In truth, a quick glance at Kakashi's expression would have told the trio that the front lines weren't exactly a playground.
Thanks to Guy's impatience, they reached the front lines by afternoon.
Outside Tsunade's camp, Raj took a deep breath, pondered for a long moment, and finally stepped slowly into the tent.
The moment it crossed the curtain, it was hit by the overwhelming stench of alcohol.
'What's going on here? This is outrageous!'
Raj froze, then began to consider whether it should retreat and return later.
Clearly, now wasn't the right time.
"Raj? Come on in! Have a drink with us!" Tsunade bellowed.
Every team arriving at the camp had to report to the Leader and receive their assignments from a Jonin.
So Raj steeled its nerves and approached the table, where it saw only a single bottle.
"Heh heh heh... You're back from the village? Drink up! Let's celebrate this fine day!"
"Meow~"
'Are you this ecstatic because Danzo's dead?'
"Hmph, that old geezer! Always meddling in things he didn't understand. I've hated him for ages. But now that he's gone, let's drink to him one last time, then never speak his name again!" Tsunade declared, pouring herself another cup and offering one to Raj.
Raj naturally declined.
Matatabi couldn't taste the deliciousness of sake, and drinking it would only harm his body...
After Tsunade had enjoyed her drink for a while, he handed her his travel permit and appointment order.
She hadn't drunk much, so she glanced at the documents.
But she quickly set them aside.
These were just formalities.
Given Raj's current strength, he could easily lead a team independently without any issues, let alone when the village's orders were for two teams to operate together.
And it wasn't just Raj's team.
Starting today, all border patrol teams would be required to patrol in mixed formations of at least two.
teams, ensuring they had sufficient resistance capabilities in case of enemy encounters.
"Meow~ If there's nothing else, I'll go check on Rin."
"Go ahead," Tsunade nodded lightly.
She wasn't aware that Rin was training Sage Mode with Raj, but she had noticed subtle changes in Rin's condition.
Sage Mode and similar techniques were considered the core inheritance of the sacred lands, so even as Rin's teacher, Tsunade felt it inappropriate to pry further.
When Raj found Rin, she had already digested the quarter portion of natural energy he had given her earlier.
Her body had absorbed a small amount of natural energy, and her physique seemed to have undergone a slight transformation.
This was enough to prove the method's effectiveness.
So Raj gave her another quarter portion.
Rin was still young, so it was best to give her smaller doses at a time.
On the border of the Land of Lightning, the Third Raikage arrived at the coast, accompanied by his guards.
Shortly after his arrival, a thick fog rolled in from the sea.
A figure emerged from the mist, appearing to be a member of the Hozuki Clan.
"Lord Raikage, I bring you the Mizukage's alliance treaty. We hope to establish cooperation with your village."
"Cooperation is fine, but I stand by my word: we'll strike only after Onoki makes his move. If we act now, both Onoki and that newly appointed brat from Sunagakure will be sending us tribute to thank me."
The Third Raikage accepted the alliance treaty.
But just then...
"Hmm?"
The Third Raikage tilted his head, glancing at the nearby coastline.
A faint disturbance reached his ears.
In an instant, he vanished from his spot.
A second later, a bolt of lightning flashed, followed by several distant screams.
A second later, the Third Raikage reappeared.
"Konoha has expanded their reconnaissance range. Plans have changed. We'll strike together ahead of schedule."
"Understood."
Boom!
Raj had barely fallen asleep when a faint explosion jolted him awake.
He darted out of his tent to see flames erupting into the sky in the distance.
That fire... It looked so familiar.
Why did it resemble fireworks so much?
Fireworks?
"Meow!"
He immediately let out a loud cry, but no reminder was needed.
Patrol guards had already spotted the commotion and were shouting alerts.
Tsunade rushed out and, upon seeing the fireworks, immediately barked orders: "Minato, Raj's team, reinforce the northern sector immediately! The remaining reconnaissance teams, move out!
Medical Ninja, bring your full kits - hurry!"
Amidst the rustling and scrambling, the entire camp sprang into action.
Fireworks.
This was Tsunade's desperate measure.
The eastern front was too vast for conventional ninja communication methods to provide rapid alerts.
After relaying the orders, she immediately began assembling the Intelligence Division.
The eastern intelligence unit still consisted of Danzo Root's former personnel.
Though rigid in their methods, they were remarkably swift and efficient, quickly gathering their forces.
"Raj!" Minato called out as he arrived.
"Meow! I'll go ahead. Bring the others!"
With a feline cry, Raj darted forward, vanishing into the jungle within moments.
Minato paused for less than a second before rallying Guy, Kakashi, and the others.
In the blink of an eye, two squads of seven ninjas were departing from the camp.
Initially, Ebisu believed he wouldn't be a hindrance, but...
Halfway through the run, he realized his taijutsu skills were woefully inadequate.
"Take a Soldier Pill. It's crucial to replenish your stamina during wartime," Rin tossed him a bottle of her specially made Soldier Pills.
While their effects were similar to the standard version, they tasted better and didn't leave him feeling as bloated.
"Thank you," Ebisu replied.
While they were still running, Raj had already reached the battle site.
Even before arriving, he could hear the intense sounds of combat - lightning, flames, and the explosions of Exploding Tags filled the air.
Raj swiftly traversed the jungle, arriving at the battlefield.
He spotted a familiar figure - the Fourth Raikage, A, whom he had briefly encountered earlier but never truly clashed with.
Looking closer...
"Tetsuo?"
Tetsuo Uchiha was being pursued by A and another Kumogakure ninja.
His Body Flicker Technique looked familiar; using it in conjunction with Clone Techniques, he barely managed to evade his pursuers and stay alive.
Yet, as Raj surveyed the scene, Tetsuo was the only survivor.
Seven or eight corpses lay scattered across the rocks, some intact, others mangled, all drenched in blood.
The Kumo Ninja, having eliminated the rest, were gradually closing in, encircling Tetsuo.
With A and Killer Bee's speed, Tetsuo had no chance of escape.
'Damn it, I'm completely out of Chakra...'
Tetsuo Uchiha desperately tried to move faster, to summon more Chakra, but it was impossible.
He had already reached his limit.
Just as he was about to despair, a black shadow suddenly darted overhead.
In an instant, a massive tail swelled in the wind, growing as thick as a man's arm.
Its fur bristled like steel needles, each strand standing on end.
With a horizontal sweep, the tail struck.