Chapter 125

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The Third Raikage, leading his people, must withdraw from the Land of Hot Water within five days, which is separate from the Land of Fire.

The Cloud Village had numerous ninja outposts built in the Land of Hot Water. They have always been domineering, monopolizing missions in the Land of Hot Water, so they hold significant influence there.

Now, withdrawing all their forces within five days is no simple task.

After the surrender announcement, the previously domineering aura of the Third Raikage was gone. This war cost him the most and was the most disastrous defeat.

After returning to the Cloud Village, even if all the Cloud ninja pleaded, he would no longer stay in the position of Raikage, so he must secure 'A's safe return.

'A', not having made mistakes as grave as his, could still become the new hope for the Cloud Village, a hope that must not die here.

After the Third Raikage, Killer B, and other Cloud ninja left, Sakumo immediately arranged to seal 'A's chakra and set up medical treatment.

'A' had been bleeding for a long time during the standoff, and his wound was dangerously close to his heart.

After handling the battlefield matters, Yōichi sat down exhausted on the ground. The strain of the Mangekyō Sharingan on his body was tremendous.

Even though he could endure, every cell in his body felt pain, and his eyes felt as though they were scorched by flames.

Using the full-body Susanoo was beyond his current capabilities. Despite its great power, which allowed him to even overpower the full Eight-Tails momentarily, the demand on chakra was immense. Without the Nine-Tails' chakra, his own would probably last only a minute.

He had managed about four minutes just now, but a third of the stored Nine-Tails chakra had already been used.

Sakumo approached Yōichi and asked, "Yōichi-kun, are you alright? I'll arrange for medical ninja for you right away."

"No need, Sakumo-senpai, let the medical ninja tend to others first. My injuries aren't something they can treat."

Yōichi waved off the offer. His greatest pain was from overusing the Mangekyō Sharingan. Having used two jutsu and the Susanoo for four minutes, his vision was beginning to blur, something beyond a medical ninja's ability to heal.

Wait, that chakra?

Yōichi turned his head towards another direction, sensing Tsunade's chakra.

Sakumo, noticing Yōichi's distraction, asked, "What is it, Yōichi-kun? Is there another enemy?"

"It seems like an acquaintance. Sakumo-senpai, please arrange for the battlefield cleanup. I'll go and check."

Although the Leaf had advanced successfully, the Cloud ninja hadn't ceased their counterattacks. The chaos caused by Susanoo and the Eight-Tails had indeed disrupted the battlefield, but under the command of Cloud jōnin, they still managed to inflict significant casualties on the Leaf.

However, compared to the Cloud, the Leaf had clearly emerged victorious.

"Then be careful. If there's an enemy, immediately signal."

"Understood."

Yōichi headed slowly towards the nearby forest, puzzled as he remembered sending Tsunade away. Why was he sensing her chakra nearby again?

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"We should be nearing the battlefield now. There were huge noises just now; why has it suddenly quieted down?"

Tsunade hurried along, frowning. She then decided, "Once I reach the back of the battlefield, I'll summon a slug to help treat them and that brat, then leave. Eh? Why are you here?"

As Tsunade was making her way, she suddenly noticed someone approaching her direction. Prepared for combat, she relaxed only when she recognized it was Yōichi.

"I was about to ask you the same. Didn't I tell you to leave the battlefield? Why are you getting closer?"

Yōichi addressed Tsunade, his gaze pausing for a few seconds on her fair neck.

"Cut the chatter. How's the war? How many are injured?"

Tsunade immediately asked, noticing Yōichi's puzzled look. "Take me there. I'll use the slug for treating the wounded. By the way, are you injured?"

She noticed old blood stains on Yōichi, mixed into his clothing to form dark spots, which fortunately did not trigger her hemophobia.

"The war is over. We won. There are quite a few injured. If you're treating, come with me. I'll try to keep you away from that stuff."

"You little..."

Although verbally harsh, Tsunade felt somewhat touched inside, probably learning about her hemophobia from Mina. She still cared to consider her condition.

Afterward, Tsunade followed Yōichi back to camp, avoiding the medical camp and other bloody sites as the battlefield was still a distance away from the camp.

Upon learning of Tsunade's arrival, Sakumo was overjoyed and personally came out to greet her.

"Tsunade, it's good you're here. We are short on medical ninja. I was even considering sending the wounded back first."

"Knowing there was a battle nearby, I naturally had to come and check. But I can only use the slug to treat external injuries. For surgeries... I'm sorry."

Tsunade apologetically stated, understanding Sakumo's appreciation. She had heard about Tsunade's psychological trauma and her avoidance of surgeries; her helping with the slug division to treat the wounded was a welcome surprise.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

After inquiring about the number of injured, Tsunade summoned a five or six-meter-tall slug, which then divided into smaller slugs that clung to the various wounded needing treatment.

Later, Tsunade treated all the injured using the slug, showcasing why she was known as the "Slug Princess" of medical ninja.

Other medical ninja could treat one at a time, but Tsunade could treat dozens, even hundreds, and eventually even the entire village through her slugs.

After a while, when the chakra transfer stopped, Tsunade stood up and declared, "Alright, everyone's condition should be stable now. They just need rest and follow-up treatment."

Hatake Sakumo again thanked her, "Thank you, Tsunade."

"Don't worry, Sakumo-senpai."

Tsunade waved off the thanks, then puzzledly asked, "Sakumo-senpai, how did the Cloud lose? Didn't this brat say you were at a disadvantage?"

"Indeed, at that time, the Cloud had a numerical advantage. But today's victory was purely thanks to Yōichi-kun."

Sakumo explained, noticing Yōichi's indifference, and continued, "Yōichi-kun used the Mangekyō Sharingan to hold off the 'A-B' combo and tied up the Eight-Tails within the Cloud's formation... that's how we won this battle."

"Mangekyō Sharingan."

Tsunade looked at Yōichi in surprise, took a deep breath, and said, "That's impressive. It's a power on par with Grandpa's Wood Release. Looks like the village is in your hands now, young Uchiha Yōichi."

"This time you didn't call me a brat, does that mean you acknowledge me now?"

"Hmph, you're a century early. Don't think I've forgotten that incident!"

Although Tsunade spoke harshly, swinging her fist, she felt the battlefield no longer needed her presence. Plus, Shizune was waiting for her at the port, so she spoke up, "Since everyone is okay, I'll take my leave. Oh, do you need treatment?"

"I'm fine," said Sakumo.

"Yōichi-kun, you should still get checked. You can't just not treat the village's hero."

"That's right. With me here, why are you refusing? Don't you trust my medical skills?"

Tsunade also spoke up, considering it a minor task since she saw no external injuries on Yōichi, so she wasn't worried about triggering her hemophobia.

"Alright then, please."

Yōichi no longer declined. He indeed felt some pain, and his eyes were certainly a significant concern, but only Hashirama cells could truly heal them.

Tsunade then examined Yōichi's body, pondering a bit before saying, "The rapid chakra flow has damaged all your meridians, almost like the aftereffects of using the Lightning Release Chakra Mode for several hours non-stop... Find me a tent."

After Sakumo arranged everything, Tsunade led Yōichi to an unoccupied tent, patted the bed for him to lie down, and said, "Kid, you really can endure. Others would have been bedridden with this kind of pain."

"I got used to it when I was training the Lightning Release Chakra Mode."

Then Yōichi felt Tsunade's treatment begin, a cool sensation spreading throughout his body, quickly easing the pain.

After a while, Tsunade suddenly asked, "I see your eyes seem to be bleeding, the Mangekyō must be a heavy burden. Need me to treat it?"

"If you could alleviate the pain, I'd appreciate it."

"I can't promise anything."

Tsunade placed her pale hand over Yōichi's eyes, starting treatment with her palm. However, after a while, there was still no effect.

"It doesn't work. Simple treatments can't relieve your eye condition. The damage caused by the Mangekyō seems irreversible. To cure it, extensive research would be needed."

Yōichi sat up and said, "No need, I already have a method, but it's not feasible right now."

The deterioration of his eyesight was a long way off. By then, he was confident he could acquire Hashirama cells.

"Since you don't need any more treatment, I'll be on my way."

Tsunade said and prepared to leave. The war was over, and the wounded were stable, so she saw no need to stay.

"Here, take this with you, Tsunade."

Thinking for a moment, Yōichi pulled a shuriken from his ninja tool bag and handed it to Tsunade.

It was a specially crafted kunai, unique in that he had hidden the Flying Thunder God mark on it, not only covered with ink but also wrapped around.

"A kunai? Why are you giving this to me?"

Tsunade asked, puzzled.

"Just take it. It's a good luck charm, don't throw it away after you leave."

Tsunade scoffed but kept the kunai in her hand, not discarding it.

As Tsunade prepared to leave, Yōichi added, "By the way, Tsunade, if I become the Fifth Hokage, come back and help me out, will you?"

"Let's see when you become Hokage, you presumptuous brat!"

Tsunade didn't look back as she left the tent. Though she regretted not giving Yōichi a piece of her mind for their previous encounter, she decided it was better not to disturb him now that he had become a hero of the village. Plus, Shizune was waiting for her.

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The news of the victory over the Cloud ninja spread like wildfire back in the Leaf Village, causing a great stir.

Hiruzen read the message three times before passing it to Homura and Koharu.

With the weird dreams gone, Sarutobi's relationships with Homura and Koharu had thawed slightly, although his interactions with Danzō remained frosty.

"Incredible, they actually won."

Homura, after reading, passed the message to Koharu, his face filled with surprise.

"The power of the Mangekyō is comparable to a tailed beast? Unbelievable. I never thought that after decades, another Uchiha would awaken the Mangekyō."

"What? Mangekyō?"

Danzō, upon hearing this, felt as if he was being tickled frantically. He quickly took the scroll from Koharu and read it with an increasingly somber expression.

"Sarutobi, what are you planning to do? You haven't forgotten what Tobirama-sensei said, have you?"

After reading, Danzō immediately addressed Sarutobi.

Sarutobi frowned and replied, "Of course, I haven't forgotten. But Yōichi has just helped us achieve a victory against the Cloud."

"Activating the Mangekyō usually requires extreme experiences, which means every Uchiha with the Mangekyō has uncontrollable emotions. Don't forget Yōichi's actions before, the Shimura family was just one instance, not the only one."

"Has he handed over the Six Paths tools to the village yet? The Two-Tails Jinchūriki hasn't been returned either, Sarutobi. If you keep being naïve, then you're betraying Tobirama-sensei's legacy."

Danzō's words caused Sarutobi's expression to darken.

"The Two-Tails, plus his own strength, Sarutobi, think about it for yourself."

Homura and Koharu, swayed by Danzō's words, also started to voice their concerns. If such power lay in the hands of a ninja who obeyed the village, they would only rejoice. But this power in the hands of an Uchiha, especially a militant one...

"Sarutobi, Danzō is right this time. The Uchiha clan's power is growing too strong."

"Indeed, Sarutobi, you must respond. You are the Hokage of the Leaf Village."

Both urged Sarutobi, and Danzō, seeing their unanimous opinion, couldn't help but smirk internally.

As long as the three of them agreed, Sarutobi would certainly reconsider whether his decisions were mistaken, which was where his indecisiveness lay.

"I'll think about it."

After a while, Sarutobi slowly said, "At least until after the war!"

(End of Chapter)