Chapter 8 Stronghold

The large forest that was stretched throughout the land of fire and was even rooted in land of rivers met its end before the endless desert, massive sand dunes to the end of sight and the heat shaking the air visibly.

Right outside the forest and at a distance of merely a kilometer from the sand; right in between was a huge spacious rocky field, numerous tents dug on it and countless shinobi with forehead protector having a leaf sign carved on it walking around, some transporting supplies from one camp to other, some carrying injured to medical camps.

This was Konoha's main army stationed here to defend against Sunagakure, right at the border of land of rivers and land of wind, hidden valley village a small shinobi village located in land of rivers an ally of Konoha, the rich resources of land of fire making them ally with Konoha despite being closer to Sunagakure.

An army of Konoha was permanently stationed in hidden valley village just to temporarily defend against a sudden invasion from Sunagakure and buying time for reinforcements, just what happened in this war as well.

At the center, the biggest camp with tight security around it belonged to the commanders of Sand Front, Senju Tsunade and Jiraiya the Toad Sage.

In the camp,

A blonde woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties donning a white coat and standing before a table was shaking a test tube filled with green liquid, a thoughtful look on her fair face.

Senju Tsunade, The commander of Sand Front.

Next to her stood two figures both around her age as well, one of them had pale blue hair and dark green eyes, donning the Konoha jonin flak jacket.

Dan Kato, a jonin of Konoha.

The other person had white spiky hair, with red lines extending down his both eyes a little, wearing an all-black shinobi gear.

Jiraiya, Vice-Commander of Sand Front.

"I really hate that old hag, everytime I come up with an antidote she already has a new poison prepared!"

Said Tsunade in an annoyed voice, her eyes stuck on the liquid inside the tube held in her hands.

"Everytime we face her after a while; she has improved her poison skills"

"I guess the saying, "the older a woman is, the poisonous she is" fits on her perfectly hahaha!"

Jiraiya seemed unfazed with the depressing atmosphere created by the war, still able to joke at such times.

Tsunade and Dan didn't give a big reaction to his joke, the former giving him an annoying side eye, though Dan having a little smirk on his face, liking it a little.

But quickly Dan brought a serious look on his face and stepping forward pressed his hands on the shoulder of Tsunade, his lips parting.

"Thank you for your hard work Tsunade but we still need to rely on you a lot more so please keep doing your best"

"I know you can easily handle it!"

Unlike Jiraiya, Dan the Rizzler knew how to appease the frustrated Tsunade, giving her emotional support by cheering her up.

The words of Dan clearly worked, furrowed brows of Tsunade relaxing and her lips curving a little, moving her left empty hand to hold the hand pressed on her shoulder.

"He is too smooth"

Thought Jiraiya giving Dan an envious look, the goddess in his heart was charmed so easily by him.

To be able to bring out the feminine side of someone ferocious like Tsunade, it's no ordinary feat, for years he has only faced the gorilla side of her.

"Oh, by the way any news about Orochimaru?"

Jiraiya couldn't stand the couple being lovely dovely before him, thinking of his friend who was arriving with reinforcements and inquiring about him.

"He'll probably reach by tomorrow; you know it takes more time travelling along with a whole platoon!"

The attention of the couple was successfully diverted from each other by Jiraiya, Tsunade after giving it a little thought sharing her guess.

"Nawaki is coming along with him as well right? It's been a while since I have seen him"

Thinking of Orochimaru, Jiraiya remembered the kid he hadn't seen for a while; who just like the student he took a year ago dreamed of becoming a hokage.

"Yesterday I specially asked Katsuyu to reverse summon my clone back to the village, no way I'd forget to give him a gift on his 12th birthday"

Thinking of Nawaki a smile appeared on Tsunade's face, as happily she shared her experience of meeting her younger brother, only through a clone but still a happy memory for her.

Swish!

Just as a completely different atmosphere from the outside was created in the camp, the expression of the three changed suddenly sensing something, next moment a figure quick like wind entering the camp.

"HAA!!"

It was a man with long black hair and snake like yellow eyes, who currently was panting and gasping for breath, sweat rolling down his brows and in his arms a passed out figure.

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