Karura nodded slightly to indicate that she understood, but then looked at Chiyo's arm with concern in her eyes.
"Elder Chiyo, losing an arm is like losing the five most important fingers for a puppeteer, you..."
Chiyo, however, just smiled nonchalantly.
"It's nothing. Actually, a long time ago, I had already planned to replace one of my arms with a puppet-like mechanism to enhance my close-combat self-defense capabilities. I even made the corresponding puppet arm and added threads made of precious Chakra Metal inside, making its Chakra conduction no less than that of the human body. This time, it just so happened that the enemy helped me make this decision."
If Chiyo were to replace one of her arms with this puppet arm, it wouldn't affect her control over the puppet, and it would also enhance her close-range self-defense capabilities. Overall, Chiyo's strength would actually improve to some extent.
"I understand, Elder Chiyo."
Karura stood up, intending to instruct Rasa to investigate Uchiha Meikyō's information.
However, at that moment, Chiyo suddenly called out to Karura.
"Karura, wait a minute, there's one more thing!"
Karura turned around and looked at Chiyo.
"If I'm not mistaken, Tsunade has collected quite a few samples of the new toxin used by the Puppet Force during the previous battle. I hope that after I replace my arm tonight, I can have Rasa launch an attack immediately and not give Tsunade enough time to decipher the toxin!"
Chiyo was very confident in the new toxin she had developed. She believed that even if Tsunade had the best Medical Ninjutsu skills, she would not be able to find an antidote in just one night.
"I understand, Elder Chiyo!"
Konoha Camp.
The lights were on late at night.
"In control group number eight, the hemoglobin in the mice reacted with the toxins and bound together..."
"In control group number six, the mice showed signs of neurological deterioration and a rapid decline in their physical reaction capabilities..."
"Control group number fourteen..."
In a makeshift laboratory, Meikyō held a small booklet and kept recording the series of changes that occurred in the bodies of these mice after they were injected with different doses of toxin.
On the other side, Tsunade was using Chakra Scalpel to dissect the body of a white mouse that was on the verge of death. The reason it was on the verge of death was because Tsunade needed more accurate live data, and as long as Tsunade did not want the white mouse to die, the white mouse would continue to live in this state of being worse than dead.
After a long time, Tsunade finally figured out how this toxin worked in the body, and then decisively killed the mouse.
The white mouse had a look of relief in its eyes.
"It's very complicated! This toxin is a neurotoxin that combines multiple toxins. Its main component should be extracted from snakes and scorpions in the desert. If the poisoned person's Chakra resistance is insufficient, or if they have used a certain amount of Chakra in battle, their reaction skills and muscle strength will definitely be weakened, greatly affecting the ninja's combat ability!"
Tsunade frowned slightly.
If we follow the traditional method of cracking the code, even she would need at least two days.
As for other ninjas, apart from Orochimaru who might have a chance of breaking the curse, other ninjas might not have any effective way to break the curse except to use the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique to directly extract the toxin from the poisoned person's body.
However, being able to master the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique already makes one an elite among Medical Ninja. Moreover, this technique requires far more Chakra and energy than regular Medical Ninjutsu, so it certainly cannot be used as a regular medical method.
"Chiyo lost an arm. Even though her Medical Ninjutsu is excellent, she will definitely need a few days to recover. It is highly unlikely that Sunagakure will launch a large-scale attack in the next few days, but just in case, we should take appropriate measures as soon as possible."
Tsunade rubbed her temples wearily.
Prolonged, high-intensity mental exertion may not be too much of a burden on the body, but it will inevitably lead to a slight decline in mental state.
"Teacher Tsunade, we can actually think about it differently."
Meikyō closed the booklet in her hand and looked at Tsunade, saying...
"Now that we understand how Chiyo's toxin works, we can start from this point and develop a special drug that can block the toxin from taking effect in the body for a certain period of time or delay its effect. We should prioritize ensuring that even if our people are poisoned, they can still fight. As long as we can buy enough time, it will not be difficult to develop an antidote."
Tsunade nodded slightly in agreement.
"Then tonight, Meikyō, let's work overtime together to develop this special drug!"
After changing their research focus, the two of them indeed worked much faster.
Clinical time.
"In the short term, this is the best effective medicine that can be made under the current conditions!"
Tsunade looked at the pale blue liquid in the test tube in front of her and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
This special medicine, once ingested, can delay the onset of poisoning by at least five hours.
Five hours should be enough for a large-scale battle, unless it's a decisive battle where both sides are giving it their all.
Meikyō tore a page from the booklet, wrote down the formula for the special medicine, and handed it to the Medical Corps, demanding that they produce it at full speed in a short period of time.
The total number of Konoha Ninja on this expedition was 3,500, of whom 120 were Medical Ninja trained by Tsunade over the past few years.
A qualified Medical Ninja can produce about seven to eight doses of the medicine per hour using this formula and with the help of equipment. A more skilled Medical Ninja could easily double that number.
Having finished their tasks, Tsunade and Meikyō were finally able to return to their respective camps to rest for a while.
Especially Meikyō, who first spent two days on missions outside, then fought a battle with a strong person like Chiyo, and after returning to the camp in the afternoon, Tsunade kept her busy all night developing an antidote.
After working non-stop for three days, Meikyō still needs some time to properly replenish her energy.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Meikyō had only rested for a little over an hour when a chaotic noise suddenly came from outside the camp.
"What happened?"
The noise outside instantly woke Meikyō up.
"Meikyō, the Sand Ninja have mobilized a large force and are heading towards our camp. According to the Byakugan ninjas of the Hyuga Clan, they are less than a kilometer away from us!"
Inuzuka Ryo lifted the tent flap and said with a serious expression.
"The Sand Ninja are attacking! Everyone, prepare yourselves! Medical Ninja, continue producing medicine. Prioritize supplying the finished medicines to Jonin and Chunin! All ninjas who have received medicines, proceed to the outer perimeter to form a defensive formation. Ninjas who have not received medicines, stay in the center and provide support using ranged Ninjutsu!"
Dan Katō's voice suddenly came, drowning out everyone else's voices.
As the leader of the Jonin Commander, he still held considerable prestige among these Konoha Ninja.
Meikyō quickly took out the sample medicine made by Tsunade from her Ninja Tool Pouch and gave herself an injection.
Although he was unharmed in the previous battle against Chiyo's Puppet Force, it's still best to be fully prepared at this moment.
"The stockpiled medicines are all located on the east side of the center of the camp. If you need them, hurry over there. I'll go outside to prepare for battle!"
Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Nami exchanged a glance and quickly headed towards the east side of the camp's center.
They also knew that with their strength, it would be difficult for them to play a role in the battles of Meikyō, so it was better to focus on their own essential tasks first.
Meikyō barely tidied up before rushing towards the camp gate.
During wartime, one must be ready to fight at any moment. Even in relatively safe camps, weapons must be kept within easy reach at all times, ready for combat at any time.
When Meikyō arrived, the front lines were already engaged in combat.
"Magnet Release: Golden Sand Waves!"
The surging Gold Dust gathered around Rasa and rushed towards the gate of the Konoha camp ahead.
A flash of blue light appeared in Dan Katō's eyes, and his body levitated into the air. He raised his hand and released an equally surging shockwave, blocking Rasa's attack.
Two years have passed, and Dan Katō has been able to perfectly control his terrifyingly powerful Mental Power.
The Spirit Activation Technique was originally Ninjutsu developed by Dan Katō based on his own Mental Power. By the third stage, he already possessed clear perception abilities, and by the Fourth Stage, he was able to influence reality with his own will.
In the life-or-death battle a few years ago, after experiencing the baptism of death, Dan Katō's Mental Power became even more solid and powerful, surpassing his previous level.
Even without using Ninjutsu, Dan Katō now possesses a telekinetic ability, allowing him to directly interfere with reality through mental manipulation. Combined with Jonin, his strength is already extremely formidable.
"Dan Katō from Konoha...?"
Rasa stood on a plate made of Gold Dust floating in mid-air, with countless Gold Dust surging around him. On the other side, Dan Katō also used telekinesis to levitate his own body, which shone with a mysterious blue light, and he was in a fierce confrontation with Rasa in terms of aura.
"Magnet Release · Gold Dust Realm Method!"
"Sun Breathing - Third Form - Scorching Sun Red Mirror!"
"Sun Breathing - Eighth Form - Spinning Sun Shimmer!"
"Uchiha Style: Sword Leap Flame!"
Meikyō moved swiftly across the battlefield, his Ama-no-Ohabari constantly rising and falling, taking the heads of Sand Ninja one by one, as if he were in an empty field.
"Damn it, it's Konoha's Meikyō the Body Flicker!"
When the Sand Ninja saw Meikyō's figure, they couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
After the battle with Chiyo, Meikyō had already made it to the first page of the Sand Ninja's list of dangerous targets, ranking only below Dan Katō and Tsunade.
Because of the dazzling skill in the Body Flicker Technique displayed by Meikyō in the previous battle with Chiyo, the Suna puppeteers gave Meikyō the nickname "Meikyō the Body Flicker" after that battle.
This reminded Meikyō of the name "Body Flicker Shisui" that his future cousin Shisui would use. He never expected that this title would fall on his own head first.
It has to be said that this is much more impressive than the mysterious "Meikyō the Decapitator," a name that sounds utterly lame.
If they can perform well in the upcoming war, it's conceivable that their reputation, which is currently only circulating in Suna, will soon spread throughout the Ninja World.
This excited Meikyō, and to express his gratitude to the Suna, he immediately fought even more fiercely.
"Boom!"
With a loud bang, the spot where Meikyō had been a second ago turned into a deep pit, and a puppet shrouded in a white robe appeared.
"Uchiha Meikyō, we meet again."
Chiyo appeared in front of Meikyō with a cold smile, raised her hands and waved her fingers, manipulating the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets to surround Meikyō.
"They've actually replaced one of their arms?"
Meikyō keenly noticed that Chiyo's arm had become completely different from before. She calmly raised the Ama-no-Ohabari in her hand, her face solemn.
Last time, Chiyo was unfamiliar with his abilities and underestimated him, misjudging Meikyō's strength. This time, however, both sides have a certain understanding of each other's abilities and are taking him very seriously.
Meikyō could already foresee what kind of fierce battle was about to unfold.
"Hey! Chiyo hag Chiyo, I'm your opponent!"
Tsunade appeared beside Meikyō.
Chiyo frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed.
If she were to truly face the combined might of Meikyō and Tsunade, she would definitely be no match.
Fortunately, she wasn't without other top experts on her side.
"Elder Chiyo, I'm here to help you!"
Amidst the billowing yellow sand, Karura, stepping onto a platform formed from the sand, swiftly descended to Chiyo's side, Tsunade Meikyō.
"Boom!"
Another deafening roar echoed across the battlefield, drawing everyone's attention.
Countless Gold Dust gathered into a huge rectangular shield, blocking Rasa's path.
Meanwhile, Dan Katō unleashed his full telekinetic power, transforming it into a giant hammer that slammed down on the Gold Dust cube, creating a deafening roar.
Countless tiny specks of Gold Dust fell from the golden cube, Rasa could only grit his teeth and barely manage to fend off Dan Katō.
Even though he became the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa's strength was still very low among the Kage level. Against Dan Katō, he could only be suppressed.
"Rasa ..."
Karura glanced with worry at the battlefield where her lover was not far away.
"Karura, don't get distracted! Only by defeating these two enemies together with me will we have a chance to support Rasa!"
Chiyo, controlling a white-clad female puppet wielding dual swords, blocked Meikyō's attack and shouted at Karura.