Over the next month, under Orochimaru's arrangements, the Third Squad undertook multiple rescue missions. With Uchiha Kiyo as a medical ninja, it wasn't considered an abuse of power.
Given their squad's unique composition, they were well-suited for this role, specializing in the retrieval and treatment of wounded Konoha ninjas.
For an entire month, even with Orochimaru overseeing them, the Third Squad had little to no rest. Their schedule allowed only the bare minimum time to recover chakra and physical strength before heading out on their next mission.
The reality of war was ruthless—if they arrived late by even a few minutes, some comrades wouldn't make it. Because of this, the Third Squad remained on constant high alert, never daring to relax.
By the end of the month, they had executed over forty rescue missions.
While most of their assignments were successful, a few missions ended in tragedy, with injured Konoha shinobi succumbing to their wounds before they could be evacuated or being finished off by enemy Rain Ninja.
Despite their relentless workload, the Third Squad had grown immensely.
To reach their assignments faster, their speed had significantly improved, as had their endurance.
Their chakra reserves had also expanded, thanks to the continuous cycle of exertion and replenishment. Each of them had gained several hundred more chakra units—except for Nawaki Senju, whose already vast chakra reserves made it difficult to measure any increase.
Fortunately, their bodies were still young and developing, preventing them from suffering any long-term depletion.
However, the same could not be said for many other recently graduated ninjas, whose bodies struggled under the intense strain of war. After only a handful of missions, many were forced to withdraw due to exhaustion or injury.
To make matters worse, the rations on the front lines were inadequate, forcing many to rely on military ration pills for sustenance, which took a toll on their stomachs.
"Ugh! Kiyo, I can't take it anymore. We've been running around like this for a whole month!" Nawaki groaned dramatically, his dream of battlefield glory shattered.
In his mind, the front lines should have been filled with heroic battles against enemy ninjas—stepping over the defeated Rain Shinobi and rising through the ranks with one victory after another.
Instead, he had been reduced to running rescue missions, far removed from any direct combat.
Uchiha Kiyo, knowing exactly what Nawaki was thinking, didn't bother comforting him. Instead, he delivered a brutal reality check.
"This is the front line. What did you expect? With your strength, do you think you'd be sent to fight head-on?
The direct battlefields are handled by elite ninjas. If you were deployed there, you'd be nothing more than cannon fodder. You should be grateful you're getting meaningful missions."
Before Nawaki could protest, Sarutobi Shō returned from outside, looking unusually serious.
"Hm? Shō, what's going on? Did something happen?" Uchiha Kiyo immediately noticed his tense expression.
"Yes," Shō replied gravely.
Both Kiyo and Nawaki turned their full attention to him.
"I just heard from one of the senior Sarutobi clan members—two hours ago, the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth formally declared war on the Land of Rain. Their ninja forces are already closing in on the battlefield."
"Wait, isn't that good news for us?" Nawaki asked. "If Sand Ninja is advancing, Rain Ninja will have to spread their forces even thinner. Wouldn't that give us an advantage?"
Kiyo, however, immediately sensed there was more to the situation.
"There's another problem, isn't there?"
Sarutobi Shō nodded.
"That's right. There's an issue with Sand Ninja."
Uchiha Kiyo's expression darkened. He quickly pieced it together.
The Land of Wind was mostly desert, suffering from harsh environmental conditions and a severe lack of resources. In contrast, the Land of Fire controlled the most fertile lands in the entire ninja world.
If the Sand Shinobi were acting suspiciously, then their intentions were clear—after finishing off the Land of Rain, the next target would be Konoha.
Nawaki, however, still didn't understand the gravity of the situation.
"What's wrong with them? Did Rain Ninja attack them? That would be too unlucky."
"No. The issue isn't that Sand Ninja was attacked—it's that they've stationed themselves near our territory," Kiyo explained grimly. "That means they're positioning for future conflict with us."
"Yes," Shō confirmed. "According to my sources, after entering the Land of Rain, the Sand Ninja forces split into two.
The main force continued toward the battlefront against Rain Ninja, but a separate division stopped about a hundred kilometers east of our camp."
Before Kiyo could respond, a voice called from outside.
"Third Squad! A new mission has been assigned! Report to the personnel office immediately!"
"Understood," Kiyo answered, already anticipating what was coming.
The three teammates exchanged glances, silently reaching the same conclusion.
Except for Nawaki, who had no idea what was going on.
Still, trying to keep up appearances, he put on a knowing expression and nodded.
Kiyo almost cringed at the awful acting but decided not to call him out.
When they arrived at the personnel office, they found Orochimaru already waiting, fully equipped for battle.
"You've heard the news," Orochimaru said, skipping the pleasantries.
The Third Squad nodded.
"The Land of Wind and the Land of Earth have officially joined the war, but Sand Ninja has stationed part of their forces near us," he continued.
Although the three great nations—Fire, Wind, and Earth—were currently focused on weakening the Land of Rain, there was no doubt that Konoha viewed Sand Ninja's movements with suspicion.
No country wanted a powerful military force camping on its doorstep.
"This doesn't mean open conflict yet, but it's clear that Sand Ninja is preparing for something," Orochimaru said. "Before things escalate, Konoha needs to assess their exact movements."
Kiyo immediately understood.
"We're being sent on a reconnaissance mission," he stated.
Orochimaru nodded.
"I personally took this mission, and you'll be coming with me."
Kiyo and Shō exchanged knowing looks.
Nawaki, on the other hand, lit up with excitement.
"Really?! Sensei, this must be a high-level mission! Sand Ninja's forces are active, so investigating them is going to be dangerous!"
"Yes," Orochimaru confirmed. "This mission is classified as S-rank. Successfully completing it will earn you a promotion to Elite Chunin."
He paused before adding, "Honestly, all three of you already have the strength of Elite Chunin, but due to the disruptions caused by the war, the official exams have been delayed. Now, battlefield promotions are being awarded based on performance and merit."
Hearing the words "S-rank mission," Nawaki practically started bouncing with excitement, shouting things like "battlefield merits" and "one step closer to Hokage."
Meanwhile, Kiyo rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Orochimaru wasn't just assigning them an important mission—he was ensuring they received official recognition for their skills.
On the battlefield, only Elite Chunin and above were allowed to take on key leadership roles.
Even though Orochimaru held significant authority in the Personnel Department, he couldn't simply promote them outright without causing controversy.
By leading them on an S-rank mission, he was making sure their promotions were earned legitimately.
It also meant they would be considered higher-value assets—less likely to be sacrificed as cannon fodder.
With this realization, Kiyo couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect for his teacher's foresight.
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