Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Reunion
"Retreat." Han glanced at the Suna ninja beside him and gave the order after they had successfully driven back the Konoha ninja.
"Yes, Lord Han." The Suna ninja obeyed immediately, aware of the potential chaos if the Tailed Beast went berserk.
A signal flare burst in the sky, signaling the Iwa ninja to retreat while continuing to fight. This attack had ultimately yielded nothing.
"Don't pursue," Shinku ordered, his focus lingering on the supply line. Gathering his team, he turned to Duy.
"Can you walk?" He hesitated to touch Duy again, the memory of his terrifying expression still vivid.
The Eight Inner Gates technique, though powerful, was not something for the faint of heart. Without immense perseverance, one could not endure its strain.
"Let me just rest for a while." Duy lay on the ground, taking deep breaths. He had no idea how long he would need to recover this time.
"Clean up the battlefield," Shinku instructed his subordinates. He stayed on site, overseeing efforts to treat the many wounded still in need of attention.
After a long while, Duy's body finally began to adapt, easing the intense pain. For anyone else, the agony would have been unbearable.
"Carry me away," he murmured weakly. A nearby Konoha ninja quickly placed him on a stretcher and brought him back to camp.
Once there, Shinku arranged for the medical team to treat him. This time, fortunately, there was no poisoning, and Duy hadn't lost consciousness. Even without Tsunade, the medics managed his care. Still, it was frustrating—Duy, who had just recovered, was once again confined to a bed, injured. His brief reprieve had lasted less than two days.
As night fell, Sakumo arrived alone at the outskirts of the camp. After carefully scanning the surroundings, he confirmed they were still within Konoha territory. Breathing a sigh of relief, he questioned some guards before entering the camp with confidence.
Shinku came out to greet him after hearing the news.
"Sakumo, you came here alone?"
"Yes," Sakumo replied, his voice heavy. "There are many wounded behind us."
The mention of the injured clearly saddened him.
"The strongest Kazekage…"
Shinku Yūhi sighed, trailing off as news from the front line had already arrived.
"How is it going on your side?"
Sakumo, who had arrived late, assumed Iwa hadn't yet launched an attack.
"There has already been a battle, and Duy has been injured again," Shinku replied honestly.
"What? Take me to see him," Sakumo said, his expression tightening. He vividly remembered the last time he had seen Duy unconscious.
"It's not serious. He's already been treated."
Shinku led Sakumo to Duy's ward, where the carefree man was fast asleep, snoring loudly.
Sakumo couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Duy, wrapped up like a mummy. This looked even more serious than his previous injuries.
"Should we wake him up?" Shinku asked with a mischievous glint in his eye. Duy's snoring, as loud as a power drill, seemed to drill straight into his eardrums.
"Forget it. Let him rest," Sakumo said with a smile. Seeing Duy in good condition put him at ease, and he decided to leave the rest for later.
"Okay, let's go outside and talk."
Shinku led Sakumo to his room, where the noise of Duy's snoring finally faded. The room was meticulously organized, reflecting Shinku's serious and disciplined demeanor.
"Have some tea." As the warehouse manager, Shinku didn't hold back on treating himself well.
He brewed a pot of high-quality tea for Sakumo, though it couldn't quite match the renowned teas of the Hatake Clan.
"Good." Sakumo sat cross-legged at the low table, taking a careful sip. The tea was a bit hot but pleasant.
"Who's leading Iwagakure?" Sakumo asked, setting down his cup as he inquired about their opponent.
"It was Iwagakure's Jinchūriki, but Duy severely injured him," Shinku said, recalling the sight of Han being carried away from the battlefield.
"Ōnoki is really going all out," Sakumo said, his pupils narrowing at the news. He hadn't expected Iwagakure to deploy such a powerful weapon like their Jinchūriki.
"Yes, I didn't expect it either. Fortunately, the Tailed Beast Ball was intercepted by Duy," Shinku replied.
"Otherwise, we would have been in serious trouble this time."
Shinku had no illusions that his small frame could withstand the force of a Tailed Beast Ball. Still, if it came to that, he was ready to set an example. That resolve was rooted deeply in his convictions.
"Duy is impressive. I'll take over from here," Sakumo said, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing—he had yet to face a Jinchūriki himself.
"With Iwagakure interfering, the course of this war is going to become much more difficult," Shinku said, taking a sip of tea, which had cooled enough to drink comfortably.
"We may have to retreat," Sakumo admitted. He wasn't overconfident. With their current lack of manpower, stopping Iwagakure alone would be nearly impossible.
To make matters worse, Sunagakure might regain its footing and rejoin the war after learning of the battle between Konoha and Iwagakure. With a team of perfect Jinchūriki, Sunagakure still posed a significant threat to Konoha. The war prospects for Konoha were looking grim.
"Let's wait until Tsunade arrives before making any major decisions," Shinku suggested. "I've already instructed someone to prepare a hospital room, and the wounded need to be sent back to the village as soon as possible."
Shinku's systematic approach had already accounted for these details.
As they continued their conversation, both men began to frown.
People had died, and there were no tangible gains from the battle. This skirmish had been a complete waste of resources and time.
In the end, they drank their tea in silence, each weighed down by their thoughts.
Meanwhile, Iwagakure wasn't in much better shape. Their vanguard had failed to achieve anything, and their commander had suffered serious injuries.
The Iwa ninja, led by Han, withdrew to the border of the Land of Birds and established a camp. The small, neutral country lacked the strength to resist and had no choice but to tolerate the intrusion.
Inside an earthen hut, Han lay on his back, fighting to suppress Kokuō, the beast within him that was trying to seize control.
"Lord Han, what should we do next?"
An Iwa ninja stood inside the hut, one of the capable subordinates Han had brought along for this campaign.
"Let's see if Lord Third arrives soon," Han replied. "Konoha's frontline troops haven't returned to reinforce them yet, but I need a few days to rest."
Despite the Tailed Beast's power aiding his recovery, Han couldn't afford to relax. Even the slightest movement sent searing pain through his body.
I really don't know which bastard came up with such a shameless move. Boasting such a ridiculous name with 'Secret Technique' and 'Ultimate Technique.' Bah! Shameless to the extreme.
"The message has been sent back, so shall we just wait?" the Iwa ninja asked hesitantly. The fear of being reprimanded by the Third Tsuchikage was palpable.
Don't be fooled by Ōnoki's small stature—when he flies up and knocks your head, it hurts.
"What can we do if we don't wait?" Han shot back, his irritation showing. "Why don't you go and meet Might Duy yourself?"
Han's temper flared as he picked up on the undertone of doubt in the ninja's question.
Sigh...
In his frustration, he moved a little too much and pulled at his wound, causing fresh pain.
"Lord Han, are you okay?" the ninja asked, concerned.
"Just go," Han said, waving him off. He needed to be alone.
As his subordinate left, Han muttered bitterly under his breath, Might Duy and I will never share the same world.
...
A few days later, Kawakaze and Tsunade arrived at the supply camp with their respective teams. The Konoha ninjas gathered, preparing themselves for the battles ahead. Meanwhile, the team led by the Third Tsuchikage was nearing the border of the Land of Birds, setting the stage for a confrontation.
At the same time, news of the clashes between Konoha and Iwa in the Land of Wind reached the people of Sunagakure.
Emerging from their underground caves, the Suna ninja stepped into the sunlight once more. Among them, Pakura was overjoyed at the turn of events but kept her priorities clear—re-establishing contact with the Daimyō.
The shifting war situation thrilled the Daimyō of the Land of Wind. Seizing the opportunity, he provided Sunagakure with generous financial support and supplies, bolstering their war efforts.
The looming conflict among the three major nations—Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure—was now inevitable. And as tensions escalated, Konoha seemed to stand as the common target of everyone's ire.