Naruto: Multiverse Character Templates

The Hokage's office was unusually lively today.

Aside from Hiruzen, Danzō, Homura, Koharu, and Tsunade were also there.

"I just received intelligence sent back by Orochimaru."

Hiruzen said, "He believes Ame is already at the end of its rope. We can consider sending more shinobi and prepare for the final decisive battle."

"This long war is finally about to end. Hopefully, it can be over before New Year."

Homura sighed when he heard this.

"As long as it can end, there is no need to rush."

Koharu shook her head and said.

"Root can accompany them and handle intelligence."

Danzō wanted to take advantage of this final opportunity to gain more authority for Root.

"Against Ame, the Anbu are already enough."

Tsunade glanced at Danzō and asked, "When do we leave?"

For this mission to support Orochimaru in the Land of Rain, it would be difficult to find anyone more suitable than her.

After all, she could deal with Hanzō's poison.

Because of that, Danzō and the others did not even ask who Hiruzen planned to send.

"This is the final decisive battle. I believe it would be more appropriate for Root to go as well."

Danzō said in a deep voice.

"I do not need Root, which will not listen to my command."

Tsunade fired back without any courtesy.

"Slander!"

Danzō was so angry that he clenched his fists and asked, "My Root shinobi are all elites. How could they possibly refuse to obey orders?"

"Now is not the time to argue. Since Tsunade is the commander, she will choose the personnel."

Hiruzen coughed and said, "Go prepare immediately. It would be best if you can set out tomorrow."

"Yes, Sensei."

Tsunade immediately replied.

Danzō gnashed his teeth, but there was nothing he could do.

He could do nothing to Hiruzen, and he could do nothing to Tsunade either.

After the brief meeting ended, Konoha began operating again.

However, they did not need too many shinobi this time.

After Hiruzen and the others discussed it, they decided to send only two thousand shinobi as reinforcements.

To be honest, if not for Hanzō, two thousand shinobi would be enough to take Ame directly.

Ten o'clock in the morning.

Natsuki, Nawaki, and the others, who were training, suddenly saw an Anbu appear.

As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina had an Anbu squad protecting her, but this Anbu shinobi was clearly not one of them.

Because Natsuki recognized him.

He was an Anbu beside Hiruzen, named Zō.

In the original work, he was the Anbu commentator wearing a white coat outside the Four Violet Flames Formation during the Konoha Crush Plan.

"Natsuki, Nawaki, and Nonō."

Zō spoke, "Tsunade-sama asked me to inform you that tomorrow morning at nine, you are to gather at Konoha's village entrance and head to the Land of Rain."

"Where is my sister?"

Nawaki quickly asked.

"Tsunade-sama is handling personnel deployment at the Hokage Building and cannot step away for now, so the Anbu are handling the notice."

Zō replied.

"Thank you."

Nawaki nodded and said.

After hearing this, Zō disappeared from where he stood.

"I want to go too."

Kushina sighed, looking as though she had wilted.

"We will work hard for your share too!"

Nawaki clenched his fist and said seriously.

"Do not worry, we will come back very soon."

Natsuki reached out and pinched Kushina's cheek as he said this.

Because Nawaki and Nonō were present, Kushina froze for a moment, then responded somewhat embarrassedly.

"Let's go buy some ninja tools now."

Natsuki suggested, "Especially explosive tags. We can buy more of those."

"Explosive tags really are useful."

Nawaki thought of the time Pakura and Rasa attacked Konoha's main camp. The explosive tag trap had directly taken one thousand Suna shinobi out of the fight.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.

After saying goodbye to Kushina, Natsuki, Nawaki, and Nonō headed toward Konoha's village entrance.

Tsunade had arrived long ago and was conducting checks and confirmation before departure.

"Long time no see."

A familiar voice rang out.

"Kosuke-senpai!"

Nawaki turned his head and called out happily.

After all, during the previous war between Konoha and Suna, they had been teammates with Kosuke Maruboshi.

Moreover, Kosuke had taught him quite a few Water Release ninjutsu.

"Kosuke-senpai."

Natsuki and Nonō greeted him right after.

"It looks like I will be fighting alongside you again this time."

Kosuke said with a face full of smiles.

He still liked teaming up with them.

Not only were they strong, the atmosphere was also very good.

"I just did not expect that this time, Natsuki would already be a proper Jonin."

Kosuke sighed again, "The younger generation really is impressive."

"Whether Genin or Jonin, they are only titles."

Natsuki said without concern.

Saying this in front of Kosuke was especially fitting.

Because he was a Genin with Jonin-level strength.

"Exactly!"

Nawaki immediately said, "Even though I am a Chunin, I might be able to fight a Jonin too!"

"It sounds like you have improved a lot during this period."

Kosuke said with a smile.

"Of course!"

Nawaki said proudly, "Among Chunin, it is already hard to find anyone stronger than me!"

This was not an exaggeration.

He had learned Tobirama's Water Release, Water Breathing, and recently, he had also been learning the Rokushiki.

Forget Chunin. Even most Jonin were not qualified to learn the things he was learning.

"I must see it for myself when the time comes."

Kosuke looked at him like a junior and said with great satisfaction.

"Everyone, form ranks. Move out!"

At that moment, Tsunade shouted loudly.

The two thousand shinobi quickly lined up.

Natsuki and the others did the same.

But because they were Tsunade's students, their position in the formation was at the very front, following behind Tsunade.

The two thousand shinobi quickly set off, heading toward the Land of Rain.

Natsuki looked around and noticed quite a few familiar faces.

For example, Hizashi.

Two nights later, Tsunade and the others successfully arrived at Konoha's main camp.

"Tsunade, you are finally here!"

Jiraiya laughed loudly and said, "The three of us can fight side by side again! That is not easy!"

"Then make sure you do not drag us down."

Tsunade chuckled and said.

"You should say that to Orochimaru!"

Jiraiya immediately bragged, "I have never dragged anyone down! When has our team not had me making the greatest contribution?"

"Sensei!"

Nawaki quickly ran in front of Orochimaru.

"You seem to have grown quite a bit taller."

Orochimaru smiled faintly and said.

"I am still growing right now."

Nawaki changed the subject and began showing off, "My strength has improved quite a lot too."

Natsuki noticed Minato, Kae, and Suzume behind Jiraiya.

However, there were many people present right now, so they did not come forward to greet one another.

"You all worked hard on the journey. Go rest first."

Orochimaru returned to the main topic and instructed, "Shinku, take them over."

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."

A young shinobi walked out.

Natsuki subconsciously looked at him.

Yuhi Shinku, Kurenai's father, one of Konoha's rare genjutsu Jonin.

Compared to other shinobi who used the five basic nature transformations, genjutsu shinobi were more troublesome.

Because genjutsu was hard to guard against. Once someone was controlled, they would lose the initiative and could quickly be defeated or killed.

This was especially true of the Uchiha Clan's shinobi.

With the Sharingan, they could easily become the highest-level genjutsu shinobi.

In the shinobi world, there was even a saying that the Uchiha were unbeatable one-on-one.

But on the other hand, ordinary genjutsu shinobi would also have a very hard time against the Uchiha Clan's shinobi.

"Please follow me."

Shinku raised his hand and said.

The two thousand shinobi led by Tsunade followed him toward the tents that had already been prepared for them.

After they left, Minato, Kae, and Suzume came over to greet Natsuki and the others.

"Did Kushina not come?"

After some small talk, Minato could not help asking.

"Hokage-sama has other arrangements for her."

Natsuki replied.

"I see."

Minato nodded.

Because his current strength was not enough, he did not know that Kushina had already become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"Let's go to the main tent."

After Orochimaru finished speaking, he turned and left.

The group followed him into the main tent.

"What is the current situation?"

Tsunade's gaze fell on the map in the center of the main tent.

Although Orochimaru had been sending intelligence back to Konoha in a timely manner, the battlefield situation could change in an instant. Even an hour could make things completely different.

"As a small ninja village, Ame fights differently from Suna."

Jiraiya began explaining the recent battle situation.

Because Ame had fewer shinobi, they mainly relied on surprise attacks.

And their ambushes were usually accompanied by poison, which made them very troublesome.

There was one exception, and that was Hanzō.

Hanzō appeared and vanished unpredictably, but every time he appeared, he could seize the right moment and reverse Ame's decline.

After listening, Natsuki finally understood why Ame could fight Konoha and Suna for so long.

The main reason was still Hanzō.

He was somewhat like Minato during the Third Shinobi World War, acting as a firefighter everywhere.

But because of his powerful strength and poison with an extremely wide range, he did indeed produce good results.

"Orochimaru, how do you plan to make Hanzō fight a decisive battle with us?"

Tsunade looked at Orochimaru and asked.

"If we force him into a dead end, he will fight a decisive battle with us."

Orochimaru paused, then said two words, "Logistics."

Tsunade understood as soon as she heard it.

The reason Ame could go back and forth against the major ninja villages in the Land of Rain, aside from Hanzō, was that they held the geographical advantage.

They understood the Land of Rain very well.

This geographical advantage not only made ambushes easier, it also made logistics, meaning supply transport, easier.

Orochimaru's idea was simple. Cut off Ame's logistics.

Hanzō would either fight a decisive battle with them or retreat back to Ame.

But with his personality and strength, he would definitely choose the former.

"Have you figured out Ame's supply bases and routes?"

Tsunade asked again.

"Although they hold the geographical advantage, fortunately, we have more people. After this period of investigation, we have already confirmed most of them."

As Orochimaru spoke, he took out another map.

Many red dots and red lines were marked on the map.

"However, there is one very troublesome part."

Orochimaru shook his head and said, "Ame shinobi will obtain supplies locally."

"What does obtaining supplies locally mean?"

Nawaki asked in confusion.

"They rob the local residents of their supplies."

Jiraiya answered.

"How could that be?"

Nawaki widened his eyes and asked, "Shouldn't Ame shinobi be protecting the people of the Land of Rain?"

"This is the cruelty of war."

Jiraiya sighed and said.

The Land of Rain's constant rainfall meant it had very few resources to begin with, and Ame was the same.

Nawaki immediately fell silent.

Natsuki suddenly thought of Nagato.

In the original work, it was mentioned that his parents were killed by Konoha Jonin who were searching for food and supplies.

Because of that, Nagato awakened the Rinnegan and defeated the Konoha shinobi.

Based on Natsuki's understanding of Konoha Jonin, they most likely would not go to the homes of civilians in the Land of Rain to search for supplies.

After all, Konoha would guarantee their logistics.

Besides, would Jonin lack food supplies?

Natsuki suspected that this matter had been planned by Madara and Black Zetsu, in order to make Nagato awaken the Rinnegan.

Nagato had been implanted with the Rinnegan by Madara when he was very young, but he had not awakened it yet.

Of course, suspicion was only suspicion.

There was still a possibility that Nagato's parents had been killed by Konoha Jonin.

The original work had not explained the details, so anything was possible.

Natsuki remembered that Nagato only met Konan and Yahiko after killing the Konoha Jonin.

From then on, the three of them relied on one another in the Land of Rain, surviving by picking up scraps or stealing.

It was only after they learned of the existence of the Legendary Sannin that they came up with the idea of finding them and becoming their disciples.

In the end, they did indeed find the Legendary Sannin.

And after Jiraiya saw Nagato's Rinnegan, he believed that Nagato might be the Child of Prophecy, so he stayed behind and taught them for three years.

"You should go rest first."

Orochimaru looked at Nawaki and the others and said, "After we confirm the missions, we will assign them to you tomorrow."

"Minato, take them to the tents where they will be staying."

Jiraiya cut in and said.

"Okay."

Minato nodded.

He then left the main tent with Natsuki and the others.

"Minato, how have things been for you recently?"

Nawaki asked as they walked.

"Very fulfilling."

Minato smiled and said, "We have already carried out quite a few combat missions."

"I remember the missions you did before were more like secretary work?"

Nawaki raised an eyebrow and asked.

"They were before, but that could not improve our strength, so I asked Sensei to arrange combat missions for us."

Minato nodded and explained.

"That is pretty good!"

Nawaki said expectantly, "Maybe our two teams can carry out a combat mission together!"

"It is very likely."

Natsuki said casually, "Your teacher and our teacher are both too busy to go out and carry out missions, so we will easily be grouped into one team."

"That is true."

Minato explained, "Before you arrived, if Sensei had no time to take us, he would assign us a Jonin."

"Then you do not need one now, because Natsuki is already a Jonin."

Nawaki said with a smile.

When Minato heard this, he could not help feeling envious.

He had already known that Natsuki had become a Jonin, so he was not too surprised.

"These are your tents."

Minato stopped and said, "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Natsuki and the others entered the tent.

They did not chat much. After eating a simple dinner, they crawled into their sleeping bags and went to sleep.

A new day arrived.

Everyone in Konoha's main camp woke up.

Natsuki and the others had just gotten up when they saw Jiraiya, Minato, and the others.

"I came to give you your mission."

Jiraiya took out a mission scroll and handed it to Natsuki, saying, "You are the captain. Minato and the other two will also go with you."

"Understood."

Natsuki had not expected that what they had said yesterday about possibly carrying out a mission together would come true today.

But he had no objections, and Nawaki was quite happy as well.

Nonō and Kosuke did not particularly mind.

The former only hoped to be on the same team as Natsuki.

The latter would do his best to complete any mission he received.

"Be careful."

Jiraiya gave one reminder, then turned and left.

"What mission is it?"

Nawaki quickly asked.

"Read it yourself."

Natsuki opened the scroll and let him read along.

The mission was related to what they had discussed yesterday, destroying Ame's logistics.

But the mission their team received was to defeat an Ame squad that was plundering supplies in the Land of Rain.

"Eight people. One Jonin, three Tokubetsu Jonin, and four Chunin."

Natsuki looked at Minato and the others as he spoke.

"With our strength, defeating them will not be difficult."

Kosuke analyzed, "The difficult part is finding them."

Their two teams had seven people in total. One Jonin, five Chunin, and one Genin comparable to a Jonin.

In terms of strength alone, this mission was just right for them.

But that was normal.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru would definitely not put their own students in danger carelessly.

"These people even plunder supplies from their own civilians. We absolutely cannot let them go!"

Nawaki said, full of righteous anger.

Natsuki glanced at him and said nothing.

In reality, Konoha was the invader here.

But chaotic times were like this. There was no real question of justice.

"Let's go."

Natsuki put away the mission scroll, and the group headed toward the designated area.

After leaving Konoha's main camp, without the barrier, rain began falling on them.

They did not waste chakra keeping the rain off and instead changed into raincoats.

As Natsuki traveled, he thought about which ability this mission might unlock.

Nami's Navigator ability would most likely be unlocked all at once.

Its requirement was to defeat three Tokubetsu Jonin skilled in Water Release.

And most Ame shinobi were skilled in Water Release.

After all, it rained every day there, giving Water Release an advantage.

The group did not move quickly, because they were worried about suddenly encountering Ame shinobi.

Fortunately, they had quite a few sensory methods.

Three hours later, they successfully arrived in their mission area, located in the southwest of the Land of Rain.

Everyone looked around and fell somewhat silent.

Before them was a village, but many corpses entered their sight.

These residents had all died because of the war.

They entered the village and found that all supplies had already been plundered clean.

Although Nawaki had participated in the war in the Land of Rain before, he had only dealt with Suna shinobi and had never seen a scene like this.

For a moment, he felt both sorrow and anger, once again understanding how difficult peace truly was.

Minato and the others had seen this many times, so they were not as emotionally shaken.

"I will check the situation."

Natsuki leaped up onto a rooftop and used Clairvoyance.

However, he did not find any traces of Ame shinobi. Clearly, they had already left.

(To be continued.)

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