"Oh, I see, I'm sorry, I didn't know earlier."
"It's okay, but Captain Minami was going to make poisons just now. She discovered that the Hidden Sand Ninja used a new type of poison, so she urgently needed to create it for the frontline ninjas, which is why she left in a hurry."
"Is that so, that's impressive...."
Jiraiya had a bit of an impression of Uzumaki Minami, knowing she had studied with Tsunade for a while, and she was from the Uzumaki race. Additionally, when they set off for Kikyo Castle, Uzumaki Minami was riding a bear.
That bear left quite an impression on Jiraiya; its speed was no less than that of a ninja, and it had ample stamina, able to understand human speech.
Furthermore, that bear had a huge appetite, eating very well, and was specifically catered to!
Jiraiya's injuries weren't actually serious; he could endure the pain without affecting combat, and the pressure on the medical unit was immense.
After Chakra is consumed to a certain extent, some must be reserved to deal with potential unexpected situations, according to the regulations for Medical Ninja.
Before leaving, Jiraiya suddenly asked, "Is she the most skilled here now?"
Mami was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, there seems to be no one better than Minami in the medical unit now. Her speed in healing injuries is several times that of others."
"I understand."
Jiraiya nodded, then left the medical camp since he still needed to discuss the actions of the Hidden Sand Village today with others.
They had been suddenly attacked, but the Hidden Sand quickly retreated after a brief clash. Jiraiya and others felt the Hidden Sand Village had a conspiracy, but they lacked intelligence and didn't know what the Hidden Sand Village was planning.
"Jiraiya-sama, you have arrived."
Nara Shikaku greeted Jiraiya upon his return and then conveyed their conjecture, "The Hidden Sand Village may launch another attack soon, with a fifty percent chance of targeting our medical unit. This time, they targeted the patrol forces, so the next attack might happen soon...."
"Should we send out recon ninjas?"
Jiraiya rubbed his chin and then suddenly remembered what he heard in the medical unit, and said, "The Hidden Sand Village has developed a new poison, and the medical unit is already researching an antidote. Let's wait until the antidote is developed before dispatching recon ninjas."
"A new poison... no wonder a few ninjas perished today even though they carried antidotes."
Nara Shikaku frowned, saying that without antidotes, recon ninjas would be very vulnerable. If they encountered enemies, even a slight scratch could be fatal, leaving no opportunity for treatment.
"In that case...."
Jiraiya was about to say something when suddenly a deafening explosion was heard from outside.
Boom!
A violent shock followed, making Jiraiya and others stagger as if the explosion happened right in Kikyo Castle!
Steadying themselves, Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, and Nara Shikaku immediately left the room, standing on the rooftop.
From a distance, they saw the tall monster under the moonlight.
"Hahaha, die, humans, all of you die!"
"Wind Release: Air Refining Bullet!"
After Shukaku's maniacal laughter, its massive sand palm slapped its round belly, then instantly spewed several wind spheres filled with Chakra from its mouth, hitting Kikyo Castle's walls.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Each wind sphere possessed power only Jounin could wield, yet Shukaku effortlessly released them, shattering the walls of Kikyo Castle.
Even with a barrier protecting the walls, it couldn't block Shukaku's Air Refining Bullets.
"Jiraiya-sensei!"
"Go, Minato, Shikaku, the counterattack is yours to command!"
Jiraiya loudly instructed, as Nara Shikaku had organized the strategies during the previous two wars, with Yamanaka Haiichi relaying them, effectively restraining the Hidden Sand's offensive.
Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato were to confront the strong foes of the Hidden Sand Village, preventing them from targeting ordinary Konoha Ninja, as the Konoha Ninja would be unable to stop them.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
The two simultaneously used the Summoning Jutsu, and in the next second, gigantic smoke appeared, revealing two enormous toads at Kikyo Castle.
"That guy is... a Tailed Beast? Jiraiya, why do you always bring such big trouble for me? This one's really strong."
Jiraiya quickly said, "Sorry, but I still hope you can hold off this guy, or the Konoha Ninja will suffer heavy losses."
Namikaze Minato chimed in from the side, "Bunta, Gama Ken will help you too, please take care of it!"
"I'm only doing this for Minato's sake; Jiraiya, you always bring me trouble!"
Gama Bunta grumbled and then slowly drew a short blade, admitting even with Gama Ken it was uncertain they could handle this beast.
"Minato, let's go together!"
Jiraiya's words were cut short as a massive flood of golden sand suddenly appeared on the other side of Kikyo Castle, his face changing.
He knew Rasa wouldn't let him deal with the One Tail easily; if he helped Bunta against it, Rasa would target other ninjas.
'Jiraiya-sama, Minato, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, and Chiyo are attempting to sneak attack the rear of our camp; you and Minato need to intercept them. Here's their location!'
Receiving Yamanaka Haiichi's transmission, Jiraiya and Minato exchanged a glance and told Bunta, "Bunta, sorry, but we have to intercept the intruders. The One Tail is up to you."
"You go, Ken and I will hold off this monster!"
The two toads drew their weapons; after Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato left, they leaped directly at Shukaku, the One Tail.
"Bastards, die!"
Seeing the two toads attacking, Shukaku violently retaliated.
The three giant beasts battled under the moonlight, and any strike could cause the ground to shake, meaning ordinary ninjas dared not approach.
————————————
"Minami, the commotion seems to be getting closer. Should we relocate?"
Jonin Mami asked, unable to hold back, as the battle noises around them grew louder, and there were many wounded there. Though she was Uzumaki Minami's senior, in this camp, Uzumaki Minami was the head of the medical unit.
"Let's move the wounded first; we'll hold on a bit longer. There might still be injured coming in... But, Mami-senpai, please send someone to the command unit to inquire."
Uzumaki Minami glanced at the Gates outside the camp, feeling slightly reassured, but the wounded couldn't stay, so the medical unit relocated them to a backup camp.
Shortly, the command unit ordered the medical unit to stand by, informing them that the enemy had been intercepted by Jiraiya-sama and Namikaze Minato.
Quickly, the wounded began arriving successively, and Uzumaki Minami and her team started treatment.
As time passed, just as the medical unit was treating, an explosion suddenly sounded from outside.
It was very close, nearly causing ongoing surgeries to fail.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Minami quickly went outside to check, soon after a ninja arrived at the medical unit, loudly saying, "A large number of enemies have infiltrated; the medical unit must evacuate immediately...."
The sentence wasn't finished before a massive explosion erupted dozens of meters away, with deafening roars.
"Found them! The Konoha Medical Ninja are here!"
The Hidden Sand Ninja spotted the Konoha's medical unit and shouted loudly, signaling to summon nearby Sand Ninja.
"I'll cover you; run quickly!"
The ninja who delivered the message finished and brandished a Kunai, charging at the attacking Sand Ninja. But given the distance and the increasingly encircling Hidden Sand, relocation was impossible.
Thus, Uzumaki Minami ran to Gates and earnestly pleaded, "Gates, please, fend off the enemies."
Upon standing up, Gates nodded to Uzumaki Minami, a touch of beastly ferocity crossing its bear face.
"Roar~!"
A thunderous roar that made the hearts of all nearby ninjas tremble broke out, as they spotted an enormous black bear suddenly appear, towering over twenty meters high!