Chapter 130: Deployment
After they finished eating, the group chatted for a while. As the evening deepened into night, they slowly dispersed, aware that their carefree days were nearing an end.
To give Konoha's ninja a better chance of victory, Tsunade began producing large quantities of poison. As a skilled Medical-nin, she was well-versed in poisons and antidotes. Though it was something she would normally find distasteful, necessity left her no choice. Konoha's forces were significantly outnumbered by the combined armies of the two enemy villages, making poison a desperate but essential measure.
One day, Tsunade received intelligence that Iwagakure forces had crossed into the Land of Rain. She had been preparing poison when the news arrived, but she immediately set down her work. Without hesitation, she issued orders for an expedition.
"Gather everyone," she commanded. A ninja swiftly carried out her directive, and the Konoha camp quickly buzzed with activity. Fully dressed ninja assembled at the camp gate in preparation.
Before long, Tsunade and Kawakaze arrived together. Tsunade took one look at the gathered force and wasted no time. With a sharp gesture, she declared, "Let's go."
The group divided into two units. Sakumo and Duy remained behind with their group to guard against any move by Sunagakure, while Kawakaze and Tsunade led the main force toward the Iwa ninja.
The journey through the dense forest was swift and silent. The air was heavy with humidity, and before long, everyone was soaked. Yet, they pressed on without pause, their determination unwavering.
As they ventured further from the camp, they found themselves surrounded by towering trees that seemed to pierce the sky. Suddenly, a voice broke the quiet.
"Lady Tsunade, there are Iwa ninja spies ahead," reported a member of the Hyūga Clan, whose Byakugan had detected the threat with precision.
"Kill them."
Without waiting for Tsunade's response, Kawakaze uttered the two words without a hint of emotion. He didn't consider such a minor task worth his personal attention.