socalfunplaces Chapter 348 Taking Medicine as Candy
Chapter 348 Taking Medicine as Candy
Chapter 348 Taking Medicine as Candy
The tent fell silent instantly.
Shikamaru slowly exhaled.
"That means he's not crazy," he said. "He first made Guihua Village a stronghold, and then extended his reach outwards. That's the most troublesome way."
"That's not all," Chi Quan said. "They started searching everywhere. They wanted the village's old household registers, medicine contracts, and lists of transactions with outsiders—they searched everything they could find. If they couldn't get it from the local officials, they got it from elsewhere."
Tsunade's eyes turned cold.
"List".
"Yes," Chi Quan said. "And it wasn't random arrests. He had people watching the rendezvous points, making sure not to touch women or children, only those who could hold a pen."
Kakashi clicked his tongue softly.
"It's dirtier than directly intercepting villagers."
"The western post road has also been targeted," Zhi Nai continued. "They've spotted two layers of security around the southern rendezvous point, but haven't entered yet. They also received a report that the convoy delivering compensation documents will be using the western post road the day after tomorrow. He Lian doesn't plan to intercept them immediately. He said it would be too conspicuous if they didn't go after tomorrow. Let's mark the western post road first, and then intercept them when their second batch of resettlement supplies leaves."
Shikamaru slammed his pen onto the table with a "thud".
"I knew it."
Tsunade looked at him: "What did you receive?"
Shikamaru pulled a piece of paper from the table and pushed it forward.
"A message came from the southern outpost this morning. The two teams we sent to settle the villagers and transport compensation documents both spotted scouts who weren't part of the local patrol last night. There weren't many of them, but they were moving fast, like they were scouting the route, not like they were planning to take action now." He looked up at Chi Quan. "Once you two are on the same side, you can coordinate your efforts."
Chi Quan glanced down at the paper.
The paper had two lines of writing, written hastily, with the last stroke ending in a sharp fold.
Three tree markers along the western post road have been altered, raising suspicions that outside scouts are gathering intelligence.
Unfamiliar footprints were found on the outer edge of the temporary rendezvous point in the south, indicating approximately four people, but no further exploration was conducted.
"They're putting eyes on things," Chi Quan said.
"And it's not just one pair." Kakashi pointed to the other end of the map. "Osmanthus Village is just one nail driven in; now they need to follow every vine that can be used to 'find the melon' (i.e., trace the vine to its source)."
The tension in Tsunade's eyes, which hadn't yet dissipated, intensified.
"Then replace the vines first." She straightened up, her voice low. "Change the routes, headings, and delivery personnel for the village resettlement roster, compensation registration, and medicine transfer forms. Move the rendezvous point back two miles, and add fake camps on the outer perimeter. Shikamaru, go and rearrange the document flow. Kakashi, starting today, make two sets of fake markers for the western post road. The real troops won't move during the day, but will move in sections at night."
"Understood," Shikamaru replied.
"Received." Kakashi nodded.
Tsunade then looked at Shino: "How many of the insects you left in the village can be relayed back?"
"A vague location and a big move," Shino said. "We'll have to get closer to hear it clearly."
Tsunade looked at him for a moment, then suddenly said, "Neither of you are allowed to go today."
Just as Izumi was about to speak, Tsunade raised her hand to interrupt her.
"This is not a discussion. You just got back, and Helian is keeping an eye on the southwest. Anyone who goes there today is walking into his trap." She stared at Chi Quan. "You may not consider yourself human, but I still have to treat you like a Jonin of Konoha."
Chi Quan's lips twitched, but he didn't take it.
Jingyin stood by the tent door, holding a medicine tray. Upon hearing this, she almost immediately added, "Finally, someone has said what I wanted to say."
Tsunade turned her head: "Where's the medicine?"
Silently, she placed the plate on the table, and several porcelain vases clinked softly.
"Drink this first, then have him remove the wound."
I said it wasn't my blood—
'
"Even if you don't have any new cuts, your old injuries haven't fully healed." Jingyin glared at him. "How long have you actually slept since last night? Less than half an hour?"
Shikamaru lazily chimed in from the side, "I can vouch for that, no."
Chi Quan turned to look at him: "You're pretty quick to testify."
"Because I don't want you to suddenly collapse on me halfway through the next time we go out together." Shikamaru leaned back. "That would be too much trouble."
"You're afraid of trouble, yet you still came out with me?"
"I'd like to refuse," Shikamaru said, "but you always choose the most troublesome things to do."
The atmosphere inside the tent relaxed a little as a result.
Tsunade didn't follow their banter. She picked up another document that had just been delivered, glanced at it, and her expression darkened a little.
"There's one more thing."
Kakashi knew something was wrong the moment he saw her expression.
Which way?
Tsunade slammed the paper onto the table.
"Report from the northern front. The allied Jonin squad from the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning hasn't been reinforcing the perimeter of Osmanthus Village with the main force these past two days. Instead, they've disappeared several times in the mountains and forest edges further east of us. They're small in number and move very quickly. At first, we thought they were changing shifts, but the Byakugan squad just confirmed that something's wrong."
Chi Quan looked up: "A Jonin squad?"
"Yes. A small, elite team. Not the kind with dozens of people, but the kind that can carve out a line in one go." Tsunade zoomed in on the map. "We suspect they're looking for another entrance, not behind Osmanthus Village, but to take a larger, roundabout route, cutting into the Land of Fire from the mountains."
Shikamaru frowned.
"Isn't Inuzuka and Hinata keeping an eye on the trail over the mountains?"
"Keep an eye on them," Tsunade said. "But that's the problem. Those who keep an eye on them only see shadows, not the actual number. It's like they're deliberately letting you see them, but not letting you count them."
Chi Quan whispered, "Use the shadow to test the line."
Kakashi hummed in agreement.
"Let us think they are just small reconnaissance groups, and then when we really make a move, suddenly break in from the place that seems least worthwhile to deploy heavy forces."
"Where will it rush?" Shikamaru asked.
Tsunade's fingertip landed on a mountain ridge further outside Konoha Village.
"here."
Chi Quan glanced at it, his expression changing slightly.
"Bluebird Ridge".
"That's right," Tsunade said. "Behind Bluebird Ridge lies a desolate valley, and beyond that is the old hunting trail. Large groups don't usually take this route because it's difficult, too circuitous, and supplies can't keep up. But the Jonin squad can go through it, and once they get there, the nearest target isn't the border outpost, but—"
"Konoha Village itself," Izumi continued.
The tent fell silent again.
A gust of wind blew in through the curtain, causing the edge of the paper on the table to tremble slightly.
Shizune couldn't help but speak up: "Are they crazy? Just a few days ago they were fighting so fiercely over Osmanthus Village and the border outpost, and now they dare to directly send Jonin troops to attack Konoha?"
Kakashi's gaze remained fixed on the map; he didn't look up.
"It's not madness, it's calculation," he said. "Right now, everyone's attention on the border is focused on Guihua Village. Everyone thinks their next step will either be to solidify their hold on the village or to test the waters and try to break through Nanguan. At this time, if there were a fast enough..."
A sufficiently quiet Jonin squad, advancing from the distant mountains, aimed directly at Konoha's outer defenses—like a fine knife, stabbing through your armor plates.
Shikamaru clicked his tongue.
"And they don't even need to actually enter the village. As long as they get outside the village, destroy a granary, burn a backup supply line, or kill one or two key people, it will be enough to throw our entire border into chaos."
"Yes," Tsunade said. "What they want is not to take over Konoha, but to force us to turn back."
Chi Quan kept staring at the map of Qingniao Ridge without saying a word.
Shino glanced at him sideways.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I wonder when they'll make a move."
"You think it's fast?" Shikamaru asked.
"It's not that I think so." Chi Quan pointed between Qingniao Ridge and the desolate valley. "It's that it can only happen quickly. Helian is not moving by waterway, not touching Nanguan, and has halted all major frontal operations. What is he stopping for? To stabilize Guihua Village while sending other forces to stab elsewhere. Otherwise, if he crams his main force into the village and doesn't move for a few days, even his own morale will collapse."
Tsunade's gaze fell heavily on his fingers.
"How many days do you think it will take?"
"Two to three days," Chi Quan said. "Any longer, and their supplies and morale won't be worthwhile."
Shikamaru went over those words in his mind and suddenly straightened up a bit.
"Wait. A few days later—if they don't choose a regular team, but a Jonin unit, then the leader won't be too bad." He looked at Chi Quan, "Will Helian lead them personally?"
Chi Quan shook his head.
"Won't."
"Are you so sure?"
"He can't leave Guihua Village now," Chi Quan said. "The pit in Xijingyuan hasn't been filled yet, the sensor boards haven't been connected, and the old secrets of the village have been dug up again. He won't leave now. But he will send someone ruthless, fast, and good at cutting off connections."
Kakashi leaned against the table and slowly said, "Among the heavy ninja of the Land of Lightning, there's one named Raiga. He's used to leading a heavy slashing squad in mountainous terrain, but he's too conspicuous. The Land of Earth also has two or three strong demolitionists, but mountain infiltration isn't their specialty. And over in the Sand Village—"
He paused, as if going through his memories.
"—There is one, called the Wind Priest. She uses wind and sand and a fine blade, and is best at cutting off retreat lines."
Shino said, "And there's the Cloud Falcon."
Kakashi looked up: "You know him?"
"I don't know him," Shino replied calmly. "I've heard of him before. He's a Jonin from the Land of Lightning who likes to raid sentry posts at night, making very little noise."
Shikamaru's brow twitched upon hearing this.
"Alright, the more names there are, the more annoying it becomes."
Tsunade, however, had already raised her hand, rolled up a corner of the map, and unfolded another, even more detailed mountain map.
"Even if it's troublesome, we still have to keep an eye on them," she said. "From today onwards, this line—Bluebird Ridge, the Wild Valley, the Old Hunting Trail—is no longer to be patrolled with the usual standards. I'm going to intercept them, not wait until they actually reach the gates of Konoha before we attack."
Chi Quan looked up: "I'll go."
Before Shizune could say anything, Tsunade nodded first.
"It was meant for you to go anyway."
Shikamaru sighed.
"really."
"You're going too." Tsunade didn't even look at him. "If you don't go, who's going to reel in the threads for him in the mountains?"
"I knew it." Shikamaru pressed his hand to his forehead. "Lately, I never seem to get any good things."
Kakashi looked at the map and suddenly said, "Should I provide outer cover?"
Tsunade shook her head: "You stay at the border. Osmanthus Village can't do without you. With Ikezumi gone, there's no one here to keep an eye on Helian, which is actually more dangerous." She turned to Shino, "You stay at the border too, and continue listening to Osmanthus Village."
Shino nodded.
"Can."
Chi Quan turned her head to look at him: "Aren't you coming with me?"
"You just asked yourself from behind that wall how to kill Helian next time." Shino's tone was completely calm. "If I stay, I'll have a better chance of finding out when he'll show his face."
After listening, Chi Quan didn't say anything, only gave a faint "hmm".
Tsunade continued, "Tenzo, go to the mountains. His Earth Release and Wood Release are effective on rocky slopes and in narrow valleys. Kiba and Akamaru will also go; they'll be in charge of sniffing out clues. I'll assign two Byakugan squads to you over there, but they won't get too close. If the enemy is truly a Jonin unit, showing your Byakugan too early is just suicide."
"There are too many people," Chi Quan said.
Tsunade looked at him: "You think it's too much?"
"Mountains aren't plains. If we really want to stop a small team, too many people will only create chaos." Chi Quan pointed to the narrow valleys. "I don't need a large team, just a few people who can hold them off."
Shikamaru chimed in, "I agree. Sending a bunch of Chunin up there will only make them easy targets for pavement."
Shizune couldn't help but frown: "But the opposing team is a Jonin unit. How many of you could go up there and take their place?"
"It's precisely because they're Jonin that we can't drag a bunch of people up the mountain." Chi Quan looked at her, his voice not loud. "What they want is speed, ruthlessness, and cleanliness. We have to be the same."
Tsunade didn't make a decision immediately, but looked at the map and thought for a few moments.
"Then we'll have four official interceptors, two outer-layer watchmen, and one Byakugan for long-range surveillance," she said. "Ikezumi, Shikamaru, Tenzo, and Kiba. We'll also add two mobile ANBU to handle communications and cover for each other; we won't engage in direct combat."
Chi Quan nodded.
That's enough.
"Don't talk like you're picking something up outside," Shizune said coldly.
"I won't pick it up this time," Chi Quan said. "This time, I'll kill someone."
Jingyin almost choked on her breath because of his words, and in the end she could only forcefully shove a bottle of medicine into his hand.
"Drink this first, then go kill."
Chi Quan glanced down at the brown liquid and frowned.
"bitter."
"It's good that you're suffering so much," said Shizune.
Shikamaru chuckled briefly, then quickly suppressed his laughter.
Because he knew that there wouldn't be many more times when he could get Chi Quan to stand still and drink his medicine obediently.
The group didn't say anything more that day.
After Ikezumi's old wounds were treated by Shizune, he sat with his eyes closed against a tree behind the tent for less than an hour. He woke up when the sun was setting, and the first thing he did was go to the logistics department to collect new mountain maps and night-travel ropes. Shikamaru came back a little later, carrying a bag of freshly distributed rations from the other end of the road. He put the bag on the table, and it rattled for a while.
"It's high-purity," Shikamaru said. "Shizune said you can only eat half a piece at a time, don't chew it like candy."
Chi Quan wrapped the rope around his arm, one loop at a time.
"When have I ever chewed medicine like candy?"
Shikamaru thought for a moment.
"Last time you came out of the rain, you had a fever and your complexion was all wrong. You even took Qi-regulating pills as food."
Chi Quan paused for a moment.
"That was a special case."
"You always make an exception," Shikamaru said lazily, sitting down. "So I have to remind you."
Chi Quan stopped arguing and continued tidying up his things.
Outside the tent, the sky was gradually darkening, but inside the campsite it was brighter than daytime. The rope hooks, short knives, and other equipment needed on the other side of the mountain...
Hemostatic packs, thin steel wire, night whistle smoke, and popping talismans were all neatly arranged on the ground. Kiba squatted beside Akamaru, feeding him jerky while muttering something. Akamaru ate quickly, its tail slapping the ground with a loud crack. Tenzo sat on a log, whittling wooden skewers, carefully placing one aside after each skewer, his movements unhurried and steady.