Two-Tails Jinchuriki

Everyone had their own duties. The combat division wanted to win glory and establish merit, while the logistics division wanted rest and recovery. Neither was wrong, but A was the Raikage. He had to lead everyone in avoiding losses and gaining benefits.

But it was useless for him alone to understand that. He did not know whether those old fossils had truly failed to consider it or had deliberately ignored it for their own interests. Left with no choice, A had put on that show of rage and plainly pointed out the problem.

The effect was excellent. Those who had genuinely overlooked the issue began supporting his proposal one after another. Under that trend, those harboring ulterior motives became the minority.

"Raikage, we can fight, but there must be a plan for how we fight. We cannot keep fighting as we did before. Aside from wasting manpower and resources, it has changed nothing." The Elder Advisor in charge of logistics was a woman and had once been the Third Raikage's right-hand woman. She did not show this junior Raikage much respect, while A himself had little patience for these old fossils who liked to throw their seniority around.

"Then let's keep it simple. We'll commit most of our elite forces to one ruthless strike, then pull back the front line. We'll teach Konoha a lesson while strengthening our defenses, leaving them unable to counterattack and forcing them to accept our terms as soon as possible." Raikage A had considered it for a long time. He truly did not want to kill eight hundred enemies at the cost of losing a thousand of his own. Deep down, he still hoped to end the war quickly. They might as well strike hard once—if they succeeded, there would be bread and milk; if they failed, it would still be better than being dragged to death. At the very least, it would unite internal opinions sooner and make the hardliners clinging to hopes of victory face reality.

"The Raikage's method is excellent. I approve." Another Elder Advisor, a burly man covered in bulging muscles, was the first to support the Raikage's proposal. He belonged to the pro-war faction. Ever since the Land of Earth had declared defeat, the Land of Lightning's strategy had shifted to localized border conflicts. With all his strength having nowhere to be used, he had been deeply frustrated. Now that the Raikage proposed going all out, he was overjoyed.

"Fine, I approve as well. But after this battle, we cannot continue no matter what. Logistics truly cannot keep up." The only woman on the council, who was also in charge of logistics, strongly resisted such a desperate gamble. Yet she also understood the Yugito Clan's mindset. Rather than suppressing them and preventing them from venting, it was better to let them fight to their hearts' content. As for the outcome, she could only hope it would not be too terrible.

"Yugito, take the jonin squad to the occupied territory in the Land of Hot Water. You will command this assault operation. Aside from the Eight-Tails and the Anbu, you may mobilize anyone. There is only one objective: before Konoha's reinforcements arrive, inflict the greatest possible casualties on Konoha's border forces. Once Konoha's reinforcements arrive, withdraw to the Land of Hot Water. In a crisis, you are permitted to abandon the occupied territory there and retreat into the Land of the Moon... As long as you can bring back more comrades, lost territory does not matter." Raikage A immediately issued the order to the Two-Tails Jinchuriki standing behind him, the jonin Two-Tails Yugito.

"Yes!"

Yugito had long, straight beige hair braided down to her waist. Her eyes were sharp, and her expression proud. Standing at five foot seven, she carried herself with a hint of queenly bearing. In Kumogakure, she was one of the most beautiful women.

Yugito strode briskly before the Raikage and solemnly accepted the order. If Xing Ran had been there, he would definitely have thought of Artoria. Both had the bearing of queens, along with the steely aura of soldiers.

"But the Two-Tails is an important weapon of the village..." The burly Elder Advisor who had first agreed to go to war hesitantly spoke up, wanting to stop Yugito from being put in charge of this mission.

"Since she is a weapon, the person who understands that weapon best should command it. No one understands Yugito's own condition better than she does. She is the most suitable commander." Raikage A settled the matter before the burly man could finish.

The burly man was anxious, but his tongue failed him and he could not fully express his thoughts. The jonin in charge of the jonin squad had died in the war not long ago, and this important high-ranking position in the village was currently vacant. The Raikage had now unilaterally assigned Yugito to command what might be the final battle of the Third Shinobi World War. It was obvious that he intended to have Yugito take over that position. The burly man was extremely stifled, yet he could not refute the Raikage's words.

Kumogakure had two tailed beasts. As strategic weapons, the two Jinchuriki could not both be sent to the front lines. One had to remain behind.

Yugito was young, but Killer B was young as well. Rather than sending that unreliable younger brother to take command, Yugito put the Raikage more at ease.

With that, as long as Yugito did not make any major mistakes in this war, the young Raikage would truly plant one of his own people among the upper ranks and increase his authority.

"I never would have guessed you knew so many medicinal herbs. That strange shrub has so many fruits—why not pick them all?" Ever since Nara Izumi learned that Xing Ran had mastered the Mystical Palm Technique, her previously dismissive attitude toward him at the academy had made a complete one-eighty.

This world was simply that realistic. Leaving aside how powerful Xing Ran's Medical Ninjutsu was and how it could save lives, people often showed a certain amount of respect toward those with useful skills.

Nara Izumi was not deliberately trying to flatter him, but from the way she actively sought him out for conversation, Xing Ran could still feel the changes that having ability had brought him. The change was so clear and so real. No wonder everyone in this world wanted to become strong. The feeling was quite nice.

"These thorny fruits that grow on shrubs only need to be used in small amounts. They are medicine, after all. I cannot use too many, and they spoil easily." Xing Ran placed the unripe thorny fruits into the medicine pouch in his backpack while explaining like a class representative.

"Are you making medicine? I saw you picking quite a few herbs along the way." Nara Izumi was like a curious child. As a member of the Nara Clan, intelligence was in her blood. Though she lacked the talent to become a Medical Ninja, that did not stop her from being curious about more medical knowledge.

Xing Ran was like an encyclopedia of medicinal herbs. Whenever he found a useful herb, he would pick it while explaining its effects. Many were excellent for stopping bleeding, resisting poison, promoting blood circulation, and dispersing bruises. As fellow members of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, Nara Izumi would naturally not go out of her way to flatter him. But he had real knowledge, so she could only shamelessly play the curious child.

"Yes, of course it's something good." Xing Ran raised his head and gave Might Guy a mysterious look. This guy was their captain and was currently packing up. They had just finished their final rest before heading to the border defense camp.

"What is it?"

"Hehe."

"..."

"Are you two finished? It's time to move out. I have a bad feeling—my eyelid has been twitching nonstop. We should get to the camp as quickly as possible."

Might Guy's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting the outdoor herbal medicine lecture.

To be continued.

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