Chapter 26 Conspiracy
At noon, they set off from the entrance of Konoha Village, aiming to reach the frontline battlefield of the Land of Fire, which would take at least a dozen hours of fast-paced travel.
By evening, Shiroshi and the rest of the six-person team found a defensible terrain to rest for the night, preparing to resume their journey early the next morning. They expected to arrive at the Konoha camp on the frontline by the following evening.
The ongoing ninja war between the Hidden Sand Village and Konoha Village took place along the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire.
This was a small country situated between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, with its northern region adjacent to the Land of Rain. It possessed a certain amount of ninja power within its borders, but the organized ninja village was relatively weak and lacked recognition in the ninja world.
Therefore, in this war, the ninja power of the Land of Rivers could be almost completely disregarded.
The six individuals were resting on an open field, but they didn't have a strong desire to communicate with each other.
Firstly, after traveling for most of the day, everyone's bodies were fatigued, and they all hoped for a good rest.
Secondly, the two teams weren't very familiar with each other.
Perhaps Jiraiya and Sakumo had a good relationship, but the three members of the Shiroshi team and the Minato team didn't have much connection.
Even if they were acquainted, it was only by chance that they had heard each other's names, considering it a casual acquaintance at best, not even ordinary friends.
"He's very strong."
Shiroshi, leaning against a large tree, was contemplating the matter of natural energy when Rui suddenly made this comment.
"What do you mean?"
Shiroshi finished his thoughts and instinctively looked up.
"This guy has no flaws whatsoever. Even when resting, he chose a strategically defensible position for defense, and he recognized it immediately. It shows that his analytical ability is top-notch. When facing Sakumo-sensei, he didn't appear arrogant or impatient, unaffected by Sakumo-sensei's aura. He's very confident in his own strength."
Shiroshi understood that Rui was referring to Minato Namikaze, who was on the other side.
Shiroshi nodded in agreement with Rui's evaluation.
A ninja who could be brought along by one of the three legendary Sannin couldn't possibly be simple.
Moreover, Minato had already made a name for himself during their time at the ninja academy as a renowned prodigy.
According to Shiroshi's estimation, Minato's current strength was likely already at the level of an upper-level ninja.
"But compared to you, Rui, he's probably still lacking a bit."
Ayane smiled and said at this moment.
Rui's strength within the Sakumo team was second only to the team leader, Sakumo, and combined with the exceptional bloodline ability of the Uchiha clan, it was difficult for ordinary Jonin to gain an advantage against her.
"You won't know until you've had a fight."
Although Rui was proud, she didn't think that just any Jonin could compare to someone who could follow the Sannin.
However, Rui was also very confident in her own abilities, especially after mastering natural energy. Her physical prowess alone gave even Jonin-level ninjas a headache.
Not to mention that they had to constantly be mindful of her Sharingan during battles.
Overall, if a real fight were to happen, Rui didn't believe there was any possibility of losing.
But it was a fact that the opponent had considerable strength as well.
If the situation allowed, she would like to test him a little. However, in this kind of time and place, it would be more prudent to exercise some restraint.
"Alright, it's almost time for patrol."
At this point, Shiroshi stood up, ending the conversation about Minato.
Even though they had wiped out an elite force of the Hidden Sand Village in their previous mission, and there were no recent reports of destruction within the borders of the Land of Fire, they couldn't relax because of that.
Once they left the village to carry out a mission, they had to be 100% vigilant to prevent any unexpected incidents.
The patrol duty of the Sakumo team usually consisted of pairs.
Shiroshi and Ayane were responsible for the first half of the night, while Rui and Sakumo took over for the second half.
By now, it was almost dark, and Shiroshi and Ayane began their patrol, checking the surroundings for any lurking enemies.
Nodding to Rui, Shiroshi and Ayane disappeared from their original location, beginning their patrol duties.
Rui glanced at their retreating figures and remained silent.
…
The patrol mission was relatively simple for the Shiroshi team, especially with Ayane's Byakugan. Within a radius of five kilometers, any approaching enemies would be instantly detected within Ayane's field of vision.
Although it couldn't compare to sensory ninjas in terms of range, sensory ninjutsu only provided information about distance, direction, and the number of targets. On the other hand, the all-around surveillance capability of the Byakugan allowed them to know the techniques the enemy was using, enabling them to quickly seize the initiative and suppress the enemy's morale.
Thanks to the Byakugan, Konoha could avoid any traps carefully set by the enemy in every war, rendering their plots and schemes ineffective.
"We're almost there."
They reached another forest, and Shiroshi stopped his footsteps.
Ayane had already activated her Byakugan, which would detect anyone approaching their location.
From now on, they only needed to make regular rounds in the surrounding area to complete the first half of their patrol duty.
Shiroshi took out a piece of paper from his ninja tools pouch and handed it to Ayane.
Ayane tilted her head in confusion but took the paper in her hand and looked around. Not finding anything unusual, she opened the note.
It read: "Are there any toads around?"
"...Toads?"
Ayane didn't understand why Shiroshi was asking such a question and simply shook her head lightly.
There were quite a few insects around, but the nearest toad was over a hundred meters away, still in the river.
"It seems there are no toads around."
"Yes, no traces of toads have been found in the vicinity. But why is Mr. Shiroshi so concerned about toads?"
Ayane blinked, expressing her doubts.
"That's because recently there has been an increase in the number of toads in Konoha Village. I'm worried that someone might be using them for surveillance."
"Using toads for surveillance?"
"Yes, it's very likely that it's one of the three legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, who signed a contract with the toads of Mount Myoboku. Toads, being inconspicuous creatures, are easily overlooked, making it convenient to gather information, don't you think?"
It was similar to how Rui raised her cats for espionage. It couldn't be ruled out that someone was using toads to collect information.
"Could they be searching for something?"
Ayane pondered, her face filled with contemplation.
"I'm not sure, but they could also be monitoring something. Anyway, the toad situation doesn't concern us. At most, we should pay attention when exchanging information in the future."
"I see, I understand."
Ayane nodded, understanding the situation.
No abnormal incidents occurred around them, and there were no surveillance operations by enemy agents, which meant that their secrets hadn't been exposed.
Taking too many actions would only complicate matters and draw unnecessary attention.
Even if unexpected things happened at this time, it would be best to maintain a normal pace.
"By the way, there's another troublesome matter I need to explain to you."
Scratching his head, Shiroshi sighed, unsure of how to broach the topic.
"A troublesome matter?"
"Yeah, it's about Rui."
Shiroshi glanced nervously elsewhere.
Ayane had an idea of what it could be.
"Could it be...?"
"It's just as you're thinking. Our secret has been exposed. So, from now on, when the three of us are together, I don't need to hide my abilities and will fight at full strength."
Shiroshi continued scratching his head, feeling that things were becoming more and more complicated.
He couldn't even guess Rui's specific stance on this matter, making it even more troublesome.
But it was fine this way. In the future, when the three of them acted together, he wouldn't need to hide his abilities to conceal anything.
Perhaps this would allow them to better accomplish their missions.
Afterward, he could simply attribute any achievements to Rui and Ayane, and he would continue being an inconspicuous and transparent individual.
After all, safety came first.
"I see."
Ayane lowered her head slightly, concealing her expression.
She didn't ask why they were exposed because it had become meaningless to do so.
From now on, they just needed to relax and get along.
But even with that thought, she couldn't help but feel a little discontent.
Perhaps I was the first to discover Shiroshi's true secret, Ayane thought to herself, feeling a bit troubled.
"Um, are you okay?"
Seeing Ayane bow her head, Shiroshi became worried that she might be overthinking things.
"No, I'm fine. Actually, I think it would have been better for you to be honest with Rui earlier."
Ayane raised her head, smiling. She had already sorted out her feelings of disappointment and didn't show them on her face. As for what she truly thought, only she knew.
It was impossible to read anything from Ayane's smiling face, but compared to before, she had certainly grown a lot.
It would be best to quickly end this topic.
Continuing to talk about one woman in front of another woman felt abnormally dreadful.
Afterward, Shiroshi handed Ayane the training method for harnessing natural energy and the accompanying medicines.
He wanted her to become proficient in using natural energy as soon as possible.
To be honest, among the three of them, Ayane was likely the one who received the most care regarding natural energy. The main fighting style of the Hyuga Clan revolved around taijutsu, specifically the Gentle Fist technique used in conjunction with the Byakugan.
Shiroshi couldn't fathom the extent to which Ayane's mastery of natural energy would enhance the power of the Gentle Fist. However, the benefits she would receive from absorbing natural energy would undoubtedly surpass his and Rui's.
Shiroshi was looking forward to seeing how Ayane's strength would rise to new heights when she combined natural energy with the Gentle Fist.
Instead of immediately starting her training here, Ayane joined Shiroshi in patrolling the area.
During the first half of the night patrol, they didn't encounter any problems. However, due to the addition of the Jiraiya Squad to the patrol teams, the night shifts were divided into three segments.
Therefore, Shiroshi and Ayane finished their patrol duty two hours earlier than usual and returned to the camp to rest.
The night passed without any incidents.
At dawn on the second day, the six of them set off once again.
They traveled throughout the day, and as evening approached, they finally arrived at the border region between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, where they intersected with the Land of Rivers.
This was the main base of operations for Konoha in countering the Hidden Sand forces.
There were over two thousand Konoha shinobi stationed here, with the commanding officer being Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin. Tsunade served as the deputy commander, assisting Orochimaru in his duties.
Nevertheless, the situation on the front lines was still significant.
After undergoing strict scrutiny, they were allowed to enter the heavily guarded large camp.
Upon entering the camp, Shiroshi could immediately sense a completely different atmosphere from Konoha Village.
Medical personnel carrying stretchers entered the tents, bringing in wounded personnel.
Groups of two or three ninjas gathered near the tents, holding simple hot meals. Their faces were devoid of expression as they mechanically consumed the food.
Some of the ninjas couldn't eat or found the food too distasteful, causing them to vomit and desperately drink water while clutching their chests.
As they passed through the medical area, agonizing cries akin to evil spirits could be heard emanating from the tents.
Everyone's nerves were stretched to their limits. It would only take a spark to ignite the suppressed negative emotions within them, leading to an immediate breakdown.
This was war.
Both Sakumo and Jiraiya needed to meet with the commander, Orochimaru. As for Shiroshi's team, along with Minato, they had to wait outside the camp.
The waiting time wasn't long. After a few minutes, Sakumo emerged from the tent with an additional scroll in his hand, detailing the mission for his team.
"Let's go."
"Understood."
Time was of the essence, and Sakumo prepared to continue their journey while explaining the mission details to Shiroshi's team along the way.
"Well then, until we meet again, Minato."
"Okay, farewell. Please take care."
In response to Shiroshi's kind farewell, Minato smiled slightly and watched as Sakumo's team of four left the camp.
...
"Next, we split into two groups. Our mission is to sever the Hidden Sand's supply line."
Without wasting any time, Sakumo stopped in a river valley a few kilometers away from the Konoha camp and succinctly explained the mission.
"Will it just be our team?"
Shiroshi's team was slightly taken aback.
"There will be ANBU assistance along the way. Also, one more thing, this mission is of utmost importance, and we cannot reveal our whereabouts. Therefore, if we encounter anyone who is not our ally along the way... eliminate them without leaving a trace!"
Sakumo's expression turned cold, and Shiroshi's team became resolute.
The Hidden Sand Village's supply line couldn't possibly be within the Land of Fire's territory. They had to enter the Land of Rivers to sever the Hidden Sand's supply line.
In other words... even if they encountered ordinary civilians from the Land of Rivers, they had to eliminate them without leaving any trace to prevent their movements from being exposed.
"From this direction, about fifteen kilometers away, there will be an ANBU team waiting for us," Sakumo pointed towards the southwest.
Shiroshi's team followed Sakumo's direction, and ahead of them lay the territory of the Land of Rivers, outside the scope of the Land of Fire.
"If you understand, let's begin our mission."
After Sakumo finished speaking, he disappeared from another direction.
Shiroshi's team, exchanged glances, and they could see the seriousness in each other's eyes.
Not only had they received the ruthless order to eliminate all witnesses, but their mission was also to sever the Hidden Sand's supply line. It was undoubtedly an immensely difficult S-rank mission.
Even with ANBU assistance, this mission was filled with danger.
Shiroshi sighed and said, "There's no need to worry too much. If I have been assigned this mission, it means there is a possibility of completing it. Right now, the most important thing is to meet up with the ANBU operatives."
Indeed, while Sakumo had assigned them the mission, he hadn't provided them with the specific steps. It was evident that Sakumo had his own mission, and he only knew this much.
Shiroshi's team needed to rendezvous with the ANBU operatives to learn how to proceed with the mission and coordinate with them.
Both Rui and Ayane had no objections, so they immediately took action.
It took them about ten minutes to cover the fifteen-kilometer distance to the southwest.
As expected, there were Konoha's ANBU operatives lying in wait, as Sakumo had mentioned. There were a total of four of them.
However, one thing was peculiar: the masks worn by these ANBU operatives were slightly different from the ones Shiroshi had seen before.
The patterns on the masks of these ANBU operatives gave off a suppressed and chilling feeling.
Especially the eyes behind the masks, cold and emotionless, devoid of any fluctuations, like a group of machines.
"Who are you?"
"We are ANBU 'Root' operatives. We will cooperate with you to sever the Hidden Sand's supply line."
The leader stepped forward and spoke indifferently to Shiroshi's team.
"Root?"
Without explaining the confusion of Shiroshi's team, the leader continued with an indifferent tone, "After the diversion plan succeeds, your team will be responsible for drawing the enemy's attention, while we will handle the destruction."
Saying that, the leader lifted his shirt, revealing an abundance of explosive tags adhered to his body.
The three operatives behind him did the same, lifting their shirts to reveal their bodies covered in explosive tags.
"..."
"So, once the diversion plan succeeds, find a way to quickly leave the battlefield and escape from within. The explosive tags we have attached are specially made and possess tremendous power. If you accidentally die, don't blame us for not warning you."
"..."
It seemed that in this mission, their own comrades were the ones they should be most cautious of.
Who in their right mind would cover themselves in explosive tags ready to detonate at any moment?
A bunch of lunatics! Shiroshi's team felt a headache coming on.
They immediately had the urge to distance themselves from these lunatics, fearing that one wrong move from them would result in an impromptu explosion and send them all to the heavens.
...
The meeting with the ANBU "Root" operatives ended in less than ten minutes.
Afterward, these operatives went back into hiding and would likely only rejoin them during the actual operation to confirm both sides' preparations.
In a secluded patch of grass, Shiroshi's team gathered in a circle and sat down.
"Speaking of which, what is the ANBU 'Root' organization? Does it exist within the ANBU directly under the Hokage?" Shiroshi asked.
The ANBU directly under the Hokage was covered in the curriculum of the ninja academy to prevent future ninjas from mistaking their village's ANBU as enemies. So every Konoha ninja had some understanding of this organization.
The ANBU operatives were elite, and the main ANBU force consisted of seventy operatives divided into four squads, with each squad having four teams. In total, there were sixteen team leaders, each with at least Special Jonin-level skills.
They were meant to protect the Hokage's safety and execute various high-risk classified missions, making them the hidden protectors of Konoha.
However, Shiroshi had never heard of ANBU "Root," so he became doubtful about the identity of those operatives.
Ayane also shook her head. The ANBU's activities were classified, and while most ninjas knew of the organization's existence and its force composition, the details of who joined and their individual expertise were kept secret.
Rui furrowed her brows, crossed her arms, and after a moment of silence, she spoke, "I've heard about ANBU 'Root' from the elders in my clan. It is said to be another high-level branch directly under the high level of the village. This branch operates in even deeper secrecy than ordinary ANBU and undertakes even darker missions. They adhere to a strategy of 'better to kill the wrong person than let them go,' silently protecting Konoha in the shadows."
"Would the Hokage approve of a strategy like that?," Shiroshi wondered.
If such information were to be exposed, it would deal a significant blow to the reputation of the Hokage and the higher-ups. Even when ANBU captures someone, there is an interrogation phase to determine if the person is an enemy or ally.
However, members of ANBU "Root" did not require such procedures. Once they subjectively deemed someone an enemy, they would proceed with elimination.
If mishandled, an organization like this could easily cause a substantial loss of prestige for the ruling authorities and force them out of office.
"This matter must have been tacitly approved. If there hadn't been approval, 'Root' wouldn't have been able to grow with the support of the ANBU. The operatives in this organization have no names, no emotions, no past, and no future. They only have the mission they must complete," Rui explained.
After hearing Rui's description, Shiroshi and Ayane thought about the current mission. The ANBU "Root" operatives were prepared to turn themselves into human bombs to destroy the Hidden Sand's supply point, which indeed aligned with their mechanical nature.
Their sole purpose was to accomplish the mission, regardless of the means or sacrifices involved, whether they needed to consider them or not.
"They are truly a terrifying bunch," Shiroshi sighed.
Whenever individuals prioritize a goal over their own lives, it instinctively instills fear in others.
Without the abyss-like darkness, there would be no serene and beautiful lake.
In any era, there is a need for those who work silently in the dark.
"Now, getting back to the point, what are your thoughts on this mission?" Rui spread out the map of the Land of Rivers, meticulously recording every location, distance, and environmental information.
Rui pointed to a particular area in the abdomen of the Land of Rivers, which was where the Hidden Sand's supply point and their target for the attack were located.
Observing the map, Shiroshi spoke slowly, "The supply point is relatively close to the Hidden Sand's camp, according to the distances marked on the map. It would only take about ten minutes for reinforcements to arrive. In other words, we have a ten-minute window from initiating the diversion and causing significant chaos until safely leaving the battlefield. It's too demanding for just the three of us."
The plan had clear divisions of labor: Shiroshi's team would be responsible for the diversion, maximizing chaos, then quickly withdrawing from the battlefield. The ANBU "Root" operatives would step in and self-destruct, destroying all the supplies at the Hidden Sand's supply point, completing the mission.
The difficulty of the mission lies in how to quickly and effectively cause massive chaos within ten minutes, attracting the attention of the Hidden Sand shinobi, and creating a reliable attacking environment for the ANBU "Root" operatives. Then, they need to figure out how to retreat in time, avoiding the impact of their own comrades' explosive tags.
"No matter how you look at it, ten minutes is too short," Ayane nodded, agreeing with Shiroshi's statement.
The number of Hidden Sand shinobi guarding the supply point in the Land of Rivers would undoubtedly be significant, including high-level shinobi. Considering the importance of the area, even having more than ten high-level shinobi stationed there would not be excessive.
In addition to the high-level shinobi, there would also be a considerable number of Chunin. It would be almost impossible for the three of them to complete the diversion mission within a ten-minute time limit, surrounded by so many high-level and Chunin shinobi.
"If we want to cause chaos, I can use large-scale fire jutsu. Moreover, since the supply point contains crucial supplies, the Hidden Sand shinobi won't use large-scale ninjutsu attacks. That works to our advantage. However, it won't be easy to escape from the encirclement of the Hidden Sand. I remember you made many useful gadgets before we left," Rui looked at Shiroshi.
"I didn't expect to use them so soon," Shiroshi sighed helplessly, taking out a scroll from his ninja tool pouch. After spreading it out on the ground and releasing the sealing jutsu, a pile of items emerged in a cloud of white smoke.
"What are these?" Ayane picked up a sphere similar to a smoke bomb, showing curiosity.
"They're smoke bombs infused with a potent toxin. They have a longer range and duration than ordinary smoke bombs, and I also have the antidote," Shiroshi explained.
"But if the enemy disperses it using Wind Release..." Ayane raised a concern.
"It's fine. I'll use Fire Release. If the enemy uses Wind Release to attack, it will only enhance my Fire Release and expand its range."
In this way, the enemy won't be able to use Wind Release easily, and the three of them can utilize the toxic smoke for the diversion and create havoc.
However, they would face a pursuit from numerous Hidden Sand shinobi afterward. They needed to carefully plan how to escape.
By this time, night had fallen, and the valley area where the Fire and Land of Rivers border was shrouded in darkness, with chilling gusts of wind.
"Let's discuss the retreat plan as we go. We have less than six hours to reach the mission site by midnight, and time is running short."
This was a surprise attack, so there wasn't much time for strategizing. They had to destroy the supply point before it could be relocated. Once the timeliness of the intelligence passed, it wouldn't be easy to gather accurate information about the Hidden Sand's supply point again.
…
In the late night, within the Leaf Village camp at the border of the Fire Country, silence pervaded the air, even the sound of insects chirping was absent.
Inside a tent, the dim light from a makeshift electric lamp barely illuminated the center of the tent, while darkness still covered its edges.
Tsunade stood at a table, organizing a set of information.
As this information was significant, it required meticulous scrutiny.
At that moment, a white-haired ninja entered from outside.
"Tsunade, still working? It's already this late," the person entering was none other than Jiraiya, one of the three legendary Sannin. He smiled and greeted Tsunade.
"Oh, it's you, Jiraiya. What's the matter?" Tsunade glanced at Jiraiya before lowering her head again to carefully examine the information. It was evident that she wasn't in the mood for conversation.
Seeing Tsunade in this state, Jiraiya let out a sigh and said, "I'm sorry about Nawaki. If I had been there at that time..."
If he had rushed back as soon as the war between the Hidden Sand and Konoha broke out, he could have returned quickly and, together with Orochimaru, taken care of the situation, possibly preventing the tragedy involving Nawaki.
However, that event was in the past, and the dead couldn't be brought back to life. Seeing Tsunade's smile less radiant than before, Jiraiya felt both worried and guilty.
"This has nothing to do with you!" Tsunade's tone was extremely cold.
Hearing Jiraiya bring up Nawaki, Tsunade's heart ached, but she quickly regained her composure, refusing to be beaten down by such a matter.
She now carried the lives and reputations of countless Leaf Village shinobi on her shoulders. She couldn't afford to show weakness at this time, letting others look down on her.
...
Jiraiya stood silently on the side, not rebutting Tsunade's words.
"Now that you're back, focus on your own work. Don't hinder me here," Tsunade's tone softened slightly, but it was clear that she wanted him to leave.
Jiraiya didn't say anything, but a sense of disappointment was evident on his face.
"Wait!"
Tsunade suddenly called out to him.
"What's the matter?"
Jiraiya felt puzzled.
"Is it true that Team Sakumo is assigned to this surprise attack on the Hidden Sand supply point?"
Tsunade suddenly asked a question unrelated to the current situation.
"Yes, it's Team Sakumo. Because this mission is crucial, only Team Sakumo is suitable for it, so the mission was entrusted to their squad," Jiraiya answered.
The success of this mission to sever the Hidden Sand supply point would impact the future direction of the war. If the mission could be completed perfectly, the shortage of supplies within the Hidden Sand would lead to their defeat without external attack, and Konoha would achieve the maximum result with minimal sacrifices. At that point, both sides would enter into peace talks, ending the war that had lasted for over two years.
On the other hand, if they failed, it would mean the continuation of the war and would not be a favorable outcome for Konoha and the Fire Country.
Jiraiya had great trust in Sakumo's abilities, and this also instilled him with tremendous confidence in this mission. It was likely that not just him, but the village as a whole had already begun drafting the negotiation documents between Konoha and the Hidden Sand.
Seeing Tsunade's increasingly troubled expression, Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, "What happened?"
"The information here conflicts with the plan I devised with Orochimaru. Moreover, this is not the usual code used by the ANBU..." Tsunade pulled out one of the documents from the pile.
Upon hearing this, Jiraiya's face changed.
"Jiraiya, when you received the information from the ANBU in the village, are you sure it wasn't tampered with?" Tsunade frowned at Jiraiya.
Due to the critical nature of the situation, the intelligence passed from Konoha was handed over to Jiraiya by the ANBU, and then Jiraiya, as one of the legendary Sannin, personally escorted it to the front lines to ensure its safety.
"It's impossible! I was with Team Sakumo the whole time during the journey. There's no way someone tampered with this information!" Jiraiya snatched the document from Tsunade's hand and carefully examined it from beginning to end.
His complexion grew increasingly worse.
"W-What's going on? The contents here are different from what Sarutobi-sensei instructed..."
Jiraiya's shoulders started to tremble, unable to believe what the information displayed before him.
"It seems you've been tricked. Since there were no accidents during the journey, there's only one possibility: the ANBU you met in Konoha wasn't under Sarutobi-sensei's command."
Tsunade's words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Jiraiya frozen and beads of cold sweat forming on his face.
This was a complete disaster!
Failing to complete the mission was one thing, but if he had carelessly fallen into the enemy's trap, resulting in the death of Team Sakumo in this mission, then the problem would be truly enormous.
"No, I must rescue them!" Jiraiya became frantic, sweating profusely, and without caring about anything, he rushed out of the tent.
"Wait, Jiraiya! Don't act recklessly. Even if you rush over now—"
However, by the time Tsunade caught up, Jiraiya had already disappeared into the vast darkness of the night, leaving no trace behind.
"This idiot, rushing in like that for a rescue mission, he's likely to be ambushed by the enemy!" Tsunade muttered softly, helplessly staring at the entrance of the tent.
(Chapter End)