Chapter 98: Come, Contribute Some Chakra

The Research of Hashirama Cells! The scroll contained detailed research on cellular biology, along with a hypothesis from Orochimaru— The Senju bloodline might be capable of assimilating Hashirama’s cells, thereby gaining some of his abilities. Orochimaru wasn’t the first to study Hashirama’s cells. Konoha had initiated research on them long ago, with the plan having been unanimously approved by the village’s higher-ups. Many shinobi had even volunteered for the experiments. Orochimaru’s data was partially derived from those early experiments, while the rest was clearly his own work. Tsunade could tell that he had been secretly conducting research, which was why she was so furious. As for the test subjects… There was never a shortage of captured enemy soldiers during wartime, especially with the help of Root. Yet, she had to admit—this research would be highly beneficial for her work on seal-less healing techniques, as such regeneration was one of Hashirama’s natural abilities. Previously, most of her knowledge had come from personal experience and Katsuyu’s memories. But now… With tangible data, she could gain a much clearer understanding of many aspects. However— Before she could delve deeper into the research, a shocking piece of news arrived— Koharu Utatane had submitted her resignation as an advisor. The Third Hokage had accepted it. Tsunade had no way of knowing what expression Koharu had when she made the decision, but as of now, she had been reassigned as the head of the Konoha Hospital’s Medical Training Department—a prestigious title, but functionally meaningless. It was easy to imagine how infuriated Koharu must be. After the initial shock and satisfaction, Tsunade found herself feeling conflicted. She understood the reason behind this move. Hiruzen was clearing the path for her rise to power. Not just Koharu—Homura Mitokado would likely be next. It was only a matter of time. She relayed the news to Kyoichi. Kyoichi was just as surprised. He had expected the Third Hokage to address some issues, but he hadn’t thought it would happen this quickly. The war hadn’t even fully erupted, yet one of the advisors had already been removed. Not bad. Now, when would Homura be taken down as well? And while they were at it… Could they make sure Danzo stepped down with them when the time came? — The arrival of the Uchiha Police Force had subtly shifted the dynamics at Nagano Mountain. Previously, Kyoichi had been the clear leader within the camp, but now… The Uchiha had their own ideas. So, early the next morning— Inside the tent… "Kyoichi-sama." "It was already late when you arrived yesterday, and after your long journey, we didn’t have a chance to talk in detail." Sёarᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kyoichi spread out a map of the Eastern Region and the Land of Water coastline. Two locations were marked on it. Uchiha Yashiro hesitated for a moment before asking, "This map…?" "This marker is the location of a Kirigakure base, extracted from our captives." "Yesterday, the four of us eliminated an elite four-man squad en route, sank two ships, and traced their path to locate another stronghold." Kyoichi spoke casually, as if it were no big deal. However— Yashiro's eyelid twitched. Four people? Just four of them had the audacity to infiltrate Kirigakure’s territory, kill an elite squad, and escape unscathed? That was hard to believe. He suspected Kyoichi was exaggerating to establish dominance over the Uchiha members. But… A glance at the others showed that none of them seemed to be joking. Yashiro’s expression grew serious. "Is this true?" "It is." Yamanaka Inoichi nodded. Yashiro exchanged glances with Inabi, momentarily at a loss for words. Four people had taken down four full squads of Jonin and made it out of Kirigakure territory. That level of strength… They were familiar with the abilities of Yamanaka Inoichi and Gekko Kazahana. As for Shirakumo Hayama, while they weren’t as acquainted with him, he couldn’t possibly be that strong. Given the circumstances, the only explanation was that Kanda Kyoichi had played a decisive role. Inabi's thoughts raced as he recalled Shisui’s words. He quickly stepped forward and said, "Kyoichi-sama, the Police Force has just arrived and is unfamiliar with the situation here. If you have any orders, please feel free to give them. We will fully cooperate." "Yes, our unit is here to assist in your command." Yashiro was quick to adjust his stance as well. Since Kyoichi was both exceptionally strong and had been designated by the village as the battle commander, there was no point in going against him. The tension between the Uchiha and Konoha hadn’t escalated to an irreconcilable point. Yashiro himself had no intention of directly opposing Kyoichi—he had simply wanted to assert some authority. Now that the situation had changed, it was better to go with the flow. "Today, we’re not going to rely on elite squads for surprise attacks. Instead, we’ll form multiple high-speed teams, supported by sensory ninjas, to hunt down enemy squads." "But wouldn’t that mean we’re engaging them in open battle?" "Exactly. We need to end this quickly." Kyoichi glanced at Yashiro and Inabi, and seeing that neither objected, he continued explaining. The strategy for today was simple. Yesterday, only the fastest and most capable Jonin had been selected for the mission. But today, the entry requirements were lower—anyone skilled in speed could participate. Without the Uchiha, Kyoichi had estimated they could form about four teams. But now… They should have at least five. After a brief explanation, he dismissed Yashiro and Inabi. As they walked back to the Police Force’s camp, their emotions were mixed. "It looks like Shisui was right. The Fourth Hokage might really be Tsunade. This entire strategic approach is unmistakably her style," Yashiro said gravely. Yesterday, when Inabi relayed Shisui’s speculation, Yashiro had been skeptical. He thought the boy might have been deceived by Kanda Kyoichi. But now, after seeing it firsthand, he realized—it was all true. The Fourth Hokage… Tsunade-hime… If that was the case, aligning with Kyoichi might not be a bad move. At the very least, Shisui might be able to gather more intelligence from him. "Yes. Shisui is now under Tsunade’s faction, Obito is with Jiraiya—we’re slowly reconnecting with the village. If we stay the course, we’ll eventually succeed." "Heh… Yeah, yeah." Yashiro narrowed his eyes, his smile somewhat enigmatic as he walked ahead. — On an island at sea. Yagura personally oversaw the transportation of equipment. Anything that could be stored in sealing scrolls was sealed, and only what absolutely couldn’t be carried was left to be shipped by boat. At the same time— He had deployed most of the Kirigakure forces, stationing them across various islands along their route. As for ambushes… Yagura wasn’t considering that for now. His plan was simple: wait for Kumogakure and Iwagakure to make their moves, then decide whether Kirigakure should act. Engaging Konoha now was absolutely not part of his plan. However— Who the hell could have predicted that Konoha would go insane and launch aggressive raids beyond their borders? Was Konoha still under the Third Hokage’s rule? To find out, Yagura had already sent scouts to gather intelligence. He expected a report soon. But before he could even receive his Anbu’s findings— Another frontline report arrived. Konoha had attacked again! "Was it that same squad?" "No. This time, they deployed five squads simultaneously, launching assaults on five of our island outposts. Most of our forces retreated as per your orders, but a few…" "They engaged the enemy?" Yagura’s expression darkened. He didn’t even need to hear the outcome—his forces had definitely lost. Konoha’s Eastern Front commander was incredibly cunning and absurdly powerful. Engaging recklessly would only lead to losses. The messenger nodded. "Yes. We lost a few men, but Konoha’s forces didn’t pursue too deeply. Once our reinforcements arrived, they withdrew." "…" Yagura frowned. He had expected losses, but he hadn’t expected this particular tactic from Konoha. Attack and retreat? That was… strange. "Yagura-sama, do you think it’s possible that Konoha doesn’t actually have that many forces on the Eastern Front? They could be striking preemptively to make us overestimate their strength, deterring us from making a move," said Hoshigaki Kisame after some thought. His theory quickly gained traction among the gathered Kirigakure shinobi. The repeated harassment was frustrating them, making them eager to retaliate. Yagura pondered for a long moment before replying, "It’s possible. But regardless, engaging Konoha now is a terrible idea—it would only allow Kumogakure and Iwagakure to take advantage of the situation." "Understood…" Kisame bowed slightly and dropped the matter. However— Not everyone in the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was as restrained as Kisame. When Yagura ordered a retreat, Hōzuki Mangetsu was the first to protest. Regardless of his relationship with Hōzuki Chikage, the fact that Chikage had been captured by Konoha meant there was a risk of information leaks. At this moment, he was itching for a fight against Konoha. — Aboard a ship. Kyoichi released his hand seal, retracting his chakra. "Sensei, how was it?" Asuma swallowed nervously. He had never expected Kyoichi to bring them this deep into enemy territory—less than three kilometers from the Kirigakure forces. The thick mist over the distant island and the faint sounds of explosions created an overwhelming sense of pressure. This was real war! "It’s fine, of course." Kyoichi smiled. If he had the confidence to bring a group of Genin here, he had no intention of engaging in a head-on battle. Besides, he was certain Yagura wouldn’t want that either—especially after finding no trace of Kirigakure forces on the islands near the Land of Fire's coast. "Kyoichi-sensei, have the Kirigakure shinobi all retreated?" Might Guy looked a bit disappointed. He had been hoping for a fight, but instead, he had only watched from the sidelines. "They’ve pulled back. There’s nothing more for you all to do here. Now, come on—time to contribute some chakra." Kyoichi waved them over. The group of kids froze for a moment. Wait… So not only had he brought them here just to observe, but he also wanted to use them as chakra batteries? Kurenai was the most obedient. As soon as Kyoichi spoke, she stepped forward. Before long… Most of her chakra had been drained. Then, one by one, Shisui, Asuma, and the others followed—including Shirakumo Hayama, who was steering the ship. No one was spared from the chakra drain. Kyoichi’s reserves were replenished significantly. "Sensei, where are you going?" "I’m going to locate their new base. This time, I’m going alone. You guys head back." Before they could react, Kyoichi was already a blur in the distance. Too fast! "You guys can stop sighing. Even I got left behind—what makes you think you’d be allowed to join the fight?" Shirakumo Hayama had only participated in the previous battle via a shadow clone, keeping his main body out of direct combat. Yet, he still got half his chakra drained. Unbelievable! Still— He understood. In yesterday’s battle, their contributions were significant, but Kyoichi had been the real force behind the victory. "Kanda Kyoichi… truly a genius!" Shirakumo Hayama sighed in admiration. Before, he had attributed Kyoichi’s strength to his Senju bloodline. But the more he saw, the clearer it became—Kyoichi’s power wasn’t just about bloodline or physical talent. It was his mind. He excelled in everything. And in every single field, he was exceptional. That wasn’t something a mere bloodline could explain.