Hanzo's Assault

Originally, besides them, there should also have been Dan Katō and an Elite Jonin named Kiyomi Kōtō.

The latter was quite powerful and also Hiruzen Sarutobi's absolute confidant, but at this moment, the two of them had already taken another Jonin on a secret mission.

"Everyone, tell me, what should we do now? The unit we previously sent to attack Amegakure's rear has probably been nearly wiped out by now."

Mitokado Homura let out a heavy sigh and asked the three people before him.

"Senior En, you shouldn't have provoked Hanzo at a time like this. Judging from the current situation, the attacking unit must have had its trail discovered and encountered Hanzo himself."

Tsunade shook her head, indicating that she had no solution either.

As the strongest master of Medical Ninjutsu in the entire Ninja World, she knew very well just how terrifying Hanzo's poison was.

Its corrosiveness was so potent that even she had yet to develop an antidote that could take effect quickly. She could only use the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique, relying on exceptional Chakra control to expel the poison from the body.

But in this era, when Medical Ninja had yet to be cultivated on a large scale, there were very few people capable of using this technique. Even though Tsunade had urgently trained a group of Medical Ninja after arriving in the Land of Rain, only a handful had managed to learn it.

And Hanzo's poison was not only highly corrosive, but its range was absurdly vast as well, capable of covering a large section of the battlefield.

Against an attack of that scale, as long as Hanzo's Chakra was not exhausted, numbers meant nothing before him.

There were probably very few survivors in the raiding force.

"Sigh, if we had followed Orochimaru's proposal and prioritized striking Suna, displaying our strength to Amegakure and attempting to win them over as allies, then Chiyo of Sunagakure would probably be the one worrying right now."

Jiraiya shook his head helplessly, then shifted his gaze toward the companion beside him.

The companion he considered the most gifted and the cleverest.

Yet Orochimaru remained seated, his gaze gloomy as he stared ahead, seemingly lost in thought.

"This matter is indeed this old man's fault. I will report to the village and accept responsibility. But I also believed that Sunagakure, like us, was one of the Five Great Nations and possessed greater strength, so resolving Amegakure first would be safer..."

As Mitokado Homura rambled on, he too turned his gaze toward Orochimaru.

"Now isn't the time to discuss that."

Orochimaru finally spoke.

"What concerns me now is Amegakure's intelligence-gathering capability."

"Hm? Orochimaru, what have you thought of?"

Everyone's gazes immediately focused on the pale-skinned young man.

"Why was Amegakure capable of detecting our troops' movements? If they possess that ability, what else might they know now, and what might they be doing?"

"Orochimaru... are you saying there's a traitor on our side?"

Mitokado Homura furrowed his brow, rapidly listing a series of suspicious candidates in his mind.

"That isn't the important part."

Orochimaru shook his head.

"If they know that much, then could they know the whereabouts of Senior Kōtō and Dan as well?"

Tsunade's expression changed abruptly.

"Orochimaru, you mean... Hanzo might go after Dan and the others!"

They knew Hanzo's strength all too well.

Their own strength was currently roughly on par with Dan Katō's, and that was while taking Dan Katō's Spirit Transformation Technique into account.

Without the Spirit Transformation Technique, although Dan Katō's strength still met the standard of an Elite Jonin, if he faced Hanzo head-on, he would absolutely be no match for him. It would likely be difficult even for him to return alive.

"No, Hanzo won't! Because if I were Hanzo, I would definitely take advantage of our elite forces being damaged and Dan Katō and Kiyomi Kōtō, our two major fighting forces, being absent to launch a direct assault on Konoha's camp and secure victory in one stroke. Only then could the results of battle be maximized!"

Orochimaru's words left everyone greatly shocked.

Because if that truly happened, Konoha's war on the Land of Rain Battlefield could be declared a failure!

Yet judging by Hanzo's character and boldness, there was indeed a strong possibility that he would make such a choice.

"I'll go arrange the camp's defenses first!"

Mitokado Homura abruptly rose from his seat.

"I'm afraid... it's already too late."

Tsunade turned her head. At that moment, a ninja suddenly rushed into the Command Room from outside.

"Lord En, and everyone! A Sensor Ninja has observed Amegakure's main army charging toward the camp from several kilometers away!"

Mitokado Homura froze in place. After hesitating for several seconds, he opened his mouth and said:

"You should lead the village's forces in retreat first. This old man will personally lead those willing to remain behind and cover your retreat!"

"Elder Yan, your spirit is admirable, but unfortunately, with your strength, I'm afraid you won't be able to hold Hanzo off for long."

Orochimaru shook his head without hesitation.

"The ones who should remain are the three of us. Elder Yan, quickly arrange for the majority of the ninja to retreat first, then select an elite force to rendezvous with Dan and Senior Kōtō. Since Hanzo is assaulting our camp, you should assault Hanzo's Amegakure as well! Even if the outcome is terrible, at the very least, we and Hanzo will have fought to a draw!"

At this time, he was still the most perfect Hokage successor in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. Before his friend Dan Katō had died, he had not yet embarked upon another path because of his realization of life's fragility.

Yet beneath that same calm and rational heart, there was also a streak of madness!

"But..."

Mitokado Homura still wanted to say something.

"Orochimaru is right."

Tsunade and Jiraiya rose to their feet together.

"I'm the only one who can use the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique to detoxify people while fighting! Only with me here is there any possibility of fighting Hanzo for an extended period!"

Tsunade's tone was filled with boldness.

"This old man will stay with you!"

"No, Elder Yan, you should still do as Orochimaru said. Because while fighting, I can only help two additional people detoxify at the same time."

Tsunade shook her head, refusing Mitokado Homura.

"Besides, if the three of us join forces against Hanzo, it's not certain who will win and who will lose!"

Tsunade's voice carried immense confidence.

She knew how strong Hanzo was, but they were no weaklings either.

Perhaps this battle could become the stepping stone for the three of them to break through their limits.

Mitokado Homura gave the three young people before him a deep look, recalling that meeting held while crouching on the ground before the Second Hokage's death.

When he was young, he had been far inferior to these three youths!

Hiruzen, they truly were worthy of being your disciples!

"Remember, come back alive. You are the village's future!"

After saying those final words, Mitokado Homura turned and left to select the other ninja willing to remain behind and cover the retreat.

In the original work, when Dan Katō died, he was injured while carrying out a mission with Kiyomi Kōtō and Tsunade as a team. Since Kiyomi Kōtō had been qualified to scold Tsunade on the battlefield when she panicked over Dan Katō's severe injuries, Kiyomi Kōtō should have been a Jonin of fairly high status. And since he could form a team with Tsunade and Dan Katō for missions, his strength should have been at the Elite Jonin level.