"Senior Hatake, let's go inside and talk," Tsunade said.
Hatake Sakumo was one of the elite Jōnin who had long been famous in Konoha. His strength was undeniable. Even though Tsunade was a member of the Senju clan and a direct apprentice of Sarutobi Hiruzen, she still held a certain level of respect for him.
"Mm," Hatake Sakumo nodded, handing over command of the main forces, along with Konan and the others, to a designated officer. Then, he led Saigoji Youmu and Tsunade toward the center of the Konoha camp.
"What's the current situation, Hatake-senpai?" Tsunade asked, getting straight to the point.
Hatake Sakumo frowned deeply. "The situation is very unfavorable to us," he admitted. "If you had arrived any later, I might have considered retreating from the Land of Wind altogether."
"I've read the reports," Tsunade said. "The main issue is the poison, correct?"
"Yes. Sand Shinobi's strongest combat power right now comes from a pair of highly skilled puppet masters," Hatake Sakumo explained. "I can handle them alone. However, if the threat of poison isn't resolved, achieving further progress will be difficult."
"Is that old woman, Chiyo, not here?" Tsunade asked.
"I heard she's in the Land of Rain, engaged in battle with Hanzō of the Salamander."
"Leave the poison problem to me," Tsunade said with confidence. "I'll develop an antidote as soon as possible. Until then, avoid large-scale conflicts with Sand Shinobi."
Hatake Sakumo nodded. "Understood."
"Who is this?" Hatake Sakumo asked, shifting his attention to Saigoji Youmu.
"His name is Saigoji Youmu. Senior Hatake, you should have heard of him," Tsunade said, introducing him briefly.
"Oh?" A glint of intrigue flashed in Hatake Sakumo's eyes.
According to rumors in the ninja world, a mysterious young master had recently emerged, possessing unparalleled ice abilities and swordsmanship. Of course, Hatake Sakumo had heard of him. He just hadn't expected Saigoji Youmu to be so young. At first glance, he had assumed the boy was a genius from one of Konoha's noble clans.
"So it's you. I've heard much about you," Hatake Sakumo said. His words weren't mere politeness—he genuinely respected strength, regardless of age.
"I've also heard of Senior Hatake's name," Saigoji Youmu replied, reciprocating the goodwill.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Hatake Sakumo left to tend to his duties. As the supreme commander of the Konoha camp, there were countless matters requiring his attention.
"Let's go see the poisoned ninjas," Tsunade suggested. "I should be able to gather some useful information from them."
"Sounds good," Saigoji Youmu agreed.
He had come to the Land of Wind primarily to protect Konan, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uchiha Mikoto. The battlefield was the fastest place to grow stronger, but it was also the most dangerous. While he wanted them to improve, he had no intention of letting them meet an untimely end.
Inside the Konoha camp's medical area, where the wounded were gathered:
"Ugh…" "Argh…"
Pained groans echoed everywhere. Only a handful of Konoha medics were tending to the injured. Those with minor wounds could treat themselves, but the severely wounded relied entirely on the overwhelmed medical personnel. Unfortunately, some of these medics lacked proper skills. At best, they could prevent a patient's condition from worsening. At worst, they might even exacerbate the injuries.
Seeing this chaotic scene, Tsunade frowned.
"Konoha's medical system really needs improvement," Saigoji Youmu remarked.
"Hm?" Tsunade looked at him in slight surprise. His words reflected exactly what she had been thinking.
"Heh," Saigoji Youmu chuckled. "Your thoughts are written all over your face."
"As for improving the medical system, I'll bring it up with the Third Hokage later," Youmu said. "For now, the priority is solving the poison problem from Sand Shinobi."
Tsunade nodded. Without breaking her stride, Tsunade moved past the injured, heading straight for the poisoned ninjas. She knew exactly what needed to be done first.