Before Kyuushin could even begin, Nawaki launched into a vivid and animated account of the entire battle.
Tsunade listened, her expression shifting between tense apprehension and profound relief. She tensed at the thought of just three of them daring to confront an enemy of unknown numbers. She relaxed when she heard how Kyuushin had detected the ambush in advance, preventing them from walking straight into a trap.
When Nawaki described how Inoichi Yamanaka used his clan's techniques to help them turn the tables on the ambushers, even Tsunade couldn't help but let out a small cheer of approval.
But the climax of the story was Kyuushin's earth-shattering ninjutsu. As he reached this part, Nawaki's storytelling became so passionate and detailed that even Kyuushin and Minato were surprised by his newfound eloquence.
After he finished, Tsunade stared at Kyuushin with an expression of pure awe. She scrutinized him from head to toe, letting out constant exclamations of wonder that made Kyuushin feel a bit embarrassed.
She clapped him firmly on the shoulder, her praise flowing freely. "Your grandmother and I have always thought highly of you, but your talent has exceeded even our wildest imagination. It feels like the legacy of my granduncles, the First and Second Hokage, might be rekindled through you."
"Teacher, you praise me too much," Kyuushin said modestly, genuinely flustered by her words. "I can only barely manage that ninjutsu; I'm far from proficient. There is still so much I need to learn." He quickly changed the subject, asking, "Have the enemies on the western front been eliminated as well?"
Tsunade nodded. "For the most part. There weren't many of them, less than a hundred. I was wondering why they would send so few if they were serious about attacking the camp. I didn't expect them to be just a decoy."
She began walking toward the main camp, speaking as she went. "I informed the front line that we were under attack. Orochimaru reported that they were also facing an assault. It seems this was a coordinated, premeditated operation." After saying this, she gritted her teeth. "That Hanzo… playing these dirty tricks before a formal declaration of war."
Kyuushin nodded in understanding. It wasn't entirely surprising. While Hanzo wanted to challenge the great nations, a direct, immediate conflict with Konoha was likely not his first choice. The Land of Fire's economic power was unmatched, but Hidden Stone's exploitation had forced the Land of Rain into a corner, leading to this conflict.
Hanzo had likely risen to power by sharing his grand ideals with his followers, who supported him because they believed in that vision. Now, things were complicated. He had already clashed with Konoha. Backing down would betray the very principles he championed, shaking the foundation of his rule and causing his subordinates to question him. Therefore, even if Konoha wasn't his preferred opponent, he had no choice but to push forward.
But pushing forward required a strategy. Hanzo himself knew that a head-on confrontation was a risky gamble. His primary concern had to be finding a way to weaken Konoha's strength, and destroying their logistical supply line was the most direct method.
In the original timeline, Kyuushin recalled, Konoha shinobi were forced to plunder supplies from cities in the Land of Rain. This made him wonder if Hanzo's plan had actually succeeded in that history. It was precisely that desperation that led to Konoha shinobi mistakenly killing Nagato's parents, setting the boy on a destitute path and kicking off a grand, tragic drama. And of course, it was hard to say if a certain ancient schemer had a hand in orchestrating it all. If the supplies hadn't been destroyed, why would Konoha's forces need to risk scavenging in a war zone? Why not just resupply at their camp?
These were all just Kyuushin's own conjectures, however. The original story only glossed over the Second Great Ninja War, leaving the details a mystery. But for now, thanks to his efforts, the Rain shinobi had failed to achieve their objective. Whether that chain of events would still occur was a concern for another time.
He brought his focus back to the present and said to Tsunade, "Judging by tonight's events, Hanzo is committed to this fight. We need to start thinking about our long-term strategy."
Tsunade stopped and turned to face him. "What are your thoughts?"
Facing his teacher's direct question, Kyuushin saw no point in feigning ignorance. "After this failure, Hanzo won't try something like this again. The Land of Rain's military strength is inferior to ours. If they divide their forces to attack our logistics again, their main front will be too weak. From now on, the focus will inevitably shift entirely to the main battlefield."
Nodding, Tsunade signaled her agreement, and Kyuushin continued. "Even on the main battlefield, our combat power is superior. The Rain shinobi are numerous, but their individual quality is inconsistent and no match for Konoha's elite. All other factors aside, Konoha should not lose this war. However, there is one critical point that, if the Rain shinobi can exploit it, could give them a chance to turn the tide."
"And what point is that?" Tsunade asked urgently.
"Hanzo's personal strength," Kyuushin stated plainly. "The average Rain shinobi may be weak, but Hanzo earned his reputation. His individual power is comparable to the Kage of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. On our side, our highest combat power is you, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. If, on the main battlefield, the three of you cannot contain Hanzo and he is allowed to rampage freely, the results would be fatal for our regular forces. It's even possible we could lose the war because of him alone."
"You little brat," Tsunade said, lightly tapping Kyuushin on the head. "You're underestimating the three of us. One-on-one, we might not be a match, but working together? Even the Old Man would have to be wary of us, let alone Hanzo."
Tsunade seemed incredibly confident, but Kyuushin, who knew what was to come, wasn't so optimistic. He considered, however, that the three of them were at least not in any life-threatening danger, and Konoha did ultimately win the war. He decided not to say anything more.
The four of them walked to Tsunade's command tent. Just as they lifted the curtain flap, the sharp beeping of the telegraph machine filled the air as it transmitted a new piece of intelligence.
Tsunade snatched the message strip, her eyes scanning it quickly. Her expression changed in an instant.
"Quick!" she ordered sharply. "Notify Zenbu and prepare for surgery, now!"
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