Dice and Truths in the Night

Tsunade's antidote was mass-produced by the third day.

Finally, there was a way to suppress the long-range inhaled poison gas.

But it was useless at close range.

The concentration was too high; the antidote could not take effect in time, and a person would collapse on the spot.

This was why Kitahara Kaede had to stand at the very front.

He was the only one on the entire battlefield who could breathe while pressed against Hanzo's face and remain unscathed.

The battlefield was in the upper reaches of the river valley.

Hanzo stood atop his summoning creature, Ibuse.

Rainwater dripped down the filter tubes of his breathing mask as he looked down at the Konoha line opposite him.

The defensive line had stabilized.

The morale was also completely different from a week ago.

Intelligence sent from the rear confirmed one thing.

That yellow-haired female medical ninja had just broken Chiyo's poison on the western front not long ago.

No wonder his poison mist formation, which he took such pride in, had been forcibly carved open by these hundreds of slug summons and batches of antidotes.

Two of Amegakure's supply lines had been severed.

Reinforcements had been delayed for three days and were still nowhere to be seen.

Hanzo understood that the foundation of Amegakure was too thin.

He had never harbored delusions of annexing the territory of the Land of Fire at the start of the war.

This land, which rained all year round, needed a reputation.

A piece of strategic capital that would make the Five Great Nations wary and allow Amegakure to gain a foothold in the cracks.

Even if it meant paying a brutal price, someone had to shoulder this infamy.

"My lord," a hidden rain jonin behind him whispered, "the main force of Konoha is gathering. Should we—"

"I see it."

Hanzo tightened his grip on his kusarigama.

Opposite him.

Kitahara Kaede stepped onto the most prominent rock on the front line.

The relentless rain lashed against his face.

"Remember, Ibuse needs five minutes to recharge its poison after every spray."

Kitahara Kaede stared at the dark purple defensive line ahead.

"I'll go to the front to tie him down for those five minutes; you lead the others to press from the flanks."

Jiraiya grinned, drawing a line of blood across his thumb with his teeth.

"Got it."

Tsunade didn't waste words, simply saying, "Keep yourself safe."

Mud exploded beneath Kitahara Kaede's feet as he surged forward.

Ibuse's massive jaw opened.

Purple poison mist surged forth, covering the sky and earth.

Kitahara Kaede didn't hesitate, diving straight into the purple fog.

Tearing through the poison screen to meet him was the kusarigama chain, laced with wind pressure, sweeping viciously past his face.

The Chidori Sharp Spear condensed and extended in his palm.

The blinding lightning struck directly at the deep blue armor ahead.

Sparks erupted.

A massive recoil traveled up the length of the spear.

Kitahara Kaede's thumb web split, and he forcibly shifted his stance to dissipate the force.

Hanzo, holding his kusarigama, saw a flash of surprise in the eyes above his mask.

Not only was this kid immune to poison, but his strength and reflexes were far beyond those of his peers.

The sickle swung in an arc for a downward strike.

The iron chain sealed off his retreat from the other side.

Kitahara Kaede lowered his center of gravity, sliding past the blade by a hair's breadth. Lightning surged on his right fist, striking directly at Hanzo's blind spot.

Boom.

The lingering power of the Chidori hit the armor.

Hanzo's lower body remained unmoved as he raised his elbow to press down.

The force was immense.

Kitahara Kaede could only cross his arms to protect his head and face, being hammered back several steps until his calves sank into the mud.

Hanzo still didn't press his advantage, pulling the kusarigama back to his side.

Kitahara Kaede steadied his breathing, swallowing the taste of blood in his mouth.

He had bet correctly.

Every one of Hanzo's moves was heavy, but there was no killing intent.

Amegakure couldn't sustain this tug-of-war; a retreat was inevitable sooner or later.

As a ninja standing at the pinnacle, Hanzo needed to suppress Konoha one last time before withdrawing.

He needed a stepping stone to end the battle with dignity.

Just then, Ibuse's jaw closed completely.

The poison dissipated.

"Do it!"

Thick smoke erupted on the left flank as Gamabunta crashed to the ground.

"Fire Style: Great Flame Bomb!" Jiraiya stood atop Gamabunta, weaving signs.

Flames mixed with toad oil, turning into a sea of fire that lunged toward the high ground.

On the right flank, lights flashed repeatedly.

Hundreds of Katsuyu clones crossed the defensive line, precisely attaching themselves to the poisoned Konoha ninjas who had fallen.

The green light of the Mystical Palm Technique connected into a single sheet, completely ending their worries.

Lightning.

A sea of fire.

A medical network.

Hanzo stood where he was, taking in the actions of the three before him.

He backhanded the blunt side of his kusarigama, slapping it flat against Kitahara Kaede's chest.

Kitahara Kaede used the force to flip backward for over ten meters, sliding through the mud to dissipate the impact.

He looked a bit disheveled, but he still stood tall.

The flames exploded twenty meters away from Hanzo.

He watched the three of them for a long time in the heavy rain.

"To think you could actually catch my moves."

His deep voice drowned out the sound of the rain.

"It has been many years since I've seen young people who could stand before me."

Hanzo lifted his kusarigama with one hand.

"From today on, the three of you shall be known as the Sannin of Konoha."

Smoke filled the air.

Ibuse's massive body sank into the ground.

The Amegakure troops retreated rapidly, disappearing into the depths of the rain curtain in the blink of an eye.

Only the heavy rain remained in the river valley.

Night fell.

A tarp was set up over the firewood in the rear camp, and the flames finally roared to life.

Occasionally, a drunken chunin would sing at the top of his lungs.

Kitahara Kaede sat to one side.

His right hand toyed with two dice he had borrowed from somewhere.

Footsteps stopped beside him.

Tsunade sat down at his side.

Her gaze fell on the dice in Kitahara Kaede's hand, and she watched them quietly for two seconds.

"Want to bet?"

Having been tense for too long, she suddenly wanted to use a familiar game to find a sense of being alive again.

"Bet on what?"

"If you lose, you have to say something you would never say under normal circumstances."

Kitahara Kaede turned his head to look at her.

"Fine."

The two dice landed on the table.

They rolled around a few times.

Kitahara Kaede had a three.

Tsunade had a five.

The corner of her eye lifted, carrying a hint of triumph.

"Say it."

Kitahara Kaede was silent for two seconds.

The orange firelight hit the side of Tsunade's face, casting sharp contours.

"If I weren't reluctant to leave you on the front lines, I wouldn't bother caring about this rotten ninja world."

The surroundings were noisy.

The laughter in the camp mixed with the sound of the rain.

But between the two of them, it became so quiet that only the sound of the wood crackling could be heard.

Tsunade's hand trembled violently, knocking against the edge of the table.

The die that had just won vibrated, rolled twice, and stopped at the corner of the table.

A flush rapidly spread across her fair neck.

It burned all the way to her earlobes.

"You..."

"You told me to say it," Kitahara Kaede said in a flat tone.

Tsunade turned her head abruptly, her gaze fixed firmly on the fire in front of her.

Her chest heaved.

After a long time, she finally found her voice again.

"When this war is over, what kind of life do you want to live?"

Her voice was very soft.

Kitahara Kaede looked up at the rain dripping from the roof of the tent.

"Get a small courtyard."

"Grow something edible. Have someone I love cook for me every day, and have them nag and scold me every day, and I won't even talk back."

Tsunade turned her head, her pupils reflecting the flames and something else.

"And then?"

"That's enough."

Seeing the red lips opposite him part slightly.

"Hey! Why are you two hiding here?"

A chunin who had come off guard duty walked over, holding half a bottle of wine, waving from far away.

"There's wine here! Come over and drink!"

The words that had reached Tsunade's throat were forcibly choked back.

She stood up abruptly.

Her fingers tucked the stray hair behind her ear in a flustered manner.

"I'm going to sleep."

She turned and walked toward the medical tent.

After a few steps, she suddenly paused.

"I didn't realize you would even cheat with borrowed dice."

Before Kitahara Kaede could reply, she had already quickened her pace and walked away.

Her footsteps were a bit chaotic.

Kitahara Kaede watched her retreating figure.

He reached out and collected the two dice from the table.