Chapter 124

Shinki knew when to stop joking, so he refrained from calling Orochimaru "White Snake" again. Orochimaru, too, learned his lesson and stopped teasing him with "God Slayer."

Since they were escorting supplies and wounded, the group's pace was slow, taking five days to reach Konoha. Along the way, they passed through villages that still bore the scars of war—remnants of the Sand Village's elite teams' destructive raids.

The silver lining was that the number of infiltrating Sand Ninja teams had significantly decreased. After losing many men, the remaining teams had started to withdraw from the Land of Fire.

While these elite teams could still operate effectively before Konoha's response, once Konoha shifted focus to counter them, the Sand Village would find itself in a precarious position.

The Third Hokage, angered by the destruction, would surely seek retribution against the Sand Village.

Retaliation was possible. The challenge was that the Wind Country, with its vast, barren deserts, offered few resources or villages worth targeting.

"We can't let this slide. The Sand Village's actions have caused significant damage to the village and the Daimyo's estate. We must strike back!" 

On this point, the council, including the Third Hokage, was unanimous. The sentiment for revenge was widely shared, and even Tsunade supported it. 

"If you keep pushing, don't be surprised when we push back with force," Tsunade had once remarked.

"I agree with retaliation, but the real question is how," Akimichi Tofu said, his round face creased with worry.

The Wind Country's sheer expanse made it difficult to plan an effective strike. Most of its villages were small and spread out within a harsh desert landscape. Without precise maps and a strong sense of direction, Konoha's ninjas could easily become lost in the desert before finding any targets.

Not to mention, sandstorms were a constant threat in the Wind Country, forcing even the Sand Village's own shinobi to retreat. For Konoha's troops, these storms could be catastrophic.

"Let's table this discussion for now. I'll consider it further," said the Third Hokage. He wanted to strike back at the Sand Village, but as Hokage, he needed to act rationally, even in war.

"The heroes of the village have arrived. Tsunade, you and Torifu go to greet them on behalf of the village," the Third Hokage ordered. When the team from the Rain Country returned, they would be welcomed as heroes.

Normally, the Third Hokage would have gone personally, but he had no desire to face Shinki.

"No problem," Tsunade agreed readily. She knew the Third Hokage's mood and didn't mind. It was better that he stayed away; Shinki likely wouldn't want to see him either.

"I'm back, I'm back!"

"Lord God Slayer!"

"Lord Shinki!"

Crowds gathered at the village gates, cheering as the returning team approached. Many of the returning ninjas blushed with excitement, some of the wounded even jumping down from carriages to wave at the crowd, their enthusiasm outweighing their pain.

The energy was overwhelming.

Shinki's smile felt frozen on his face, and he realized he might never shake the "God Slayer" title.

As soon as he made it through the gates, Shinki slipped away, leaving his comrades to bask in the attention.

"You're home already?" 

Shinki was surprised to find Tsunade sitting on his couch as he opened the door.

"The old man asked me and Torifu to greet the returning team, but the crowd was overwhelming. I knew you'd sneak away, so I came here to wait for you," Tsunade said, crossing her legs. "With your temperament, I knew you wouldn't stay for the fanfare."

"Everyone was too enthusiastic—it was suffocating," Shinki admitted, raising his hands in mock defeat.

"Give me a moment. I need a shower. I feel like I stink," he said, grabbing a change of clothes and heading to the bathroom for a much-needed hot shower.

When he returned, refreshed and dressed in clean clothes, Tsunade was still sitting there, brows slightly furrowed in thought.

Shinki took a drink from a bottle of juice, then sat beside her. "What's up? You look worried."

Tsunade shook her head slightly. "Everything is running smoothly in Anbu. The vacant positions have been filled, and my control over them is stronger than ever."

"Then what's bothering you?" Shinki asked, assuming her concerns were related to Anbu.

"It's about the village," Tsunade said with a sigh. "The Sand Village caught us off guard. Their teams wreaked havoc throughout the Land of Fire, and the Daimyo is furious. The Third Hokage and his advisors want to retaliate, but they can't find a suitable target. The villages in the Wind Country are too scattered."

"And even if we destroy them, there's not much to gain," she added.

Shinki almost spat out his juice, managing only a cough. Tsunade had hit the nail on the head. The Sand Village's tactics of setting fires and sowing chaos were easy to execute in the fertile and populous Land of Fire. In contrast, the Wind Country was vast, barren, and its villages were poor and few in number.

"Revenge isn't easy, is it?" Shinki chuckled. "Those old men must be having a tough time."

Tsunade managed a smile. "Don't laugh at them. Even I'm concerned."

The Third Hokage wanted revenge, and so did Tsunade.

"What's there to worry about?" Shinki said, placing his drink on the table and turning to face her. "Tell me, what's the most valuable resource in the Wind Country?"

"Water," Tsunade answered without hesitation.

"Wrong!" Shinki wagged a finger. "Water is essential, but what comes with water?"

"Oases..." Tsunade's eyes widened as she grasped the idea.

"Exactly."

Shinki nodded approvingly. "Oases are the lifeblood of the Wind Country. The Sand Village depends on them for food and medicinal supplies. If we send teams skilled in fire and earth-style jutsu to target those oases, we hit them where it hurts most."

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