"Very well." Kakashi sheathed his borrowed sword and wiped the sweat from his brow.
The spar had been intense but controlled. Their stamina was still abundant, and their chakra networks were primed. Going out on patrol posed no problem.
The squad moved out, navigating the massive, shattered topography of the Old Site of the Land of Whirlpools.
The ruins covered a massive island. Relying solely on fixed sentry posts was impossible; there were simply too many blind spots for a Mist infiltration team to exploit. Even a squad of Hyūga couldn't monitor an entire dead country simultaneously.
Kiyohara looked at a half-buried stone carving of the spiral crest.
'Was Konoha too late to support the Land of Whirlpools back then... or did they choose not to?' he wondered, stroking his chin.
The lore of this world was written by the victors. The Uzumaki Clan had been Konoha's closest ally. Konoha ninja still wore the spiral crest on their flak jackets as a "symbol of friendship." Yet, when the Uzumaki were massacred by a coalition of hidden villages, Konoha's reinforcements were suspiciously absent.
The only refugee Konoha took in was Kushina Uzumaki (the Nine-Tails vessel), along with the clan's complete Sealing Jutsu archives. Others, like Nagato's family, were left to starve in the war-torn Land of Rain.
'Politics is a dirty game,' Kiyohara mused cynically.
"What are you thinking about?" Kurenai asked, noticing his distraction.
"Nothing," Kiyohara shook his head. "Just looking at the blind spots."
"Pakkun, Bull, Uhei... I'm counting on you."
Kakashi bit his thumb, weaving hand seals before slamming his palm onto a flat stone.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Poof!
A cloud of white smoke cleared to reveal eight Ninken (Ninja Dogs) of various breeds, all wearing tiny blue vests.
Leading them was a small pug with a permanent scowl.
"Kakashi," Pakkun yawned lazily. "What's the mission this time? This ruin smells like ancient mold and salt."
"Patrol," Kakashi ordered. "Search for suspicious scents, focusing on the eastern coastline."
As the dogs scattered, sniffing the rubble, Kiyohara's heart stirred.
Summons were massive force multipliers. The Sannin were defined by their legendary summons. Even Kakashi gained immense utility from his tracking dogs.
'Should I look for a Summoning Contract?' Kiyohara thought.
"A Summoned Beast?" The phantom of the Radical Spirit floated out of Kiyohara's chest, arms crossed as he watched the dogs.
"In my timeline, I didn't bother with mutts. I contracted a Giant Pangolin from the deep desert mountains. Its metallic scales acted as a radar dish, exponentially amplifying my magnetic control range and sensory field. A perfect synergy."
'A living magnetic amplifier?' Kiyohara was impressed. That was exactly the kind of tactical synergy that won battles. It reminded him of the Second Mizukage's Giant Clam.
"Is that so?" Kiyohara replied mentally. "I was thinking something that could fly. Air superiority is an absolute advantage."
"Magnet Release can grant levitation," the Radical waved a dismissive hand. "You just stand on a platform of dense iron sand. I killed plenty of unsuspecting fools by dropping on them from the clouds. But it drains chakra quickly."
'Flight...' Kiyohara's eyes gleamed.
Flight was incredibly rare in the Ninja World. To get it, he needed to master the Magnet Release. And to do that, he needed to fulfill the dying wishes.
'I need to find a Suna ANBU to kill.'
The squad advanced in a fan formation toward the desolate coastline.
Kakashi looked back at Rin and Kiyohara.
"I heard a rumor from the command tent," Kakashi said quietly. "Lady Tsunade might be coming to the rear logistics base."
"Lady Tsunade?!" Kurenai gasped. "One of the Sannin? But hasn't she... retired from the front lines?"
The fact that Tsunade suffered from crippling hemophobia (fear of blood) was a Class-S secret. The rank-and-file only knew that she had stepped away from active combat years ago.
Rin's eyes widened with pure adoration. For a Medical Ninja, Tsunade was a living god.
Kiyohara stroked his chin.
'Tsunade is coming? Why here?'
Then he remembered the history. During the Second Great Ninja War, Tsunade's lover, Dan Kato, died from massive blood loss. That likely happened on a coastal front similar to this one.
'Konoha is bleeding manpower,' Kiyohara analyzed. 'They are desperate enough to recall a traumatized Sannin to manage the medical logistics from the rear.'
"It's just a rumor for now," Kakashi clarified.
"Understood," Kiyohara nodded. He knew Kakashi was giving them a heads-up. If Tsunade arrived, Rin could potentially receive legendary guidance.
And Kiyohara? He wanted to learn Medical Ninjutsu too.
Unlike other elite ninja, Tsunade had a glaring, exploitable weakness.
She was a terrible gambler.
'I just need to bring enough cash to the table,' Kiyohara smirked internally. 'I can buy my way into a tutelage.'
Meanwhile.
Miles away, at a hidden Sunagakure Outpost.
Rasa, the Gold Dust wielder and acting leader of Suna's forces, stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
A woman walked into the tent. She wore a sleeveless, backless combat uniform, revealing flawless, sun-kissed skin.
"Pakura. I have a mission for you," Rasa said, turning around.
"What mission?" Pakura asked, her tone professional.
"The Land of Whirlpools," Rasa pointed to a map. "Konoha and the Hidden Mist are preparing for a bloodbath on that island. We cannot let either side win decisively."
Rasa's eyes were cold and calculating.
"Infiltrate the ruins. When one side gains the upper hand, secretly sabotage them. Provide the losing side with an advantage. Bleed them both. Ensure the battle remains a deadlocked meat grinder."
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