Ah, What a Good Woman

Bright sunlight streamed into the hospital room, and a brilliant smile spread across that fresh, refined face.

In contrast, the smile at the corner of Orochimaru's hard-featured face gradually faded. This Uchiha brat was even greedier than he had expected.

"Two million ryo as mission pay and the condition of leaving the battlefield—this isn't a mission an ordinary genin can even come into contact with. Even greed needs limits."

"Cut the crap. Five million ryo, at least ten kunai made from materials similar to the Kusanagi Sword, one Kusanagi Sword, Various Puppet Materials, and a Full Set of Ninja Tools Including Explosive Tags. Otherwise, no deal."

He directly cut off Orochimaru's train of thought. Even Huayue felt that this almost shameless demand was a little excessive, yet he still ruthlessly took a hefty bite out of the deal.

The so-called Kusanagi Sword actually referred to weapons forged from the toughest substance in the Hokage World, capable of withstanding even a Tailed Beast Bomb.

As for puppet mechanism materials and the five million ryo reward, they seemed utterly insignificant beside those ten Kusanagi Sword kunai and the Kusanagi Sword itself.

"Where did you hear the name Kusanagi Sword? Forget it. Konoha is footing the bill anyway. Once you sign this agreement, prepare your ninja tools and depart immediately. The Sand Ninja and Kumogakure forces are already nearing Kikyō Pass."

Orochimaru's muttering made Huayue's ears twitch. He suddenly felt like he might have asked for too little.

"The contract is established. The things you need will be delivered shortly. Don't underestimate your opponent too much. She's Chiyo, the Sand Ninja advisor and Puppet Master who participated in two Great Ninja Wars."

Leaving behind only those words, Orochimaru hurried away. It seemed he was anxious to settle the bill with the Third Hokage.

That was understandable. After all, those bizarre experiments often consumed enormous sums of money. Even Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, presumably worried about funds.

"A Sand Ninja advisor? Puppet Master Chiyo? Compared to those old fossils clinging desperately to power, the older generation of Sand Ninja really is open-minded."

"What should that be called? No comparison, no difference?"

Creak!

The hospital room door opened again, and Nonō slowly walked inside, smiling at Huayue.

"Looks like you've mostly recovered. Are you going home later?"

"Well, I'd like to go home too, but things usually don't go as people wish. I'll be heading to the battlefield next. An endless war."

That carefree, brilliant smile casually pierced Nonō's heart.

The hand resting on his forehead changed into a gentle embrace. The scent of medicinal herbs and her reassuringly gentle presence left Huayue momentarily stunned.

"This damned era... even sprouts like you, who haven't fully grown yet, have to step onto the battlefield. It's really... really..."

Ah, what a good woman!

Before the thought could fade, laughter followed, making Huayue turn his head. The Black Nine-Tails' nine tails instantly stood straight up.

"This Lord wasn't laughing..."

"Shut up! It's time for you to be useful. If you drop the ball at a critical moment, you'll regret it."

Urgent footsteps approached as two Konoha Ninja hurriedly pushed open the door and shouted.

"Is Uchiha Huayue here?!"

Seeing the awkward scene, the two instinctively apologized and were about to turn around and leave when Huayue, whose good moment had been interrupted, glared at them with anger in his eyes.

"What is it?"

"Y-you're Uchiha Huayue? Has the higher-ups gone mad? They're actually sending a child to deal with the famous Puppet Master Chiyo!"

The two Konoha chunin responsible for delivering the message had briefly suspected that the Third Hokage had gone senile, but Uchiha Huayue's next words completely shattered their fantasy that the order had been issued by mistake.

"So soon? Honestly, Teacher Orochimaru really acts fast. Has the Yellow Flash already gone to Kikyō Pass?"

"Yes! Lord Minato has already set out from the Land of Wind border and is about to reach the Land of Fire border."

Bang! The door flew open, and several Konoha Medical Squad ninja looked around. When they spotted Nonō, delight appeared on their faces.

"Lady Nonō, it's wonderful that you're here. This is an emergency. The Third Hokage has ordered the Medical Squad to immediately head to Kikyō Pass for support."

"My, my, so the doctor is called Nonō? I'll remember that. Take this kunai. Something good might happen someday. Goodbye."

His figure flickered, and the two Konoha chunin who had delivered the message vanished from the spot alongside Uchiha Huayue, leaving behind Medical Squad members with stunned expressions.

"They disappeared... the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

Her thoughts raced as she turned to look at the black kunai left on the hospital bed. A strangely meaningful formula symbol was faintly engraved upon it.

After breaking into a smile, she tucked it away close to her body in front of the two Medical Squad members, leaving them utterly baffled. She was about to head to the battlefield, yet she was still so happy?

Inside Huayue's small home in the Uchiha Clan.

After changing into the Black Cloak, he asked the two Konoha chunin, who were still too shocked to recover.

"The Sand Ninja side should still have the Yellow Flash's chakra kunai. Take out the Yellow Flash's kunai. We're leaving."

"Huh? How did you know we have Lord Minato's kunai on us?"

The corners of his mouth twitched. Looking at them as though they were idiots, he answered coldly.

"I've never been to the Land of Wind. If you didn't send the Yellow Flash's chakra mark over, were you expecting me to walk there step by step?"

Only then did they realize how idiotic their question had been. The Spiky-Haired Chunin hurriedly took out the kunai. After giving it a rough glance, Huayue nodded slightly.

"I see. A formula leaning more toward written characters? I roughly understand it. Let's go."

The scene shifted. Explosions and flames periodically erupted across the endless desert. When the three descended from the sky, they landed right in the center of the battlefield.

"Did I miss? I had intended to reach the farthest target in one go, but it seems the distance is just right now."

"Hey! What are you doing standing in the middle of the battlefield? Poison needles are coming!"

From the forest at the edge, a Konoha Ninja shouted. A dozen or so Shuriken whistled down from above and embedded themselves in the tree trunks.

Wind Release: Wind Cutter!

Countless invisible wind blades surged in from afar, turning the sand and dust into fine powder. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes, and a fierce shout instantly scattered the wind blades.

Crack!

A powerful burst of chakra caused the battlefield, filled with explosions and battle cries, to fall briefly silent.

The Konoha Ninja concealed in the forest all turned their eyes toward the figure standing in the middle of the battlefield, wearing a Three-Eyed Demon Fox Mask engraved with the Konoha symbol. Their expressions varied.

"What is that chakra?"

"Hey, hey, hey, they transferred the Yellow Flash away, and the Reinforcements they sent are this short? Is that a child?"

"Are you kidding me?! We're supposed to entrust our lives to this brat?"