At the border connecting the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.
By now, the area had been completely reduced to ruins by the flames of war.
"Rasa-sama, Konoha has retreated five kilometers away, backed against a mountain within the Land of Fire's territory."
"Shall we continue the attack?"
A Sunagakure shinobi asked Commander Rasa for his opinion.
Rasa crossed his arms, gazing at the distant mountain, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes.
"Rasa, we're at an advantage when fighting on the plains. Once we enter the mountains, the power of the One-Tail will be greatly diminished."
"After all, trying to fill a whole mountain with sand, even for the One-Tail, isn't something that can be done quickly."
Before he could even decide, Chiyo gave a direct answer.
Indeed, Shukaku specialized in sand and wind, but in dense forests, both its sand and wind would be weakened.
That was why Sunagakure always chose battlefields on the plains to maximize Shukaku's destructive potential.
"I know. But right now, the One-Tail's state isn't very stable."
"Tell the guards to keep a closer watch. Report any sign of disturbance immediately."
"Hmph, we're lucky that the old monk can temporarily suppress Shukaku. Otherwise, our situation would be far worse."
Rasa's tone carried a trace of irritation when speaking of Shukaku, but there was nothing he could do.
With internal unrest plaguing Sunagakure, if the war couldn't be tipped in their favor soon, the future would truly be bleak.
Speaking of the old monk—the current Jinchūriki of the One-Tail—he used his unyielding will to control Shukaku.
Even Rasa had to admit, the old monk was an extraordinary man, able to suppress a tailed beast so effectively.
Still, precautions were necessary—there could be no relaxation, not even for a moment.
At that moment, behind the encampment, the One-Tail's Jinchūriki, Monk Bunpuku, sat in deep meditation while communicating with the Shukaku within him.
"Shukaku... you've worked hard these past days."
"Amitābha..."
The aged voice was filled with helplessness.
"Tch, old monk, give me a break. It's rare for me to move about freely, and I'm enjoying it."
"But can your body still handle it?"
Looking at the old monk before him, Shukaku's normally arrogant tone unexpectedly carried a hint of concern.
If the shinobi of Sunagakure saw this scene, they'd be utterly shocked.
A rampaging tailed beast had caused Sunagakure immense suffering. For years, only Monk Bunpuku had been able to suppress Shukaku.
But no one knew their relationship had reached such a level.
"Hehehehe..."
"Thank you for your concern, Shukaku. This old monk knows his limits."
"Rest assured, I'll bring you back to the village and keep teaching you about love."
At the word "love," Shukaku's face was instantly covered in dark lines.
"Get lost! Who wants to hear about your stupid 'love'?!"
"Hmph! Just call me when it's time to fight!"
Watching Shukaku turn his head away, Monk Bunpuku smiled faintly, put his hands together, and resumed chanting sutras.
...
A few days later, at the foot of Kikyo Pass.
"Tsk tsk, this mountain is lush indeed."
"Sensei, we're counting on you this time. With you here, I'm sure some measly One-Tail is no match for us."
Gekko Chizan followed behind Orochimaru, with the Three Brats trailing him, and behind them marched a unit of troops.
The scene made the Three Brats almost giddy with excitement.
"Hehehe, Chizan-kun, you must be joking."
"That's a tailed beast—it's not easy to deal with."
"Still, I know you watched the battle between the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails in the Land of Grass, and even fought the Eight-Tails."
"In my opinion, this mission is best left to you."
Kakashi carried two blades on his back: an ancestral short blade, and the Lightning Blades. If you looked closely, you'd notice him twitch from time to time—that was from the chakra-generated electric current. Even while running, he refused to be idle, constantly stimulating himself with lightning.
Uchiha Obito was much the same, though his look was more comical. By now, his short hair had been cut into a buzz cut...
When Gekko Chizan first saw that hairstyle, he was stunned for a moment. A bald-headed Obito—it was just too funny.
Uchiha were supposed to be proud and composed, yet here was this oddball, cutting his hair short to better train his body.
When they arrived at the forward base, they were taken aback by the sight before them.
Konoha's camp was in bad shape. There were many wounded, and even lightly injured shinobi were still holding their positions despite their injuries.
It was clear how brutal the Land of Rivers front had become.
"Since I left, the line has been pushed back again..."
"Tailed beast..."
A cold light flashed in Orochimaru's eyes, his entire presence radiating icy menace.
"Rin, go assist the medical unit. Kakashi, Obito, you two go as well."
Gekko Chizan also fell silent for a moment, but quickly sent his students to help.
Then, he followed Orochimaru to the center of the camp.
"Where's the officer in charge of this position?"
At Orochimaru's voice, the bustling crowd paused and turned toward him in unison.
"Orochimaru-sama, you're here."
"Jōnin Shirakumo is resting from his injuries..."
At this reply, Orochimaru nodded, but Gekko Chizan was mildly surprised.
Jōnin Shirakumo? Shirakumo from years ago?
"Don't be surprised—Jōnin Shirakumo is a battle maniac. Wherever the fighting is fiercest, that's where he goes."
"He was in the Land of Grass before, but due to a shortage of elite fighters, he was reassigned to the Land of Rivers."
"Even he's injured...?"
Orochimaru's expression darkened. The last time he had returned to the village injured, it had been entirely by choice—it wasn't that he had truly been wounded.
But this time, Shirakumo's injuries were real.
They stepped into the command tent.
"Hahaha, Orochimaru, Gekko Chizan, you're here."
"Come, sit and rest a while."
Half his body wrapped in bandages, Shirakumo grinned and beckoned them over.
"Huh? Isn't that Fugaku?"
"What are you doing here?"
The other figure in the tent made Gekko Chizan pause in surprise—it was none other than Uchiha Fugaku.
"Hmph, this is a battlefield—why shouldn't I be here?"
"But you, bastard—weren't you sent to the daimyo's mansion? What are you doing in the Land of Rivers?"
Old friends meeting again—it was a happy moment. Gekko Chizan laughed as he slapped Fugaku's shoulder.
Slap! Slap!
The sound was so loud that everyone in the tent looked over.
Anyone could tell those slaps were anything but gentle.
"Bastard! You did that on purpose!"
"Ahaha, you noticed, huh?"
Gekko Chizan dodged Fugaku's grasping hand, still grinning, but then his expression suddenly turned serious.
"I've come to back you up! Don't worry—if you happen to fall in battle..."
"I'll take good care of Mikoto for you!"
Uchiha Fugaku: ...Where's my Sharingan... Where's my sword...