"The wounded are mostly stable."
Konoha's losses from yesterday amounted to less than a thousandth of Iwa or Kumo's casualties—just two or three squads at most.
And that was from attempted interception.
Of course.
No one could blame Orochimaru or Jiraiya for recklessness.
Had they succeeded in ambushing Kumo, capturing one or two key figures or inflicting heavier losses, Kumo might not just have been defeated—they could've been forced to surrender and pay reparations like Ōnoki.
Unfortunately…
A and B were simply too formidable.
The two had formed a spearhead, tearing through defenses with sheer force, while the Sandaime Raikage held back the entirety of Iwagakure's forces…
It just proved—no one named "A" in Kumogakure was weak.
Every last one of them was a monster.
By the time Kyōichi arrived, Kurenai was already assisting the medical team.
Much like hospitals in his past life, beginners started with menial tasks—rarely getting hands-on experience. Kurenai had only been allowed to participate after thorough preparation.
But Kyōichi quietly bent the rules.
He let Kurenai treat a moderately injured patient—during war, critical cases took priority, while lighter wounds were bandaged and set aside.
This one was slightly worse.
A deep but non-life-threatening injury, left until now.
Perfect for testing Chakra Scalpel precision.
Kurenai was nervous but performed flawlessly—her previous cases had been superficial wounds. This was her first deep-tissue treatment.
One or two were manageable, but by the fifth…
"Reaching your limit? Your chakra control still needs work. You can complete the treatment, but the expenditure is too high. Your precision also drops sharply when fatigued."
Kyōichi stepped in, finishing the procedure in seconds.
A simple injury.
Normally, Kurenai could handle it easily, but exhaustion had dulled her focus and chakra regulation.
As a shinobi, this was a vital lesson—
Not every enemy would come at you when you're fresh.
Kyōichi didn't hoard knowledge, sharing chakra control tips with the entire medical team.
The reward?
Chakra Scalpel proficiency.
A technique he'd never formally trained, yet had nearly mastered through passive gains alone.
Of course.
He hadn't taught for rewards—just seizing the chance to elevate Konoha's medics while instructing Kurenai.
Might as well.
After a morning of instruction, troop movements began at noon.
They were going home!
Kumo was crippled, caught between enemies. With Iwa and Kiri dealt with, only a brain-dead Raikage would attack Konoha now.
And after receiving intel from Kyōichi's shadow clone, the Sandaime was even more at ease.
A was many things—rash, blunt—but not stupid.
He understood Kumo's predicament. Otherwise, he'd never have swallowed his pride to beg Kyōichi for medical aid.
With a free moment, Kyōichi sent a frontline report to Tsunade via Katsuyu.
——
Konoha.
Tsunade had just returned from the hospital, barely settling into her chair when Katsuyu materialized before her.
"Katsuyu, news from Kyōichi?"
"Yes. It's all in this scroll."
"Give it here."
She snatched the scroll, unfurling it—
Within seconds, her eye twitched violently.
Katsuyu's antennae quivered before it wisely retreated.
BANG!
The familiar sound of a disintegrating desk echoed through the Hokage Tower.
"Tsunade-sama again?"
"Shh! Must've been faulty craftsmanship…"
"Right, right! Slip of the tongue!"
The ground-floor staff whispered—this was routine by now.
As for why Tsunade was furious?
Best not to speculate…
Though educated guesses pointed to frontline developments.
And they weren't wrong.
Tsunade was currently ranting at Katsuyu: "That idiot! Risking his neck in the Sandaime Raikage's mess for pocket change? What's next—flying without wings?"
Katsuyu stayed silent.
"Well?! He's too young for this! Let the old farts handle their own battles! The Sandaime may be a decade older than Ōnoki, but he could've stalled if nothing else! No need to play hero!"
Fuming.
Yet since she'd asked, Katsuyu couldn't ignore her.
"From what I gather, he has mastered flight—a unique paper-style secret technique. Though… his speed leaves room for improvement."
It tactfully omitted Kyōichi nearly being vaporized by Particle Style—no need to risk the tower's structural integrity.
Desks were cheap.
The Hokage Tower? Not so much.
Tsunade's glare sharpened.
Suspicious.
After a tense stare-down, she softened. "Katsuyu, details please. I'd love to hear of his bravery."
"Not much to tell. He almost blew Ōnoki up with explosive tags."
Katsuyu sidestepped the danger.
Tsunade sensed evasion but lacked proof. With a huff, she slumped into her chair, eyeing the wooden debris.
The Sandaime's desk lasted decades. She's on her fifth this month…
What excuse this time?
Knock knock knock!
After deep breaths, she dismissed Katsuyu, straightened her robes, and called, "Enter."
"Tsunade-sama, another defective desk? I've prepared a replacement. Were the documents salvaged?"
"Ahem!"
She choked mid-breath.
She'd been about to blame "excitement over the report"—only for the ANBU to hand her the perfect alibi.
Speechless.
Recovering, she nodded and handed over the scroll.
"Elephant, this is the frontline report. I… may have gotten carried away."
"Understood!"
The ANBU skimmed the contents, barely containing his grin.
"Excited"?
Since when does excitement involve the use of superhuman strength on furniture?
Internally scoffing, he asked, "Should I share this with Nara-sama?"
"Of course. As the Sandaime's advisor, he'll draft protocols for the victory celebrations."
Amidst the wreckage, Tsunade exuded authority.
Elephant bowed, orchestrating the cleanup before ushering in a new desk.
Wooden again.
Tsunade studied it skeptically.
She wasn't a carpenter, but even she could tell—
Was this one even flimsier?
"Elephant, this desk—"
"Tsunade-sama, functionality remains unchanged regardless of quality. Per Nara-sama's instructions."
"…"
Unchanged?
True.
Why bother with sturdiness when one punch suffices?
With a dismissive wave, she cleared the room—needing solitude.
——
Nara Shikaku's reaction starkly contrasted Tsunade's.
Thrilled.
Victory was just the beginning.
More importantly—
Konoha's new generation had finally produced standard-bearers. Two, no less.
One was Namikaze Minato.
Expected.
Since the Kikyō Mountain campaign, Minato's prowess and reputation among shinobi were undeniable.
But Kyōichi?
That was shocking.
Earlier reports detailed him stalling Ōnoki while his shadow clones mass-healed allies via Katsuyu's fusion and chakra absorption.
Now, he'd collaborated with Ōnoki to slay the Sandaime Raikage.
And that was just combat prowess.
Tactically, his brilliance shone even brighter.
"Astonishing. At his age, even Minato paled in comparison…"
The Senju…
Terrifying.
Shikaku marveled.
After skipping a generation, the Senju's legacy burned brighter than ever in Kyōichi—evoking memories of the Hashirama era.
Strength. Security.
With them, no challenge seemed insurmountable.
"Shikaku-sama, should we publicize this or await the Hokage's return?"
"Redraft and post it. The Daimyō can wait."
"Yes sir!"
Elephant retrieved the scroll.
A copied version soon adorned bulletin boards, while the original returned to Tsunade.
Within hours—
The village buzzed with news of victory.
They'd won!
Earlier returnees had hinted at Iwa's surrender, foreshadowing eastern success. With forces consolidated, Kumo never stood a chance.
But no one expected the Sandaime Raikage's demise so swiftly—let alone the bulletin's bold claim:
"The Third Raikage slain by joint Konoha-Iwa forces."
The Sandaime Raikage!
The strongest Raikage in history, felled by their alliance? Unthinkable—yet electrifying.
"Was it Sensei?"
Kyōichi's students instantly pictured him.
They'd never seen the Sandaime Raikage, but his legend was ubiquitous—even fresh genin knew of his Lightning Armor, reputedly impervious to bijū attacks.
By their reckoning, only their wind-wielding sensei or Minato's Flying Thunder God could've breached such defenses.