Chapter 367: Humanoid Ice Maker! Tsunade's Cheer Up! Second Update, Ask for Book Tickets!
By the time Ebizo returned from the temple with Bunpuku, it was already the next morning.
Seven full hours had passed since Fujiwara Tetsuya destroyed the Kazekage Building and left.
Standing at the edge of the ruins, looking at the shattered characters for "Kazekage," Ebizo's expression completely darkened.
"A bunch of good-for-nothings..."
The anger in his heart ultimately transformed into a single sentence: "Tetsuya-kun, you did a good job on this mission. According to the latest intelligence from our deep cover agent..."
"Ebizo, provoked by you, has led three thousand Sunagakure Ninja out of the Hidden Sand Village and is currently heading towards our location."
Po Suo Oasis.
Inside a cool building, Sakumo Hatake held the newly delivered intelligence, looking at Fujiwara Tetsuya, who had been 'lying dead' for two consecutive days after returning to Po Suo Oasis, with a face full of emotion.
"Deep cover agent?"
"Sakumo-senpai, are you saying... you have deep cover agents from the Village lurking in the Hidden Sand Village?"
Hearing Sakumo Hatake's words, Fujiwara Tetsuya jumped up instantly, his face showing great dissatisfaction.
"Cough~ I only just recently made contact."
"It's not that I was hiding it from you; this was all Hokage-sama's arrangement..."
"Besides, this matter doesn't conflict with sending you to scout the Hidden Sand Village."
"If you hadn't raided the Hidden Sand Village and destroyed the Kazekage Building, it would have taken who knows how much more effort to draw Ebizo out of the Hidden Sand Village..."
Sakumo Hatake could understand Fujiwara Tetsuya's reaction.
After all, in the Land of Wind, with its endless yellow sands and scorching weather... who would prefer going out on a mission over being cool in a bath with their little lover?
However, who could blame him... Fujiwara Tetsuya was, after Sakumo Hatake, the undisputed second strongest person at the front-line camp.
"Those who are capable should do more"... this excuse, no... this principle, still held enough credibility.
"Phew~ Forget it!"
"Since Ebizo is coming, then... this great battle isn't far off."
"Sakumo-senpai, when the time comes... I'll leave that guy Ebizo to you."
Waving his hand, Fujiwara Tetsuya intended to leave after giving his instructions... The hot weather made even speaking extremely arduous, let alone thinking about doing other things.
"Cough~ Tetsuya-kun, wait a moment."
"Last time... the ice you created with your Ice Release, everyone has used it all for cooling down. You see... when can you use Ice Release again to make some more ice?"
"Our lovely subordinates are all looking forward to it."
"..."
"Sakumo-senpai, I'm afraid that's not just their wish, but yours too, isn't it?"
Looking at Sakumo Hatake's awkward smile, Fujiwara Tetsuya was somewhat speechless.
Ever since entering the Land of Wind... after his use of Ice Release Ninjutsu to cool down Uchiha Mikoto was witnessed by other Ninja from the Village.
No matter where he was in the Po Suo Oasis, whenever he encountered a Konoha Ninja, they would all look at him with pleading eyes.
Gradually, he also took on a new role... the Human Ice Maker.
Although he had gained a lot of goodwill from Ninja in the Village, deep down, Fujiwara Tetsuya still resisted doing something that lowered his status.
If you do a specific thing for one person, that's called devotion.
But if you repeat that same thing for countless people countless times?
What is that called? Promiscuity? Universal love? Cringey? Or something else... "Alright, I understand..."
"Later tonight, I will release Ice Release Ninjutsu in the center of the oasis. If anyone needs it, just tell them to go get it themselves."
...Western Land of Rain, Konoha front-line camp.
Under Tsunade's treatment, Orochimaru finally regained consciousness from his coma.
However, the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release, as well as the poisons developed by Chiyo, had left irreversible damage on Orochimaru.
Even with Tsunade... a Medical Ninja considered to be at the pinnacle of the Ninja World, recovering to peak condition was not something that could happen overnight.
"Tsunade..."
At the Konoha Camp, Orochimaru looked at Tsunade, Kato Dan, Akimichi Torifu, Mitarashi Shisui, and others who had just returned from a fierce battle, his eyes seemingly filled with a heavy, angry fire.
This anger was not directed at Tsunade and the others, but at his own inability to fight... a silent self-mockery of this reality.
"Don't worry, Orochimaru, the Third Kazekage and Chiyo have temporarily retreated with the main Sunagakure forces."
"We can still hold on. What you need to do now is clear your mind. Only then... can you recover to your peak condition sooner and appear on the battlefield in your strongest form."
As companions who had grown up together, Tsunade understood Orochimaru's thoughts.
Wiping the blood from her body, she turned and stepped forward, sternly admonishing Orochimaru.
Ultimately, Orochimaru's severe injuries and the collapse of the situation in the Western Land of Rain were all due to her impulsiveness.
"I understand..."
"By the way, news just came from the Village: Sakumo-senpai and Tetsuya-kun, leading the Land of Rivers front-line forces, entered the Land of Wind ten days ago, successively capturing several oases, and are now pressuring Ebizo to engage in battle..."
"If Sakumo-senpai and Tetsuya-kun can severely damage the Sunagakure Ninja remaining in the Hidden Sand Village, then the Third Kazekage and his forces won't be far from withdrawing from the Land of Rain."
His advanced strategic vision allowed Orochimaru to immediately see Sakumo Hatake and Fujiwara Tetsuya's concerns and intentions.
At this stage of the war, in reality... whether it was Konoha, the Hidden Sand Village, the Hidden Rain Village, or Iwagakure.
They were all gradually losing the initiative, being pushed along by the rolling tide of the war.
"I understand Sakumo-senpai and that kid Tetsuya's intentions!"
"However, we cannot slack off because of this..."
"To force the Third Kazekage to withdraw from the Land of Rain as quickly as possible, we must also continuously pressure the Third Kazekage, making him recognize the reality, which is... attempting to open a path to invade the Land of Fire through us is an absolutely impossible thing."
Perhaps the incident with Senju Nawaki and the disbandment of the Senju Clan had caused too much pent-up anger in Tsunade's heart.
Or perhaps Tsunade had accepted reality, and now, the name of Senju was hers, and hers alone, to bear.
Under these complex mental states, Tsunade's actions became increasingly decisive and vigorous.
For a time, at least at the Western Land of Rain front-line camp.
Tsunade's prestige, instead of declining with the disbandment of the Senju Clan, actually soared, clearly surpassing Orochimaru's.
"Phew~ Tsunade!"
"Seeing you like this, I feel relieved."
"If that idiot Jiraiya knew, he would also be happy."
Looking at Tsunade's resolute face, Orochimaru chuckled lightly, seemingly much more relaxed.
"Then, I'll leave the rest to you, Tsunade... Vice Commander!"