One day, while Yubi was in General Commander Shimizu's tent with Sasori and others, conducting military analysis and deployment regarding the current battlefield situation, a subordinate immediately came to report, interrupting their conversation.
Next, an injured Sunagakure ninja was brought in.
It was a squad sent by their garrisoned troops to scout for signs of Iwagakure activity on the border of the Land of Birds, and they had been attacked.
Only this person managed to run back first to deliver the news.
"Mr. Shimizu, please, you must save Kouta and the others."
The injured Sunagakure ninja had a face full of sorrow and anxiety.
Hearing this, everyone in the tent looked solemn and spread out the map.
"How many of them are there?"
"It should be a squad from a Stronghold. I saw at least ten people, and I'm not sure if there are subsequent reinforcements..." the messenger Sunagakure ninja replied.
"Looking at the geographical location, it's a certain distance from the main Sunagakure force, but it has already entered the Land of Birds... Iwagakure will definitely be able to react a step faster than us. Even if we send people now... I'm afraid it's too late..."
A captain glanced at the position on the map and said in a heavy voice.
What he meant was... they could only give up.
This kind of casualty... happens from time to time on the battlefield and is considered perfectly normal.
Moreover, the mission performed by the reconnaissance squad was inherently the most dangerous.
"If we send people... it's very likely to cost other people's lives."
Another Squad Leader provided an accurate analysis.
In short, this kind of rescue... wasn't worth it.
"..."
The tent fell silent for a moment.
"Mr. Shimizu, Kouta's child was just born recently..."
Realizing something, the messenger Sunagakure ninja suddenly knelt down to the troop management present, performing a deep bow, and said with reddened eyes.
It was clear that his relationship with the comrade named Kouta was exceptionally good.
However, on the battlefield, life and death are determined by fate. Let alone a child just born at home... during the previous Ninja World War, when the fighting was more intense, many fetuses still in the womb had already lost their fathers, a large number of children became orphans, and some families were even completely wiped out.
In this situation... there was nothing much to say.
As the General Commander, Shimizu would not act on impulse and push others into a fiery pit for a group of comrades who were already destined to be sacrificed.
The failure of this reconnaissance mission was already a foregone conclusion.
"The reconnaissance missions of both armies are part of routine operations. Even if the enemy discovers our personnel... under circumstances of absolute advantage, even if they convey intelligence to the main force, it shouldn't be that fast. After all, the one who escaped... was our person. The other side is in a position of certain victory, and the nature of the mission isn't particularly special, so it's not enough to cause alarm. There's still a chance to save them."
Just then, a voice rang out, attracting everyone's attention.
The person who spoke was none other than Yubi.
"From the distance, Iwagakure is indeed closer than us... but if the support speed is fast enough, it's not impossible to reach their return route first and meet up with the remaining members of the squad. They should also be running back. Of course... to avoid delays on the road, at most three people can be sent... if there are more, I'm afraid the speed won't be able to meet this condition."
"In addition, the fact that he could come back alive to deliver information... shows that the reconnaissance squad was not completely trapped or blocked, nor were they facing the enemy head-on. If we make it in time... perhaps, there are still survivors."
Yubi said, meeting the gazes of several people.
Since he was the one who provided the solution, he would naturally be the one to execute it.
Instead of letting others take this risk.
"I'll go... I'm a Medical Ninja. If anyone in the reconnaissance squad is injured, I can also provide timely treatment to avoid casualties. If the enemy is just a Stronghold squad, there shouldn't be any Jonin-level Iwagakure elites. With my strength, I have the confidence to handle it."
Yubi looked at Shimizu and volunteered.
"We will not abandon any partner."
"..."
Yubi's words made the others' faces feel hot and a bit flushed.
"No..."
Shimizu pondered for a moment and was about to refuse without even thinking.
To let Yubi risk himself based solely on the personal analysis of the Sunagakure ninja who ran back was not a wise choice no matter how you looked at it.
What if there were variables... not to mention that both Yubi and Sasori were already on Iwagakure's hit list.
"The mission of the reconnaissance squad is inherently extremely dangerous, and they are also the group of people who least fear death. Strategic sacrifice is justifiable. If it were an absolutely ineffective rescue, I wouldn't have made this suggestion. But as a Medical Ninja, even if there's a slight possibility of rescue, I want to try. Otherwise, if this gets out... I'm afraid others will have thoughts, affecting morale," Yubi said.
"Since we've stepped onto the battlefield, it's impossible to be hesitant. Danger... is always there."
"Mr. Shimizu, I will protect my own safety."
"..."
Seeing that Yubi had put it this way, Shimizu was speechless.
Subsequently, Yubi didn't wait for his reply, immediately pulled up the Sunagakure ninja kneeling on the ground, and was about to walk out of the tent: "Time is urgent. We'll discuss the specific situation on the way."
Sasori, who was on the side, instinctively wanted to accompany Yubi to save the people.
But Shimizu immediately stopped him and let another captain, who was also a Jonin, follow Yubi.
You can't put all your eggs in one basket. If both Yubi and Sasori went and something unexpected really happened, it would be too late for regrets.
Yubi was a Medical Ninja; for the sake of saving people, his participation in this matter was barely justifiable.
There was no such necessity for Sasori.
"You guys go first, our people will provide support from behind,"
Shimizu instructed.
"Mm."
If many people traveled together, the speed would inevitably be affected. Their goal was to save people as quickly as possible, and they had to race against time.
Most importantly, if there were too many people, they might be exposed in advance.
They could only let Yubi's trio take the first step... Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
Soon, with the reconnaissance Sunagakure ninja leading the way, Yubi and the other Jonin ran at full speed on either side of him, leaving the base.
Heading straight for the direction of the Land of Birds.
On the way, this Sunagakure ninja... recounted their encounter with Iwagakure in meticulous detail.
"Yubi... the specific situation over there is still uncertain. How many people the other side has, and what their combat strength is... if the situation is not optimistic after we arrive, I will cover the rear, and you take the others and leave first," the Jonin named Itō said to Yubi.
"Okay."
Yubi didn't refuse on the surface.
But in his heart, he didn't plan to obediently follow the arrangements.
The reason he insisted on joining was because... this sudden incident was precisely the 'opportunity' he had been waiting for.
Not long after, with the three of them sprinting, they entered the Land of Birds.
A three-person squad's efficiency and stealth were quite high.
After all, this wasn't the Land of Earth. Even if Iwagakure had deployed a large number of people on the border of the Land of Birds, they weren't as comfortable as they were at their own doorstep and couldn't cover everything perfectly.
Their battlefield warning lines were deployed specifically according to the positions of the Sunagakure Strongholds.
It didn't cover the entire area.
The two Villages were too familiar with each other... they knew exactly which were the key combat directions and which could be relatively ignored.
"Found them."
After going deeper into the Land of Birds for a distance, the three finally heard movement coming from afar.
At this time, two disheveled Sunagakure ninjas were fleeing with injuries.
Behind them were the figures of Iwagakure ninjas, chasing closely and moving rapidly.