Although five thousand ninja were many, under Tsunade's command, they moved toward the Land of Rain in an orderly manner.
As Tsunade's students, Natsuki, Nawaki, and Nonō naturally followed behind her on the journey.
By evening, the large force of five thousand ninja successfully arrived at the northwestern border of the Land of Fire.
Further ahead, they would enter the Land of Rain.
Tsunade stopped and ordered everyone to set up camp where they were.
After the main tent was set up, she called Natsuki, Nawaki, and Nonō inside.
"Although I am your leading sensei, as the commander, I have to sit in the main camp and cannot go out casually."
Tsunade spoke.
"Sis, are you planning to have another Jonin serve as our leading sensei?"
Nawaki asked in confusion.
"There are currently no available Jonin."
Tsunade shook her head and said, "If I can't go out, Natsuki will temporarily act as the leading Jonin."
"I think that works."
Hearing this, Nawaki quickly said, "Natsuki's strength is comparable to a Jonin. He is fully capable of acting as our leading Jonin."
Nonō also nodded in agreent.
"But in the end, you are still too young. Also, a full ninja squad has four people, and you only have three."
Tsunade continued, "So when the ti cos, I will assign soone to be your temporary teammate."
"Sis, didn't you just say there are no available Jonin?"
Nawaki scratched his head and asked, "Are you going to assign a Genin or Chunin? Won't that hold us back?"
"You're looking down on your teammate before even eting him?"
Tsunade glared at him and asked, "Did you forget everything I usually teach you?"
"That's not what I ant."
Nawaki quickly shook his head.
With geniuses like Natsuki and Minato as comparisons, he felt that the strength of most Genin and Chunin was not very outstanding.
But if there really was such a genius, they would not be joining their squad as a temporary teammate.
Hiruzen would definitely have already arranged a leading sensei and teammates for those geniuses.
"All right. You and Nonō leave first. Natsuki, stay for the eting."
Tsunade waved her hand and said.
After Nawaki and Nonō left, she sent the Anbu to notify the other Jonin.
Before long, all the Jonin gathered in the main tent.
When they saw Natsuki, they were surprised, but not too much.
Geniuses always received special treatnt.
Especially in the Chunin Exam that had just passed, Natsuki had displayed astonishing strength.
Although they had not gone to watch as spectators, as Jonin, they each had their own intelligence channels.
In addition, Natsuki had already been a genius they paid close attention to, so it was not hard for them to learn what had happened during the Chunin Exam.
After all, they could find out through Inuzuka Gaku.
"Tomorrow, we will enter the Land of Rain. I will now explain the situation."
Tsunade got straight to the point and said, "Our objective is to intercept Suna."
Everyone nodded slightly, their expressions turning solemn.
Suna and Konoha were both among the Five Great Villages, and Suna was powerful. Intercepting them would not be simple.
However, before setting out, they had already guessed what their mission would be, so they were ntally prepared.
In fact, compared to A, Suna was easier to deal with.
At this ti, Hanzō was indeed very troubleso.
Otherwise, he would not have been able to fight three great ninja villages at once during the Second Shinobi World War and still escape unscathed.
"According to the latest intelligence, Suna has deployed six thousand additional ninja, led by Chiyo."
Tsunade continued, "They moved ahead first and have already built a defensive line in the eastern region of the Land of Rain."
Wars between ninja rarely involved large-scale frontal battles.
The Fourth Shinobi World War in the original work was an exception.
Under normal circumstances, they relied on defensive lines to engage in small-scale battles.
The so-called defensive lines were outposts and strongholds.
Aside from that, there were also battles over logistical supply routes.
In the original work, the most classic example was the Battle of Kannabi Bridge during the Third Shinobi World War.
Konoha sent the squad of Namikaze Minato, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, and Nohara Rin to blow up the bridge.
"I will now assign the missions."
Tsunade looked at Sakumo and said, "Sakumo, lead a team to eliminate Suna's front-line outposts."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama."
Sakumo imdiately responded.
Because they were in warti, and Tsunade was the commander, he addressed her by position.
"Hizashi, lead a team to cooperate with Sakumo and eliminate Suna's front-line scouting and patrol squads."
Tsunade then looked at Hyuga Hizashi.
Although Hizashi was young, his status in the Hyuga clan was not ordinary.
In this war, the Hyuga clan had appointed him as the person in charge in order to build up his rits.
Logically speaking, they should have been building rits for Hiashi.
He was the future clan head of the Hyuga clan.
But as a mber of the main family, unless necessary, he would not leave the village.
Because they did not have the Caged Bird.
If an accident happened, it would cause the Byakugan to be lost.
The branch family of the Hyuga clan was different. The Caged Bird would automatically destroy the Byakugan.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama!"
Hizashi quickly replied.
The Hyuga clan, with their Byakugan, was the most suitable for reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance.
Even the Inuzuka clan and Abura clan had difficulty comparing to them.
There was no helping it. In war, the Byakugan was a strategic-level asset.
In the original work's Third Shinobi World War, Ao of Kiri obtained one Byakugan and directly gained the title of Byakugan Killer.
"Shikasuke, lead a team to establish a defensive line within a safe distance."
Tsunade paused, then said, "Bring all the ninja skilled in Earth Release."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama."
Nara Shikasuke said in a deep voice.
"Next will be the assignnt of each ninja squad and the details of their missions."
After Tsunade finished speaking, she spread out a map.
Everyone gathered around the map and began discussing.
Although Natsuki participated in the eting, he did not speak.
The reason was that he was a warrior and not good with words.
To describe it with a saying from his previous life, he did not know where he was, he only knew he had enemies to cut down.
"Natsuki."
Tsunade's voice suddenly rang out.
Natsuki ca back to his senses and looked at her.
"Your squad will follow Hizashi and deal with Suna's scouting and patrol squads."
Tsunade instructed.
Natsuki nodded.
To sum up, his mission ca down to three words, scout warfare.
The reason Tsunade gave him this mission was probably because his abilities were very suited for ambushes.
Whether it was Shadow Assassin, the Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit, or Presence Concealnt.
Of course, Tsunade only knew about his first two abilities. She did not know he also had Presence Concealnt.
In fact, when it ca to reconnaissance, his Clairvoyance and Night Vision could also be useful.
The Jonin eting lasted three hours before finally ending.
After the other Jonin left, Tsunade stopped Natsuki again.
"Go call Nawaki and Nonō over."
Tsunade explained, "You should et your temporary teammate."
Natsuki suppressed the curiosity in his heart and left the main tent.
The three of them were Tsunade's students and also a ninja squad, so they had an independent tent.
"Nawaki, Nonō, co with to the main tent."
Natsuki walked into the tent and said, "Tsunade-sensei is going to introduce our new teammate."
"Who is it?"
Nawaki asked impatiently.
"I don't know. Tsunade-sensei didn't say."
Natsuki guessed, "But his strength definitely won't be bad."
No matter what, Tsunade would not set them up to fail.
"Then let's go see who he is."
Nawaki was the first to run toward the main tent.
Natsuki and Nonō followed him into the main tent.
As soon as they entered, they saw a middle-aged ninja.
The most eye-catching thing was the huge pot he carried on his back.
Nawaki froze, looked at him, then looked at Tsunade, his face filled with disbelief.
He was only one step away from asking, this is our new teammate? Are you sure you didn't find a cook?
"His na is Maruboshi Kosuke. He is your new teammate, and also a Genin."
Tsunade introduced him with a smile.
"Genin?"
Nawaki could not help raising his voice.
Natsuki raised an eyebrow and thought to himself that Tsunade had indeed not set them up.
Kosuke, the Eternal Genin, but his true strength was that of a Jonin.
He specialized in Konoha-Style Swordsmanship and Water Release, and his Water Release had been taught by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
"Watch your manners. Call him Kosuke-senpai."
Tsunade raised her hand and flicked Nawaki hard on the forehead.
"Kosuke-senpai."
Natsuki called out sincerely.
Seeing this, Tsunade could not help feeling satisfied.
Natsuki was still the sensible one.
"You're too polite."
Kosuke said with a smile, "I'll have to trouble you to take care of this old man."
Nawaki wanted to speak but stopped.
"Kosuke-senpai, you're too modest. I've heard your story."
Natsuki quickly said, "Aside from the Second Hokage-sama, you are Konoha's strongest Water Release ninja."
"Really?"
Nawaki asked with a puzzled expression, "Why haven't I heard of him?"
"I wouldn't say I'm the strongest in Water Release. I'm not as good as Hiruzen."
Kosuke said modestly.
Nawaki could not help freezing.
Although he did not know Kosuke's true strength, anyone who dared to directly call him Hiruzen was definitely not an ordinary person.
He quickly put away his contempt and beca very well-behaved.
It had to be said that although Nawaki had many flaws, he also had quite a few strengths.
"It's already late. All of you go rest."
After seeing that they had already gotten to know one another, Tsunade reminded them, "Tomorrow, go find Hizashi to receive your mission."
Natsuki and the others nodded, then turned and left.
"Natsuki!"
As soon as they returned to the tent, Nawaki could not help asking, "Who is Kosuke-senpai?"
"He is a student of the Second Hokage-sama."
Natsuki replied.
"Why didn't I know Second Grandfather had such a student?"
Nawaki scratched his head and asked.
"Because his situation is very special."
Natsuki told him Kosuke's story.
"There's actually a Genin like that?"
Nawaki paused, then said, "He really is worthy of respect."
If it were him, he definitely could not spend his whole life as a Genin.
Natsuki nodded, yawned, and said, "Sleep early. We still have a mission tomorrow."
After saying that, he took out his sleeping bag.
Nawaki and Nonō did the sa.
But just as Nawaki took out his sleeping bag, he saw that Natsuki and Nonō's sleeping bags were placed right next to each other.
The corner of his mouth twitched, and he suddenly felt very much like a third wheel.
Nawaki shook his head, got into his sleeping bag, and fell asleep.
Early the next morning, they woke up.
The main force would remain here temporarily under Tsunade's command.
Only after the defensive line was established would they move in one by one.
Natsuki and the others t up with Kosuke and arrived at Hizashi's tent.
(To be continued.)
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