Chapter 330: The Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi juniors suffered heavy losses! Abducted!
What was happening within the Aburame Clan was, strictly speaking, just a microcosm of many Shinobi Clans.
At the same time, the high-ranking members of the Yuhi Clan also summoned the Yuhi Clan's designated successor, Shinku Yuhi.
They instructed Shinku Yuhi to strengthen her relationship with Yuhi Shinwa and sent people to look after Yuhi (Sato) Mako and her son while Yuhi Shinwa was away fighting.
In the Land of Rain, at the Konoha Camp.
Thick smoke billowed around the camp, and traces of various Ninjutsu's destruction remained everywhere.
After the news of Kurama and Iori's deaths spread, the opposing Sunagakure main force, like madmen, continuously launched sneak attacks, sudden assaults, and full-scale attacks on the Konoha Camp.
This state had almost become commonplace.
"Lord Orochimaru..."
After repelling the attacking Sunagakure Ninja, the various commanders and squad leaders gathered around.
Their voices were low, and their expressions, like those of Orochimaru and Tsunade, were extremely heavy.
Clearly, Sunagakure's disregard for casualties in their assaults had put immense pressure on everyone.
"Issue an order to send six fully organized squads to build a new camp by the lake thirty li east of the current camp..."
"That madwoman Chiyo is currently enraged... Now is not the time to clash head-on with Hidden Sand Village."
"Once the new camp is built... Tsunade, you will personally lead a team to prioritize the transfer of the wounded."
If they were in the Land of Fire, even facing a more severe situation, Orochimaru would have held on until the end.
But right now... this was the Land of Rain.
Gaining a bit of land, losing a bit of land... these were not important issues in Orochimaru's eyes.
As long as enough fighting power was preserved, Konoha would have the ability to contain, and even counteract, Hidden Sand Village.
Although Konoha had lost a lot of fighting power in successive wars, right now... compared to Konoha, which was backed by the Land of Fire, Hidden Sand Village, whose financial support had been repeatedly cut by the Daimyo of the Land of Wind... faced no less pressure.
"I understand... Don't worry about the wounded. I will ensure they recover their fighting strength as quickly as possible and rejoin the battle against Hidden Sand Village."
..."Then... Lord Orochimaru, Lady Tsunade!"
Just as Orochimaru and Tsunade had finalized their next deployment... two Ninja squad leaders gritted their teeth and stepped forward, looking uneasy.
"Is there something you wish to say, Captain Takayoko and Captain Ikeno?"
Looking at the anxious Kana Takayoko and Shiranui Ikeno, Orochimaru's brows furrowed, and his magnetic voice followed.
"Gulp ~"
"Lord Orochimaru... during the recent raid, several elite Sunagakure squads attacked our defensive area..."
"The squads I and Captain Ikeno commanded suffered heavy losses..."
Although Kana Takayoko was trying hard to control his emotions, facing Orochimaru, Tsunade, and the gazes of the other Konoha powerhouses, his teeth still chattered uncontrollably.
"Captain Takayoko... what do you want to say?"
"And Captain Ikeno..."
"How are those children from the Fujiwara, Tanaka, Uesugi Three Clans now?"
The moment Orochimaru spoke, everyone present felt a surge of... no, two surges of extremely oppressive aura.
One came from Orochimaru, and the other... came from Tsunade.
"Genin Tanaka Miyako is dead!"
"Genin Uesugi Kazuharu is dead!"
"Genin Fujiwara Ako is dead!"
"Genin Tanaka Haruwa is dead!"
"Genin Uesugi Sasuzu is dead!"
"Genin... Uesugi Yoshimi is seriously injured and unconscious!"
..."Genin Fujiwara Aiko, Tanaka Miyako, Fujiwara Tomomi, Uesugi Mako... and several other children from Shinobi Clans have been abducted..."
"Kana Takayoko and Shiranui Ikeno... you two fools, look at the mess you've made..."
Under Orochimaru's gloomy gaze, Tsunade punched Kana Takayoko in the abdomen, sending him flying dozens of meters.
To protect the children of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, Uesugi Three Clans... to prevent them from perishing too early.
She and Orochimaru had deliberately reassigned the Ninja squads led by Kana Takayoko and Shiranui Ikeno to the farthest area from the infirmary and supply reserves, areas least likely to attract enemy fire.
But now... of the seventeen children from the Fujiwara, Tanaka, Uesugi Three Clans, five died in this surprise attack, four were abducted, and the rest were all injured.
Even Tsunade herself didn't know... what kind of face she should put on when facing Fujiwara Tetsuya.
"Lord Orochimaru, Lady Tsunade... this incident is our dereliction of duty, and we are willing to accept any punishment."
Facing Shiranui Ikeno's panic, Tsunade didn't hesitate at all... and likewise gave Shiranui Ikeno a punch.
"Orochimaru, we must rescue Fujiwara Aiko, Tanaka Miyako, Fujiwara Tomomi, Uesugi Mako... those children must be brought back!"
"Tsunade ~ I know this... without you telling me."
"However, the number of Ninja in the Sunagakure Camp is far greater than ours... it's not as simple as it sounds to raid the Sunagakure Camp and bring those children out."
"Therefore... those participating in this rescue mission must be the elite of the elite."
"Issue an order to gather all Jonin and Elite Jonin level powerhouses in the camp..."
"I will select personnel from them to form an elite assault squad!"
As his pupils constricted, Orochimaru's expression gradually returned to calm... clearly, he had already made plans in his mind.
"Cough ~ Lord Orochimaru, Lady Tsunade."
"I understand your feelings, but... I think we should prioritize the bigger picture."
"For the Village, what is more urgent right now is to win this war, not to put the camp and Konoha's Jonin and Elite Jonin in danger for the sake of a few children, thereby affecting the outcome of this war..."
"Therefore, my Uchiha Clan objects... and refuses to participate in this operation."
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Uchiha Fugaku led dozens of Uchiha Clan Ninja and slowly walked towards Orochimaru and Tsunade, clearly stating his position.
However... although Uchiha Fugaku's reason sounded like it was for the greater good and was reasonable.
Both Orochimaru, Tsunade... and other Shinobi Clan powerhouses were well aware... that the reason Uchiha Fugaku was so eager to jump out and represent the Uchiha Clan was more because of Uchiha Mikoto!
"Cough ~ Lord Orochimaru"
"Although it may seem heartless, the points that Elite Jonin Uchiha Fugaku just mentioned are indeed for the greater good."
"My Kurama Clan also opposes such an irrational act by you and Lady Tsunade, and refuses to participate in this operation."
Unlike the conflict between Uchiha Fugaku and the Uchiha Clan and Fujiwara Tetsuya.
The Elite Jonin of the Kurama Clan made this choice simply out of pure displeasure.
Displeasure that Fujiwara Tetsuya had climbed to a new peak by stepping on Kurama Yobu's body.
Making the entire Kurama Clan almost relegated to a supporting role.