Arrival at the Konoha Camp

"That idiot Jiraiya actually chose to stay in the Land of Rain. Doesn't he understand the situation we're in?!"

Tsunade complained about Jiraiya the whole way. The war between Konoha and the Land of Rain had only just ended, and barely more than a day had passed since the three of them fought Hanzō. Yet Jiraiya had chosen to remain in the Land of Rain to look after a few children.

Not only would that behavior be impossible to justify back in Konoha, but if the Rain Ninja encountered him, they might see him as a spy and take it as a provocation, reigniting the war between Konoha and the Rain Ninja.

Besides, leaving the Konoha Camp without permission during wartime was enough to warrant branding him a Missing-nin.

"Orochimaru..."

"Don't look at me. At most, I'll join you in putting in a word with Teacher Sarutobi. As for anything else, there's no need to worry about that idiot."

Before Tsunade could finish, Orochimaru shook his head and refused. Putting in a good word for someone who had effectively deserted the village was already enough. He certainly wasn't willing to take the fall for that idiot.

Besides, both he and Tsunade were deeply unhappy with Jiraiya's decision. He would rather look after three Land of Rain Orphans he had only met twice than return to the Konoha Camp with them. If he really wanted to care for orphans, there were plenty in the Land of Fire, yet he insisted on staying in the Land of Rain.

"Then I'm staying out of it too. Let him explain himself to Teacher Sarutobi."

With that, Tsunade slowed her pace and moved beside Kane Penter. She was very interested in the medicines he had produced. They couldn't possibly have been developed by one person. They looked more like the results of five or six years of research by dozens of Medical Ninja.

While Tsunade and Orochimaru were talking, Karn had moved a little farther away to avoid any suspicion. Until he had established a relationship through several successful deals, he needed to be cautious.

When Tsunade wanted to discuss the medicines, Karn had little to offer. He had studied some medicine, but knew nothing about drug development, so he steered the conversation toward battlefield first aid. Basic suturing and bandaging, combined with first-aid techniques and medicines, could already take the place of an ordinary Medical Ninja.

That was also the area Karn had studied most. Even ordinary ninja could learn a systematic set of first-aid techniques and, with the right medicines, save wounded comrades. Tsunade grew more interested as she listened.

Medical Ninjutsu demanded exceptional talent from a ninja. Calling it one in a hundred was no exaggeration. But the first-aid techniques and simple suturing Karn described could be taught widely. Since they were designed specifically for treating battlefield injuries, they would also take far less time than training Medical Ninja.

As they neared the Konoha Camp, Tsunade praised Karn. "Your name might be a little strange, but you certainly know your medicine."

"I just know a bit more about this particular field. I do sell medicines, after all..."

Karn spoke with a calm expression, but inwardly he had his own complaint. Tsunade is a strange name too. What normal woman would be called Tsunade? How is that any different from being called Sledgehammer?

"If you knew Medical Ninjutsu, you'd be a highly accomplished Medical Ninja at the very least."

Tsunade offered another compliment. She felt she had learned quite a lot. Once she returned, she could organize these methods for treating urgent injuries and teach them to every ninja, saving many of their comrades.

Before long, they reached the Konoha Camp. Although the ninja guarding the entrance recognized Tsunade and Orochimaru, they still asked the usual questions, then used Sensory Ninjutsu to check for signs of a Transformation Technique or a disguise.

Only after confirming everything was in order did they let the three of them into the camp. Even though Tsunade and Orochimaru had brought Karn back, he still underwent the routine inspection.

Then Tsunade brought Karn into a tent and told him, "This is where I rest. Stay here and take a break while I discuss the medicines with the others."

"Don't worry. No one will give you any trouble here."

With that, Tsunade left her tent, taking some of the medicines Karn had given her. Before leaving, she also stationed a Hyuga ninja at the entrance, both to prevent Karn from going out to steal Konoha intelligence and to protect him. After all, Karn was the most cautious, timid merchant she had ever met. Throughout the journey, he had repeatedly stressed that he would leave immediately if he encountered danger.

She had no idea how an ordinary person intended to leave the Konoha Camp. The sensory ninja and the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan had both confirmed that Karn had no chakra in his body, nor even any signs of training.

After settling Karn in, Tsunade immediately headed to the War Council Tent. By the time she arrived, she was the last one there.

"Tsunade, why didn't Jiraiya come back with you? And who is that person you brought back? We're still at war, yet you're bringing strangers into the camp as you please..."

The commander on the Land of Rain front was the Hokage Advisor, Shimura Danzō. He had hoped to earn substantial military merit through this war, only for Hiruzen Sarutobi's three students to steal the spotlight.

Though the title of Konoha Sannin had been bestowed on them as the defeated party, the person who had named them the "Sannin" was the Demigod of the Ninja World. In the eyes of the Konoha Ninja, the Third Hokage's three students were powerful ninja who, together, could stand against the Demigod of the Ninja World.

"I've already reported Jiraiya's situation to Teacher Sarutobi. As for the person I brought back, that's precisely what I want to discuss later."

Tsunade paid no heed to Shimura Danzō's rebuke. She had long disliked the sinister old man. This time, to draw the Sand Ninja into the war, he had ordered his Root subordinates to impersonate Sand Ninja and Rain Ninja and slaughter civilians along the border between the two countries. Though the move had benefited Konoha, Tsunade still couldn't stomach it.

"Hmph. Fine. Let's begin discussing the war."

Shimura Danzō could do little about Tsunade either. She was no ordinary Jonin. Lady Mito was still alive, and Tsunade had just rendered a great service. He could hardly use Jiraiya's failure to return or her bringing back a stranger as grounds to target her.

"Amegakure has already withdrawn from the battlefield. Their supplies can't keep up. If they continued fighting, they wouldn't even have shuriken left to throw. Now only the Sand Ninja remain."

The people in the tent then began discussing how to wrap up the fighting in the Land of Rain. Konoha had initiated this war and driven back both Amegakure, home to the Demigod of the Ninja World, and Sunagakure, one of the five great Ninja Villages. It had been a highly successful campaign.

All that remained was to have the two Ninja Villages sign a Defeat Treaty, and Konoha would have secured an overwhelming victory.

Another Konoha Ninja said, "Jonin Sakumo sent word that Iwagakure seems to be making moves. There's a strong chance they'll invade the Land of Grass..."

After a moment's thought, Shimura Danzō said, "Send him a message. He'll have priority for the next round of reinforcements. We must not let Iwagakure invade the Land of Grass."

The Land of Grass was currently Konoha's Vassal Country. An invasion by Iwagakure would amount to a declaration of war against Konoha.

After some discussion, everyone had more or less finished their reports, and Shimura Danzō turned his gaze toward Tsunade.

Noticing her colleagues looking at her, Tsunade took all the medicines and medical supplies Karn had given her out of the bag and addressed them.

"That man's name is Kane Penter. He's a merchant who lost his way in the Land of Rain, and these are the goods he sells."