"Ms. Minami, can your summoned beast join the battlefield? With your summoned beast's support, we could reduce many casualties."
After listening to Nara Shikaku's report, Jiraiya went to the medical unit to find Uzumaki Minami.
However, he waited a long time until Uzumaki Minami had a chance to rest, which was almost midday the next day; the injured ninja last night were too many, the medical unit was busy until the following day before all the wounded were attended to.
As for those who died on the spot, they were beyond the medical unit's capabilities.
Uzumaki Minami treated the most injured last night. Her Chakra amount and unique Chakra and the highest level of medical skill allowed her to take on at least one-third of the treatments.
After assigning the staff on duty, Uzumaki Minami was preparing to return to rest.
However, just as she came out, she ran into Jiraiya.
After listening to Jiraiya's request, Uzumaki Minami immediately shook her head and said, "Lord Jiraiya, Gates is not my summoned beast. It is Lord Yoichi's summoned beast, only Lord Yoichi can command it; in fact, if the Hidden Sand Ninja hadn't tried to hurt me last night, Gates wouldn't have bothered to move...."
Jiraiya asked reluctantly, "Can't you persuade it?"
"Gates doesn't listen to me; only Lord Yoichi can communicate with it."
Uzumaki Minami still shook her head and said; she could actually send a message to Uchiha Yoichi to relay a message to Gates, but it's unnecessary.
She's already done enough as a medical ninja, excelling in treating the injured and preventing the opponent's poison. She will be promoted when she returns, so there's no need to trouble Lord Yoichi for Jiraiya's request.
"Maybe Lord Jiraiya, you should ask Lord Yoichi instead."
"Well, I'll give it a try."
Seeing Uzumaki Minami wouldn't budge, Jiraiya left with a wry smile. Although he said he'd try, he had no intention of seeking help from Uchiha Yoichi.
As part of the Sannin, asking a younger member in the village for help seemed unbecoming—suggesting he couldn't control the situation on the front lines.
After Jiraiya left, he accepted Nara Shikaku's suggestion to request reinforcements from the village.
According to their intelligence, the Hidden Sand Ninja had at least two thousand ninja in the Land of Rivers, while Konoha had only three hundred in Kikyo Castle. If the Hidden Sand Ninja launched another two assaults, they would suffer heavy casualties and have to abandon Kikyo Castle.
The message quickly reached Konoha Village, but the village's situation wasn't looking good either.
The Third Generation Raikage's retaliation came swiftly; although Konoha was ready, the oppressive force of the Hidden Cloud Ninja was still felt within the village.
Three thousand Hidden Cloud Ninja meant that Konoha needed to prepare at least four ninja corps, with two thousand Konoha ninja to face the Hidden Cloud Village.
Fortunately, the Third Generation Raikage lost an arm, greatly weakening his strength.
In the Hokage Office, smoke lingered, bad news followed one after another, nearly catching Sarutobi Hiruzen off guard. Now, he pondered over his smoking pipe on how to respond next.
This time was different from the Second Ninja World War. At that time, they initiated war to establish prestige and avoid being underestimated by other Ninja Villages after the Second Generation Hokage's death.
The effects were as Sarutobi Hiruzen planned, striking the Land of Rain's momentum heavily, nearly shattering Hanzo's dream of establishing the sixth Great Ninja Village and gaining the upper hand in the war against the Hidden Rock and Hidden Sand Ninja.
However, they did not engage the Hidden Cloud Ninja; although the Second Generation Hokage died at the hands of the Golden Horn and Silver Horn, the Second Generation Raikage also died due to those Hidden Cloud traitorous ninjas, leaving Konoha without a reason for revenge.
Bam!
The Hokage Office's door was pushed open. Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up and found it was Danzo again, pushing the door violently. But at this moment, he didn't bother about Danzo's rudeness and asked after setting down his smoking pipe.
"Danzo, any news?"
"Quite a bit, the Hidden Rock Ninja placed at least three hundred men at the Land of Grass border, but they don't seem to have any intention of invading; however, it can't be assured... Besides the Land of Grass, many Hidden Rock Ninja were also found in the Land of Waterfall."
Danzo spoke about the intelligence while placing the intelligence scroll on Sarutobi Hiruzen's desk.
East of the Land of Waterfall was the Land of Iron, and the Land of Iron was interesting; they carved out an area within their territory for ninja passage. The area was a bit barren, yet sufficient for the Hidden Rock Ninja or Hidden Cloud Ninja to use as a gateway.
"Does the Hidden Waterfall Village have no dignity as a Ninja Village? At least they have the Seven-tailed Jinchuriki...."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a frown while carefully examining the intelligence on the scroll. The Root's investigations were indeed better than the Anbu's.
The Root was notorious for using any means necessary; they would resort to any method to complete a mission. Sarutobi Hiruzen knew about the Root's training and mission completion methods, and if he were managing the Root, he might not achieve what Danzo did.
However, the village needed this dark side; obtaining detailed intelligence on the Hidden Rock Ninja's numbers and distribution is one reason Sarutobi Hiruzen tolerated Danzo and reinstated him.
"The Hidden Waterfall Village has grand ambitions. They lack a leader like Hanzo but have Hanzo's dreams. Seeking benefits, it's natural for them to follow a major nation."
Danzo sarcastically commented on the Hidden Waterfall Village before continuing, "The Hidden Rock Ninja, while guarding against us, are also wary of the Hidden Cloud Village. However, given the relationship between the Hidden Rock and Hidden Cloud Ninja, they probably harbor more hatred for the Hidden Cloud Ninja. Hiruzen, what do you plan to do..."