The air gradually filled with a sense of tension.
Team after team of Konoha Ninja left the village, and the two main battle teams led by Tsunade and Jiraiya each set off in different directions, heading towards areas where the Akatsuki were active.
Along the march of Uehara Naraku and Tsunade's team, perception ninjas, reconnaissance ninjas, and messenger pigeons frequently brought news, reporting the positions of various teams.
Tsunade listened casually.
Uehara Naraku casually leaked information to Yakushi Kabuto, Hoshigaki Kisame, and several Reanimated Hokage, instructing them to keep moving their positions.
"Jiraiya's team is heading northwest, estimated to soon reach their ambush position. Before that, the Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage must intercept them immediately. Kabuto, you're responsible for monitoring their battle!"
"Understood!"
"Tsunade and my team are heading northeast, expected to soon reach our ambush location. The Second Hokage must intercept us immediately. Kabuto, do you have any suitable personnel on your side? I'm afraid I'll go too hard…"
"Understood."
Yakushi Kabuto hurriedly summoned a coffin, speaking softly, "The Second Hokage and Second Mizukage, two ninjas skilled in Water Release. If Master Naraku could restrain his power a bit, they should be able to tangle with Lady Tsunade's team for a while."
"Well done."
Uehara Naraku couldn't help but admire Yakushi Kabuto's ingenuity. The combination of the Second Hokage and the Second Mizukage, both highly skilled in Water Release, could certainly give Tsunade, Terumi Mei, and Gaara a good fight!
After dealing with the two main battle teams, Uehara Naraku immediately began passing on information about other teams to Hoshigaki Kisame and Uchiha Itachi: "Might Guy and Kakashi's two squads haven't split up and are heading in your direction."
"Got it."
Hoshigaki Kisame grinned, nodding gently with a chuckle.
Uehara Naraku felt a bit uneasy, speaking in a low voice, "I remember Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand's Form Transformation Puppet are nearby. Have them draw the attention of other Konoha Ninja; Kisame, you, Uchiha Itachi, Haku, Kimimaro, and Sasuke prepare to confront Kakashi and Might Guy!"
Uehara Naraku was indeed very busy.
The situations on several battlefields required his attention.
The feeling of playing chess against oneself was really unpleasant.
Fortunately, the only interesting part was controlling the battlefield situation, being able to add a piece at any time, or remove one.
Moreover, scaring Tsunade was quite amusing.
For instance, when Konoha's perception ninjas detected the presence of Sasori of the Red Sand and Deidara, they immediately reported urgently to Tsunade that two Akatsuki members were present outside the containment scope. Should this encirclement battle continue?
"Of course it should!"
Tsunade bit her lip, saying coldly, "My team and Jiraiya's combat teams can be split into four at any time. It doesn't matter if there are two more!"
"Yes, Lady Hokage!"
The perception ninja hurried away.
Tsunade glanced at her team members, noticing that Terumi Mei and Gaara looked a bit anxious, while Uehara Naraku seemed more anxious than they were.
Was this kid afraid?
Just as Tsunade turned her head, a kunai suddenly shot towards her from the dense woods, startling everyone!
Uehara Naraku shouted a warning, "Watch out!"
"No need to make such a fuss…"
Tsunade lightly tilted her head, avoiding the incoming kunai. Just as she was about to say something else, she caught a familiar family crest on the kunai from the corner of her eye.
This is the mark of the Senju family!
This kunai belonged to a Senju ninja!
The next second, Tsunade suddenly remembered that not many ninja liked to leave their mark on a kunai because it was too easy to lose.
Aside from the Second Hokage and Fourth Hokage, who used the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, no one else seemed to have the habit of marking kunai, not even Senju Hashirama!
Whoosh!
A ninja clad in leather armor appeared out of thin air, grabbed the marked kunai, and swung it fiercely towards Tsunade's neck! The attack was so sudden, the others couldn't even imagine it!
Tsunade raised her arm to block the kunai, her eyes staring blankly at the suddenly appearing ninja, murmuring, "Is it… Second Grandpa?"
Even Tsunade never imagined that Senju Tobirama would appear here!
If she remembered correctly, they were supposed to be encircling the Akatsuki, so why did it feel like they were encircling Orochimaru now?
Senju Tobirama appearing here…
It's so damn strange!
Unfortunately, this Second Hokage had no will of his own, launching attacks freely, opening his mouth to emit a spray of water needles: "Water Release: Celestial Cry!"
The speed of these water needles was too fast, striking Tsunade's arm and shoulder before she could dodge and defend!
"Ahhhhh!"
Tsunade angrily swung her fist, aiming a punch at Senju Tobirama; however, she was met with a flying kick instead!
Tsunade was kicked away, her head thrown back!
Even if one's will is extinguished, those familiar combat experiences can still crush Tsunade. Back then, a Senju Tobirama, reanimated with a Chunin's strength, could suppress Sarutobi Hiruzen, not to mention the near-peak Senju Tobirama reanimated with White Zetsu now!
Fortunately, at that moment, Terumi Mei, Gaara, and Uehara Naraku reacted quickly, rushing forward to block Senju Tobirama's attack, rescuing the besieged Tsunade.
"What the hell is going on!"
Terumi Mei looked at Senju Tobirama standing opposite them with an extremely grim expression: "Fifth Hokage, why is your Second Hokage appearing here? Weren't we going to besiege the Akatsuki?"
"…"
Tsunade nestled in Uehara Naraku's embrace, letting him pull out a water needle and treat her wound.
Tsunade's expression was so sullen it seemed like water could drip from it as she thought of her old friend: "Perhaps that guy Orochimaru isn't dead and has rejoined the Akatsuki..."
"Alright."
Uehara Naraku's palm emitted a green light, healing Tsunade's wound after stroking her arm. He then spoke softly, "What do we do now, if the Second Hokage appears on our side..."
"It's not just the Second Hokage."
A voice suddenly interrupted Uehara Naraku's words.
Terumi Mei watched another figure appear beside the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, her face turning a bit dark: "Also, the Second Mizukage from our Hidden Mist Village..."
"…"
The crowd present suddenly fell silent.
Uehara Naraku slowly lowered his head, speaking in a deep voice, "Lady Tsunade, it seems our squad is unlikely to participate in the battle against Akatsuki. We must figure out what's happening on this battlefield!"
"Hmm."
Tsunade slowly nodded, standing up: "We've encountered my granduncle and the Second Mizukage's obstruction here. Jiraiya over there wouldn't run into my granduncle, would he?"
If Jiraiya's squad encountered the First Hokage, they would definitely not be his match, he could even defeat them with one hand!
However, Tsunade was worrying for nothing.
Jiraiya's side indeed did not encounter the First Hokage.
But if Jiraiya could choose, perhaps he would think the First Hokage wasn't so bad; after all, he didn't want to face the two enemies now surrounding their squad...
"Lord Third!"
Nara Shikaku's face was slightly sweaty as he watched the short elder who suddenly appeared and ambushed them, feeling a faint worry in his heart.
After all, the strategy he devised was based on equal intelligence!
Now that the main forces were being held up, who would be responsible for the battle?
If it were just the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, it would be manageable. But beside him stood a blond man in a Divine Robe.
Akimichi Chouza squinted his eyes, sighing softly: "It's been a long time… Minato."
"Tsk, what a bother!"
Jiraiya scratched his chin, looking irritated as he gazed at the distant Third and Fourth Hokages: "These two appearing here, are they trying to stop us from attacking the Akatsuki?"
"That seems to be the case!"
Nara Shikaku nodded and spoke in a deep voice: "Unless new changes in intelligence appear, the only one in the Ninja World capable of performing Reanimation Jutsu was once a member of the Konoha Sannin, Orochimaru."
"Ah, that's about right."
Jiraiya stretched and slowly clenched his fist, uttering a jumble of tongue-twisters: "How interesting! My friend controls my teacher and my disciple to attack me..."
Those words were a bit cheeky.
The Ino-Shika-Cho present could hear Jiraiya's optimistic attitude masking a sorrowful heart; perhaps this was life's greatest pain?
Orochimaru was Jiraiya's friend, Sarutobi Hiruzen was Jiraiya's teacher, and Namikaze Minato was Jiraiya's disciple — and now, they all stood in opposition to Jiraiya!
"Alright, let's talk tactics!"
Jiraiya's expression gradually turned serious as he glanced at the surrounding Ino-Shika-Cho and others, saying gravely, "You all know the ninjutsu of the Old Man and Minato…
So, we need to find a way to separate them and fight them individually. Otherwise, with Minato's Flying Thunder God Jutsu, we can't ensure defense against the Old Man's ninjutsu."
"Yes."
After Nara Shikaku nodded, he unexpectedly asked, "Jiraiya-sama, if we encounter the Third and Fourth, Tsunade-sama's squad may also face an attack. Their enemies could be the First Hokage or the Second Hokage..."
"…It's not out of the question."
Jiraiya nodded, looking at the distant Sarutobi Hiruzen and Namikaze Minato, rubbing his wrist: "Nothing for it, we must quickly deal with them, then support Tsunade's side. We need to protect the living!"