Even those with the highest tolerance for alcohol find themselves easily intoxicated when they are feeling down or suppressed. In such moments, a single bottle is enough to make the entire world spin. At that point, all talk of tolerance and capacity goes right out the window.
"Did I make a mistake?"
Looking at the swaying Tsunade, Ronglin couldn't help but feel a bit wry. He hid the bottle in a tree hollow and leaped down with her over his shoulder, intent on getting her some rest.
"My Lord... urp..."
Fortunately, there weren't many people near Tsunade's tent, only the two kunoichi responsible for her care. Their eyes widened when they saw Ronglin arrive with the unconscious commander. Tsunade was completely out of it, reeking of a very strong, pungent liquor. It was obvious they had been drinking.
During a war, drinking in camp was not something an ordinary person would dare to do. Only the old veterans who knew the ropes would sneak a drink, knowing no one was watching them, so they wouldn't be caught. But Tsunade was currently dead drunk.
"Shh!!"
Ronglin signaled for them to be quiet. Pointing at Tsunade, he whispered, "She's been under too much pressure lately and got drunk after just a little bit. Let her rest first."
"Oh! Oh, right. Of course."
The two kunoichi nodded dumbly and hurried to pull back the tent flap. Ronglin carried Tsunade inside and laid her down. He didn't need to handle the rest; the two women would see to it. If he did it himself, Tsunade would likely come for his head the moment she sobered up. Although Ronglin truly wanted to help, he didn't want her chasing him all over camp, so he decided against it.
There was plenty of time ahead; there was no need to rush. The rewards would come in due time.
The frequency of covert ambushes began to dwindle as Kirigakure shifted their combat tactics, and an eerie period of silence followed.
"Reporting! Lady Tsunade, a large number of enemies have been spotted up ahead!"
The brief silence was finally shattered. Konoha couldn't endure a prolonged stalemate, and neither could Kirigakure. After the lull, and under constant criticism from his allies, the Third Mizukage finally made his choice: a direct confrontation!
"Those bastards finally decided to show their faces! Everyone, prepare for battle!!"
Konoha had waited far too long for this day. With a wave of her hand, Tsunade announced the counterattack. After being held back for so long, every Konoha shinobi was fuming. They had been waiting for the enemy to face them in open combat. Now that the moment had arrived, they were in a constant state of readiness, just waiting for Tsunade's order.
As the command came down, thousands of Konoha ninjas charged like a pack of howling wolves, their killing intent surging.
The battle erupted instantly, with thousands on both sides clashing. The scene was grand, but the battlefield was vast. They weren't all crammed into one chaotic brawl. If one looked closely from above,
they would see that only about a thousand people were directly engaged a few hundred on each side. Both parties were still showing some restraint. However, with a thousand people moving at once across such a spread-out area, it created the illusion of a massive melee involving thousands.
In truth, the numbers actually engaged were not that high.
Amidst the chaos, Ronglin left the camp unnoticed, moving rapidly toward the Kirigakure rear.
"The smarter a person is, the more insidious they become."
On the way, Ronglin thought back to the plan discussed by himself, Tsunade, and Shikaku Nara. He truly admired Shikaku. The more intelligent a man was, the more cunning he became. Ronglin thought he was decent enough, merely wanting to lure the enemies together to ambush them, but Shikaku's plan was even more poisonous!
Drawing out a massive enemy force was difficult. Since they had the strength, why not do something even more advantageous for Konoha? Thus, as the battle erupted at the front, Ronglin slipped away to execute this dangerous and thrilling mission. If he succeeded, it would deal a crippling blow to Kirigakure.
Ronglin moved with incredible speed and soon reached the shore. At the moment, the beach was deserted. Ordinarily, there would be many fishermen out in the nearby waters, but during wartime, everyone had gone into hiding to avoid being swept up in the conflict.
"Summoning Jutsu!!"
"Black Scale!! It's up to you now. Can you find the location?"
He summoned Black Scale and leaped onto the serpent's head to ask.
"I will not disappoint you, My Lord," Black Scale replied in a booming, resonant voice.
"Very good."
Ronglin was satisfied with the answer. This would save him a lot of trouble. The dense mist would normally make it impossible for people to find their way, but Black Scale was different. Animals usually had their own unique methods for determining direction. Even the thickest fog couldn't thwart them.
Ronglin's objective was simple: while the main Kirigakure army was deployed and their rear was empty, he would use Black Scale to bypass them through the sea. He intended to strike the enemy where it hurt. If their rear camp was destroyed, what right would Kirigakure have to continue a war of attrition against Konoha?
Achieving this was no easy feat. The coastal areas were heavily guarded by Kirigakure, making it difficult to sneak in. The easiest route was through the open sea.
However, a problem remained: Konoha ninjas were mostly landlubbers. Such a move was not only dangerous but prone to getting lost. Even with a ship, finding the correct coordinates was nearly impossible. Kirigakure could fill the coastal forests with mist, and the same applied to the sea. Without a specialized method, one simply couldn't find their nest.
Fortunately, the mist was useless against Black Scale. Standing atop the giant serpent's head, Ronglin narrowed his eyes with a mischievous smirk. "I'm looking forward to seeing the looks of shock on your faces."
"Black Scale, let's go. Into the sea. We're circling around to their rear."
Snakes were natural-born swimmers. By using Black Scale, Ronglin didn't have to worry about losing his way or getting into trouble at sea.
"Yes, My Lord!!"
Knowing that Ronglin was about to do something big, Black Scale charged into the ocean with excitement. Despite its massive size, its swimming speed was incredible, and there was no need to worry about it tiring out over the long distance.
Ronglin was a warmonger, and Black Scale was much the same. At the thought of the intense battle ahead, the serpent felt like letting out a roar of anticipation.
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