Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level Account

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

Chapter 114: Strained Forces, Left to Fight

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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!!"

"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 Ch?nin 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.

"So, we're staying to fight?" Nawaki, shaking the water from his clothes, disdainfully threw his soaking wet clothes onto a nearby rock before turning to ask.

As Minato struggled to start a fire, Takuya, annoyed, unleashed a grand Fireball Technique to ignite the damp wood successfully, though the cave filled with smoke, it finally warmed up. Finding dry wood in the Land of Rain's wilderness was not an easy task.

Drawing circles in the dirt with a stick, Takuya pointed to the largest one, saying to them, "This is our Leaf's position, and we'll be deployed here to guard against the Sand ninja. The numbers aren't large, so there's a considerable risk. Orochimaru-senpai has already said he won't summon Manda to assist in the fight for now."

The implication was clear: keep Manda available in case Takuya needed to summon him into battle.

Unfortunately, Takuya didn't place much importance on this kind of support.

Sigh, I hope this damn war ends soon.

Nawaki, shirtless and pushing Minato, grumbled, "Go hunt, unless you want to eat dry rations."

"Why not you? I collected the firewood." Minato refused outright.

You agreed to divide the labor and cooperate, trying to shirk responsibility?

Not a chance.

"Do I need to go?"

Takuya looked at Nawaki with a teasing grin, causing Nawaki to falter:

"...Can I wait until my clothes are dry?"

"Dry, my foot. You run outside in dry clothes, come back, and they'll be just as wet," Takuya

and Minato decisively sent Nawaki out, dreaming of slacking off.

Putting on his drenched clothes, Nawaki left the cave with a gloomy face to search for game.

After staying up all night, couldn't I rest first?

Just as he was about to rest after eating, an unexpected visitor arrived.

"Sis, were you looking for me?"

Seeing Tsunade, Nawaki jumped up happily, but his joy lasted only three seconds before Tsunade, with a look of disgust, waved her hand:

"Why would I be looking for you? Takuya, come out for a moment; I need to discuss something with you."

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Nawaki was struck as if by lightning, standing frozen in place, his smile instantly solidifying.

Does my sister not love me anymore?

Poor guy, Minato sighed, patting his shoulder and said solemnly:

"Sit down. Look how happy you were. The senior was probably going to discuss battlefield

matters with Takuya; you shouldn't meddle."

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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