Within the Land of Fire.
Konoha.
In an old residence, a grave conversation was underway.
"Let's go! It seems the situation at the front has changed again!"
After reading an urgent report, Tsunade hurriedly called Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the others over. She had only been back in the village for a few days, and her expression was grave as she spoke.
Jiraiya looked over the report, his usual carefree demeanor unusually subdued. He said solemnly,
"Many shinobi from both Konoha and Sunagakure have been affected by poison gas? Could this... mean that the one from Amegakure has acted in person?"
"It seems this time... Amegakure is finally ready to bare its fangs!"
Orochimaru's pale face grew slightly stern. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he rasped,
"Whatever the case, let's go and meet this fellow... How dare he call himself a demigod..."
The three exchanged glances.
Their lips curled into faint smiles as they looked at one another, their eyes shining with confidence.
Meanwhile.
In the rain-soaked Land of Rain.
On a battlefield where shinobi from Konoha, Amegakure, and Sunagakure clashed.
Inside a hidden Sunagakure outpost.
"Captain Chiyo, please take a look at this! Our shinobi forces have suffered heavy losses after inhaling this poison gas!"
"The other poison specialists haven't been able to figure out how to counteract it, either!"
A Sand Ninja spoke anxiously to the middle-aged woman before him.
Chiyo looked gravely at the Sand Ninja lying on a stretcher, his body turning black in places. She said solemnly,
"Prepare the equipment at once. I'll see if I can formulate this poison. Unless we quickly discover how it's made, there's no way to produce an antidote!"
"Go!"
At Chiyo's words, a Sand Ninja hurried outside to find the equipment for analyzing the poison.
Chiyo,