The Land of Rain battlefield, at Konoha's encampment.
Another day of slaughter had drawn to a close.
The Rain Ninja's offensive gradually lost momentum as Konoha reinforcements arrived from other fronts.
But Konoha had never been particularly concerned about the Rain Ninja. The real trouble came from the Sand Ninja's puppet corps.
These Puppeteers hid behind their puppets, sending them forward to fight Konoha's ninja.
Even when Konoha's ninja paid with their lives, they could rarely kill the Puppeteers hiding in the rear.
And the Puppeteers' hidden weapons, mechanisms, and poisons were almost impossible to guard against.
"Tsunade, how is it going? Any results?"
The tent flap lifted, and the white-haired Jiraiya stepped inside.
Inside the tent, bottles and jars covered a table. Tsunade was leading a group of medical ninja as they worked overtime to analyze the poison.
Tsunade rubbed between her brows, looking slightly exhausted.
"We've made progress, but it'll take more time to fully counter that old woman Chiyo's poison. She actually mixed Hanzo of the Salamander's poison into Sunagakure's. His poison has made the Sand Ninja's original formula even more complicated."
"Are you all right?"
Seeing how tired Tsunade looked, Jiraiya felt worried. But remembering that she now had a boyfriend, he refrained from overstepping.
"I'm fine. It's the poisoned ninja who are suffering. They'll have to hold on a little longer."
"I'm sure everyone understands. The suppressant you developed is still working. It can't completely neutralize the poison, but it has delayed its effects."
"But waiting like that is excruciating."
As she spoke, Tsunade couldn't help clenching her fists. How could it possibly feel anything but agonizing to have poison constantly destroying the cells and organs inside one's body? Even if the suppressant temporarily stopped the poison from spreading, it still couldn't reverse the damage it had caused.
By the time she developed an antidote, the poisoned ninja might already have been left with disabilities and lasting ailments from its ravages.
"Calm down, Tsunade. You've already done a great job. This isn't your fault. The war itself is to blame."
Jiraiya comforted Tsunade, and himself at the same time.
"If only there were no war. Why can't everyone live in peace?"
As he spoke, he thought of the Child of Prophecy the Great Toad Sage had once told him about. If only he could find the Child of Prophecy. Since the Great Toad Sage had said so, finding that child should allow him to bring peace to the shinobi world.
"But what's done is done. I hope all of this ends soon. Dragging it out won't do anyone any good."
"The war will end soon."
A hoarse voice sounded, and a man with rather pale skin stepped into the tent.
"Orochimaru!"
Seeing him, Tsunade clenched her fists even tighter.
"Tsunade."
As Orochimaru looked at Tsunade, his former companion, his eyes filled with guilt.
After all, Tsunade's younger brother, his favorite student, had died while on a mission with him.
For a moment, the atmosphere inside the tent turned awkward.
Seeing this, Jiraiya immediately spoke up to ease the tension.
"Orochimaru, what did you mean when you said the war would end soon? Has Sensei found a way to end all this quickly?"
With Jiraiya giving him a way out, Orochimaru answered.
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
"Sensei sent Sakumo to infiltrate the Land of Wind. The plan is to launch a surprise attack directly on Sunagakure and cut off supplies to their forces at the front, forcing them to end this war."
"Sakumo? Hatake Sakumo from the Hatake Clan? How many people did he take to Sunagakure?"
Orochimaru fell silent for a moment before answering.
"He went alone."
"What? Alone! Has the old man gone mad? That's not sending Sakumo on a mission. That's sending him to his death!"
Jiraiya's eyes widened in utter shock.
"No, I have to talk to the old man. How could he send Sakumo to Sunagakure alone? Going into enemy territory by himself at a time like this is suicide!"
"It wasn't Sensei's order. Sakumo requested it himself."
"He requested it? Why?"
Jiraiya was baffled. Normally, a mission like this would require at least one or two ninja squads.
Tsunade, who had remained silent until then, answered his question.
"Because of Sakuya."
"Sakuya? The Sakuya we used to run into at the Chiba Ramen Shop?"
Hearing that familiar name, Jiraiya recalled him.
"Yes. Sakuya was Sakumo's older brother. He died at Sunagakure's hands just before the war began."
Tsunade sighed and unclenched her fists.
"I think Sakumo went alone because he probably never intended to come back alive.
He's carrying out this mission not just to cut off Sunagakure's supplies, but to avenge Sakuya."
Just then, a commotion broke out outside.
"Enemy attack!"
"We're under attack!"
"The lunatics from Amegakure are here!"
Hearing the alarm, the three immediately rushed outside.
Rain poured down, and Amegakure's ninja charged into Konoha's camp under its cover.
"Tsunade, Orochimaru! Let's take them on together!"
"Right!"
"Understood."
The three charged at Amegakure's ninja together.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
"Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Jiraiya and the others unleashed their respective ninjutsu at the Rain Ninja.
Clearly, the ninja attacking Konoha's camp were no match for the three of them.
Yet even knowing they were outmatched, Amegakure's ninja charged at them without a trace of fear, shouting as they advanced.
"You evil Konoha ninja, get out of our country!"
"Evil Konoha ninja, get off our land!"
"Everyone, fight these evil invaders to the death!"
"For the Land of Rain! For Amegakure!"
Watching the Rain Ninja charge at them, shouting at the top of their lungs, Jiraiya was deeply shaken.
In the Land of Wind, outside Sunagakure's desert oasis, two ninja led a team out of the village.
But amid the yellow sand swirling across the desert, a spot of white stood out sharply.
"What's that?"
"I don't know. Everyone, be careful."
Standing in the desert, Hatake Sakumo locked onto his targets and drew the short blade at his waist.
A cold gleam flashed along its edge.
Today, Konoha's White Fang was destined to make his name known throughout the shinobi world.