Chapter 129

Chapter 129

"Tsunade-sama is coming to the battlefield!"

"Uchiha Haneda found Tsunade in the Land of Hot Water and successfully convinced her to return!"

...

When word spread through the camp that Haneda was returning with Tsunade, the Konoha shinobi were elated.

"What? Tsunade-sama is really coming? You're not kidding?!"

"The legendary Sannin, Tsunade-sama??"

Everyone found it hard to believe. The war had been going on for a month, and if Tsunade was willing to join, she would have come sooner.

Hope surged through the hearts of the soldiers who had all but given up on such a possibility. A shinobi relaying orders confirmed:

"The Commander sent the message himself, so it's true. Uchiha Haneda and Tsunade-sama are returning together."

Hearing this, everyone was overwhelmed with excitement. With Tsunade joining them, they would no longer be at such a disadvantage against Suna's poisons, and injuries wouldn't be as terrifying.

Someone then brought up Haneda's name, wondering aloud:

"Isn't Uchiha Haneda that lightning sword user?"

"Didn't they call him the Kirin Shinobi?"

"Who cares! I heard he's the most talented Uchiha, even feared by the Deadly-Eyed Fugaku, who said Haneda's strength might even rival his."

The mention of Fugaku, infamous on the battlefield for his ruthless kills, made the camp regard Haneda's name with respect. If this Chunin had power comparable to Fugaku's, he was formidable indeed!

As updates on Haneda and Tsunade's location continued to arrive, there was finally a confirmed time for their arrival.

Afternoon.

Sakumo, leaving the camp management to the Nara clan leader, personally went outside to welcome Haneda and Tsunade. At the camp entrance, nearly everyone without a patrol duty had gathered, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Looking at the crowd, Sakumo remarked, "Tsunade really has an incredible impact on the village. Even the Third Hokage can't draw out this kind of turnout."

Thinking about how his most promising disciple Haneda managed to convince Tsunade, whom even Jiraiya and the Third Hokage couldn't bring back, Sakumo smiled knowingly, already guessing Haneda's methods.

He recalled something Kakashi had once told him: Haneda is like the sun, brightening the world around him, with even a distant, cold entity like Pluto orbiting him closely.

Crunch, crunch…

The sound of footsteps crunching on fallen leaves approached. Sensing the familiar chakra coming closer, Sakumo looked into the distance and finally saw three familiar figures.

Among them, a head of unmistakable blonde hair and an impressive, commanding presence appeared.

Haneda's team had returned with Tsunade!

"Tsunade-sama!"

"Tsunade-sama!"

...

With everyone's cheers, Tsunade strode confidently to the camp entrance. Seeing their excitement, a glimmer of guilt crossed her eyes, but she quickly shook it off, her resolve taking over.

"Sakumo! I, Tsunade, request to take over as the head of the medical hospital on the Land of Rivers battlefield!" Tsunade declared, raising her hand.

As she announced her decision, the camp erupted once more with joyous shouts and cries of relief and happiness.

Meanwhile, Haneda quietly took a step back behind Tsunade. This was Tsunade's moment, after all, not his. He knew his accomplishment would still be remembered.

Suddenly, Asuma nudged Haneda forward and shouted, "This is the hero who brought back Tsunade-sama! Uchiha Haneda!!"

"This is Konoha's most promising, talented, and visionary ninja of the new generation…"

"Uchiha Haneda! He brought back Tsunade-sama!!"

"If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have..."

Haneda, feeling mortified, quickly clamped a hand over Asuma's mouth.

"Shut up, Asuma!" he whispered, embarrassed.

Yet, as Haneda braced for the awkwardness, someone in the crowd called out his name, and soon the entire crowd began chanting, "Uchiha Haneda!"

A small smile played on Asuma's lips. Only someone like Haneda, who could talk Tsunade around, could command such admiration.

Haneda, caught off guard by the chanting, was momentarily stunned. He had never experienced anything like this and felt an unexpected surge of joy. This was what it felt like to be truly recognized.

...

Although Haneda's "talk no jutsu" didn't completely cure Tsunade's hemophobia, she was still able to create antidotes and summon Katsuyu for medical assistance. As various antidotes were produced, distributed, and applied, battlefield mortality dropped by 30%.

With Tsunade stationed in the rear hospital and summoning Katsuyu for treatment, the previously overwhelmed medical system was revitalized. Injured Genin and abandoned, heavily wounded shinobi received her specialized care.

The arrival of Tsunade alone brought battlefield deaths down by another 20%, nearly equal to half a shinobi army!

Tsunade's arrival reinvigorated both the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain battlefields, changing the war's entire trajectory.

In the Suna command center, Chiyo, seeing the report of her longtime rival Tsunade joining Konoha's forces, gritted her teeth. She knew Tsunade too well—any new poisons she developed would soon be neutralized by Tsunade's universal antidotes.

"Damn that Tsunade!"

Chiyo, watching Konoha reclaim lost ground, began to pore over intel reports, her eyes landing on updates about Haneda. It was he who had brought Tsunade back from her self-imposed isolation!

Just then, a Jonin entered, reporting to Chiyo:

"Chiyo-sama, our spies in Konoha have sent a new message. Yellow Flash Minato Namikaze and his student, Lightning Blade Kakashi, are coming to reinforce the Land of Rivers battlefield."

Hearing this, Chiyo frowned. She sensed that the Third Hokage, encouraged by Tsunade's return, was ready to counterattack.

However…

It also presented a rare chance to deliver a devastating blow to Konoha.

With a sly grin, Chiyo recalled the information she had on Sakumo and Minato, both known to value their comrades above all else. Haneda and Kakashi would likely be stationed in the rear—near the field hospital where Tsunade would be.

Attacking Konoha's hospital was the perfect way to turn the tide of the war.

And with Haneda and Kakashi likely there too...