?
It was obvious they wanted to take advantage of the situation, to grab benefit while Konoha was locked in fighting with Sunagakure and Amegakure.
Rooster showed no expression at all and continued reporting on the second matter.
"In addition, Kumogakure has also made a move. Their reconnaissance squad has already infiltrated the border of the Land of Rain. Their objective is unclear."
The situation was worse than anyone had imagined.
That was what everyone in the room could not help but think.
After Rooster finished, his gaze suddenly shifted to Chiya.
A strange light flickered in those cold eyes.
"Uchiha Chiya, Lord Danzo has a new mission for you."
Danzo?
Chiya's guard went up inside. He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What mission?"
"The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Fukai of Kumogakure has been active near the border frequently as of late. Lord Danzo hopes you will go and intercept and eliminate him, to weaken Kumogakure's combat strength."
Something stirred in Chiya's mind. Was this not the target from his earlier system mission? He had nearly thought that mission was going to fail, but Danzo had actually come to find him.
He pretended to think it over, then gave a nod.
"Acceptable, but I will need detailed intelligence support."
Rooster took a scroll from his jacket and handed it over.
"For the specific action plan, please come with me to the Root base to discuss it in detail."
Tsunade stood up sharply. Anger blazed in her bright brown eyes.
"Send Chiya alone to deal with a Jinchuriki? Have you all lost your minds?"
Rooster responded without any expression.
"These are Lord Danzo's orders. And he will not be going alone. Others will accompany him. Furthermore, with Uchiha Chiya's level of strength, he is more than capable of the task."
Hatake Sakumo raised his hand to stop the argument that was about to break out, and looked toward Chiya.
"Chiya, what do you think?"
Chiya gave a slight smile, his gaze firm.
"I am willing to accept the mission. The Jinchuriki poses too great a threat. If this can be resolved in advance, it may prevent Kumogakure from achieving its goal of starting a war. If it succeeds, it will benefit Konoha."
Tsunade gritted her teeth. She was about to say more, but Chiya gently pressed his hand over hers.
"Trust me. I will come back in one piece."
After the meeting ended, everyone left one by one.
Chiya arranged a time with Rooster to go to the Root base, then walked out of the tent side by side with Tsunade.
The last light of the setting sun fell across the two of them, casting long shadows behind them.
Tsunade finally could not hold back and asked.
"Are you really going?"
Chiya nodded. A flicker of something deep passed through his eyes.
"Not only for Konoha. For myself as well."
Tsunade was quiet for a moment, then suddenly pulled a finely made medicine bottle from her jacket and pressed it into his hand.
"This is a specially prepared antidote and soldier pills. They can save your life at a critical moment."
Chiya took the bottle. His fingertip lightly grazed across her palm. He laughed softly.
"When I get back, I will thank you properly."
Tsunade turned her face away. The tips of her ears went faintly red.
"Stop talking nonsense. Just come back alive."
Chiya smiled, his gaze drifting to the sky in the distance. The look in his eyes slowly turned cold.
'The Kumogakure Jinchuriki.'
'It is time to settle this.'