Chapter 53: Aftermath of the Battle – Orochimaru's Worry, Konoha's Internal Debate, and Iwa's Retreat
The next day, at the front-line logistics unit. Although Konoha had achieved a great victory yesterday, the atmosphere was not lively at all. Even though Nawaki had unleashed his power, the logistics unit had still been almost completely wiped out.
And the great hero of the front lines, Nawaki, remained in a coma without waking up.
Precisely because this surprise attack unit from Iwa had been completely annihilated, the pressure on all of Konoha had greatly decreased. It could be said that ever since Iwa's sneak attack failed, Iwa had shown no further movement.
Now, the only enemy Konoha faced on the battlefield in the Land of Rain was Sunagakure.
Orochimaru and Miya looked at the unconscious Nawaki with furrowed brows. Although Orochimaru was not a medical ninja, in terms of biological knowledge and theory, he was far richer than Tsunade.
Orochimaru said to Miya: "Nawaki should not be in life-threatening danger right now. There are two different powers inside him currently fusing with him. As long as he successfully completes the fusion of this power, he should wake up soon. So you don't need to worry too much! I've already reported the front-line situation back to headquarters. Tsunade should be coming now."
What Orochimaru didn't tell Miya was that there was also a high chance Nawaki could die directly from failed energy fusion—or become a true "vegetable."
It could be said that right now Nawaki appeared fine on the surface, but internally he was like a violently reacting chemical reactor—one misstep and it could explode.
...
In the Hokage's office, a little skit was originally playing out.
Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted at Danzō: "Double? No way!"
But it was interrupted by important front-line intelligence.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the report in his hand: Enemy diversion tactic… Senju Nawaki summoned armor… Nawaki faced strong enemy alone… Nawaki used "Incursio" or possibly the power from the First Hokage necklace on the armor to transform into a dragon… Summoned Wood Release to protect comrades and killed all enemies… Nawaki in coma and requires treatment…
After reading it, Sarutobi Hiruzen set the report down and began thinking.
Danzō watched Hiruzen's changing expression and picked up the report from the table.
Danzō's expression also shifted continuously as he read: Teigu actually possessed this kind of power—combined with Incursio, Nawaki had displayed power comparable to the First Hokage! One must know that in Danzō's view, Nawaki's personal strength was at most chūnin level.
Meanwhile, with Yatsufusa in hand, Danzō felt his current strength was only slightly stronger than Hiruzen's at best—the power increase wasn't that dramatic! Was this the difference between Teigu? Or was it due to his own insufficient utilization?
But none of that mattered now—he could investigate later.
Danzō instantly changed targets and said to Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Since Nawaki has mastered Wood Release power, let's immediately declare war on the other four great nations! Use the power of Wood Release to seize benefits for Konoha!"
Still thinking about how to handle the situation, Hiruzen was stunned by Danzō's shocking statement.
Hiruzen's astonished look seemed to say: Little brother, are you really this bold?
Hiruzen immediately refused and said: "Whether Nawaki can wake up is still uncertain. Whether the Wood Release power is in Nawaki himself or in the armor is unknown! Most importantly, conquering other great nations solely through military force—how much death and war will that bring? In the end, if the entire ninja world turns against us, even if Konoha becomes the only ninja village left, it won't be able to hold on!"
In Danzō's view, Hiruzen at this moment was simply worried about losing his Hokage position—that's why he was spouting such high-sounding words.
With his long experience clashing with Hiruzen, Danzō changed targets again: "Then hand Incursio over to me! As a Teigu user, I can fully utilize this power for Konoha's benefit!"
At this point Danzō still didn't know that under normal circumstances, one person could only use one Teigu. Of course, if one could endure the consumption and had sufficient compatibility, using two Teigu simultaneously was still possible.
"No!" Hiruzen refused again. He wasn't tired of being Hokage yet. He suspected that if he handed the armor to Danzō today, tomorrow Danzō would come asking him to step down and make way.
Finally, Danzō slowly said: "The current situation is so tense—I worry other ninja villages might gang up on Konoha. We need intelligence and deterrence right now. I need to increase Root's funding! At least double!"
After rejecting Danzō repeatedly, Hiruzen finally couldn't bring himself to refuse this seemingly reasonable request from his old friend, so he nodded in agreement!
Danzō left Hiruzen's office with a gloomy face, thinking to himself: Today's goal was achieved. As for Wood Release power—with funding and First Hokage cells, why couldn't he go to Naraku and have another weapon made!
...
Tsunade, who was just preparing to go to the casino for a little gambling fun, looked at the ANBU in front of her. The ANBU said: "Lady Tsunade, the Hokage has urgent business with you—it's about Nawaki!"
...
In Iwagakure's office, Ōnoki directly threw the file in his hand onto the desk. He recognized every word on the document individually, but together they made no sense. What did it mean: the surprise attack task force was overwhelmingly dominant on the main battlefield, slaughtering Konoha's logistics unit. The battle to capture Senju Nawaki kept dragging on without ending—until the overall commander Hagane Ritsuo went over for a while. A terrifying phantom appeared in the sky, eventually turning into a terrifying giant dragon. Just two roars and countless wooden tendrils attacked the Iwa ninjas—until the end, Hagane Ritsuo never reappeared. Finally, an intelligence agent used a secret technique to transmit this precious information back before dying.
Based on Ōnoki's guess, the mission targeting Senju Nawaki must have gone wrong, forcing out Nawaki's trump card—or rather, Konoha's trump card.
No matter how much Ōnoki racked his brain, he never imagined: Kakuzu turned into a legendary trainer, using different attribute powerful ninjutsu to increase "Incursio"'s power, and ultimately seeming to kill Nawaki's loved ones and elders, stimulating Nawaki's spirit. In the end, this caused Nawaki to explode with power.
The number one ninja teacher and trainer in the ninja world—Kakuzu, reporting for duty!
He needed more information. The ones closest to the truth were probably that mercenary Kakuzu who fought Nawaki the whole time, and Hagane Ritsuo who arrived midway—of course, assuming they were still alive!
It could be said that half of Iwa's forces on the Land of Rain battlefield had been lost there, and after that battle, morale had plummeted. They were now completely unable to fight.
Ōnoki instructed his ANBU: "Full rest and reorganization on the Land of Rain battlefield. Also, offer a high bounty for information on that mercenary who took the mission to kill Nawaki. And spread the intelligence to the entire ninja world that Konoha now has someone else who has mastered Wood Release power!"
...
The Third Raikage, A, looked at Ōnoki's announcement and couldn't help laughing loudly: "Looks like Ōnoki really screwed up this time! But is it true or false that Konoha now has someone else with Wood Release power?"
A person's name is like a tree's shadow! Although the Third Raikage A had never personally seen Senju Hashirama's power, he still held some reverence for the Wood Release power of the God of the Ninja World.
So he also ordered his subordinates to investigate the intelligence.
...
At this time, Kirigakure was still hunkered down in the village, busy with who-knows-what, completely ignoring outside matters.
...
And the news of Iwa's front-line crushing defeat plus Konoha possibly having another Wood Release user scared Sunagakure badly. After discussion, the still graceful Chiyo and the Third Kazekage decided to observe quietly for now and get the intelligence first.
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