Chapter 60: Forcing Emiya Shihara to Truly Join the War!

Lightning release plus water release.

The fusion of these two chakra natures would give rise to a new ability, the Storm Release Bloodline Limit.

Legend had it that this Bloodline Limit originated in the Land of Lightning, allowing the otherwise straight-line Lightning Release ninjutsu to bend at incredible angles, flowing just like water.

Hatake Sakumo was a genius.

However, this white-haired boy was still far too young, and his chakra reserves were limited by his age and physical development. He usually preferred practicing swordsmanship and felt somewhat at a loss when faced with the practice of chakra nature transformation.

Fortunately.

Emiya Shigen was a good teacher.

As a ninja proficient in all chakra nature transformation attributes and someone who had even glimpsed the very essence of chakra, guiding someone to master the nature transformations of lightning and water chakra was relatively easy for him.

Compared to the teaching methods of other ninja instructors, Emiya Shigen could directly transmit chakra to guide Hatake Sakumo step by step in getting used to the changes of the two chakra natures.

Such a teaching method carried immense risks.

Generally speaking, it often resulted in out-of-control chakra injuring the human body, but for Emiya Shigen, resolving these minor issues was child's play.

Hatake Sakumo's training progressed rapidly. Unfortunately, Bloodline Limits were not so easily fused, but the fact that he had mastered both lightning and water chakra nature transformations during this period was already proof enough of his genius. Because of this, little Tsunade often cast unhappy glances his way when she returned home from school.

"I'm unhappy."

Little Tsunade looked angrily at Hatake Sakumo practicing. She was still stuck in the arduous course of trying to master Yang release chakra: "Why can't I be as much of a genius as Senior Hatake!"

"The conditions for becoming a medical ninja in this world are extremely harsh, but that doesn't prevent those who cannot become medical ninjas from becoming outstanding individuals."

Emiya Shigen noticed little Tsunade's unhappiness and spoke somewhat sternly while educating her: "Tsunade, as the future best medical ninja in the world, your talent is already high enough..."

"Is that so, hahaha..."

Little Tsunade laughed as happily as Hashirama Senju.

"..."

Hatake Sakumo felt that Emiya Shigen was a bit too doting on Tsunade, and showed a bit too much discrimination toward ordinary ninjas like them.

Late at night.

The number of severely wounded soldiers sent in on this day was exceptionally high.

It wasn't until a ray of morning sunlight fell upon the hospital corridor that Emiya Shigen was finally able to sit down on the bench in the hallway, with a serious expression as he wrote down today's medical case scrolls.

"Good news came from the front lines today..."

Hatake Sakumo spoke of the victory reported from the front lines, a hint of excitement even visible on his face: "Lord Second Hokage led the village's ninjas to defeat the grand army of Sunagakure, forcing them to sign a peace treaty..."

The war was gradually turning in Konoha's favor.

Tobirama Senju's victory in the campaign against Sunagakure greatly boosted the confidence of Konoha's ninjas. Especially since they had crushed the Suna ninjas in a nearly lightning-fast manner, proving that they were still the strongest ninja village in the ninja world!

Even though the First Hokage had already passed away...

Konoha's ninjas were still able to inherit his will and protect the village where they lived!

"If you're not too tired yet..."

Emiya Shigen seemed uninterested in the news of the war. He looked at the medical scrolls filled with handwriting, glanced at little Tsunade who was sound asleep on the bench, and softly instructed the white-haired boy: "Go and get me a few more blank scrolls, and don't wake Tsunade up..."

"Yes."

Hatake Sakumo immediately used the Body Flicker technique and left.

However...

His mood remained excited.

Everyone in Konoha from top to bottom was thrilled by the victorious news.

Compared to the ordinary ninjas in the village whose fighting spirit was growing increasingly fierce, Tobirama Senju's fighting spirit was gradually diminishing.

The ninjas in the village only needed to obey their superiors' orders and fight with their lives on the line. As the highest authority in the village, the Hokage had much more to consider.

As the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju had encountered the First Great Ninja War right at the beginning of his tenure. He bore immense pressure, and defeating Sunagakure only slightly lessened that burden.

After leading the Konoha ninja forces all the way to force Sunagakure into signing a peace treaty, the Second Hokage of Konoha rushed to the northern part of the Land of Fire, handling military affairs along the way and also reviewing the cure rates of severely wounded soldiers.

In order to spare Konoha from losses and achieve victory in the war at the smallest possible cost, Tobirama Senju, amidst his busy schedule directing the war, still carved out time to review intelligence from various regions.

"If possible..."

"I really want to send Lord Emiya to the front lines."

Tobirama Senju saw the data sent by Konoha Hospital, and his mood was finally able to relax slowly.

Tobirama Senju realized the enormous role that a terrifying medical ninja like Emiya Shigen played in wartime, and even felt a trace of regret.

Perhaps he should have researched the Impure World Reincarnation technique back in the Warring States period to summon Emiya Shigen. Had he done so, the casualty rate of the Senju clan during the Warring States period might have been drastically reduced.

Truly terrifying!

Especially Emiya Shigen in his reincarnated state; he required no rest whatsoever and could treat the wounded twenty-four hours a day without interruption. He could even complete a surgery in about half a minute, snatching a severely wounded person back from the jaws of death!

Though admitting it pricked his conscience a little...

Tobirama Senju had long since determined that to protect the Konoha founded by his eldest brother, he would use any means necessary. He could cast aside what little conscience he possessed...

"As expected of Lord Emiya..."

"He has saved so many people even in the rear..."

"However, Lord Emiya probably wouldn't be willing to come to the front lines."

A young Sarutobi Hiruzen scratched his head and spoke softly: "I heard that when the war broke out, Lord Emiya was in a rather bad mood. He has always disliked fighting among ninjas..."

"It might not be impossible to pull off..."

A young Danzo Shimura immediately chimed in with a dissenting view.

Young Danzo had earned quite a few military merits in this war. Relying on the seal energy bestowed upon him by Emiya Shigen, he even rampaged across the battlefield, and under everyone's observation, he was at one point truly able to contend on equal terms with Sarutobi Hiruzen!

"What Lord Emiya sees in the rear is only a fraction of the severely wounded."

"If Lord Emiya were to see the corpses of ninjas killed on the front lines blanketing the fields, even those he had once saved, and witness firsthand just how brutal this ninja war—surpassing all wars of the Warring States period—truly is..."

When young Danzo said this, his gaze fell upon the cursed seal on his arm: "At that time, if we offer a little persuasion and get him to willingly lend a hand, it will definitely allow us to win this war much faster!"

The power of the cursed seal was truly formidable.

When chakra was exhausted in combat, the cursed seal could also convert natural energy into chakra to provide for him as its host, allowing young Danzo to make quite a dazzling impression in the war against Sunagakure.

Of course.

Comparatively speaking...

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen gained an even greater boost through the cursed seal, because Sarutobi Hiruzen understood better than Danzo Shimura how to utilize the natural energy within the seal to amplify his ninjutsu.

In this war, relying on his terrifyingly powerful Five-Element jutsu, the sheer might of Sarutobi Hiruzen's techniques often allowed him to suppress an entire area single-handedly, forming a crushing dominance over the older generation of Sunagakure ninjas!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's prestige grew higher still.

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen was able to observe the shortcomings of the battle situation and always provided timely support to the struggling areas of the battlefield, his powerful large-scale jutsu rapidly easing critical crises.

Naturally...

The disputes between young Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen also became more and more frequent.

Young Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen were competitors, a rivalry that had somewhat eased while they were traveling with Emiya Shigen.

However, after returning to Konoha, their status rose rapidly. The Second Hokage valued him and Sarutobi Hiruzen more and more, seemingly harboring the implicit intention of entrusting the future to them. This caused young Danzo to intensify the competition between himself and Sarutobi Hiruzen, sometimes even opposing him just for the sake of opposition!

"Hiruzen!"

"We can gain more!"

"Danzo..."

"We have already gained enough benefits..."

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen hoped that Danzo Shimura would consider the issue of stabilizing the situation and avoid causing even worse outcomes. For instance, he hoped to maintain the current state of affairs.

Konoha had already steadily secured a partial victory, and Konoha had reaped a great deal of help from Emiya Shigen throughout this war. There was no need to resort to more extreme methods to ruin the relationship between Konoha and Emiya Shigen.

"You know it as well..."

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen scratched his head, attempting to persuade Danzo Shimura: "Lord Emiya doesn't really like his power being used in wars. We shouldn't coerce those who help Konoha..."

"Lord Emiya won't care about that much!"

Young Danzo let out a contemptuous, cold snort and unceremoniously retorted to Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Now he has already saved the lives of hundreds of severely wounded. If his power can be acquired by the village's ninjas, it will at least save us from the loss of hundreds of squads!"

At this point, young Danzo's attitude suddenly turned tough: "If we fly the banner of peace, we will definitely be able to persuade him to let his power be completely utilized for Konoha. All of this is for Konoha's victory, not to mention that we have all already decided to stop at nothing for the victory of this war!"

"This would desecrate Lord Emiya's reputation..."

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help feeling a sense of unease in his heart. He knew that what young Danzo said made a lot of sense; the other party's approach was beneficial to Konoha and would even tempt many people.

Yet...

Konoha hadn't reached such a perilous juncture yet.

Why must they resort to such extreme methods right now?

However, these two youths were merely members of the Hokage's Guard Platoon; they were not yet in a position to make decisions on this matter, because the only one who truly held the power to decide was Tobirama Senju.

"You two..."

"Take a look at this first..."

Tobirama Senju picked up an operational report in his hand, his expression as gloomy as if water were about to drip from it, and his face looked somewhat unsightly: "According to information sent by the sensory squad, the opposing Iwagakure has gathered a force of at least four thousand troops on our side..."

"How could there be so many people?"

Hokage Guard Platoon member Mito-mon'en widened his eyes in disbelief.

Konoha had tried its best to gather a force of fewer than a thousand troops on the northern border. How were they supposed to fight against such an exponential numerical disparity? Especially since the enemy's ninja force might be even greater than the battle report suggested, hearing this couldn't help but make people feel a bit alarmed!

"This is normal."

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen had anticipated this to some extent, and sincerely stated what he had discovered while traveling through the ninja world with Emiya Shigen: "The Land of Earth is filled with treacherous mountains and rivers, rarely experiencing wars even during the Warring States period. It has a vast territory and a large population..."

"The complex terrain of the Land of Earth also means they don't have to waste too much military force on defense. The ninja forces they can deploy to participate in foreign wars must be at least five thousand strong, and I've heard they also have a special unit composed of Bloodline Limit ninjas within their ranks..."

"..."

The people inside the tent fell into silence.

Clearly.

The enemy's troop numbers were simply too large.

Unless the First Hokage Hashirama Senju was still alive, winning a war against the Land of Earth relying solely on themselves was truly no easy task.

Moreover, the ninjas of the Land of Earth were not weak in combat power...

Under such a battle situation, a single Konoha ninja would at least need to be able to counter a squad of Land of Earth ninjas, which was asking far too much of Konoha's ninjas.

Young Danzo seemed to have found support and said loudly: "For the sake of Konoha, we can allow more people to obtain Lord Emiya's power. Only in this way can we achieve victory in the war!"

"That is one way."

"But when all is said and done, we need to earn Lord Emiya's recognition of Konoha's will for peace, rather than resorting to underhanded methods."

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Tobirama Senju and put forward a better suggestion: "When Danzo and I followed Lord Emiya, the people of Iwagakure owed Lord Emiya a considerable favor. Can we ask Lord Emiya to use this favor to help us reach a peace treaty with the other side? That way we can also avoid further sacrifices..."

"Even if it fails, it doesn't matter..."

"At the very least, let Lord Emiya see that we have worked hard for peace, and he, who loves peace deeply, will recognize our attitude of wanting peace..."