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[News! I've Already Confronted the Five Kage, and the System Just Arrived! Event!!!]
<150 Power Stones/Chapter!>
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"Back already?"
Tsunade had just come out of her tent when she saw Yoichi returning from outside and couldn't help but ask.
Over the past two months, Tsunade had rarely spoken to Yoichi, often feeling the urge to avoid him when she saw him from a distance. But since their tents were next to each other, they frequently ran into each other anyway. Yoichi would just nod and greet her before walking away.
This indifferent behavior made Tsunade wonder if she was overthinking things.
They hadn't spoken for almost two months, so when Tsunade saw Yoichi return from a mission today, she greeted him.
"Mission's over, I can rest tonight. Tsunade-sama, are you going to get some food?"
"Shizune is probably busy in the medical unit. I'm going to get some food. Do you want some?"
"How about coming to my tent for sashimi? I also have some magic lamb I brought along but haven't eaten yet."
Yoichi took out a storage scroll and waved it in front of Tsunade. This old woman had been sulking for two months, and today she finally spoke to him. She was even harder to win over than Lady Mikoto.
"Sashimi? And magic lamb?"
Tsunade's eyes lit up at the mention of magic lamb. She remembered the juicy, delicious lamb she had tasted last time, which had left a lasting impression despite the bet she had lost to Yoichi.
"No alcohol!"
"Tsk, don't underestimate me, brat. I'm a ninja, after all. I wouldn't drink on the battlefield!"
Tsunade clicked her tongue and followed Yoichi into the tent. The camp's food was cold, dry rations, nutritious but tasteless. Any opportunity to eat something better was welcome.
Inside the tent, Yoichi set up a table and took out another storage scroll, producing several bottles of sake.
"Oops, wrong one."
Under Tsunade's hopeful gaze, Yoichi put the sake away and took out another scroll, this time revealing sashimi and magic lamb.
The prepared food, sealed in the scroll, remained fresh.
With two boxes of sashimi and one of magic lamb, there was more than enough for the two of them.
Yoichi placed the dipping sauces in front of Tsunade and asked, "How are things in the village? I've been out on missions and haven't heard much news."
"It's about the same. Though sensei has gone to the Grass Country front, the attacks from Iwagakure, Kusagakure, and Takigakure haven't slowed down. Jiraiya has had to retreat over ten kilometers."
As she spoke, Tsunade picked up a piece of sashimi and savored it, her face showing satisfaction. After eating bland ninja rations for so long, the high-quality sashimi was a delight.
However, she couldn't help but glance at the sake, feeling a bit unsatisfied. A drink would have made the meal perfect.
"The Third Raikage appearing in the Grass Country makes things difficult. Even Sakumo, who excels in Wind Release, can't stop him. But with Danzo and the Third Hokage there, it should stabilize."
Tsunade continued, "It's been tough. The old man even considered sending either me or Sakumo to the Grass Country, thinking that with Mitokado, you, and Orochimaru here, it would be enough."
Yoichi asked in surprise, "So are you leaving?"
"Not yet. They can still hold out."
Seeing Yoichi's surprise, Tsunade thought this brat didn't want her to leave, making her overthink her previous distance from him.
"I don't know if they can hold out, but here, Mitokado is at his limit. The daimyo's office even sent people to question us. This didn't happen in the previous two wars."
"There's no choice. We have too few ninjas."
Tsunade shook her head. The village had about two to three thousand reserve ninjas, kept back in case of attacks from Suna or Kirigakure.
Sending out all the reserves would relieve pressure on both battlefronts but leave the village undefended. If a thousand ninjas attacked, they'd reach Konoha's gates unopposed.
No one in the village would tolerate that, so even repeated urgings from the daimyo wouldn't sway Koharu Utatane from deploying more ninjas.
They could only hope the Konoha ninjas on both fronts would seize opportunities to turn the tide.
Koharu and Mitokado believed this front was Konoha's best chance to turn the situation around, which was why Mitokado hoped Yoichi would launch a full assault on the Hidden Cloud camp.
Driving back the Hidden Cloud would help them win the other front.
"Brat, honestly, can you use that form again?"
"Godzilla? I can, and I could kill the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, but the Hidden Cloud won't let the Jinchuriki fight me directly. After all, he's part of the A-B combo, the future Raikage's brother."
Yoichi explained, "I could destroy the Hidden Cloud camp, but I wouldn't be able to kill all the Hidden Cloud ninjas. After using it, I'd be out of action for a day. If the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki then used a Bijuu Bomb, it could destroy hundreds of kilometers!"
The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was hiding from him. If he dared to appear, it meant he had a way to deal with him.
Yoichi hadn't forgotten that the Hidden Cloud had plans for a chakra cannon capable of destroying small meteors. If they had other means to counter his Godzilla form, he'd be in trouble.
The main reason was Yoichi didn't want to help Mitokado. Besides, Uchiha ninjas were strong and well-protected, with battle armor making their casualties minimal, so Yoichi didn't need to worry.
Tsunade, curious about Godzilla, asked, "What kind of monster is it? How did you seal it inside you?"
"It's a monster king stronger than a Bijuu, but its origins are unclear. Unlike Bijuu, it doesn't resist."
Yoichi said, many had seen his Godzilla form, and the information was widespread, so there was no need to hide it. Besides, even knowing its power, enemies couldn't counter it easily.
"You're really lucky, brat."
Tsunade said, then resumed enjoying the high-quality sashimi. She also thought of Shizune, busy in the medical unit. Recently, she'd taught Shizune two medical jutsu and sent her to help in the medical unit, where the experience was invaluable.
Feeling a bit guilty, Tsunade asked if she could bring a box for Shizune. Yoichi agreed, not caring about one box of food. Tsunade, delighted, then cheekily asked if she could have a drink.
"Just two cups. I'll sober up quickly and won't cause any trouble."
"You just said you wouldn't drink on the battlefield, Tsunade-sama. You have no morals."
"Just two cups won't affect me. It's only a taste. Besides, you brought alcohol to the battlefield, breaking ninja regulations first."
Tsunade retorted.
Yoichi suddenly changed his tone, "You can drink two cups, but I have a condition."
"What condition?"
"Let me supervise. If you get drunk and throw a tantrum, you might use your strength to smash the camp."
"I wouldn't do that, brat! Who do you think I am?"
Tsunade angrily clenched her fist, warning him that she wouldn't destroy the camp even if she got mad.
"Alright, then go ahead. This is Tenmitsu sake from the Land of Honey, very rare, only a hundred bottles a year."
"I've heard of it, but it's hard to find. Didn't expect you to have it. Hey, what are you doing?"
Tsunade, excited to taste the sake, saw Yoichi remove her sandals and place her soft white feet in his lap.
"This is a method to supervise while helping you relax, a perfectly normal procedure."
Yoichi said seriously, warming his hands and massaging Tsunade's white feet again.
"Let go, brat!"
"Tsunade-sama, drink up. Otherwise, the scent will spread, and others will know you drank during wartime. Don't mind me unless you plan to smash the camp with your strength."
As Yoichi massaged, Tsunade's feet felt soft and smooth, always kept clean and rarely sweating when not fighting.
Her toes curled cutely as Yoichi tried to massage her pinky toe, with Tsunade resisting but failing to pull back.
His words, combined with her good feelings towards Yoichi, prevented her from getting angry. This time, she wasn't as furious as before.
'This brat really likes my feet, doesn't he?'
As Yoichi's warm hands massaged, Tsunade's face flushed. She'd never realized her feet could be so attractive, making Yoichi focus on them.
Tsunade downed a cup of sake, trying to quell the growing heat in her feet.
But the sake made her face redder, though it tasted excellent, distracting her a bit.
Soft and perfectly proportioned, Tsunade's feet had no flaws. Yoichi understood why she wore sandals; if her feet had defects, she might have worn ninja shoes to hide them.
One cup.
Two cups.
Although she planned to have only two cups, Yoichi didn't stop her, and Tsunade used the sake to mask her embarrassment.
Tsunade reassured herself that it was just a foot massage. She benefited from drinking and relaxing. Yet, the increasing warmth in her feet left her feeling indescribable.
"Enough, brat. I'm done eating. I'll wait for Shizune."
Tsunade huffed, turning her head, lightly pulling her leg to signal she was done.
Feeling a bit regretful, Yoichi let go, helping her put on her sandals.
He then handed her a box of sashimi for Shizune, asking, "Tsunade-sama, do you want more Tenmitsu sake?"
Tsunade turned away, not looking at Yoichi, "No, it's not as good as I thought."
Not as good, yet she drank the whole bottle? Stubborn as always. Tsunade grabbed the sashimi box and quickly left the tent, running into Shizune outside.
"Shizune, I brought you some food. You've been working too hard lately, so enjoy this."
Tsunade explained, but Shizune smelled the alcohol and frowned, "Tsunade-sama, you drank in the camp?"
"Alright, alright, Shizune, I know. Let's talk inside."
Tsunade quickly covered Shizune's mouth and dragged her into the tent, not wanting others to overhear.
Grass Country battlefield.
Hiruzen had arrived at the camp and had fought the Third Raikage several times.
The Third Raikage was a formidable opponent, even countering Hiruzen's Wind Release. His Fire Release was even harder to hit. If not for his mastery of various jutsu, he wouldn't have managed to hold him off.
If the Third Raikage still had both arms, Hiruzen would have found it even tougher.
"Hokage-sama, I'm here."
Minato said as he entered the tent.
"Minato, I have a crucial mission for you. Iwagakure's movements are becoming more aggressive. We must find a way to stop them. Destroying Kannabi Bridge could cut their supply lines, slowing their advance and giving us a chance to counterattack."
"You're the best choice for this mission."
(End of Chapter)
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[News! I've Already Confronted the Five Kage, and the System Just Arrived! Event!!!]
<150 Power Stones/Chapter!>
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Kannabi Bridge is a vital bridge for Iwagakure's supply routes, the largest transportation bridge between the Land of Earth and the Land of Grass.
Danzo had previously scouted this weakness and reported it to the frontline camp.
At that time, Iwagakure's attacks were not as intense; they were merely supporting Kusagakure and Takigakure. Cutting off Kannabi Bridge then would have had little effect and only put Iwagakure on high alert, giving them time to repair the bridge.
Now, with Iwagakure committing more troops and efforts, it was the right time for Hiruzen Sarutobi to consider destroying it.
"With our forces stretched thin, Minato, I can't spare more people for you. Only your team is available. Fortunately, Kakashi has grown quickly; he even killed an Iwagakure jōnin recently."
Hiruzen said, "Let Kakashi and his team go with you. You're our best hope to accomplish this."
Minato's Flying Thunder God technique made him well-suited for such missions, providing him with excellent evasion capabilities. Combined with his formidable skills and Kakashi's potential, Hiruzen had high hopes for the mission's success.
"I understand, Lord Hokage."
Minato accepted without hesitation. He never turned down dangerous tasks, always focusing on how to complete them.
"Minato, you might encounter the Third Raikage during this mission. If you do, try to transport him to the location we discussed. Can you manage that?"
"I'll try."
Minato looked troubled. He had fought the Third Raikage before but found him nearly invulnerable.
Wind Release chakra or the Rasengan could only cause minor hindrance. To truly injure him, one had to target vital points like the eyes or temples.
However, the Third Raikage was as fast as Minato, making such attacks highly risky, potentially costing Minato his life for a minor injury.
"If I succeed, I'll notify you immediately, Third Hokage."
"Good. The Third Raikage poses a significant threat on the battlefield. We must eliminate him."
Hiruzen emphasized the importance of the mission. With their limited Earth Release users like himself and Jiraiya, and Wind Release users like Danzo and Minato, the Third Raikage's presence meant many Konoha ninjas would die unless countered.
"I understand, Lord Hokage."
With that, Minato left.
Two months of continuous war had given Konoha some advantages.
With Danzo's ruthless tactics, Takigakure had withdrawn from the conflict. Jiraiya had led the remaining Konoha ninjas back to Hiruzen, bringing their numbers to nearly two thousand.
However, intelligence reported that Iwagakure had sent over three thousand ninjas into the Land of Grass, and combined with Kusagakure's forces, the enemy numbered four thousand.
Such a large force, combined with the Third Raikage and Onoki, made Hiruzen feel quite troubled. One wrong move could lead to defeat.
In contrast, the Hidden Cloud battlefield had less pressure.
The Hidden Cloud avoided direct battles, using small, disruptive teams to distract Konoha ninjas.
Gathering their forces for a frontal assault would give Konoha an opportunity. Neither A nor Dodai would make such a foolish move.
Mitokado had been trying to get Yoichi to use his Godzilla form against the Hidden Cloud, but Yoichi refused. He cited the lack of information on the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki as his reason.
As for using Wood Release and his Mangekyō Sharingan, Yoichi simply ignored Mitokado. A battlefield commander had no authority over him.
Yoichi stuck to his usual tasks, not exceeding his responsibilities, despite his great power.
Since their last encounter, Tsunade had started avoiding Yoichi again. However, this time, Yoichi sought her out.
Tsunade had initially avoided him to calm down, but since she hadn't resisted during their last interaction, she had grown accustomed. Now, Yoichi would greet her, teasing her about foot massages until she nearly exploded before leaving.
Under the guidance of his strategy, Yoichi carefully balanced not making Tsunade truly angry while teasing her emotions.
Her affection never dropped. Even if it dipped slightly in embarrassment, it quickly rose back up once he left.
Tsunade often thought angrily about leaving for a long journey after the war, staying away from Konoha for at least ten years.
But every time Yoichi spoke to her, she couldn't handle him. Despite her nightly resolutions to remain silent, she inevitably ended up responding.
Once, Tsunade fell into Yoichi's trap again, enduring a ten-minute foot massage before realizing he was taking advantage of her under the guise of massage.
By the third time, she was so flustered that she grudgingly let him massage her feet, feeling both angry and embarrassed.
"Brat, I'll never forgive you!"
Tsunade quickly put on her sandals, speaking harshly but unconvincingly before rushing out. She felt a wet sensation beneath her and feared a repeat of the incident at Konoha's gates.
Yoichi was unafraid. If Tsunade hadn't retaliated the first time, she wouldn't now.
While Yoichi's side remained relaxed, A's camp was tense with war preparations.
A had sent dozens of urgent messages to his father in the Land of Earth, but none were answered, and the Third Raikage hadn't returned.
A suspected Iwagakure had intercepted the messages and broken their intelligence seals.
Although gaining some ground in the Land of Fire, the Hidden Cloud faced a stalemate. Expanding their gains was challenging, but retreating felt unsatisfactory.
To negotiate the return of the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, they needed more leverage. The Hidden Cloud hadn't dealt a significant blow to Yoichi, so Konoha was unlikely to return the Jinchuriki.
Thus, the Hidden Cloud continued small-scale infiltrations to slowly expand their gains.
"Kakashi, you're now the team leader for the sabotage mission. I have another task to attend to."
Minato, recalling his clone's memory, spoke gravely to Kakashi, "Though you're not a jōnin yet, you have the qualifications. Once this mission is over, you'll be promoted."
"Obito, Rin, you must follow Kakashi's orders. This is no time for bickering."
Obito, solemn for once, replied, "Understood, Minato-sensei."
Kakashi no longer held grudges about ninja rules and was careful and skillful in completing tasks. Without using the Flying Thunder God technique, even Minato found Kakashi's White Fang style challenging.
Handing over the team to Kakashi, Minato felt assured.
Kakashi often clashed with Obito, who claimed Uchiha supremacy and pinned his hopes on unlocking the Sharingan, often citing Yoichi as an example, which Kakashi used to refute Obito.
Obito, often speechless, struggled with Kakashi's arguments, especially since Rin admired Kakashi, further frustrating him.
"This mission is critical. Normally, you wouldn't be assigned, but with Konoha's shortage of personnel and Kakashi's strength, it's up to you, Kakashi."
Minato created three shadow clones, transforming them into Kakashi's team members.
Kakashi understood Minato's plan to distract pursuers, giving the command to move towards the target.
After they left, Minato headed towards the enemy based on his clone's memory, which revealed they had encountered the Third Raikage.
After a fierce battle, Minato used countless short-distance teleportations to finally get behind the Third Raikage with a Flying Thunder God kunai.
Ignoring the risk of injuring his hand with Lightning Release chakra, Minato touched the Third Raikage.
Flying Thunder God Transfer! Both disappeared, reappearing in a valley within the Land of Fire.
Transporting the Third Raikage drained Minato significantly, but with a formidable enemy nearby, he quickly relocated to a hiding spot over two hundred meters away.
'Finally succeeded!'
Minato fired a signal flare, then took a military ration pill to quickly recover chakra for the upcoming battle.
The signal flare was specially made, visible for kilometers even in daylight, particularly near the Konoha camp.
"It's Minato, he did it!"
Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Danzo, and other strong Konoha ninjas recognized the signal. They knew the mission's signal meant it was time to surround and kill the Third Raikage.
A dozen ninjas immediately moved to support Minato, while another dozen jōnin gathered ninja teams skilled in hindering techniques or throwing weapons and explosive tags, forming a second line of defense.
Within minutes, Hiruzen, Danzo, and Jiraiya reached the valley, finding Minato in a dire situation.
"Ninja Art: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
Jiraiya used his hair technique to save Minato, while Hiruzen and Danzo used Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere to push the Third Raikage off balance.
"His skin is tough. Even our Wind Release can't injure him."
Danzo said, surprised. Hiruzen summoned Enma, transforming him into the Adamantine Staff.
"Don't underestimate him. Even Sakumo's Wind Release barely scratches the Third Raikage."
Hiruzen said gravely. Specialists in one jutsu type were harder to deal with, especially someone like the Third Raikage.
"I see. You plan to ambush and surround me with space-time jutsu."
The Third Raikage, seeing Hiruzen and the others arriving quickly, guessed Konoha's plan. He knew he was likely in the Land of Fire and realized escape was improbable.
"Using such tricks, do you think you can defeat me?"
Resolved to die, the Third Raikage wouldn't make it easy for Konoha.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I need to rest and may need to assist Kakashi later. They're destroying Kannabi Bridge."
"Rest, we'll handle this."
Jiraiya said, charging at the Third Raikage. He wasn't skilled in Wind Release but excelled in Earth Release and hindering jutsu.
Minato took more military ration pills, retreating to recover. He had marked Kakashi with a Flying Thunder God kunai but needed enough chakra to use it. Despite the pills' side effects, he had no choice.
If they failed to destroy Kannabi Bridge, Iwagakure would become more vigilant, reducing their chances.
Soon, more Konoha jōnin arrived, following Jiraiya's commands, positioning themselves for support.
As more Konoha ninjas gathered, they nearly surrounded the valley. Hiruzen had chosen this spot for its steep slopes, limiting the Third Raikage's powerful ninjutsu.
The Third Raikage was doomed today.
(End of Chapter)
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