Capítulo 107: Return
After entering the Land of Rivers, what everyone saw was a chaotic battlefield. Today, the Land of Rivers serves as the main battleground for the forces of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. Both the Hokage and Kazekage are present, making the intensity of the battle unprecedented—even surpassing the early stages of the war between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. Back then, the Land of Lightning only committed a portion of its elite ninja from Kumogakure, without deploying its main force. As the war fell into a stalemate, neither side launched a frenzied offensive, making the momentum naturally less overwhelming compared to here.
The samurai from both nations clashed, swords drawn, attacking the enemy. Among the crowds, one could see Konoha and Sunagakure ninjas battling fiercely, indicating that Masaki Fumori and his team had accidentally stumbled upon a significant part of the battlefield.
"Really, I can't tell if this is luck or misfortune," Fumori Masaki said with a bitter smile.
They had just endured a relentless chase by Sunagakure forces, and their chakra reserves were already more than half depleted. They weren't in the best condition to engage in another fight—it wasn't terrible, but far from ideal. Luckily, due to the chaos of the battlefield, Sunagakure's forces could no longer surround and ambush them like they could in the open terrain of the Kingdom of Wind.
Hyūga Kei, sensing Chiyo's pursuit, warned Fumori Masaki. After a brief discussion with Shimura Danzo, they decided to join the fray. Though dangerous, it was preferable to continuing their flight and facing the increasingly desperate Sunagakure ninjas.
"Go!" With the command, everyone immediately leaped out of their jungle hiding place and rushed into the chaotic battlefield.
The arrival of Fumori Masaki's team quickly drew attention—some hopeful, others dismayed. It was clear who was friend and who was foe, and Fumori's team made their presence felt quickly. The samurai of the Wind were swiftly overwhelmed, and even the Sunagakure ninjas were pinned down, resulting in casualties among their ranks.
By the time Chiyo and her reinforcements arrived, the Wind Country forces were already at a disadvantage, teetering on the brink of defeat. Chiyo, frustrated but aware of her own team's diminished chakra reserves, hesitated. If they had arrived sooner, they might have been able to fight, but now the Wind Country samurai were on the verge of collapse. Even though Fumori Masaki's team wasn't in top condition, the morale of the Fire Country samurai and Konoha ninjas could make a significant difference. Victory here would come at a high cost, one Chiyo was unwilling to pay just to capture Fumori Masaki's team.
What good was killing samurai if they couldn't capture Fumori Masaki?
Chiyo glared at Fumori Masaki, frustrated that there was nothing she could do. She wished she could teleport past the enemy lines and strike, but unfortunately, she had no space-time ninjutsu like the Flying Thunder God. All she could do was stand there, seething.
To make matters worse, Fumori Masaki glanced back, seemingly aware of her gaze. Perhaps it was unintentional, but Chiyo interpreted it as mockery. She felt her chest tighten in fury.
"It's a lost cause…" her brother Ebizō sighed.
No one had anticipated this battlefield, and as a result, Fumori Masaki's team had a chance to escape. Watching the samurai close in, Ebizō wisely chose to retreat, understanding that expending more energy here would be fruitless. Though Chiyo was more emotionally charged, she too realized the futility of staying and withdrew with her brother.
Once Hyūga Kei confirmed the retreat of the Sunagakure forces, he smiled at his comrades. Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief—the long pursuit was finally over. Now, they could safely return to Konoha's camp.
"We didn't expect to encounter you here and win the battle with your help," remarked a Konoha ninja who had fought in the battle. When he learned that the reinforcements were the team on a mission in the Land of Wind, he was shocked. After confirming the code word, the captain quickly selected a few capable individuals to escort Fumori Masaki and his team to the camp.
"You all helped as well. Without your assistance, Sunagakure's forces might have continued their pursuit. I'm not sure what our fate would have been otherwise," Fumori Masaki said.
"It was an honor to help. In the end, you and your team protected many of us," the young Konoha ninja replied with a smile.
"Helping each other is what comrades do when defending the country together," Inuzuka Shigeru added.
"That's right," Fumori Masaki nodded.
Under their guidance, Fumori's team found Konoha's base camp. After a thorough inspection, they were allowed entry. The familiar faces of their comrades greeted them, offering words of welcome.
While the others were sent to rest, Masaki and Danzō went to report their mission's progress to Tobirama. The operation hadn't gone as smoothly as they had hoped due to Sunagakure's swift response, but it was far from a failure. Key supply points and transfer stations in the Land of Wind had been destroyed, dealing a significant blow to the nation.
"On the battlefield, we could sense the Wind Country's growing fatigue. The risks of the mission were worth it," Tobirama said. "The four who sacrificed their lives are heroes. Be sure to submit their names and details to the village so that their families can be properly compensated."
Konoha had begun implementing a system to honor fallen ninjas and support their families. They were even considering building a cemetery to commemorate them—a precursor to the Memorial Stone that would exist in the future.
In addition to the mission report, they discussed Chiyo and Ebizō. Tobirama's expression grew serious when he heard their descriptions.
"That woman, Chiyo, is no ordinary ninja. The poison used by Sunagakure has caused us considerable trouble, and it seems she's the one behind it."
Though Chiyo was still young, her potential was already evident. Konoha had no effective countermeasures against Sunagakure's poison, so for now, all they could do was remain vigilant.
"We need to start research on poisons as soon as possible. Right now, Sunagakure hasn't fully exploited their potential with poisons. If they diversify their methods and we have no antidote, it will become a major problem," Fumori Masaki advised.
Tobirama nodded in agreement. "Yes, we should begin immediately."
The conversation shifted to Fumori Masaki's earlier proposal to help the Land of Rain. Tobirama agreed it was a mutually beneficial idea but expressed concerns.
"We don't have enough medical ninjas to spare. If we spread them too thin, it could weaken us."
"I understand, but it's a solid plan," Masaki replied. "As soon as the pressure from the war eases, Konoha should send medical ninja to help."
The discussion ended with Tobirama's approval. He knew that, for now, they had to focus on winning the war, but once they did, the Land of Rain would be an important ally in the future.
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