Victory

Konoha's forces split into two groups. One, led by the White Fang of the Leaf, relentlessly pursued the retreating Hidden Sand forces, cutting down their ranks. The other, led by Tsunade, began clearing the battlefield and doing everything they could to treat the wounded.

"We can't hold out! Retreat!" "Run!" "Help!" "Split up! Run in different directions!" "I don't want to die!"...

The Hidden Sand forces fell apart. Large numbers of ninja fled in every direction, running blindly into the desert like headless flies. All that mattered was escaping Konoha's pursuit.

Hidden Sand elites escorted Chiyo and the others off the battlefield first, followed by a small group who quickly retreated with them. This left the countless ordinary Hidden Sand ninja behind in a desperate situation. Konoha ninja caught up with those who had fallen behind and picked them off one by one. They ran for their lives, crying out in terror, afraid of being the last one left behind.

Konoha gave the Hidden Sand no chance at all. The White Fang's elite unit focused on attacking the Hidden Sand captains who tried to rally the fleeing ninja, shattering their forces before they could regroup, then continued the relentless pursuit. They chased them from afternoon until nightfall, and only then did Konoha's forces stop and begin to return...

Although Konoha had won the great battle, no one cheered. Konoha had suffered plenty of casualties, after all. Everyone was busy tending to their comrades, moving the wounded to safety, and gathering the bodies of the dead. Quite a few bodies were buried in the sand and had to be dug out. The entire battlefield also needed to be cleared, and spoils collected.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio met up with Riyue and the others. Choza, who had been especially active earlier, clutched his stomach and groaned in pain. It seemed the side effects of the green pills hadn't worn off yet. Shikaku and Inoichi helped him along helplessly, and Shikaku hurriedly took out his clan's secret medicine for Choza to take.

Riyue had used several powerful techniques in a row, and his chakra had long since run dry. Even so, he headed to the medical unit and began operating on the wounded. He might have been out of chakra, but he still had a pair of hands to help. It wasn't until the pursuing forces returned after nightfall and Konoha finished clearing the battlefield that the troops finally withdrew.

Looking at the devastated battlefield, Riyue sighed. "Phew, Konoha finally won!"

During the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha and the Hidden Sand fought a decisive battle in the desert of the Land of Wind.

The Hidden Sand committed nearly 10,000 troops to the battle, while Konoha committed nearly 13,000. In the end, Konoha emerged victorious, completely routing the Hidden Sand forces. The Hidden Sand lost nearly 2,600 ninja, with 3,400 wounded and another 400 taken prisoner. Konoha lost 1,100 ninja, with 2,300 wounded.

After the battle, the Hidden Sand no longer had the strength to counterattack. They could only retreat to fortresses in the heart of the Land of Wind and defend themselves. Konoha had also suffered heavy losses and was temporarily unable to continue its offensive.

Until the Hidden Sand decided to surrender, both sides halted large-scale battles and entered another period of stalemate. Their fighting would now consist mainly of small skirmishes and squads carrying out surprise attacks and assassinations.

In Konoha, Third Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk in the Hokage's office, his brow furrowed. Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and the heads of the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans sat before him, watching him. The mood was far from pleasant.

Danzō broke the silence. "Sarutobi! How long are you going to drag this out?"

Utatane Koharu spoke up as well. "Third, have you considered replacing Tsunade? Her incompetence has put Konoha in a disadvantageous position on the front lines, and the Medical Station nearly collapsed! She also fell for the enemy's scheme, costing us eight elite Jonin, and the plan to raid the main supply depot failed! Our troops have been inside the Land of Wind for so long, and we're still at a stalemate! For the sake of the ninja on the front lines, she should be replaced!" She seemed to have little regard for Tsunade, another strong-willed woman.

Mitokado Homura chimed in. "Tsunade is still young and inexperienced. It's only natural that she makes mistakes. We should appoint Sakumo Hatake as commander-in-chief instead."

The Uchiha Clan Head spoke as well. "I think someone from the Uchiha Clan should be appointed commander-in-chief. Uchiha Fugaku would be a good choice."

Only the Hyuga Clan Head remained silent. He didn't seem to care much whether Tsunade was replaced or not, and appeared to be waiting to raise another matter.

The Third took a puff of his pipe and said slowly, "Let's wait a little longer. Sakumo went to help her, didn't he? The reports from the front these past few days have also shown that the situation is turning in Konoha's favor."

Danzō continued to press him. "That's all the more reason to let Sakumo Hatake take over as commander-in-chief! The situation improved as soon as he arrived at the front. You can't ignore Tsunade's mistakes, Sarutobi! Don't let the fact that she's your student—"

"I know what's going on with my student! As her teacher and superior, I'll give her all the trust she needs!" The Third cut him off.

The Third exhaled a puff of smoke and said sternly, "I hope all of you will give her the trust she needs, too! She can lead the troops and win this war! If she loses, I'll take responsibility as Hokage!"

After he put it that way, the elders could hardly keep objecting. The Third had protected Tsunade.

"Fine. We'll trust the Third's judgment," Utatane Koharu said.

"Let's hope she can maintain her current advantage and defeat the Hidden Sand," Mitokado Homura added.

At last, Danzō stated his true purpose. "Tsunade can remain as commander, but I demand that her student, Hyuga Riyue, be taught by me."

"What do you mean by that, Shimura?" The Third was taken aback. He couldn't quite figure out what Danzō was up to.

"You don't know, Sarutobi? Princess Tsunade hasn't treated Hyuga Riyue well. She hasn't fulfilled her duties as his teacher at all. She ignores the boy, tossed him into a warehouse to do odd jobs, and hasn't taught him a thing!"

Danzō gave a cold laugh. "So, to stop the incompetent Tsunade from ruining a Konoha genius, I demand that Riyue become my student! I'll teach Hyuga Riyue properly!"

"But... isn't that just the way Tsunade chose to teach him? Besides, Riyue is already her student. How could he become your apprentice as well?" The Third said aloud, but thought, Could that girl Tsunade really have refused to take Riyue as her student? I thought she was just saying that. She really is stubborn...

"Hmph! I heard Tsunade doesn't even want this student. And, if I'm not mistaken, they haven't officially entered into a teacher-student relationship yet..." Danzō snorted.

"Since they haven't officially become teacher and student, I hope Riyue can return to the Hyuga Clan and receive a proper education." At that moment, the Hyuga Clan Head spoke up as well.

Danzō continued, "Tsunade's poor leadership and tactical mistakes are bad enough. She's also failed to teach her student properly. We can't indulge the First's granddaughter. Bring Riyue back and let me teach him properly."

"No! Everyone knows Riyue is Tsunade's student. That's already been settled." The Third shook his head, thinking, Thank goodness the whole village knows about this, or it really would have been a problem.

"Hyuga Riyue distinguished himself with the transport corps and again at the Medical Station. He's a genius Chunin, yet Tsunade thinks nothing of him. It's only right for Riyue to get a different teacher. Tsunade is the one at fault!" Danzō immediately retorted, bringing out his trump card.

He hadn't wanted to reveal Riyue's talent, but he couldn't force the Third to compromise otherwise.

"Riyue distinguished himself?" the Uchiha Clan Head asked hurriedly. The last thing he wanted to hear right now was that someone from the Hyuga Clan had accomplished something major again.

"That's right! Riyue played a vital role in wiping out the enemies who ambushed the transport corps. He discovered the hidden enemies, helped devise the ambush plan, took down many of them, and even captured a Jonin!"

"Also, he used his superb medical skills to save the Medical Station. He killed a Hidden Sand spy and saved many lives. This information came from the Anbu Special Mobile Force." As he spoke, Danzō took out a report. It gave a general account of how Riyue had saved the Medical Station, based mostly on the testimony of ninja who had been there.

The others passed the report around and read it. They were surprised, but also delighted.

"Senju Naoko was a fine doctor. The medical skills she passed on to her son are impressive," Mitokado Homura remarked.

"We can't overlook Riyue. If Tsunade isn't treating him well, then he should have another teacher!" Utatane Koharu spoke up as well. After learning of Riyue's talent, she also felt that he needed to be taken seriously. He was an ideal student of Medical Ninjutsu, and as a medical ninja, how could she not understand how valuable his talent was?

The Hyuga Clan Head thought, So Riyue has skills like that, too. His Gentle Fist techniques must be connected to his medical knowledge...

The Third also pondered, That boy kept this from me. His medical skills are this good... No wonder he wanted Tsunade as his teacher...

"Hyuga Riyue must be taken seriously. If Tsunade isn't up to the task, then find him someone else," the Uchiha Clan Head added. Everyone wanted to curry favor with a good doctor. Who knew? He might save your life one day.

"Riyue has done so much, and Tsunade still has him stuck in the Logistics Department. If Tsunade can't do the job herself, she shouldn't hold anyone else back!" Danzō said without mincing words.

These elders in Naruto's world didn't care if you were the Hokage's student or the Third. Even if you were Hokage, if they didn't like what you were doing, they'd dare to criticize you to your face.

The Third fell into thought. Tsunade, you're too stubborn. Maybe you really don't want Riyue as your student. Perhaps you weren't the right choice after all. Maybe I was wrong... Riyue can't be allowed to go to waste. If necessary, I'll teach him myself. Orochimaru likes talented children, and he'd be a good choice, too. Jiraiya would also be a good option... If he wants to learn Medical Ninjutsu, we can give him all of Konoha's records and find a skilled ninja to tutor him...

"I think we should ask Riyue what he wants first. If Tsunade really isn't the right teacher, we can find someone else and let Riyue choose for himself. What do you all think?" The Third made his decision.

The others nodded in agreement. The Hyuga Clan wasn't skilled in Medical Ninjutsu, and Riyue was now a hot commodity. The Hyuga Clan Head also hoped he would choose a good teacher. The Uchiha Clan wanted to use the Sharingan to copy Riyue's medical skills.

Only Danzō wore a faint, barely perceptible smile. His scheme had more or less succeeded. All he needed was for Riyue to appear and tell the truth, then ask to become his student of his own accord. That would let him pull Riyue over to his side.

Danzō believed Riyue couldn't possibly refuse the terms he was offering! Riyue would choose him. He would choose Root!

Just then, a ninja rushed in, holding a scroll. He panted as he spoke. "Lord Hokage! An urgent report from the front!"

The Third looked at him and said, "Read it!"

"Victory report: Yesterday, our forces fought a decisive battle with the Hidden Sand. The Hidden Sand's main force has been wiped out, and they have lost the ability to counterattack. We are victorious! Tsunade."

"This... Wonderful! It's only a matter of time before the Hidden Sand surrenders!" Hearing the good news, the Third stood up excitedly. Everyone else present was also shocked.

"Who among you still thinks Tsunade should be replaced?" the Third asked in reply. This urgent report had arrived just in time to slap them in the face. No one said a word, especially not Danzō and Utatane Koharu.

"Tsunade led the troops to a major victory for Konoha! Changing Riyue's teacher would damage her standing in the village. I want Tsunade to speak with Riyue properly. After we've heard what they both think, we can discuss who should teach Riyue!" the Third said solemnly. The others could only agree.

Danzō's face darkened, and he raged inwardly, Why did a huge victory have to come out of nowhere?! This has ruined my plans! How did Tsunade suddenly crush the Hidden Sand?! Now it'll be much harder to poach Hyuga Riyue!

The Third looked at Danzō and fought to keep his face straight, suppressing the urge to laugh aloud.

Heh, this victory couldn't have come at a better time!