"Save Kazekage-sama!"
Chiyo was the first to react, shouting sharply.
The red-haired man beside her, upon hearing this, quickly used Chakra Threads to control a puppet, flying over to pick up Shamon, who was lying on the ground in a classic Yamcha pose, barely alive.
He placed him in front of Chiyo, who, while far inferior to Tsunade, was also a highly skilled Medical-Nin.
Chiyo hurriedly knelt to examine Shamon, who had severe burns all over his body.
"He can still be saved!" Chiyo's face showed a hint of joy, but the wariness in her eyes didn't lessen.
She waved her hand and shouted, "Everyone, cover us! I'll escort Kazekage-sama back to the village for treatment!"
Upon hearing this, Bunpuku, the future Third Kazekage, and many other Sunagakure's Ninjas quickly moved to block the front, covering Chiyo as she took the Second Kazekage away.
"Don't let them escape! Pursue them!" Sakumo, the frontline commander for Konoha's army, shouted sternly.
The morale of Konoha's army soared.
Wielding their weapons, they surged forward like hungry beasts spotting a lame rabbit.
Jin, however, remained unmoved. He yawned and followed at the tail end of the army as if taking a leisurely stroll after a meal, embodying the attitude of a laid-back worker.
…
That night.
"We were so close to killing the Second Kazekage! If he had died, Sunagakure's morale would have suffered a devastating blow. Ending this war would have been within reach." In the camp, Sakumo punched the table in regret.
He had been so close, so close to taking down Shamon!
"If it weren't for someone slacking off, the war would have ended long ago," Shinsuke said, implying something, his sidelong glance subtly directed at Jin, who looked utterly bored.
"You're quite proactive yourself. So, how many enemies have you killed, Young Master Sarutobi?" Jin half-narrowed his eyes, looking directly at Shinsuke without evasion, his tone dripping with disdain.
"So weak, yet always charging to the front. If White Fang hadn't been covering for you because you're the Third Hokage's son, you'd have died countless times already."
"What did you say?!" Shinsuke was furious.
"Whoa, whoa~ Shinsuke-kun, calm down, calm down~" Jiraiya, as the only one among the Sannin who still had the best relationship and some affection for Hiruzen, quickly held Shinsuke back, playing the peacemaker.
"In today's battle, we lost 422 people. But thanks to Jin's performance, the enemy lost over a thousand. As long as we maintain this momentum, we will surely win this war." Shinku also stepped in promptly to change the subject.
Although Jin's 'slacking off' displeased some, they had to admit that he always killed the most enemies in every battle.
Therefore, whether it was Sakumo or Jiraiya, they mostly turned a blind eye to his various behaviors.
Only the Sarutobi Clan, represented by Shinsuke, perhaps because Jin hadn't saved him before, or because he inherited his father's fine tradition of jealousy towards the capable, simply couldn't stand Jin.
"Eh? Is Kato Taka... cough, Kato Dan also in here?" Jin noticed Dan wasn't at the meeting and asked curiously.
"Kato Dan... died heroically in this battle. His name will be engraved on the Memorial Stone," Shinku said sadly.
"Ah, how pitiful. Why did such a good comrade die so young..." Jin sighed with fake sorrow. Tsunade's eye twitched violently beside him because she noticed the corners of Jin's mouth curling upwards uncontrollably.
Unfortunately, after much effort, Jin couldn't squeeze out a single tear, so he simply stopped pretending, staring straight at Shinsuke with a weird smile, "I wonder who will die next~"
Shinsuke's face immediately darkened. He desperately wanted to draw his sword and fight Jin right this instant.
Jiraiya once again quickly restrained Jin, whispering in his ear, "Don't be impulsive! If it weren't for your father being Sarutobi-sensei, he might have already found an opportunity to..." Jiraiya made a throat-slitting gesture.
Shinsuke was thunderstruck, looking at Jiraiya in disbelief. After a long daze, he lowered his voice and said incredulously, "How... how dare he..."
Jiraiya smiled wryly and spread his hands, 'This kid's political acumen was far inferior to Sarutobi-sensei's. After all this time, he still hadn't noticed that the way Jin looked at him was like a tiger eyeing a fat pig, wanting to devour him in one bite.'
Just then, a commotion came from outside the tent. Before anyone could go out to check, an old man wearing a grey Anbu's flak jacket entered, followed by two masked Anbu. But those familiar with the Anbu could tell from minute details on the masks that these weren't Anbu but Root's members.
Moreover, the old man leading them was none other than the leader of Root, Shimura Danzo!
"Danzo-sama, what brings you from Konoha to the front lines?" Sakumo stepped forward quickly to inquire.
"I am here to convey a command from Hiruzen," Danzo said, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. His eyes noticeably lingered on Jin for two extra seconds.
Though he tried hard to hide it, a trace of greed could be seen deep in his eyes.
'Tsk tsk, a Council's member referring to the Hokage not as 'Hokage-sama' but by his first name.' Jin almost laughed, 'Sarutobi Hiruzen was something else, raising three 'masters' for himself.'
Danzo continued, "This is an ultra S-rank mission issued personally by Hiruzen: Assassinate the Second Kazekage, Shamon!"
"The mission captain is Hatake Sakumo. Team members are Uchiha Jin, Namikaze Minato, and Sarutobi Shinsuke."
Hearing the mission content, the expressions of everyone present changed. Assassinating a Kage was indeed an ultra S-rank mission, but...
"Why include a burden?" Jin suddenly spoke up.