Uchiha Chonhua teased, "One of the people worrying about me must be Kushina, right?"
"...Yes."
Kushina, usually so clear-voiced, spoke in a whisper now.
Uchiha Chonhua blinked, warmth in his eyes, and hugged Kushina Uzumaki tightly.
"Grandmaster, I'm here."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's knitted brows eased slightly when he saw Uchiha Chonhua enter.
He looked him over and smiled. "How was your week of rest?"
Uchiha Chonhua's lips curved into a confident smile. He thumped his chest, his eyes bright.
"I'm full of energy! I can't wait to get back to the front lines!"
Seeing the boy brimming with vitality, Sarutobi Hiruzen was infected by his enthusiasm and felt a little younger himself.
He laughed wryly. "Don't rush, Chonhua. How much do you know about the situation on the front lines?"
Uchiha Chonhua's smile faded, and his expression grew serious. "I've been keeping up with the news from the front. Yesterday, Chiyo of Sunagakure assembled the ninja forces and launched an all-out assault on Konoha."
"A day has passed. I wonder how things are now."
Sarutobi Hiruzen beckoned him over.
Uchiha Chonhua walked over and immediately spotted the intelligence report on the front-line situation lying on the Hokage's desk.
"Take a look. This is the latest report."
Uchiha Chonhua accepted it and read through it. After a while, he let out a breath of relief and smiled. "As expected of Sakumo. He held off the first wave of Sunagakure's all-out assault."
"A few days ago, I assigned personnel to the front lines," Sarutobi Hiruzen said. "Sakumo and Tsunade are in charge of the Sunagakure front."
"Sakumo is handling Sunagakure's main forces, while Tsunade has been engaged in an unusual battle of wits with Chiyo from afar."
Chiyo deployed poison, while Tsunade focused on finding an antidote. They went back and forth,