"Retreat."
Chiyo gave Ren a deep look from across the way, then turned and left after leaving a single sentence.
"Yes! x3"
Despite their many questions, the three didn't question her on the spot. Instead, they quickly relayed the order, and the Sunagakure Ninja who received it swiftly adjusted their formation and turned to leave.
Back on Konoha's side, Ren, who had taken two punches from Tsunade, was now sprawled on Ryufeng, barely breathing. Ren felt as if Tsunade had punched a concussion into him.
As for the enraged Tsunade, she was held back by everyone; otherwise, Ren would likely have been in grave danger today.
"Hmm? Sunagakure has retreated."
The retreating Sunagakure Ninja caught the attention of the Leaf Ninja, and all the surviving Leaf Ninja wiped away cold sweat. The feeling of being alive… was truly wonderful.
"Fall back, return to Konoha Camp first."
Sakumo Hatake gave the order, and the Leaf Ninja also began to organise their ranks, heading towards Konoha Camp, leaving only hundreds of corpses forever on this battlefield. Perhaps there would be survivors among them, but whether they could hold on until the search and rescue team arrived was another matter entirely.
…
"Was I wrong?!"
"Yes, you were."
"Where was I wrong?"
"I don't know."
"You!"
Kana Maiko was momentarily choked with anger. As the head of the Medical Department, she had been constantly worried about Ren's safety in the logistics area. When she saw Ren being carried back by Ryufeng earlier, Kana Maiko nearly died of anxiety. Then, she heard Lady Tsunade talk about this kid's reckless actions on the battlefield. Angered, she immediately switched to "lecturing mode."
"Cough, cough, cough, Aunt Maiko, please don't be angry. I was wrong, I was wrong. I shouldn't have acted irrationally on the battlefield. I'll reflect on it."
Seeing that Kana Maiko was genuinely a bit angry, Ren immediately stopped his playful demeanour and quickly apologised.
After hearing Ren's apology, Kana Maiko's expression softened a bit, but she still couldn't help but scold Ren a couple of times.
What could Ren do? He could only brace himself and listen to the scolding. After she finished speaking, Kana Maiko looked at Ren, who was sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed, and said grumpily, "Since you're fine, hurry up and leave. You're wasting medical resources, and beds are very scarce."
"Alright, I'll be going then, Aunt Maiko."
Ren's eyes lit up. He quickly dressed himself, bid farewell to Kana Maiko, and scurried off.
Kana Maiko shook her head helplessly. This kid had become so boisterous after just two years with Lady Tsunade. Ah, she really missed the obedient and sensible Ren of before.
Ren, unaware of Kana Maiko's thoughts, rubbed his head as he walked out of the Medical Camp. After a small battle, the tents and beds in the Medical Camp were already packed. Ren had simply overused his Chakra and didn't need to waste bed resources at all. Oh, right, he also had a slight concussion.
"Hmm? Ren, how are your injuries?"
A voice broke Ren's thoughts. Ren looked up and saw it was Nara Shikaku.
"Shikaku!"
Ren greeted Nara Shikaku with a grin, and the two walked and chatted.
"I'm fine. Aunt Maiko told me I'd be good after a nap."
"Is that so? That's good."
Shikaku patted Ren's shoulder with an appreciative look.
"To think that you and the Uchiha boy managed to hold back Sunagakure's Bloodline Limit wielder with just the two of you. Well done. Sakumo said he'd note down a merit for you two little ones first."
"Hehehe, how embarrassing."
Shikaku looked at Ren, who was feigning modesty but had a beaming smile, and couldn't help but laugh. How was this personality so unlike Lady Tsunade? Someone who didn't know might even think this kid was Jiraiya's disciple.
"You go back and rest well. I still have to attend a meeting."
"Alright, Shikaku, take care."
Ren, after bidding farewell to Shikaku, hummed a little tune as he walked towards his tent.
Being alive… is truly wonderful!
…
Konoha Village.
Hokage Office.
"Hahahahaha!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's laughter was incessant, even the Anbu guarding in the shadows were curious about what the Hokage was laughing about.
"Hokage-sama, Clan Head Uchiha has arrived!"
An Anbu brought a stern-faced man into the Hokage Office and then knelt on one knee.
"Hmm, thank you for your trouble. You may withdraw."
"Yes."
After the Anbu withdrew, Uchiha Fugaku stood before the desk and bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokage-sama, may I ask why you called for me?"
"Fugaku, you're here. Take a look at this first."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and pushed a document on his desk towards Fugaku. It was the latest intelligence from the front lines.
"Yes."
Uchiha Fugaku said, then picked up the document and began to read it carefully. After a while, Uchiha Fugaku put down the document. With a hint of joy on his face, he said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "The Sand village Battlefield is gradually gaining the upper hand. It seems the defensive line there has been stabilised. This is truly gratifying."
"Indeed, but what surprises me the most isn't even that."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe with a beaming smile, exhaled slowly, and continued, "According to Sakumo, Tsunade, and Shikaku, despite our shortage of high-level combatants, Ren and Ryufeng, those two children, managed to briefly hold back Sunagakure's Scorch Release Ninja, Pakura. This was also one of the reasons why the front lines didn't fall into a disadvantage. Fugaku, these children have truly surprised us. I've decided to award each of them a merit. What do you think?"
"Hokage-sama is wise. These children are the future of Konoha, and appropriate encouragement is certainly deserved."
Fugaku said with a smile. These two youths, one a genius of Uchiha and the other a genius allied with Uchiha, no matter how you look at it, Uchiha won big this time.
"Hokage-sama is busy with affairs, and the Leaf Military Police Force also has some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."
"Very well, you may go attend to your duties."
"Yes!"
After Uchiha Fugaku left, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sitting in his office, put down his pipe, a trace of reminiscence in his eyes.
Homura, Koharu, Torifu, Danzo, and Kagami…
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked to the window, his gaze directed into the distance.
Uchiha… I hope you two can maintain this bond and continue forward…
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind conjured the figures of Ren and Ryufeng. After standing in silence for a moment, he returned to his desk and sat down, resuming the task of reviewing the stacks of documents several meters high.
At the Uchiha Clan Grounds, Uchiha Fugaku and Yusuke Uchiha walked side by side after getting off work. Both had smiles on their faces, appearing to be in very good spirits.
"Hahaha, Yusuke, Ryufeng truly brought honour to our Uchiha Clan this time. When he returns, we can make an exception and allow him to learn a high-level Uchiha Ninjutsu as a reward."
"I thank the Clan Head on Ryufeng's behalf."
As Yusuke Uchiha expressed his gratitude, his mood also improved significantly. The Uchiha's high-level Ninjutsu were not comparable to the trashy A-rank Ninjutsu found elsewhere. As the foremost clan in the Ninja World, the Uchiha's heritage was not something smaller clans like Sarutobi or Shimura could compare to.
Even as a Great Elder of the Uchiha Clan, opportunities to learn these Ninjutsu were few and far between. For his son to be able to learn the Uchiha's Ninjutsu inheritance at such a young age, this was far superior to his own achievements.