Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

Two more days passed, and Tsunade slowly regained her strength.

In the Konoha camp, most of the wounded had stabilized, though some could only rely on their sheer willpower to survive. Inside the command tent, Tsunade presided over a meeting to determine their next course of action.

"We all know the losses from this battle. We need to decide today whether to advance or retreat," she said, her gaze sweeping across the attendees, pausing only when it reached Kawakaze and Sakumo.

"I suggest a temporary retreat. There are too many wounded, and they need to return for proper treatment," one Konoha ninja said. He appeared to be an honest man and genuinely concerned for the welfare of their comrades.

The Third Kazekage's death had destabilized the situation, and the threat of Sunagakure's retaliation loomed large. Yet, the room was divided.

"I suggest we attack. We can't let this opportunity slip away. The Suna forces are in even worse shape than we are," another Konoha ninja argued, his pompadour accentuating his fiery demeanor.

The debate grew heated, with opinions clashing from all sides. The tent buzzed with noise, and some of the more irritable individuals seemed on the verge of escalating to blows.

"Stop it! What a racket," Kawakaze commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"I know you're all upset, but this is a war meeting, not a market stall!" he added sharply, standing to his full height.

The tent immediately fell silent. Kawakaze's fearsome reputation as someone capable of killing a Demigod or the Kazekage left no room for dissent. Moreover, his position as deputy commander carried undeniable authority.

"Let's proceed with the usual protocol," he said firmly.

"The minority—" Tsunade began, but before she could finish, a commotion interrupted the meeting.

"My lords, I have urgent information!"

A Konoha ninja stumbled into the tent, barely able to stand. His voice trembled with urgency, and before anyone could react, he collapsed to the ground. Two more Konoha ninjas, the guards from the tent's entrance, rushed in behind him.

"It's one of our spies," Hayato Yamanaka recognized the man immediately from the markings on his clothing.

Rushing forward, he helped him up, only to notice the spy's face was peeling, and his lips had turned pale white. The man was on the verge of collapse.

"I'll do it," Tsunade said, stepping forward. She examined the spy briefly before pressing her right hand against his body. A green chakra light glowed from her palm as she initiated healing.

Moments later, the spy regained his strength. Seeing Tsunade before him, he immediately dropped to one knee.

"Lady Tsunade, Iwagakure has sent forces to the supply camp. I'm afraid they've already made contact."

"What?" Sakumo, startled, snapped to attention. His thoughts immediately turned to his good friend stationed at the camp.

"How many are there?" Tsunade asked, her expression darkening. She handed the spy a pill to replenish his physical strength.

"Almost a thousand," the spy replied after swallowing the pill. A warmth surged through his body, revitalizing him. It was clear that Tsunade's medicine was of exceptional quality.

"We must retreat and reinforce. If the supply camp falls, there's no point in holding this position," Kawakaze said without hesitation, his judgment swift and accurate. "This is likely only Iwagakure's advance force; they wouldn't send just a small group."

If they were surrounded by remnants of Iwagakure and Suna forces, the consequences could be catastrophic, potentially costing them more than half of their remaining manpower.

"Take the wounded and leave immediately," Tsunade ordered decisively. There was no time to convene another meeting.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade," the ninja responded, retreating to relay the orders. Everyone understood the urgency.

"I'll go ahead. I'm worried about Duy," Sakumo said, approaching Kawakaze and Tsunade.

"Okay, be careful," Tsunade replied with a nod. With her and Kawakaze overseeing the retreat, she trusted Sakumo to handle the situation.

"If anything goes wrong, leave a marker," Kawakaze added, thinking ahead. If the supply camp was compromised, Sakumo could also act as an intelligence gatherer upon his return.

"I'm leaving," Sakumo said, nodding slightly before lifting the tent's curtain and stepping out.

In a series of swift leaps, he vanished into the distance, moving with incredible speed. Traveling alone, he covered ground with remarkable efficiency.

Two hours later, Tsunade and Kawakaze led the Konoha ninjas, including the wounded, toward the border of the Land of Wind. By the time they arrived, fighting had already broken out at the border.

The clash was between Konoha and Iwagakure forces. The Iwa ninja, known for their skill in Earth Release, put up a formidable defense. Their relentless use of ground spikes and treacherous swamps made progress difficult for the Konoha forces.

The battle raged fiercely. Among the Konoha ranks, Shinku Yūhi personally joined the fray. His mastery of Genjutsu was on full display. With his crimson eyes, few Iwa ninjas could resist his illusions. Many succumbed outright, some dying within the Genjutsu itself, while others were swiftly dispatched by Konoha ninjas as they stumbled in confusion.

Shinku's reputation as Konoha's premier Genjutsu master was well-earned. While he might not shake the battlefield with raw power, his precise and lethal techniques were devastating. Working in tandem with other Konoha ninjas, he had already taken down several Iwagakure Jōnin.

Not far away, a different kind of battle unfolded.

"I am Might Duy of Konoha. Who are you?"

Duy stood tall, his body enveloped in a vibrant green aura of chakra. He clashed directly with Han, the two trading powerful blows. Duy's punch, enhanced by the sixth gate, was intercepted by Han, who met the strike head-on.

"Iwagakure, Han," the steam-armored ninja replied, his voice steady despite the strain.

Han, wielding the power of the Boil Release, was momentarily stunned. Even with his unparalleled strength augmented by his special armor, he found himself struggling against Duy's taijutsu prowess. The man before him was every bit as formidable as intelligence reports had suggested.

"Let's have a youthful duel to decide not only who is superior, but also who will die!" Duy declared, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

These words, inspired by something he'd once heard from Kawakaze, ignited his spirit. The intensity of the moment made his youthful energy burn brighter than ever.

"Take this kick!"

Duy suddenly appeared in front of Han, launching a high kick aimed directly at his face.

"You don't know not to hit someone in the face?" Han grumbled, crossing his arms to block the powerful strike. Even so, the sheer force sent him flying backward.

"It's not over yet!"

Before Han could recover, Duy reappeared behind him, delivering an upward kick to his lower back. The blow was solid, with enough force to likely damage a kidney and send Han hurtling into the air.

Sensing the danger, Han reacted instinctively. A tail sprouted from his back, and a Chakra coat formed around him—a manifestation of his tailed beast's power. Duy's kick collided with the tail and was deflected.

"With this kind of Chakra... you're a Jinchūriki?" Duy said, retreating swiftly. Realization dawned on him that he had been fighting Iwagakure's Jinchūriki from the very start.

What kind of luck is this? Does the heavens think my youth is too easy?

"Yes," Han said, steadying himself. "Let me reintroduce myself: I am Han, the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki."

He twisted his neck, his composed demeanor exuding an intimidating presence that made Duy feel a faint pressure.

"Now, take my kick too!"

Steam erupted from the back of Han's heel as he launched himself forward with immense force, propelled by his Boil Release. He closed the distance in an instant, his kick aimed directly at Duy.

"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"

Duy met the attack head-on, their legs colliding with tremendous impact. Both were sent skidding backward from the force of the clash.

The two warriors landed on one leg, bouncing slightly and wincing as the pain set in.

"Not bad," Han said, recovering first, thanks to the regenerative power of the tailed beast.

"You're not bad either," Duy replied, quickly standing on both feet again. He refused to lose his momentum—or his spirit of youth.