When the others finally fell into a deep sleep, Shane Mountain quietly pulled out the various glass containers he had "borrowed" from the logistics department. Under the dim light of the campfire, he began his secret project: cultivating penicillin.
With the knowledge he inherited from his other self the scientist version of Shane this was child's play for him. The only real concern was keeping his work safe from interference or destruction.
By the next morning, Rope Tree woke up brimming with excitement. "Let's head to the front lines today!" he said eagerly, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Shane thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, it's about time anyway."
Over the past two days, the Sand forces, led by the cunning Chiyo, had resorted to using poisons that sapped Konoha's strength. Because of that, direct sword combat had been all but abandoned. Both sides now exchanged ninjutsu from a distance before retreating neither wanting to risk too much.
"Perfect," Shane said with a grin. "I can test out my new jutsu today."
"You mean the enhanced Rasengan?!" Minato's eyes lit up in excitement.
"Exactly," Shane replied, eyes glinting. "Today, I'll try out the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken."
"You already came up with a name for it?" Minato sighed, a bit disappointed. He'd hoped to be the one to name it.
Shane smirked. "Please, I wouldn't even let Rope Tree name it, let alone you."
The team laughed as they gathered their gear and set out with the main force. Near the camp gates, they ran into White Fang, who gave them a surprised look.
The truth was, no one had expected these young graduates to be anywhere near the battlefield. Most of the veterans secretly preferred that they stay far behind the lines seeing children sent to fight would only make the older shinobi feel like failures.
As they marched, Rope Tree could barely contain his excitement. "Finally, a real mission on the front lines! I'll make a name for myself for sure!"
Shane glanced at him with a knowing smirk. "You'll find it's not quite what you imagine."
Lately, the Sand shinobi had stopped ambushing and started sticking to their "formal duels." Both sides would fire off a few flashy techniques, exchange some insults, and then retreat before anyone got seriously hurt. It was like a choreographed dance more than a war.
But today, something was different.
"Wind Style! Great Sandstorm Technique!"
A roar filled the air as waves of sand and wind collided with Konoha's counterattacks. The result? Just another round of dust and noise, nothing decisive.
Konoha's soldiers were exhausted and demoralized. Even White Fang, watching from the command post, clenched his fists in frustration. These were elite shinobi, the pride of the Leaf, and yet they couldn't fight back properly because of the poison sapping their strength.
Meanwhile, the Sand forces laughed from across the field, Chiyo leading their mockery with a smug smile.
Rope Tree's jaw dropped. "That's it? That's the whole battle?"
To him, this didn't feel like a war it felt like two groups showing off for a few minutes before packing up and heading home.
Shane stepped forward, his voice calm but full of conviction. "Konoha's been beaten down long enough. It's time we give our people something to cheer about."
Minato and Shibi immediately understood his intent and followed him without hesitation. Rope Tree and Dingza exchanged nervous glances before running after them.
Under the watchful eyes of both armies, Shane walked confidently to the very front of Konoha's line. Facing Chiyo across the field, he crossed his arms and said, "In a few days, Lady Tsunade will have your poison completely neutralized. Let's see if you're still laughing then."
Chiyo threw back her head and laughed even louder. "Such bold words for a child! If your village truly manages to cure my poison, the entire Land of Wind will surrender on the spot!"
"Good!" Shane said with a smile. "Then it's a deal. But before that, I have a new jutsu I'd like to test. Any volunteers from your side?"
Chiyo frowned. She remembered how the Second Hokage's "new techniques" had all been terrifying and ruthless, each designed to kill efficiently and without mercy. If this boy had learned anything of that nature, letting him test it could be disastrous.
The war was already tilting in Sand's favor. There was no need to take unnecessary risks. "Forget it," she said coldly. "Show me once your cure works."
Without another word, she turned and ordered a retreat.
Shane sighed. "Seriously? You're leaving already? I haven't even started yet, and you're running?"
The Sand shinobi ignored him completely, vanishing into the desert wind.
Shane could only shake his head in defeat. He'd been eager to test his Rasenshuriken, but there would be other chances.
Then, a loud cheer erupted behind him.
"Did you see that? The Sand shinobi ran off!"
"Finally, some payback after all their taunts!"
"Yeah! It's about time we made them eat dust instead of throwing it at us!"
Even White Fang cracked a smile, giving Shane a rare thumbs-up. The boy's little act had restored morale across the ranks.
On the way back, a young kunoichi walked up beside him. "Is it true?" she asked softly. "That Lady Tsunade's close to curing the poison?"
Shane nodded. "Of course. She's already figured out most of it. Give it three to five days."
Her face lit up with relief. "Thank goodness! I haven't dared to eat or drink since this all started."
Back at camp, the contrast was striking. The medical corps was still tense and silent, but the returning soldiers carried smiles, laughter, and hope.
A medic came over to inspect them for any signs of injury or poisoning, and after confirming they were fine, waved them off to rest.
Inside the tent, Shane checked on his cultures. The penicillin was thriving far faster than expected.
"At this rate, I'll have a full batch by tomorrow?" he murmured in surprise. "Must be all that natural chakra energy in this world…"
Rope Tree flopped down with a groan. "Man, that was so boring. Not a single real fight!"
Shane gave him a deadpan look. "If the First Hokage could hear you right now, he'd beat you senseless with his wood release."
"Come on, Master, you have to admit it. This war is lame! We throw some jutsu around, shout a few insults, and that's it. The practice matches at the academy were tougher than this!"
Shane sighed and pulled him to his feet. "You're coming with me."
They made their way to Tsunade's medical tent. Inside, Tsunade looked utterly exhausted, dark circles under her eyes. When she saw them, she put down her tools and rubbed her temples. "What is it this time?"
"We came to borrow a couple of gas masks," Shane said casually, grabbing two from a nearby shelf and handing one to Rope Tree. "Also, Tsunade, you need to rest. If you collapse, we're all doomed."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, instantly realizing what he was planning. Her brother must've said something foolish again, and Shane, being the responsible one, was likely taking him to the medical ward to see the consequences firsthand.
"Don't touch anything inside," she warned sternly. "Especially you, Rope Tree!"
As they left, Tsunade gently patted the small slug resting on her shoulder, instructing it to relay a message to the medical corps so that Shane and Rope Tree wouldn't be stopped at the entrance.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to leave a comment, drop a power stone, or add it to your collection your support keeps the journey going!