Corpses Strewn Across the Plains, An Unexpected Harvest

The next morning.

Uchiha Chiba's silhouette appeared in the abandoned village outside Amegakure.

"Chiba... are you going to war?" Yahiko's voice was very soft. He had seen war—severed limbs flying, flesh and blood blurred; only hell could describe such things.

Beside Yahiko stood Nagato, and behind Chiba was Konan.

Uchiha Chiba stood with his back to the three children. Although there was not much of an age gap between the four of them, they were not yet ninjas, and Chiba nodded.

"War is cruel, isn't it? Who knows, I might die out there. If that happens, will you cry for me?" Uchiha Chiba offered a faint smile. Hanzo the Salamander was no pushover, and since he was being groomed as a direct disciple, he certainly wouldn't die. As for why he said these things... did you really not think that stirring up some sentiment before a great battle could strengthen bonds?

Konan bit her lip. "That won't happen, Chiba. You will return safe and sound."

"Return home safely."

Rain mixed with a strong wind. As Hanzo the Salamander walked over, Chiba gradually put away his playful mood toward the three children. In the original body's memories, as part of the vanguard team secretly sent by Konoha to Amegakure—called a vanguard team to sound nice, but a suicide squad to be blunt—the original had experienced two months of secret warfare, reaching the point of gnawing on tree roots and grass. One could imagine just how terrifying war truly was.

After a long while.

Uchiha Chiba looked up from his memories.

"Done daydreaming? We'll be at the main battlefield soon. Put on your mask. It is said that those attacking the Land of Rain this time are the disciples of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hmph... we are truly being looked down upon... However, they have been trapped by the salamander toxin for over a week now. Drag it out for another five days, and victory will be ours." Hanzo the Salamander stepped over a tree, his voice dull and heavy.

Hanzo the Salamander was displeased that Konoha had only sent the as-yet-unfamous team of Hiruzen Sarutobi. How to put it? In Hanzo's words, it was as if the Demigod of the Ninja World was being slighted by others, sending three youngsters to lead the battle against Amegakure.

"Tsunade is no pushover," Uchiha Chiba said calmly. In the original work he knew, the salamander toxin was neutralized by the legendary puppet master of Sunagakure, Chiyo. So, now that he had appeared, would the original progress of this world change?

"Of course. Spies say they started researching the antidote a week ago. You must know, that troublesome thing from Sunagakure, the 'Chikamatsu Ten Puppets' user Chiyo, is a master of poison. It took her a full month to crack my salamander toxin. Just because Tsunade is the granddaughter of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, she thinks she can break my poison in a mere two weeks? A joke." Hanzo the Salamander hoisted his scythe onto his right shoulder; he clearly did not hold them in high regard.

Following that, there was no more conversation along the way.

Hanzo the Salamander led Uchiha Chiba and the five-thousand-man army behind him slowly toward the border of the Land of Rain.

Meanwhile.

"Has the antidote been distributed to everyone?" Tsunade rubbed her temples, dark circles under her eyes.

"It has all been distributed. Scouts say that Hanzo the Salamander is leading a large army of five thousand and will be here soon... According to the rules, we must win the first battle. Given Hanzo the Salamander's personality, he won't step onto the field himself. We don't care; we must win a battle quickly." Orochimaru spoke rapidly, holding an antidote capsule under his tongue in case of emergency.

Beside him, Jiraiya tightened the armor on his hands. He had spiky white hair, which was said to be kept long to facilitate the performance of a certain technique.

"I just didn't expect that puppet master Chiyo from Sunagakure would help us," Jiraiya remarked.

Tsunade shook her head, a hint of stubbornness flashing in her eyes. "I have to admit that this did indeed help us, but if you had given me three more days, I could have also come up with the antidote for that salamander toxin."

"But... Tsunade, Teacher cannot wait three days. The secret report Teacher sent says that people in the village have started spreading rumors that Teacher is incompetent as Hokage," Orochimaru's raspy voice rang out as he watched the plains quietly.

Tsunade wanted to say something more.

Suddenly.

"Wait, Orochimaru, they are here," Jiraiya stared intently at the horizon.

Then.

A black line appeared on the horizon. The line grew longer and longer, then gradually rose. The terrifying momentum appeared exceptionally murderous amidst the rain, which was accompanied by faint sunlight.

A few breaths later.

Hanzo the Salamander's voice arrived: "Enough talk. I will not make a move; let's save the useless time."

Before Orochimaru could say anything.

The Amegakure ninjas had already charged forward.

Hum hum hum!!!!

The earth trembled.

"Engage!" Orochimaru was the first to weave hand signs, and a massive snake cage rose from the ground.

"Water Style: Water Gun!"

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

Countless ninjutsu exploded across the battlefield.

Blood sprayed out from time to time, mixing with the rain from the sky, actually staining the ground red in an instant!!!!

"Strength of a Hundred!!"

On the western front, Tsunade punched down, and the few Rain ninjas beside her were instantly torn to pieces.

"Fire Style: Toad Oil Bullet!"

On the eastern front, Jiraiya used a blast of Fire Style to tear a gap open for the Konoha ninjas!

As for Orochimaru, he stood on a low cliff, watching every move on the distant battlefield. He had just released a ninjutsu when he was almost ambushed by a Rain ninja hidden in the rain. As the brain of the battlefield, Orochimaru had to ensure he could accept all changes on the battlefield at any time and respond accordingly.

In the distance.

Hanzo the Salamander spoke slowly: "Kid, go and have a grand fight."

"...Understood." Uchiha Chiba adjusted the mask on his face. He knew very well that only by killing could he accumulate experience. In this world, if you don't become a powerhouse, you become a stepping stone on someone else's path to power. If he could break through to the Two-Tomoe Sharingan in this war, that would be for the best.

The next second.

Uchiha Chiba pulled the Kusarigama from beneath his straw rain cape.

I don't know why... I'm feeling a bit excited. Is it the original body's hatred for Konoha? Or am I simply craving the slaughter? Uchiha Chiba's figure vanished in an instant.

A chunin on the battlefield usually had nothing to boast about; they were typically nothing more than head-counts for the jonin. However, could a chunin who had received three days of personal, intensive training from Hanzo the Salamander still be considered a mere chunin?

Chiba could guarantee that he could kill an average jonin with enough effort. Against stronger ones, he would have to avoid revealing his Sharingan. As for Kage-level... he certainly wouldn't win if he went all out.

Swish!!!

As the sickle flew out, the heads of several Konoha chunin soared high into the air.

Blood splattered across Chiba's mask.

That cute Little Fox Mask now appeared exceptionally bloodthirsty.

At the same time, on the edge of the central battlefield, a long-haired ninja's gaze suddenly locked onto Uchiha Chiba, who was wearing the fox mask.

"There's no mistake. That guy... he carries the lingering chakra of the dead from Root, at least two different chakra signatures... The map must be on him. How fortunate." The long-haired ninja swung his blade, decapitating a Rain ninja before him, and then began to laugh with a sinister air.