Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Strained Forces, Left to Fight

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Strained Forces, Left to Fight



Caught red-handed in his bad-mouthing, Nawaki wished he could dig a hole and hide.

Tsunade massaged her forehead and said, "Enough, both of you are just as embarrassing. I never should have allowed him to apprentice under Orochimaru. He should have apprenticed under you instead."

"Big sis!!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Tsunade!!"

Nawaki and Jiraiya exclaimed in unison, perfectly in sync.

Takuya couldn't help but laugh: "I think it suits them quite well. Look at this synergy; ordinary people can't develop this."

Nawaki: "....."

Jiraiya: "....."

The supplies were quickly unloaded, and just as Takuya thought Orochimaru would arrange to take the wounded back to camp, Orochimaru approached him with a straightforward request: "Takuya, I'm afraid the team you brought can't return to the camp. The front is short on forces; you'll need to stay and help."

We have to stay?

Takuya frowned and asked, "Is the Leaf's manpower really so strained?"

The forces were already stretched thin, and in the chaos of the Land of Rain-where Leaf, Rock, Sand, and Rain were all tangled in a chaotic melee-today you attack me, tomorrow I attack you—being short on manpower was indeed fatal.

Looking toward the Leaf, Orochimaru explained, "Wounded keep being sent back to the village, but the village hasn't dispatched new reinforcements. The battlefront in River Country is intense; the Sand's offensive is fierce, and the village has had to deploy most of its forces there."

He said this with a helpless smile.

"As the wounded retreat and no new ninjas arrive, the camp needs a certain military strength to hold it, leading to a manpower crunch on the front lines."

Under these conditions, why keep so many people in the camp?

Takuya couldn't understand what Danzo was up to.

No wonder Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were all displeased with him; anyone facing such tough circumstances would be frustrated.

"Alright, you handle the communications with the command center."

Whether staying or going back, it didn't really affect Takuya.

As long as Orochimaru coordinated with Danzo.

Just don't end up accusing him of deserting when the time comes.

"I'll take care of it," Orochimaru nodded, then continued, "Because we're short on forces, your squad will need to split up and continue operating in small team formations."

"That's perfect, it's really uncomfortable working with people you're not familiar with." Takuya was more than happy to have the team split up; he preferred working with Nawaki and Minato anyway.

After sorting things out with Takuya, Orochimaru then turned to Kouta Sasaro and the other two Chūnin captains, informing them about the shortage of forces at the front lines and asking them to stay and participate in the fighting.

The three didn't hesitate and agreed decisively.

Stop, please, just stop. You'll never understand the bitterness in my heart.

Stricken, Nawaki sat miserably by the fire, doodling circles in the dirt with a stick, making

Minato struggle to hold back his laughter.

"Is something wrong?"

Casually putting on his clothes and raincoat, Takuya followed Tsunade out of the resting cave

to a nearby forest.

Tsunade brushed off Takuya's raincoat.

Takuya said irritably, "Didn't you see? Snowy is resting. Did you come looking for me because

of Snowy?"

"More or less."

Tsunade didn't beat around the bush, clearly stating, "This time, stopping the Sand will be a daunting task; it's very dangerous, so we need strong enough power to hold them off."

"So you think highly of me, and of Snowy?"

Takuya couldn't help but laugh.

Tsunade was serious: "Even if we can't stop all of Sand's people, we at least need to hold

them off; otherwise, it will be very troublesome for the Village Hidden in the Rain."

"I'll do my best."

After a moment's thought, Takuya spread his hands, "This kind of thing, nobody can guarantee. Who knows what might happen?"

"As long as you do your best, that's enough. We still don't know the specifics of Sand's plans, but it's certain that they will interfere and try to attack us, so be prepared."

"If..." Tsunade hesitated but continued, "If you can't hold them off, take Minato and Nawaki

and leave as soon as possible."

"Just being able to defeat the Village Hidden in the Rain will bring the village's war with them

to an end."

It wasn't like Tsunade to encourage fleeing danger.

But she still said it nonetheless.

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