After leaving Orochimaru's command tent, Haku returned to his own tent reserved for the Medical Corps.
Well, because Haku knew Medical Ninjutsu and was quite skilled at it, he had been given a tent of his own with the Medical Corps at the front line.
Moreover, most of the ninja at the front had received treatment from him, earning him the goodwill of a large number of ninja.
Back to the matter at hand, after returning to his tent, Haku began thinking about what had happened to him over the past three months.
First of all, most of the Kirigakure ninja in the rear had been wiped out by Haku and Minato Namikaze.
Only a few Elite Jonin from Kirigakure remained. After encountering them several times and observing the ninjutsu and techniques they used, Haku judged them to be ninja from Bloodline Families passed down from the Warring States era in Kirigakure.
After Jiraiya arrived, another portion of them was eliminated. In the end, only one Ice Release Ninja, one Lava Release Ninja, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen escaped.
This time, Kirigakure had suffered heavy losses by joining the battle, without gaining any benefits at all.
Then there was Sunagakure, which had unexpectedly come here to get involved as well. Haku had no idea why the Kazekage had come here instead of busying himself with making money. Perhaps he had only sent scout ninja over to see what the other villages were doing. As a result, they had just arrived when Haku discovered them and dealt with a Chunin squad.
Iwagakure had also arranged a large number of spies here. Although Ōnoki had only recently become Tsuchikage, his ability to cause trouble was already impressive. Unfortunately, perhaps his luck was bad, because after arriving here, he had also gotten into fights with the ninja from Kirigakure.
What surprised Haku and Minato Namikaze even more was that Kumogakure, which was fighting Konoha here, had not arranged for anyone to harass or attack Konoha's supply lines in the rear.
As Haku told Minato Namikaze:
[For these three months, I don't even know who we've been fighting. Everything's a mess. One second I was chasing Kirigakure ninja, and the next I was attacked by Iwagakure ninja. I'm just lucky I have thick skin and tough muscles, or I really wouldn't know where I'd be sleeping now.]
[Hahaha! You can take it, but I can't. I just circle around outside and go wherever a battle breaks out. I only ever pick up the scraps.]
Minato Namikaze also couldn't figure out why people from several villages were all here, nor could he understand why Haku kept charging in to fight people from every other village. Wouldn't it be better to stay outside and watch the other villages beat each other bloody? However, Minato Namikaze didn't say anything to dissuade him.
When Haku and Minato Namikaze reported this matter to Orochimaru, the Patriarch of the Nara clan, who was working in the command center with them, nearly went bald trying to figure out why people from several villages had all sent forces to Konoha's supply lines. He could understand sending people to the front line, but sending them straight to the supply lines like this—and even having them fight one another—was something he had never seen before.
In light of this, and combined with the scroll Haku had previously given him, Orochimaru felt that this might have been the work of Konoha's Pot Kage. He had probably spread some kind of information to lure people into dealing with his disciple Haku.
[Achoo!]
Danzo, sitting inside the headquarters newly built for Konoha's Root, sneezed for no apparent reason.
[Could it be because the headquarters was built underground and is too cold? Should I move it aboveground? No, how could it be called Root if it's aboveground? Better to keep it underground. Still, the defenses here really do need to be strengthened.]
As he thought this, Danzo spoke.
[Go scout out promising talents in the village. Find a way to bring them all into Root. Don't worry about what clan they're from. Once you get them in, use Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu on them.]
[Has the letter to Hanzo's side been sent? What happened when contact failed last time? Have you figured it out?]
Hearing Danzo's words, the subordinate was so frightened that he dropped directly to his knees.
[This subordinate is incompetent. I failed to determine why contact failed last time. Moreover, Hanzo's side says they need us to give them an explanation for why their envoy died.]
[Hmph! That idiot Hanzo! If I hadn't finally managed to get Hiruzen to agree to let me establish Root, and if we weren't at a critical juncture now, I would definitely go and test the mettle of this Demigod of the Ninja World!]
Danzo was dissatisfied with the subordinate's report. He snorted coldly and dismissed him.
Elsewhere, at the Graveyard of Mountains.
[Hmm, your plan is pretty good. You used up the strength of several ninja villages and focused their attention on the battlefield between Konoha and Kumogakure. My plan in Kirigakure will be a little easier to carry out.]
The elderly Madara Uchiha looked at the black-robed figure before him, who had hidden himself in the shadows, and asked:
[But are you really unwilling to accept these eyes of mine? You should know how perfect and powerful they are!]
The black-robed figure did not respond to Madara Uchiha.
Before you continue