Chapter 98: Chapter 98: New Teammate, Maruboshi Kosuke

Although five thousand ninjas were many, under Tsunade’s command, they marched toward the Land of Rain in an orderly manner.

As Tsunade’s students, Natsuki, Nawaki, and Nonou naturally followed behind her.

By nightfall, this large force of five thousand ninjas successfully arrived at the northwestern border of the Land of Fire.

A little further ahead, they would enter the Land of Rain.

Tsunade stopped and ordered everyone to set up camp on the spot.

After the main tent was set up, she called Natsuki, Nawaki, and Nonou inside.

"Although I am your Jonin instructor, as the commander, I must hold the fort at the main camp and cannot easily leave."

Tsunade began.

"Sister, do you plan to have another Jonin be our Jonin instructor?"

Nawaki asked, confused.

"There are no available Jonin at the moment."

Tsunade shook her head. "If I can’t leave, Natsuki will temporarily act as the squad leader."

"I think that works."

Hearing this, Nawaki hurriedly said. "Natsuki’s strength is comparable to a Jonin. He is completely capable of being our squad leader."

Nonou also nodded in agreement.

"But you guys are ultimately too young, and a full ninja squad consists of four people. You only have three."

Tsunade continued. "Therefore, I will assign someone to be your temporary teammate."

"Sister, didn’t you just say there are no available Jonin?"

Nawaki scratched his head. "Are you going to assign a Genin or Chunin? Will they hold us back?"

"Are you looking down on your teammate before even meeting them?"

Tsunade glared at him. "Have you forgotten everything I usually teach you?"

"That’s not what I meant."

Nawaki hurriedly shook his head.

With geniuses like Natsuki and Minato as comparisons, he felt the strength of the vast majority of Genin and Chunin wasn’t very outstanding.

But if there truly was such a genius, they wouldn’t be added to their squad as a temporary teammate.

Sarutobi Hiruzen would definitely arrange a proper Jonin instructor and teammates for the geniuses.

"Alright. You and Nonou leave. Natsuki, stay for the meeting."

Tsunade waved her hand.

After Nawaki and Nonou left, she sent the ANBU to notify the other Jonin.

Before long, all the Jonin gathered in the main tent.

When they saw Natsuki, they were surprised—but not overly so.

Geniuses always received special treatment.

Especially since Natsuki had displayed astonishing strength in the recently concluded Chunin Exams.

Although they didn’t go to watch, as Jonin, they all had their own intelligence channels.

Coupled with the fact that Natsuki was already a genius they paid close attention to, it wasn’t difficult to find out what happened during the Chunin Exams.

After all, they could learn it from Inuzuka Gaku.

"Tomorrow we will enter the Land of Rain. I will now explain the situation."

Tsunade got straight to the point. "Our objective is to intercept Sunagakure."

Everyone nodded slightly, all with solemn expressions.

Like Konoha, Sunagakure was one of the Five Great Villages and possessed formidable strength. Intercepting them would be no simple task.

However, they had already guessed their mission before setting off and were mentally prepared.

Actually, compared to Amegakure, Sunagakure was easier to deal with.

During this time period, Hanzo was indeed very troublesome.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to fight three great ninja villages alone and retreat unscathed during the Second Shinobi World War.

"According to the latest intel, Sunagakure has deployed an additional six thousand ninjas, led by Chiyo."

Tsunade continued. "They have moved a step ahead and have already established a defensive line in the eastern region of the Land of Rain."

Wars between ninjas rarely involved large-scale frontal engagements.

The Fourth Shinobi World War in the original story was an exception.

Normally, battles were small-scale skirmishes relying on defensive lines.

The so-called defensive lines consisted of outposts and strongholds.

Besides that, there were also struggles over logistical supply routes.

In the original story, the most classic example was the Battle of Kannabi Bridge during the Third Shinobi World War.

Konoha sent the squad of Minato, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, and Nohara Rin to blow up the bridge.

"I will now assign tasks."

Tsunade looked at Hatake Sakumo. "Sakumo, you will lead a team to eliminate Sunagakure’s frontline outposts."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade."

Hatake Sakumo immediately responded.

Because it was wartime and Tsunade was the commander, he addressed her by her title.

"Hizashi, you will lead a team to cooperate with Sakumo and eliminate Sunagakure’s frontline reconnaissance and patrol squads."

Tsunade then looked at Hyuga Hizashi.

Although Hyuga Hizashi was young, his status in the Hyuga clan was extraordinary.

In this war, the Hyuga clan designated him as the person in charge just to let him accumulate merit.

Logically speaking, they should have let Hyuga Hiashi accumulate merit.

He was the future head of the Hyuga clan.

But as the Main House of the Hyuga clan, they wouldn’t leave the village unless absolutely necessary.

Because they didn’t have the Caged Bird seal.

If an accident happened, it would result in the loss of a Byakugan.

The Branch House of the Hyuga clan was different. The Caged Bird seal would automatically destroy the Byakugan upon death.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"

Hyuga Hizashi hurriedly replied.

Possessing the Byakugan, the Hyuga clan was the most suitable for reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance.

Even the Inuzuka and Aburame clans could hardly compare.

It couldn’t be helped. The Byakugan was of strategic level in war.

In the Third Shinobi World War of the original story, Ao of Kirigakure obtained a single Byakugan and immediately earned the title of Byakugan Killer.

"Shikatsu, you will lead a team to establish a defensive line within a safe distance."

Tsunade paused. "Take all the ninjas skilled in Earth Release with you."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade."

Nara Shikatsu said in a deep voice.

"Next is the assignment of individual ninja squads and the detailing of tasks."

After Tsunade finished speaking, she unrolled a map.

Everyone gathered around the map and began to discuss.

Although Natsuki attended the meeting, he didn’t speak.

The reason was that he was a warrior, not good with words.

To describe it with a quote from his previous life: "I don’t know where I am. I only know I must kill."

"Natsuki."

Tsunade’s voice suddenly rang out.

Natsuki snapped back to reality and looked at her.

"Your squad will follow Hizashi to deal with Sunagakure’s reconnaissance and patrol squads."

Tsunade ordered.

Natsuki nodded.

His mission could be summed up in two words: scout battles.

The reason Tsunade gave him this task was most likely because his abilities were very suited for sneak attacks.

Whether it was Shadow Assassin, the Logia-Type Plume-Plume Fruit, or Presence Concealment.

Of course, Tsunade only knew about his first two abilities and didn’t know he had Presence Concealment.

Actually, for reconnaissance, his Clairvoyance and Night Vision could also play a role.

The Jonin meeting lasted for three hours before finally concluding.

After the other Jonin left, Natsuki was stopped by Tsunade again.

"Go call Nawaki and Nonou here."

Tsunade explained. "You need to meet your temporary teammate."

"Mm."

Natsuki suppressed the curiosity in his heart and left the main tent.

As Tsunade’s students and a single ninja squad, the three of them had their own separate tent.

"Nawaki, Nonou, come with me to the main tent."

Natsuki walked into the tent. "Teacher Tsunade is going to introduce our new teammate."

"Who is it?"

Nawaki asked impatiently.

"I don’t know. Teacher Tsunade didn’t say."

Natsuki guessed. "But his strength is definitely not bad."

Tsunade wouldn’t set them up for failure no matter what.

"Then let’s go see who it is."

Nawaki took the lead and ran toward the main tent.

Natsuki and Nonou followed him into the main tent.

As soon as they entered, they saw a middle-aged ninja.

The most striking thing was that he carried a giant pot on his back.

Nawaki was stunned. He looked at him, then at Tsunade, an expression of disbelief on his face.

He almost asked, "Is this our new teammate? Are you sure you didn’t just find a cook?"

"His name is Maruboshi Kosuke. He is your new teammate, and also a Genin."

Tsunade introduced with a face full of smiles.

"A Genin?"

Nawaki couldn’t help but raise his voice.

Natsuki raised an eyebrow, secretly thinking Tsunade indeed hadn’t set him up.

Maruboshi Kosuke, the eternal Genin—but with the true strength of a Jonin.

He excelled in Konoha-Style Kenjutsu and Water Release, and his Water Release was taught by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Show some respect. Call him Senior Kosuke."

Tsunade raised her hand and flicked Nawaki’s forehead hard.

"Senior Kosuke."

Natsuki called out with a sincere expression.

Seeing this, Tsunade couldn’t help but feel satisfied.

Natsuki was the sensible one.

"You’re too polite."

Maruboshi Kosuke smiled. "I’ll have to trouble you to take care of this old man."

Nawaki wanted to say something but stopped.

"Senior Kosuke, you’re being modest. I’ve heard your stories."

Natsuki hurriedly said. "Besides the Second Hokage, you are the strongest Water Release ninja in Konoha."

"Really?"

Nawaki asked with a confused face. "Why haven’t I heard of this?"

"I wouldn’t call myself the strongest in Water Release. I’m inferior to Hiruzen."

Maruboshi Kosuke said modestly.

Nawaki was instantly stunned.

Although he didn’t know Maruboshi Kosuke’s true strength, anyone who dared to call Sarutobi Hiruzen directly by his first name "Hiruzen" was definitely not an ordinary person.

He quickly put away his underestimation and became very well-behaved.

It had to be said, although Nawaki had many flaws, he also had many merits.

"It’s getting late. You all go get some rest."

Seeing that they had gotten to know each other, Tsunade reminded them. "Tomorrow, go to Hizashi to receive your assignments."

Natsuki and the others nodded, turned, and left.

"Natsuki!"

As soon as they returned to their tent, Nawaki couldn’t help but ask. "Who is Senior Kosuke?"

"He is a student of the Second Hokage."

Natsuki replied.

"Why didn’t I know Second Granduncle had such a student?"

Nawaki scratched his head.

"Because his situation is very special."

Natsuki recounted Maruboshi Kosuke’s deeds.

"There’s actually such a Genin?"

Nawaki paused and added. "It is indeed admirable."

If it were him, he definitely couldn’t be a Genin for his entire life.

"Mm."

Natsuki nodded, yawned. "Go to sleep early. We have a mission tomorrow."

After speaking, he took out his sleeping bag.

Nawaki and Nonou did the same.

But just as Nawaki took out his sleeping bag, he saw Natsuki and Nonou’s sleeping bags placed right next to each other.

His mouth twitched, feeling like a third wheel.

Nawaki shook his head, crawled into his sleeping bag, and fell asleep.

Early the next morning, they woke up.

The main force would remain here temporarily under Tsunade’s command.

They would only move in one by one after the defensive line was established.

Natsuki and the others met up with Maruboshi Kosuke and arrived at Hyuga Hizashi’s tent.

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