The Land of Rain.

Sunagakure’s main camp.

Chiyo looked at the map in front of her, lost in thought.

Sunagakure was currently at war with both Amegakure and Konoha.

But their main forces were concentrated on the battlefield against Amegakure.

The Third Kazekage planned to deal with the weaker Amegakure first before taking on Konoha.

However, they didn’t expect Hanzo’s poison to be so potent—dragging the war out until now.

Fortunately, Sunagakure had a large number of ninjas.

If they persisted, she felt Amegakure would eventually fail.

Right at that moment, a short man walked in.

"Ebizou."

Chiyo turned to look at him. "Why are you here?"

Ebizou was her younger brother.

Both of them were advisors to the Kazekage in Sunagakure and were deeply trusted by the Third Kazekage.

"I just received some news."

Ebizou said with a heavy expression.

"Is it bad news?"

Chiyo noticed his expression. "Just say it directly."

"Sareki was captured, and the Puppet Brigade was almost completely wiped out. Only one ninja squad managed to escape back."

Ebizou looked at Chiyo and said slowly.

Sareki was Chiyo’s son.

The ninja squad that escaped was on another mission at the time and wasn’t at that stronghold.

By the time they returned, Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and the others had already left—leaving behind only a mess.

In their terror, they fled back to Sunagakure overnight.

Hearing this, Chiyo’s body trembled violently. She subconsciously took a step back.

Ebizou hurriedly stepped forward and supported her.

"Are... are you telling the truth?"

Chiyo forcefully steadied her emotions.

"It was Tsunade."

Ebizou nodded. "She lured Sareki and the others into an ambush, and they were ultimately captured by her and Hatake Sakumo."

"I see."

Chiyo instinctively pressed her forehead, feeling dizzy.

"Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo—their reputations have long preceded them, especially the latter. His strength is formidable. Losing to them is not an injustice."

Ebizou comforted her. "Even if Lord Kazekage knows, he won’t blame them."

"Mm."

Chiyo responded.

"Moreover, Sareki and the others were only captured."

Ebizou continued. "The top priority now is to rescue them."

"If we just stop fighting and negotiate with Konoha, not only am I unwilling, but Lord Kazekage won’t agree either."

Chiyo said in a deep voice.

The Third Kazekage was known as the strongest Kazekage.

He was powerful and had enough ambition.

For Sunagakure to fight for so long and gain nothing, retreating now was absolutely impossible.

Moreover, the other ninjas wouldn’t be willing either.

The reason was simple.

Sunagakure’s environment was too harsh—deserts everywhere.

Since its establishment, they had always coveted the Land of Fire and Konoha.

In fact, it was the same in the original story.

In several Shinobi World Wars, Sunagakure always targeted Konoha.

They even launched the Konoha Crush under Orochimaru’s instigation.

The ultimate reason was the poor environment. Sunagakure was too poor.

The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was forced to become a gold miner—panning for gold in the desert every day to sell for money to maintain Sunagakure’s operations.

"Then we fight!"

Ebizou said decisively. "I’ll deal with Amegakure. You go deal with Konoha and show them your poison!"

"Right!"

Chiyo’s spirit lifted. "Konoha definitely won’t be able to decipher my poison. When the time comes, we can make them exchange Sareki for the antidote."

Although Tsunade’s fame was greater than Chiyo’s in the original story, at this current stage, Chiyo’s fame far exceeded Tsunade’s.

If Natsuki hadn’t come up with the "Konoha Sannin," Tsunade’s fame would still be limited to Konoha.

Moreover, Chiyo was the same age as Sarutobi Hiruzen and was Tsunade’s senior.

She naturally didn’t believe a junior could decipher her poison—nor did she even think Tsunade’s medical ninjutsu could be stronger than hers.

Seeing this, Ebizou felt slightly relieved.

He was worried that Sareki’s capture would affect Chiyo.

For now, Chiyo still maintained a strong mindset and hadn’t collapsed because of it.

"I’ll return to Sunagakure immediately to discuss this matter with Lord Kazekage."

Ebizou nodded slightly.

Splitting their forces and increasing their efforts against Konoha was not a simple matter.

It required mobilizing not only more ninjas but also more supplies.

It would be difficult to put everything in place in a short time.

The Land of Fire, Konoha.

"Hahaha! I, Nawaki, have finally returned!"

Nawaki laughed happily.

Staying in the Land of Rain for half a month and getting drenched in rain for half a month—he had long been unable to stand it.

Coupled with the fact that he had made a great contribution this time, he naturally couldn’t control his arrogance.

Tsunade glanced at him, smiled, and didn’t say anything.

Returning to Konoha after half a month, she was also in a very good mood—so she didn’t correct Nawaki’s improper behavior.

"Sakumo, I’ll have to trouble you to go report the situation of this mission to Teacher."

Tsunade said casually.

Normally, either she or Hatake Sakumo could go.

And going would allow them to brush up their presence in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen—which was quite a good opportunity.

But she didn’t care about any merit, so she couldn’t be bothered to fight for it.

"The key to the success of this mission was your squad. It’s more appropriate for you to go."

Hatake Sakumo shook his head. "I don’t even know how you guys defeated Sareki’s squad. If Lord Hokage asks, I won’t be able to answer."

Tsunade didn’t care about merit, and neither did he.

He was actually very similar to the samurai of the Land of Iron—strictly abiding by the rules of ninjas, not fighting for merit, just perfectly completing the mission.

Perhaps because of this, he would commit suicide after a mission failure.

Natsuki secretly thought that such a personality was truly not suitable to be Hokage.

"What a troublesome matter."

Tsunade sighed inwardly. "Then I’ll go see Teacher."

"Are we going too?"

Natsuki asked.

"You guys made a great contribution this time. Come with me so you can ask Teacher for rewards."

Tsunade waved her hand. "Let’s go."

"Let’s go!"

Nawaki said excitedly.

This was his first time making such a huge contribution, and he was very looking forward to what reward he could ask for.

In comparison, Nonou was much quieter.

The group arrived at the Hokage’s office.

"You’re back?"

Seeing them, Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a face full of smiles. "Your mission this time gave me a huge surprise."

He sent Tsunade over to repel Sunagakure’s Puppet Brigade—but he didn’t expect the result to greatly exceed his expectations.

Not only did they completely annihilate Sunagakure’s Puppet Brigade, but they also captured Chiyo’s son and daughter-in-law.

Those two could be considered high-ranking members of Sunagakure.

If they didn’t die, they might become Kazekage advisors when Chiyo and Ebizou retired.

"The reason we achieved so many results in this mission is mainly thanks to Natsuki."

Tsunade paused and added. "Nawaki and Nonou also performed well."

Hearing this, Nawaki immediately puffed out his chest, looking very proud.

Tsunade helplessly raised her hand and knocked him on the head.

"I am very clear about your contributions. If you want anything, just ask."

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled.

For a peerless genius of their Hokage faction who had made a great contribution, no reward would be too much.

"I don’t know what reward to ask for."

Nawaki scratched his head.

As Senju Hashirama’s grandson, and with Uzumaki Mito still alive, he could have whatever he wanted.

Ninja tools, ninjutsu, and money—he lacked nothing.

Sarutobi Hiruzen thought for a moment and realized he truly didn’t know what reward to give Nawaki.

Not just Nawaki, but Natsuki as well.

He had previously even allowed Natsuki to become a contractor of the Monkey clan.

What else could he give him now?

What Sarutobi Hiruzen excelled at the most was the five elemental ninjutsu and combination ninjutsu.

So-called combination ninjutsu referred to combining two or more ninjutsu and releasing them together.

For example, Combination Ninja Art: Earth Dragon Flame Stream was a combination of Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet and Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet.

It was somewhat like a Kekkei Genkai—but not quite.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew Natsuki’s talent lay not in learning ninjutsu, but in creating them.

Nawaki could learn them—but he hadn’t even finished learning Water Release yet.

"Then we’ll just keep it on record for now."

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn’t think about it anymore. "Come find me when you have a reward you want."

"I want to learn some genjutsu."

Natsuki thought for a moment.

"That’s a small matter. Just have Tsunade give them to you directly."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said carelessly.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Natsuki immediately responded.

"Is there anything else?"

Tsunade yawned.

After fighting for half a month and traveling for two days, she was already physically and mentally exhausted and just wanted to go back and lie down.

"There is one thing."

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn’t mind her attitude. "At the end of the month, I plan to hold a Chunin Exam. You can participate."

Nawaki’s eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed.

The reason he was willing to do so many low-rank missions before was so he could participate in the Chunin Exams.

Moreover, a Chunin was much more prestigious than a Genin. He had long wanted to stop being a Genin!

"We will participate when the time comes."

Tsunade nodded.

First, because Natsuki, Nawaki, and Nonou’s strength was already sufficient.

Second, because promoting to Chunin would bring more benefits.

For example, accepting higher-rank missions and receiving greater rewards.

In the original story, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke being eternal Genin was truly an anomaly.

Especially that joint Chunin Exam between Sunagakure and Konoha—which was overly absurd.

Normally, the difficulty wouldn’t be that high.

Later, Sunagakure held another joint Chunin Exam.

The difficulty of that joint Chunin Exam was very normal. Hyuga Neji was promoted to Jonin, and Haruno Sakura and the others were all promoted to Chunin.

Furthermore, joint Chunin Exams were the minority. Most were internal Chunin Exams within a ninja village.

This one was undoubtedly an internal Chunin Exam within Konoha. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

After all, during the Second Shinobi World War, other ninja villages wouldn’t dare come to Konoha.

Especially Sunagakure and Amegakure.

With the matter concluded, the group left the Hokage’s office.

Nonou and Nawaki went back first.

Natsuki followed Tsunade to the ninjutsu storage room in the Hokage Building and selected five control-type ninjutsu.

Afterward, he returned to the Konoha Orphanage.

As soon as he returned to his room, Natsuki used Seith Magic: Human Possession.

In an instant, five dolls appeared before him.

These five dolls were like figurines from his previous life—no longer than his palm, extremely pocket-sized.

Natsuki examined them carefully and found that these five dolls were purely inanimate objects. Empty shells.

With a thought, he injected his soul into them.

In an instant, he felt he shared vision with the five dolls and could control them.

Natsuki was thoughtful.

He felt these five dolls could also be used for infiltration and reconnaissance.

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