At Leaf Village: Starting by Slapping the White Fang

In their eyes, Sarutobi Shinnosuke merely wanted to use their clansmen to avenge his lover and fellow clan members who had died in this battle.

But considering his status as the Hokage's son, the heads of these great ninja clans did not dare to be the first to speak.

"Young Master Shinnosuke is right!"

However, an even more jaw-dropping scene followed.

Genetsu strode quickly to Sarutobi Shinnosuke's side, clenched his fists, and said indignantly, "How can we spare the enemies who killed Lord Hokage's clansmen and son? We must kill them all to honor the spirits of the Sarutobi ninja!"

For a moment, everyone present stared at Genetsu with eyes wide as bells, unable to believe what they were seeing.

What kind of move was this?

There will still be an extra update tonight.

The better the stats, the more motivated the author will be. Thank you, everyone...

Genetsu stepping forward to support Sarutobi Shinnosuke's proposal to continue the war left everyone present astonished.

You were the first to retreat from the battlefield just now, and now you were also the one proposing to keep fighting.

Why did you get to say everything?

"Lord Genetsu, th-this isn't appropriate, is it? No matter how one looks at the current situation, there's no need to keep fighting..."

Nara Shikaku exchanged glances with his two Ino-Shika-Cho partners. In the end, he still braced himself and stepped forward to speak.

After all, war meant death.

They did not want their clan's younger generation sent off to die either.

"Lord Hokage's clansmen and daughter-in-law died in battle. How can we not avenge them? Don't you agree, Young Master Shinnosuke~?"

Genetsu turned to Sarutobi Shinnosuke with a smiling gaze.

At this moment, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's mind had been burned away by rage. He had no intelligence left to consider why Genetsu, who had always been at odds with him, would speak up for him now.

But with that provocation, he immediately shouted heatedly, "That's right! Rie was my childhood sweetheart, the one Father arranged for me to marry! If I don't avenge her, this war cannot end!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the faces of the many ninja clan heads darkened. Their dissatisfaction with Sarutobi Shinnosuke, as well as the powerful backer behind him, grew by several degrees.

Your Sarutobi Clan lost people. Why should you drag our people to their deaths?

Since when had the Leaf Village become the Sarutobi Clan's dictatorship?

But the Third Hokage was still at the peak of his strength.

Relatively speaking, he could still keep this group in line.

"Idiot. He's been completely led by the nose."

Orochimaru, who had remained silent in the corner, had witnessed the entire affair. His snake-like eyes looked at Sarutobi Shinnosuke as though he were looking at a fool.

Genetsu found it amusing inwardly as well.

Stupid enough. No wonder he did not survive to the original story.

"The next plan is this."

Genetsu walked to the map and pointed at the small route leading from the camp through the Land of Rain. "You all know about the Second Kazekage assassination plan, right?"

At once, everyone turned their gazes toward Hatake Sakumo and Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

The mission should have succeeded, but because one of them held the team back while the other abandoned the mission, it had ended in failure.

If it had succeeded, would this war have needed to drag on until now?

As the strategist, Nara Shikaku vaguely guessed Genetsu's intentions and asked tentatively, "Lord Genetsu, could it be that you intend to..."

"Restart the mission."

Genetsu's index finger slid from the camp's location to the Land of Rain, then from the Land of Rain to Sunagakure.

"We'll take the long way through the Land of Rain, then infiltrate the Land of Wind and assassinate the Second Kazekage, Saimon."

Hizashi Hyuga's mouth fell open in shock. After hesitating for several seconds, he asked, "B-but this mission has already failed once. The Second Kazekage has likely built an impregnable defense around himself by now. I'm afraid... it will be even more difficult than last time..."

"Don't worry. This time, Young Master Shinnosuke and I will go."

Genetsu said confidently, "I'm stronger than my big brother."

Hatake Sakumo smiled wryly and shook his head. Wasn't that a little too disrespectful?

Stronger than Konoha's White Fang!?

Everyone's understanding of Genetsu was refreshed once again.

Although Genetsu's performance on the battlefield today had undeniably reached Kage-level, was it not a little too much to say he had already surpassed the White Fang?

Yet the White Fang himself did not refute it. Could it really be true...!?

"I-I have to go too?"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke asked hesitantly.

"Of course. Young Master Shinnosuke, you carried out this mission last time, so you're familiar with the area. This time, I'll replace that useless big brother of mine. I can't even imagine how we could lose."

Genetsu smiled kindly.

"Th-then he can go too. Why does it have to be me...?"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke pointed at Hatake Sakumo. For some reason, he had an uneasy feeling in his heart.

"Everyone else will remain at the front lines and continue attacking Sunagakure to draw their attention. The presence of my useless big brother can attract that old hag Chiyo's hatred very effectively and buy us time."

"Once we succeed, we'll attack from both sides and declare total victory in this war."

Genetsu's words were flawless.

No matter how Sarutobi Shinnosuke searched for an excuse, he could not refuse.

"Alright, if no one has any objections, then it's decided. Go back and rest. I'll set off tomorrow."

Genetsu waved his hand, signaling the meeting's end.

Orochimaru was clearly the overall commander of the front lines, yet everyone tacitly followed Genetsu's orders and silently left the main tent.

That was why strength was the foundation that decided everything in this world.

Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha were still genin by the end of the story.

Who would dare underestimate them?

As the sun set and evening approached.

A shadow slipped into Tsunade's private tent.

Though "slipped" was not quite accurate.

Everyone around saw it clearly.

Genetsu walked in with his head held high, completely openly.

He even looked at Dan Katō with a touch of pity.

After all these years on the front lines, everyone in the military camp knew Dan Katō was so obsessed with Tsunade that he practically wanted to lick the ground beneath her feet flat.

Yet he had still gotten nothing.

There's more later...

Genetsu's hands kept roaming over her slim, boneless waist as he muttered in appraisal, "Seems a little thinner~"

Not soft and full enough.

Time to play with her!

Smack—

Before he could play for more than a few seconds, a crisp slap rang out.

Tsunade fiercely slapped the hand messing around at her waist.

Last night, she had carelessly let this bastard get into her bedding. Today, he had become even bolder and walked right in openly.

Did he think she did not know what this bastard wanted?

Seeing Genetsu put on an expression as if he were in terrible pain, Tsunade knew he was definitely faking it. Yet after struggling with herself for two whole seconds...

She still took his hand in hers and used the Mystical Palm Technique to heal it.

Too serious~

If she left it alone, it might heal in a few seconds.

"You really want to do it?"

Tsunade suddenly asked.

"Now? In the military camp... isn't that a little inappropriate?"

Genetsu wore an expression that said it was not a good idea, but his other hand honestly moved to undo the belt around his waist.

"To hell with you!"

Tsunade kicked the bastard away. "When are you going to stop making dirty jokes!?"

Brushing aside the loose hair before her brow, Tsunade said irritably, "I'm being serious. If you do this, you and that old man Sarutobi will be enemies to the death."

"Hm? I don't understand what you mean."

Genetsu looked utterly confused.

"I can't be bothered with you. Do whatever you want!"

Perhaps to avoid giving Genetsu another chance to make a dirty joke, Tsunade did not say the word "do" this time.

Her slender finger pointed at the tent entrance, her face clearly saying, Get the hell out.

Even if she died, she would never do that with this bastard in a military camp.

Sigh, life is always full of disappointments.

I can't even do something enjoyable before leaving.

"You really want to do it?"