Twenty-Six: Clear Division of Labor

[S-Rank Mission: Infiltrate Amegakure and obtain the toxin of Hanzo's summoning, the Salamander.]

[Mission Members: Uchiha Sakuya, Tsunade Senju, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Dan Katō]

"Intelligence indicates that when the ninjas of Amegakure go to war with Hanzo, they all wear gas masks; even Hanzo himself wears one."

Night, within the borders of the Land of Fang.

Sakuya analyzed the intelligence with the group: "This shows that even he cannot withstand the toxin of that Salamander. If we can extract even a trace of it, and combine the efforts of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind to analyze it, we might be able to create an antidote. If we can do that, we will have a slight advantage when we face Hanzo on the battlefield."

"But... the toxin of the Salamander is not so easily obtained."

Dan Katō shook his head: "That is a Demigod we are talking about."

Since the establishment of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, all ninjas have shared a common consensus.

Hashirama Senju is hailed as the God of Shinobi, the strongest ninja of all.

Even the ninja known as Asura, Madara Uchiha, who stood on equal footing with him, was half a step inferior to Hashirama.

Since the passing of those two, the man standing at the pinnacle of the shinobi world is the Demigod, Hanzo.

Hanzo's strength is of the well-rounded, all-encompassing variety.

Not to mention his highly accomplished Water Release, the poisonous mist from his summoning alone is enough to claim the lives of many before a fight even begins.

To use a trope from angst-ridden literature, he is like Genji Chisaki wielding royal authority; only experts capable of surviving the first round of AOE damage are even qualified to cross blades with him.

In Sakuya's eyes, he is essentially a boss with a "trash-mob filter" mechanism, though the current era happens to be overflowing with trash mobs.

And Sakuya and his team's mission is to obtain the toxin of that summoning from such a figure.

The difficulty is, needless to say, extremely high.

"Hanzo is currently leading the Amegakure army in a fierce assault on the Land of Wind, so his rear must be empty. We must take this opportunity to infiltrate the Land of Rain."

Tsunade spoke up: "It isn't just us researching the Salamander's toxin; there is secret research going on inside the Land of Rain as well. After all, that guy's poison is an indiscriminate attack that ignores friend or foe. The Small Nations Alliance is also terrified of his poison. If there is no antidote, the ninjas of those smaller nations will also die under Hanzo's toxin. In a sense, our stance regarding Hanzo's poison is actually the same as that of Amegakure."

"In other words, we don't actually need to face the Demigod head-on; we just need to find the research facility in the Land of Rain where they are studying the toxin?"

Jiraiya muttered.

He finally understood the personnel configuration of their squad.

Tsunade is the pillar of the team, her medical ninjutsu capable of keeping everyone alive until a turning point in desperate situations; Jiraiya's Mount Myoboku Sage Arts and Sakuya's Uchiha clan Fire Release are perfectly suited to tear a safe path through the poisonous miasma of Amegakure; Dan Katō's Spirit Transformation Technique is the most covert means of communication, allowing intelligence to bypass heavy blockades and reach the rear directly; and Orochimaru, born a researcher, possesses an instinct for experimental facilities and intelligence that is naturally sharper than anyone else's.

To find the Salamander's toxin, Konoha's mission composition is truly tailor-made.

"Then, let's split up."

On the night before they were to enter the Land of Rain, Dan Katō spoke.

"We will divide into three teams and enter Amegakure separately. Although Amegakure is currently under martial law due to the war, the internal factions of various small nations are numerous. We can disguise ourselves as merchants from other countries to scout for information."

"That works."

Jiraiya looked around at everyone: "But there are five of us, split into three teams—how should we divide them?"

"I will team up with Orochimaru."

Dan Katō suggested.

"My Spirit Transformation Technique can transmit intelligence rapidly. If I pair with Orochimaru, once we find the research facility, we can transmit the information while simultaneously studying the toxin on-site."

"Agreed."

Orochimaru nodded.

"Then the three of us..."

Jiraiya looked at Uchiha Sakuya, then at Tsunade, his heart stirring: "How about this, Tsunade, you and I..."

"Heh heh, I think it would be better if Sakuya and Tsunade teamed up, and Jiraiya went alone, how about that?"

Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya with a soft, wheezing chuckle.

"Sakuya's strength is the highest in our five-man squad, and Tsunade's medical ninjutsu is the most critical part of this mission. There shouldn't be any dispute about the strongest person protecting the most important doctor, right?"

"Orochimaru is right."

Dan Katō nodded upon hearing this and looked at Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya, what do you think?"

"Well, actually... actually, I'm quite strong too."

Jiraiya lowered his head with a bitter expression, but he only offered a slight objection.

At least at twenty-something years old, his strength was merely that of a standard Jonin, and his Mount Myoboku Sage Mode was still a half-finished product; he was simply in a different league than Uchiha Sakuya, who was already at the peak of the Three Tomoe.

"Then we'll go with Dan's proposal. Tsunade, I'll be in your team."

Sakuya nodded at her: "OK?"

"It, it's not like I absolutely have to be in a team with you, you know."

Tsunade had intended to just agree, but seeing Sakuya's calm expression, devoid of even a hint of surprise, she suddenly felt a bit awkward.

"Then can I team up with Tsunade!?"

Jiraiya's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he spoke with immediate excitement.

"No, you're better off alone."

Tsunade replied with immediate disdain.

"Eh, how could you..."

Jiraiya slumped instantly, looking dejected.

"Tsunade, stop acting out."

Sakuya looked at Tsunade earnestly and said, "Let's go with Kato's suggestion."

Ever since he had learned of Tsunade's temperament, he had changed his strategy, adopting a new method to deal with this simulated version of her.

Since a Tsunade of this age was a bit of a tsundere, the best way to handle her was with a direct approach.

Aside from the most straightforward, direct attacks, he would acknowledge every action Tsunade took, but he would never be the one to initiate the response.

It was all about the emotional tug-of-war with a tsundere character.

As long as he kept pulling at those strings until the very end of this simulation, the groundwork he had laid would bloom the moment he died.

Then, the third task of this simulation would inevitably be completed.

Stared at by Sakuya's gaze, Tsunade's face flushed hot, and she dared not meet his eyes.

"I, I got it, okay."

She pouted and replied, "Let's do as Kato says."

Watching her act this way, Jiraiya rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Is this for real? The Tsunade who was usually so bold and manly toward everyone else, actually acting like this in front of Uchiha Sakuya?

To think that a woman in love could have her personality change into something so unrecognizable.

He felt a bit envious of Sakuya.

If only Tsunade would act like that toward him.

Jiraiya, the Sage of Mount Myoboku who had harbored a secret crush on Tsunade since childhood, thought to himself.

But unfortunately, the woman he loved would only ever show that expression to another man.