Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Tsunade and Kato Dan
Almost everyone was injured. Inuzuka Ryo shielded Tiemen from the explosion by covering him with his own body, leaving his back riddled with bloody cuts from the flying debris. Aburame Nami had injured her leg so severely she could barely stand.
Even Haruto's clothes were torn, and his arms—used to shield his head from the explosion—were streaked with blood.
But despite everything, they all survived.
"We need to move quickly. That explosion was too loud. There's no telling if it will attract more enemies," Hinata Tiemen urged Haruto, his face streaked with blood. Behind him, Kazesai Ita supported the injured Inuzuka Ryo.
"Right," Haruto replied, stepping forward to carry the wounded Aburame Nami on his back.
"Let me take care of her. Your arm is hurt," Tiemen said, his voice calm as he glanced at Haruto's injured arm. Without another word, he hoisted Aburame Nami onto his back and set off for the Konoha base, not looking back.
"That guy... cold on the outside but warm-hearted," Haruto muttered with a small smile, motioning for Inuzuka Ryo to follow him.
The group encountered no further Rain Ninjas on their journey. The continuous rain masked their scent, making it difficult for enemies or even animals to track them, and while the moisture grounded insects, Tiemen's Byakugan still worked perfectly.
Guided by Hyuga Tiemen's vision, they eventually made their way to the Konoha base near the border of the Land of Fire.
"Quick! Get the wounded inside! Prepare the medical supplies!" an older Inuzuka shouted when he saw the group approaching. He called for help, assisting Haruto and the others into the base for treatment.
---
Half an hour later, inside the base, Haruto sat with a bandage on his arm as he and Tiemen explained to Inuzuka Talon everything that had happened after they arrived at the front-line camp.
Their experience mirrored that of Tiemen's team. They had been escorting supplies from another Konoha stronghold near the border. During their retreat, Tiemen had used his Byakugan to spot a large group of organized Rain Ninjas and decided to alter their route to head for a closer stronghold, which turned out to be the one Haruto's group had reached.
"The situation on the front lines has gotten that bad?" Inuzuka Talon sighed as he looked out at the dark, rain-filled sky. "I wonder how Tokishin and the others are faring."
Inuzuka Talon had been good friends with Shirakubo Tokishin, a specialist jonin known for his swordsmanship and speed. Tokishin had been part of an elite squad temporarily formed by Mitomon En, including Kato Dan and Mume Goto, tasked with attacking the Hidden Rain Village's rear lines to destroy their logistical supplies.
After the successful destruction of Hidden Rain's supplies, Kato Dan insisted on moving forward to assist Tsunade and her team, who were engaged in battle with Hanzo.
Unbeknownst to him, that battle had already come to an end.
---
High above the battlefield, Hanzo stood atop the giant salamander Ibushi, his arms crossed as he gazed down at Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, who were barely standing as they supported one another.
"Konoha still manages to produce talented young shinobi like you three, even after such a prolonged war…" Hanzo remarked quietly. "It seems that even if I were to kill you now, Konoha would still likely win this war in the end."
Hanzo, the so-called "Demi-God" of the ninja world, continued to observe the exhausted trio, not realizing that Konoha had been forced to send academy students into battle two years early due to their depleted forces.
Instead, Hanzo marveled at Konoha's sheer resilience, convinced that their ability to produce such powerful warriors, even in the midst of hardship, was unparalleled.
"So, I've decided to spare your lives. But in exchange, you will carry the name 'Konoha Sannin' that I bestow upon you."
With that, Hanzo gave Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya one last glance before disappearing. His mind had already shifted to a new goal: forming an alliance with Konoha to drive the larger nations out of the Rain Country. The devastation of his homeland had gone on long enough.
---
A day later, the base where Haruto's team had sought refuge was now crowded with Konoha ninjas retreating from the front lines after their defeat. The base, originally home to around 150 shinobi—comprising one jonin, two special jonin, several chunin, and many genin like Haruto—had now swelled to nearly 300 soldiers.
As night fell, a significant shift in morale swept the camp. Shirakubo Tokishin arrived at the base, accompanied by two notable Konoha jonin: Kato Dan and Tsunade, who had just been given the title of Sannin.
Their arrival, along with the news they brought, uplifted the spirits of the defeated and wounded soldiers. Word spread that the Sannin had faced Hanzo of the Salamander, securing a retreat for most of the Konoha forces and preserving the village's strength.
The official story was that Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya had held off Hanzo, causing him to initiate an alliance with Konoha. However, Haruto knew the truth—Tsunade had shared it privately with Kato's genin team: they had been defeated by Hanzo.
---
Inuzuka Ryo marveled at his newly healed body. "Incredible!" he said, running his hand over his smooth, unblemished skin.
Aburame Nami was already walking again, though it would take a few more days for her to fully recover. The rapid healing was all thanks to Tsunade's medical ninjutsu.
"The injury wasn't serious, just some superficial damage. With the Mystical Palm Technique, it healed quickly," Tsunade explained as her glowing green hand passed over Haruto's arm. Moments later, the scabs fell away, revealing fresh, unmarked skin beneath.
Medical ninjutsu had existed in some form for a long time, but very few ninjas specialized in it, and it was often overlooked. However, Tsunade had mastered the art, pushing its boundaries and perfecting the system. Her innovations had elevated medical ninjutsu to new heights.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, had seen the enormous benefits medical ninjutsu provided on the battlefield. At his urging, Tsunade had created Konoha's medical ninja system, which soon became the standard for the entire ninja world.
---,-----------------------------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
patreon.com/Samurai492
Extra Content Already Available