Chapter 401: Those Soft and Sweet Words! The Caravan from the Bird Country! Part 3
"Hmm? Tetsuya-kun, have you been drinking?"
Under the moonlight, Uchiha Mikoto wrapped her arms around Fujiwara Tetsuya's shoulders… and frowned slightly.
"Yes! I had a little. I went to the Senju Clan Grounds today and met Senior Tsunade."
"Dan-senpai's passing truly cast a deep shadow over Senior Tsunade…"
"If she doesn't receive guidance from outsiders, it would likely take Senior Tsunade ten, or even twenty years, to recover."
"That serious?"
Hearing Fujiwara Tetsuya's account, Uchiha Mikoto's delicate hand paused… seemingly lost in thought.
"Tetsuya-kun, you said… if I and Ryoui, if I mean, if there ever comes a day when we die."
"Would you also be like Senior Tsunade?"
In a low voice, Uchiha Mikoto looked at Fujiwara Tetsuya with a mix of apprehension and an unspoken expectation.
"Foolish girl… whether it's you or Ryoui!"
"I won't let either of you go before me… If that day truly comes, I would even slaughter my way through the Pure Land World to drag you both back to the living world."
"Besides, there aren't no means in this world to revive the dead…"
Faced with Fujiwara Tetsuya's sweet words, Uchiha Mikoto was undoubtedly captivated once again. By the time the two woke up from the soft grass, it was already noon the next day!
…Land of Rivers, front-line camp.
When Fujiwara Tetsuya arrived with Uchiha Mikoto and Torune Ryoui, the war between Konoha and Sunagakure had already reignited.
In the narrow strip of land between the Konoha Camp and the border of the Land of Wind… countless elite Konoha and Sunagakure squads were engaged in continuous slaughter.
With scarlet, bloody blood… they stained mountain after mountain, river after river.
"Ninja Art: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
Fujiwara Tetsuya's sudden intervention instantly turned the tide of the local battlefield… In just a few minutes, more than ten Sunagakure squads crumbled one after another, fleeing in panic towards the distance.
"It's Lord Tetsuya… Lord Tetsuya has come to the Land of Rivers!"
"Lord Tetsuya~"
In a flash, dozens of figures had appeared around Fujiwara Tetsuya… After Tsunade's return to Konoha, both Sakumo Hatake and the ordinary Ninja below him had been under too much pressure.
With just a glance, Fujiwara Tetsuya perceived the exhaustion of everyone.
"Everyone, during this time… you've worked hard!"
"Now, leave it to me. Although it might be a bit tiring, at least… I can let you all get some good sleep."
…Compared to the high spirits at the Konoha Camp, Sunagakure, upon learning of Fujiwara Tetsuya's arrival at the front lines, immediately became tense.
"Why are you all panicking?"
"According to the intelligence, that brat only brought two female Jonin this time, with no other reinforcements."
"This alone shows that Konoha has reached its wit's end…"
"As long as we can deplete the Konoha Ninja under Sakumo Hatake's command, then… no matter how strong Sakumo Hatake and Fujiwara Tetsuya are? What good would it do?"
"Can just the two of them possibly defend the vast Land of Rivers defense line?"
"Everyone, the dawn is at hand. Any hesitation is an insult to our comrades who died in this war for the future of Sunagakure…"
The Third Kazekage's judgment was not wrong. From the current situation, Sunagakure indeed held the upper hand.
Konoha was, in fact, truly nearing its breaking point… Under the Third Kazekage's command, the Sunagakure side changed its past war strategy.
In subsequent battles, it was basically the powerful individuals led by the Third Kazekage, Chiyo, Ebizo, and Rasa who first tied down Fujiwara Tetsuya, Sakumo Hatake, and Akimichi Torifu, before large-scale or elite squad raids began… continuously depleting Konoha's effective forces!
…Northern Land of Rain.
As the winter snow melted, Ōnoki arrived with Roshi, Han, Kitsuchi… and over seven thousand elite Iwagakure Ninja, filled with resentment.
The smoke of war completely covered the entire northern region of the Land of Rain within just a few days.
And for the changing situation in the Land of Rain, Hiruzen Sarutobi also had no choice but to lead a portion of the Anbu and rush to the Land of Rain again.
Although they successfully halted Iwagakure's offensive after joining forces with Hanzō… Iwagakure's massive army still inflicted considerable casualties on Konoha and Amegakure.
"Still haven't found him?"
At the front-line camp, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the Anbu in front of him, his expression somewhat somber.
After arriving in the Land of Rain, he had dispatched all the Anbu under his command.
They had practically scoured every inch of the Land of Rain, yet still hadn't found Jiraiya's whereabouts.
This outcome was not good news, neither for Konoha's current situation nor for Jiraiya's future.
The former would cause Konoha to lose more ordinary Ninja lives, while the latter… would cause Jiraiya to lose his qualification to inherit the next Hokage position.
Even though he also possessed the title of a Sannin!
"Alright, I understand. You've worked hard."
"Take a good rest during this time. There will be more important missions for you later."
…Border between the Land of Birds and the Land of Wind.
A caravan of dozens of camels was heading towards Sunagakure.
With the war in such a stalemate, not only was there a shortage of troop replenishment but also various common Ninja supplies for Konoha, deep within the Land of Fire and supported by the Land of Fire's government, as well as for Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.
Kunai and explosive tags, which were common in some small countries, could fetch several times the usual profit if resold to Iwagakure, Sunagakure, or even Konoha.
Many Ninja villages, and even rogue Ninja, were willing to risk war, traveling thousands of miles or even further, to transport Ninja supplies to Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure.
"Keep up, everyone. Once we cross this desert, we'll be in Sunagakure."
"When we reach Sunagakure and deliver this batch of goods, I'll treat everyone to three days of fun in Sunagakure."
"Oh~ As expected of Lord Togamiike, how generous…"
Hearing the leader's promise, a plain-looking young man in the middle of the caravan's eyes flashed, and he couldn't help but wave his arms.
This young man was Fujiwara Tetsuya in disguise.
The reason he chose to infiltrate this caravan was to sneak into Sunagakure.
Taking advantage of the temporary slowdown in Sunagakure's offensive due to the shortage of Ninja supplies, he planned to stir up trouble in Sunagakure, forcing the Third Kazekage to recall a portion of his forces to Sunagakure, thereby reducing pressure on the front lines and creating an opportunity for Konoha's counterattack.
Perhaps to guard against a long-range surprise attack from Fujiwara Tetsuya, who possessed flight capabilities, during the period when the Third Kazekage was leading his troops in battle, the barriers around Sunagakure were fully activated. Fujiwara Tetsuya tried many times in secret, but each attempt was met with failure and he was forced to turn back.
This desperate measure was entirely forced upon him.
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