Finding Someone

Since Sand Village had raised its alert level, it was difficult for Sakumo and me alone to continue attacking their supply camps.

After some thought, we decided to return to the front lines and discuss countermeasures with Orochimaru, to see whether we should continue attacking the supply camps or adjust our tactics.

"Orochimaru-sama, it's been a long time."

"So it's Qingyue-kun. It has been a long time. You look completely uninjured, so the mission must have gone smoothly, yes?"

After all, everything had been swift surprise attacks. If the enemy had managed to leave wounds on us, it would have meant the mission had failed—and we would not have returned alive.

"Orochimaru, Qingyue and I destroyed three of their transport units. Hidden Sand is on high alert now, so it won't be easy to keep attacking. What's the situation on your side? What has Hidden Sand been doing?"

"Our current plan is to feign defeat and lure them forward, then have you circle around and destroy their supply chain. So we are still pretending to retreat, and Hidden Sand continues advancing without the slightest suspicion. You say they are alert now, but they have not made any moves yet. Still, they should act soon—they will pull back a little."

"No. Based on what I know of Hidden Sand, they may not retreat. The Land of Wind is not wealthy enough to endure a prolonged war. For them, ending this battle as quickly as possible is absolutely preferable. Even if they know our retreat is a scheme, they will play along, because they cannot afford the attrition."

"So you mean the mission to attack the supply camps can continue, is that right, Sakumo-senpai?"

"No. Konoha, like Hidden Sand, cannot sustain this for too long either. My idea is to stop retreating and concentrate our firepower on charging them head-on. That will force their combat forces to gather at the front lines. Then we will form a three-Jonin team, go directly around to their deepest position, and destroy both their command camp and supply camps."

Wait, what? Three people were going to charge into the enemy's headquarters? Was my big brother Sakumo really that fierce?

"Three Jonin directly attacking their headquarters... It is risky, but with Sakumo-senpai there, there should indeed be no problem."

Huh? There really would not be a problem?

We still had not seen Rasa anywhere on the battlefield. Obviously, during an invasion war, Rasa would not remain in his own village. That meant he could only be at the headquarters.

He was the Fourth Kazekage, after all.

"So, Orochimaru, we'll leave the arrangements to you. Over the next half year, do your best to lure them as deep as possible. Then erupt suddenly and force all their combat forces to deploy, and assign Qingyue and me a Jonin capable of providing cover."

"Understood. I'll have someone return to Konoha and deliver the information to Teacher Sarutobi. Sakumo-senpai and Qingyue, please continue lying low."

Over the next half year, Sakumo and I entered a long period of covert operations. During that time, we kept our tracks hidden from Hidden Sand while constantly looking for chances to cut off their resource supply.

Over those six months, we destroyed six Hidden Sand supply camps in total without making a single sound.

The further things went, the tighter Hidden Sand's defenses became, until in the end, they no longer exposed any openings at all.

"This is much more tedious than I imagined. I barely trained or fought for half a year. It feels like my joints are about to rust."

Although not having to train was pretty nice, constantly having nothing to do was actually rather boring.

Still, Battle Aura and Observation Haki training did not necessarily require sparring or combat. Observation Haki did not rely on chakra; as long as I continually heightened my focus and concentrated on my surroundings, it could be trained.

Dragon Saint Battle Aura was always present around me as well. As long as I did not use chakra to increase its intensity, it would not expose any flaws.

Unfortunately, swordsmanship could only improve through sparring. Although I had such an outstanding opponent as Sakumo at my side, we could not do anything that might reveal our whereabouts during this covert period.

Only on the rarest occasions did we have time to spar.

Most of the time, I finished the sequel to my novel from my previous life in my head and recited it to Hill.

My writing was better now than it had been in middle school, and I had gained more experience to enrich the content of my stories.

After listening, Hill always gave me earnest feedback. The abundance of positive comments made me very happy.

Especially because every evaluation Hill gave came only after listening carefully from beginning to end. It made me feel that what I was doing had meaning.

We also talked a great deal about my novel from my previous life, and I finally learned what my pitifully few readers had thought of it.

Looking back, there had been no need to doubt myself because of negative comments. It was not as though no one had approved of my novel. What I had done had not been meaningless.

If I could return to my original world, I truly wanted to thank them.

"This is what a ninja war is like. We have completed our mission very well. You can return to Konoha with your head held high, Qingyue."

"It would be nice if that were true. Compared with our companions fighting at the front lines, it feels like we have done too little. It feels like I have not burned brightly enough."

This was far too different from the war I had imagined. From beginning to end, the thing I had done most was hide my tracks...

"Don't say that, Qingyue. The supply camps we destroyed will reduce the deaths of at least half our comrades. This is an extremely important mission. What comes next is even more important—it will directly determine how soon the war can end. We absolutely cannot fail."

"I understand. I also want to end the war soon and go back to see Rin. I haven't seen her since the supply escort mission."

"You're in such a hurry to see your little girlfriend. Are you afraid my son will steal her away?"

"That won't happen. Although Sakumo is very charming, Kakashi still falls far short of me."

You could tell from the gifts last time. Everything I received had been handmade and filled with special meaning, while Kakashi's had been rather perfunctory.

"So confident. Will you take her down as soon as you return to the village?"

"I'll wait until the war ends. I promised her that I would bring every war to an end."

"You really dare to say it."

Chatting like that along the way, we returned to the front-line command camp and saw Orochimaru again after half a year.

"Greetings, Orochimaru-sama."

"Orochimaru, how is the timing?"

"It is obvious that they are becoming increasingly anxious. After luring them to their limit, we stopped pretending to be weak and reversed the situation in only half a month. Their reinforcements are also arriving continuously."

"In other words, if we are going to act, now is the time?"

"That's right."

After receiving that affirmative answer, Sakumo's expression instantly turned grave. He clenched his fists as though ready to strike at any moment.

"I'm sorry, but I could not find a support-type ninja suited to the two of you. We are also short-handed here. However, I do have someone in mind who would be very suitable for you. You will have to find him yourselves, though. I have already determined his location: the Land of Hot Water, famous for its hot springs."

"Oh? Even one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, cannot summon this person?"

Hearing Orochimaru's tone, I had a rough idea of who it would be.

I had wondered why I had never seen this crucial figure. Had he left the village so early already...?

One of the Legendary Sannin—the Toad Sage, Jiraiya.