Uchiha Chiba had only just arrived in the Land of Wind when the Blood Pact within him began to stir. This technique was growing more and more intriguing to Chiba. He was also becoming increasingly curious about how Danzo had learned of it...
Konoha's headquarters in the Land of Wind
Tsunade flicked Chiba on the forehead.
"What's wrong? Heatstroke? My chakra didn't detect any cause of illness." Tsunade was dressed in ordinary clothes. She had taken off the armor she'd worn in Amegakure because of the heat. Come to think of it, they hadn't seen a sunny day in ages. With the weather in the Land of Rain, where it rained all year round, even one or two rainless days felt like a blessing from the heavens.
"Maybe. Sensei, did I hold up your mission?" Uchiha Chiba got out of bed, straightened his clothes, and strapped on his Kusarigama.
"I wouldn't say you held us up, but some interesting things have happened over the past few days." Tsunade shook her head and put away her Chakra Scalpel.
After their brief period of training, Uchiha Chiba had figured out what each of his three teachers was responsible for teaching him. Orochimaru mainly taught him ninjutsu and strategy, Jiraiya taught him how to infiltrate enemy ranks, disguise himself, and transform, while Tsunade taught him Medical Ninjutsu and Taijutsu.
"What interesting things?" Uchiha Chiba looked puzzled. After all, he didn't know much about Konoha's clashes with Sunagakure during the Second Shinobi World War. He only knew that Hatake Sakumo had made a name for himself during the war, and that after it ended, his reputation had even begun to surpass Orochimaru's at his peak.
"Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of the Leaf, broke through a hundred-man unit by himself and killed the son and daughter-in-law of Chiyo, Sunagakure's commander-in-chief and a puppeteer." Tsunade gestured for Uchiha Chiba to walk out of the tent with her.
They walked out of the tent.
The wind and sand outside were fierce.
If Chiba remembered correctly,
the Kazekage ruling Sunagakure right now was the Third Kazekage...the unknown man hailed as the strongest Kazekage. His special Kekkei Genkai was the Iron Sand World Method. His black wings rained down terrifying iron sand, like a dark cloud hanging over the battlefield.
Before the Sannin's forces arrived, Hatake Sakumo had hesitated. He'd feared that if he attacked Sunagakure's headquarters and got held up by the Third Kazekage or Chiyo, the other one would break through his troops and cause Konoha's entire force to collapse. But things were different now. Hatake Sakumo planned to go all out.
While Uchiha Chiba was deep in thought,
Jiraiya came over.
"Are you feeling better?" Jiraiya said with a smile. He took a scroll from his pocket and handed it to Chiba.
"This scroll contains the S-rank Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song technique. I got it from White Fang. Keep up your training." After speaking, Jiraiya looked at Tsunade.
Uchiha Chiba took the scroll and opened it on the spot. His Three Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, and in just one minute, the Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song technique had been engraved in his mind.
"Tsunade, Chiba, let's go. Orochimaru and White Fang are still waiting for us." Jiraiya headed for the command tent in the center of the camp.
Then
Chiba hurried after him.
Tsunade watched Chiba's retreating figure, and it seemed to merge with Nawaki Senju's. She rubbed her temples, let out a breath, and watched her chest rise and fall as she murmured, "What's wrong with me...? Have I been too tired lately...?"
Konoha's command tent in the Land of Wind
"If that's the case, then we should just take it by force." Orochimaru pointed at the map.
"Mm, I think so too. The Lord Third sent me a coded message, telling me we need to capture this canyon as soon as possible. We don't have much time." A white-haired man stroked his chin. He was none other than the renowned White Fang of the Leaf, Hatake Sakumo.
"This canyon is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Unless the Third Kazekage is an idiot, he'll have stationed a large force here," Orochimaru continued.
"You're right, but..." Hatake Sakumo's voice trailed off as he turned toward the entrance.
Then
Jiraiya and the other two entered the tent.
"We're not late, are we?" Jiraiya said teasingly.
Hatake Sakumo shook his head.
"Of course not. Jiraiya. Ah, Lady Tsunade, it's been a long time. The little one behind you must be the Sannin's shared student." Hatake Sakumo smiled, his gaze settling on Chiba.
Chiba felt a terrifying wave of chakra. It was an aura Hatake Sakumo had released without realizing it.
"Lord White Fang, I'm Uchiha Chiba." Chiba nodded.
"Oh? Someone from the Uchiha Clan. Hahaha! We'd only heard that a gifted young child had been taken on as a student by all three Sannin. We didn't expect him to be from the Uchiha Clan. Of course, I don't mean to discriminate against the Uchiha Clan." Hatake Sakumo still wore that gentle smile.
"It's fine. I don't have a family anyway, so I don't care." Uchiha Chiba shrugged.
"By the way, since this is our first meeting... Here, take this." Hatake Sakumo said as he pulled a scroll from his pocket and tossed it to Uchiha Chiba.
Smack!!!
He caught the scroll.
Written on it were the words:
Puppet Technique Summary
"This is loot I found on the son and daughter-in-law of Chiyo, Sunagakure's commander. Of course, their bodies have already been returned. Anyway, let's discuss this valley now. I don't have much time." After speaking, Hatake Sakumo returned to the map.
Orochimaru glanced at Chiba,
then beckoned to him.
Chiba went over to the map table as well.
"Let's get back to what we were discussing. Where were we...? Right, this valley. I've already sent people to investigate. Chiyo has a special puppet unit stationed here. I hear they're very troublesome, so taking this place in a short time is almost impossible." Hatake Sakumo glanced at Chiba, then turned his attention back to the map.
Orochimaru fell into thought.
Then
Tsunade spoke. "If they're puppeteers, they must be skilled with poison, right?"
"That's right, Lady Tsunade. To tell you the truth, when you first arrived in Amegakure, Chiyo sent someone with the antidote formula for Salamander Toxin." Hatake Sakumo nodded.
"Oh? So she was the one who sent that antidote? I'd like to meet her." Tsunade spoke up.
"I suggest sending a strike team to attack the granary in the forest of the Land of Wind, just beside the valley." Orochimaru pointed to a patch of forest not far from the valley's right side.
The Land of Wind did have forests,
but compared with its deserts,
they were few and far between.
"Hmm... Sorry, Hatake Sakumo, but I don't seem to have a strike team like that under my command." Hatake Sakumo frowned.
"Come to think of it, we do have a strike team..." Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade.
Then
Tsunade spoke. "Send Dan and the others. Take this kid along too. He's good at assassination, and his poison-laced chakra is troublesome."
Tsunade patted Chiba's head. He was much shorter than she was.
Before you continue