After being busy for a while, Tsunade finally completed her work at hand. She handed a bottle of potion to Hayato Ren.
"This is my specially made Antidote. Just take a sip if you get poisoned. I have no other requirements for you - just come back safely. Remember, you must be careful above all else."
Seeing the concerned expression on Tsunade's face, Hayato Ren nodded heavily.
"Don't worry, teacher. I definitely won't let you down."
Tsunade nodded, then suddenly said: "Close your eyes."
Hayato Ren immediately closed his eyes, then felt something cool being hung around his neck.
Just as he wanted to open his eyes to see what it was, Tsunade continued: "Not yet."
Then, Hayato Ren felt a warm, gentle touch on his forehead.
After leaving a light mark on Hayato Ren's forehead, Tsunade said in a deliberately casual tone:
"This necklace was left to me by my grandfather. Now I'm giving it to you, hoping it will bring you good luck. Oh, and what just happened was just to encourage you, nothing more. Don't overthink it."
Looking at the slightly blushing Tsunade, Hayato Ren stepped forward and gave her a strong hug, then whispered:
"Teacher, I really like you a lot."
Hearing this, Tsunade's body trembled involuntarily. However, there was no other reaction for a long time.
After quite a while, Tsunade broke free from Hayato Ren's embrace.
"Alright, I have other work to do. Don't stay here being an eyesore."
Regarding Hayato Ren's confession-like words, Tsunade neither accepted nor rejected them, choosing instead to leave this trouble for her future self.
This outcome was enough for Hayato Ren for now. After all, there would be plenty of time in the future.
Outside the Konoha camp, the prepared Hayato Ren met his two teammates for this mission.
White Fang with his calm and composed expression, and Namikaze Minato with excitement mixed with nervousness on his face.
Namikaze Minato stepped forward, bowing sincerely to Hayato Ren as he expressed his gratitude:
"Thank you for your recommendation, Hayato. I'll do my very best to complete this mission."
Hayato Ren reached out and patted Namikaze Minato's shoulder, saying nothing more beyond that.
Then, under the cover of night, the three of them quietly left the area.
While traveling, White Fang spoke up:
"According to intelligence, the leader of the Sand Ninja squad invading Konoha this time is a powerful Puppet Master with a high status. So, if possible, try to capture them alive."
Namikaze Minato seriously memorized every word White Fang said.
Meanwhile, Hayato Ren asked:
"There are only three of us. Capturing them alive seems quite difficult."
Hearing this, White Fang responded without hesitation:
"Then we'll leave them all in Konoha."
White Fang's tone revealed a chilling killing intent.
Approximately two hours later, White Fang suddenly halted, using his eyes to signal Hayato Ren and Namikaze Minato that he had spotted the target.
Hayato Ren and Namikaze Minato immediately stopped, not daring to make any further noise.
"The mission targets have appeared. There are twelve ninjas—five Jonin, among whom are two Puppet Masters, and the rest are Chunin."
After speaking, White Fang looked at Hayato Ren and Namikaze Minato.
"I'll take on the strongest Puppet Master," Hayato Ren declared first.
White Fang nodded and continued, "In that case, I'll handle the remaining four Jonin. Minato, you deal with the Chunin. Is that acceptable?"
Namikaze Minato nodded firmly and replied, "I guarantee the mission will be completed."
With that, White Fang drew his short sword and stealthily approached the group of Sand Ninjas like a ghost.
"I wonder if Sasori will blame us for leaving without saying goodbye again," Sasori's father suddenly spoke, gazing at the campfire before him.
"Sasori is a very sensible child; he should understand. I just don't know when this war will end," a gentle-looking female ninja beside him sighed. She was Sasori's mother.
Just then, a cold voice abruptly cut in. "Wasn't this war started by you Sand Ninjas?"
As the words fell, a flash of white light swept by, and a Sand Ninja Jonin's head was instantly severed.
This sudden turn of events threw the Sand Ninja squad into chaos.
However, the Sand Ninjas sent for the invasion were all seasoned veterans, so they quickly regained their composure.
They all drew their weapons, watching White Fang warily.
"You're Konoha's White Fang? It seems we've been targeted for a while," Sasori's father said with a grim expression.
At that moment, Hayato Ren and Namikaze Minato slowly stepped forward.
"Old man, don't focus on White Fang. Your opponent is me," Hayato Ren pointed at Sasori's father with his middle finger, replying in a taunting tone.
"Hmph, a brat still wet behind the ears dares to challenge me? I'll kill you first, then deal with White Fang. Let's see if Konoha's White Fang is as legendary as they say," Sasori's father unrolled a scroll, and ten puppets immediately emerged from it.
The weapons held by these puppets varied—some had knives, others swords, and there were even scythes—each weapon bizarre and unique.
Meanwhile, White Fang and Namikaze Minato were already engaged with their respective opponents.
Hayato Ren directly summoned Charizard.
Seeing Charizard, Sasori's father's previously relaxed expression instantly turned grave.
He sensed a lethal threat emanating from Charizard.
He immediately manipulated his puppets to surround Charizard in a circle.
"Charizard, use Flame Jet!"
Under Hayato Ren's command, Charizard opened its mouth and released a blast of scorching flames.
The intense heat instantly melted one of the puppets and raised the surrounding temperature by several degrees.
"The Fire Release of this Summoning Beast is terrifying."
Sasori's father muttered with an unpleasant expression, then manipulated his puppet to increase the distance from the Charizard.
For a Puppet Master, the most dreaded opponents are taijutsu-type ninjas. This is because such ninjas can effortlessly destroy puppets using physical techniques.
The current Charizard's destructive power against puppets, however, far surpasses even that of taijutsu-type ninjas.