Konoha's Tag-System Ninja

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Pulled My Back!

In the Kazekage's office, Rasa fell into deep thought after hearing Chiyo's report.

"They're actually willing to return the One-Tails?"

After a moment, Rasa raised his eyes and asked, "Chiyo, do you think Shūichi is trustworthy?"

Chiyo pondered before replying, "Shūichi is no ordinary person. Not only is he incredibly strong, but he's also a medical ninja."

"Some of his jutsu clearly don't come from Konoha's typical teachings; it's highly likely that he invented them himself."

"And there's his Lava Release Kekkei Genkai... Konoha has never had such a Kekkei Genkai. The most plausible explanation is that he gained the Four-Tails' chakra and developed it from there."

"The Third Kazekage took over a decade of research to master Magnet Release!"

"Extracting a tailed beast would certainly be fatal, but medical ninjutsu might indeed solve that problem."

"After all, I've also thought about injecting life into puppets... While I haven't succeeded yet, I've made some progress."

Rasa was slightly taken aback, then nodded. "Alright, agree to the alliance."

"Chiyo, you will represent me in meeting with Shūichi Hoshita, then head to Kikyo Mountain. I'll leave the situation there to you."

Chiyo nodded. "Understood!"

...

At the base, after hearing Chiyo's words, Shūichi nodded with a smile. "Very good!"

He stood up, stretching his back. "Finally, I can leave this place."

"I'll go notify everyone of the ceasefire. You should head out as soon as possible!"

"Of course, for now, we need to keep up appearances and maintain the standoff to confuse Iwa."

"As for the Kazekage's attack, personally, I think the best time would be when Kumo moves against Iwa."

After leaving a shadow clone behind to communicate with the Kazekage, Shūichi's figure vanished from Chiyo's sight.

Without wasting any time, Chiyo, along with a small squad of Suna-nin, headed straight for the Land of Rivers.

...

At Kikyo Castle on the eastern border of the Land of Rivers, Shūichi appeared beside his shadow clone, which was recovering its chakra.

"It seems my mission is complete..."

The shadow clone opened its eyes and immediately dispelled itself without transforming.

Though the memories were sealed away, the exhaustion still weighed heavily on Shūichi's body, especially mentally.

"Using shadow clones for extended periods is definitely not a good idea..."

He massaged his temples. Fortunately, the Strength of a Hundred Seal was continuously nurturing his brain cells with chakra.

But even that wasn't foolproof.

After a brief rest, Shūichi used the Body Flicker Technique to arrive outside Orochimaru's office.

"Shūichi-kun, come in," Orochimaru's voice called from within.

Shūichi stepped in and said, "Orochimaru-sama, it's time to stop the fighting."

Looking over a map, Orochimaru raised his head in mild surprise. "The old man wants peace talks?"

Shūichi nodded. "I've already negotiated with the Fourth Kazekage."

Orochimaru squinted his eyes. "This is your real body?"

"And you actually agreed to the talks?"

"Didn't Sunagakure demand the return of the One-Tails?"

Orochimaru was skeptical.

Shūichi smiled. "As long as the benefits are enough, nothing is impossible."

"Suna agreed to join us in attacking Iwa. The Fourth Kazekage wants to claim benefits in the Land of Birds, preserve his forces at Kikyo Mountain, and, of course, retrieve the One-Tails. That's a tempting offer."

"And all we have to give up is the One-Tails. I'm confident we can return it in three years."

Orochimaru chuckled in understanding. "I never doubted your abilities, Shūichi-kun."

"This deal is certainly a good one. I thought we'd have to give up our interests in the Land of Rivers as well!"

Shūichi shook his head. "Giving up the Land of Rivers would mean all the comrades who died in battle did so in vain."

Besides, he held the upper hand. Why give up so much?

If Sunagakure wanted more, they could try taking it from Iwa.

The opportunity had been given. If they couldn't seize it, it would be their own incompetence.

Orochimaru nodded in agreement. "In that case, we'll cease hostilities for now and maintain the standoff."

"For Sunagakure, it's best if you go there yourself."

Shūichi nodded, then left the office. With a few quick flickers, he arrived at the front lines.

The Suna-nin hidden in the darkness were on high alert, and upon seeing Shūichi, they couldn't help but break into cold sweats.

Shūichi paused. "Bring Ebizō out."

A moment later, Ebizō appeared. "What business do you have with me?"

Shūichi stepped forward, and though Ebizō nervously swallowed, he managed to maintain his composure. However, the other Suna-nin behind him were on edge, ready to form seals for ninjutsu at any moment.

Standing in front of Ebizō, Shūichi said quietly, "Konoha and Sunagakure have reached an agreement to form an alliance. From now on, we will cease fighting and maintain a standoff to deceive Iwa."

"Additionally, Lady Chiyo is already on her way."

Ebizō was stunned.

Shūichi finished speaking and turned to leave.

It took Ebizō a while to recover.

Is this a trick?

No, that's impossible.

Sunagakure no longer had the strength to attack anyway.

Back at Kikyo Castle, Shūichi first reported to Orochimaru, then headed over to the medical camp.

It was late at night, but Yakushi Nono, Asuka, and Shizune were still hard at work.

Asuka was the first to react, delighted. "Shūichi, is this your real body?"

Shūichi smiled and nodded. "Of course."

"That's great!"

Asuka, overwhelmed with joy, rushed forward and hugged Shūichi.

Yakushi Nono smiled, her worries finally easing.

It wasn't until Asuka blushed and let go of Shūichi that Shizune stepped up, comparing heights. "Shūichi, you've grown taller again."

Shūichi's shadow clone had remained the same, but his real body had clearly grown, making the difference more noticeable.

"Well, it has been a while!" Shūichi chuckled, then said, "Alright, let's treat the patients first."

Asuka and Shizune both nodded eagerly, and everyone got back to work.

Meanwhile, back at Sunagakure's command tent, Ebizō and the Suna-nin were silent, caught between disbelief, relief, and uncertainty—a mix of emotions running high.

The night felt both short and endless.

As dawn broke, Shūichi and the medical team finally finished their tasks for the time being.

After cleaning the surgical tools, Shūichi smiled. "Time to rest. The war's over, for now."

Shizune blinked in surprise. "Eh? Has Sunagakure been defeated?"

Shūichi shook his head. "That's a secret for now."

"Let's go!"

He grabbed Shizune by the hand and led her out of the tent. Then, finding Yakushi Nono and Asuka, he pulled them away from their work as well to get some rest.

Unexpectedly, all three of them shared the same room. Shūichi hadn't noticed this earlier with his shadow clone.

Not caring much, Shūichi flopped down and immediately went to sleep.

Yakushi Nono gave him a playful scold but didn't kick him out. Instead, she arranged for Asuka and Shizune to sleep on either side of Shūichi, while she slept next to Asuka.

Blushing, Shizune held onto one of Shūichi's arms, her eyes closed but her long lashes trembling.

...

Shūichi slept soundly and contentedly, while Chiyo, having worked tirelessly through the night, had to push through her exhaustion to make various arrangements on the Sand Village's side.

First, she needed to relay the Fourth Kazekage's orders, ensuring that each Jonin understood the purpose and significance of the village's peace talks.

Next, she had to arrange the defensive lines in a proper manner.

However...

While Shūichi's main body was resting, his shadow clones were still working hard.

By dawn, the first vanguard of 300 Rock Ninjas had already reached the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Grass. After just an hour of rest, they entered the Land of Grass.

At the same time, a second wave of 500 Rock Ninjas had set out from the village.

All of this information was swiftly sent back to Konoha by Shūichi's shadow clones, using the communication toads from Mount Myōboku.

Meanwhile, in the Cloud Village.

Early in the morning, the Third Raikage was pacing back and forth in excitement, unable to sit still.

He knew that if he stopped pacing, he might not be able to resist launching an attack right away, though his adviser and his secretary both advised waiting a little longer.

The Rock Ninjas had only just begun their mobilization and hadn't yet engaged Konoha.

They suggested that the optimal moment to strike would be when both Konoha and the Rock Ninjas had fully committed their forces in battle, increasing their numbers in a drawn-out conflict.

Time ticked by.

Shūichi's main body remained at Kikyō Mountain, continuing his work as a medical ninja, but his shadow clones were constantly on the move, keeping a close eye on the Rock Ninjas and Cloud Ninjas alike.

The Rock Ninjas had a solid grasp of blitzkrieg tactics. On that same day, they swiftly crossed through the small Land of Grass and launched a surprise attack on the Fire Country's border.

With that, the Rock Ninjas and Konoha officially entered into war!

Shūichi was not at all surprised, especially since the Rock Ninjas' movements were being carefully monitored by his shadow clones.

However, for Sarutobi Hiruzen, it was a significant blow.

Even though he had Shūichi's intelligence to rely on, moving troops took time, and Konoha couldn't react as quickly as the Rock Ninjas.

The Rock Ninjas launched one wave of attacks after another.

By the second day, their forces had crossed the Land of Grass and grown to over a thousand soldiers, while Konoha could only send 200 reinforcements from the village, bringing the total to just 500 when combined with the 300 soldiers already defending the border.

If Konoha hadn't already secured a ceasefire with the Sand Village, this defensive line would have been overrun by the Rock Ninjas!

Thus, on the second day of the Rock Ninjas' assault on the Fire Country's border, Orochimaru led his army north.

Meanwhile, Koharu Utatane, acting as Konoha's representative, had already set out for the Sand Village the previous day.

After Shūichi and his team headed north, the Sand Ninjas, under the leadership of Chiyo and Ebizō, also moved northward to cut off the Rock Ninjas' retreat.

The situation was changing rapidly, leaving everyone scrambling to keep up.

By evening, Onoki received the news and jumped to his feet in shock. "What?"

Crack!

His body stiffened, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Damn it, I threw my back out!

His son, Kitsuchi, didn't notice and assumed his father was merely stunned by the news. He quickly reported, "The front lines have already collapsed. We're tangled in battle with both the Sand and Leaf Ninjas within the Land of Grass."

"Father, we need to send reinforcements immediately to break through their blockade."

Onoki gritted his teeth. "The Sand Ninjas... Fourth Kazekage, damn it!"

"Mobilize the troops immediately!"

"And notify the southern forces to be on guard against any surprise attacks from the Sand Ninjas!"

"Also, Shūichi—he's probably on the battlefield as well, right?"

Kitsuchi nodded. "Yes, though we haven't confirmed if it's his main body or a shadow clone."

"But the chances of it being his main body are high."

Onoki's face darkened. "Whether it's his main body or a clone, send Rōshi to deal with him."

Kitsuchi quickly left to make the necessary arrangements.

Onoki sat down, massaging his aching back, but he couldn't wrap his head around why the Sand Village had allied with Konoha at this critical moment.

The One-Tail was taken by Konoha. Could it be they promised to return it?

But if they do return it, that would spell the end for Shūichi!

Could it really be that they had no choice but to compromise after being cornered by that Shūichi at their village gates?

...

The Cloud Ninjas received the intelligence later than the Rock Ninjas, and the Third Raikage was just as stunned by the sudden turn of events. He asked, "Tsuchidai, why have the Sand Ninjas suddenly allied with Konoha?"

Tsuchidai shook his head. "We don't have any concrete information yet, but it's already a fact."

The Third Raikage nodded and quickly made a decision. "Tsuchidai, accompany the A-B Combo in attacking Konoha from the south. I will personally lead an assault on the Land of Earth."

Tsuchidai was startled and hurriedly said, "Third Raikage-sama, there's no need for you to personally take action, is there?"

"The Rock Ninjas are in significant trouble, but their forces haven't been heavily depleted yet."

"Konoha, on the other hand, though they've allied with the Sand Village, is still struggling with a shortage of troops."

"Wouldn't it be better to attack the Fire Country first? We could overrun the Land of Rice Fields or even the Land of the Moon, and force Konoha to relinquish some of their territory in the Fire Country."

At this moment, the Third Raikage was calm and composed as he replied, "The Rock Ninjas may not have suffered heavy losses yet, but with the Sand Ninjas now allied with Konoha, the Sand will undoubtedly strike again in the Land of Birds."

"You will proceed with the assault on the Fire Country. That is an order!"

Tsuchidai had no choice but to obey.

He wasn't against attacking the Land of Earth, but he was firmly opposed to the Third Raikage personally leading the assault.

...

August 15, Year 45 of the Konoha Calendar.

On the fifth day of the Rock Ninja's invasion of the Fire Country, the Cloud Ninjas moved south, heading straight for the Fire Country.

At this point, all five major ninja villages were now embroiled in the war.

The Land of Grass, serving as the main battlefield, had descended into utter chaos. Neither the entire Land of Grass nor even the Grass Ninja Village was a safe place anymore.

The Grass Ninja Village was now facing a difficult choice.

Should they support the Rock Ninjas, or should they side with Konoha and the Sand Ninjas to fight against them?

Sitting on the fence?

Shūichi wouldn't allow it.

Of course, he would never admit that he had subtly influenced the Sand Village to shift the battlefield toward the Grass Ninja Village.

In truth, even without his intervention, the entire Land of Grass would inevitably become a battlefield.

The Rock Ninjas, now temporarily at a disadvantage, had no choice but to use the terrain of the Land of Grass to expand the battlefield and gain more strategic depth.

...

Deep within the Land of Grass, on a low mountain, Shūichi stood alongside Asuka and Uchiha Shisui.

On the opposite side stood Rōshi, the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails, accompanied by a squad of Rock Ninjas.

The moment their enemies met, their eyes blazed with fury.

Rōshi's gaze locked onto Shūichi, who had grown much taller since their last encounter. Battle lust surged within him.

Inside him, the Four-Tails, Son Gokū, opened his eyes and spoke, "This guy... He holds my power!"

Son Gokū had sensed it!

Rōshi snorted internally. "So it was him last time... That means he was the one who killed the Third Kazekage, huh?"

"Damn it, pretending to be me."

"But wouldn't it be interesting if the Sand Ninjas found out it was him who killed their Third Kazekage?"

Son Gokū mocked, "Do you really think the higher-ups in the Sand Village don't already know?"

Rōshi had no response.

Son Gokū continued, "I also sense the presence of Shukaku. Heh, you'd better be careful. I wouldn't mind switching hosts."

"But you're as good as dead!"

Rōshi's face darkened.

Although he had control over the Four-Tails' power, he wasn't a perfect Jinchūriki.

His state was more akin to Naruto's early use of the Nine-Tails' chakra mode, where he forcibly drew on the Four-Tails' power.

Suppressing his irritation, Rōshi barked, "Hey, do you really want to share a space with that lunatic One Tails?"

"We've been together for so long, after all."

Son Gokū responded indifferently, "If I share a space with Shukaku, at least I can insult him whenever I want!"

Rōshi was too irritated to continue arguing with him.

He had initially hoped to use the tension between him and Shukaku to convince Son Gokū to cooperate, but now that plan was ruined.

This damned ape, no backbone at all!

Nevertheless...

Rōshi's eyes focused sharply on Shūichi across from him, his gaze fierce and ruthless. "I'm not that old monk, Bunpuku. If you underestimate me, you'll regret it..."

(End of Chapter)

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