In Konoha, Naruto lies down

"I don't believe you can bear it unless you bite your teeth to pieces."

~~

"What's that snapping sound?" Shikamaru turned his head to look outside the tent. He lifted the curtain and saw that it was already dawn. Tiantian was holding a fish that kept swinging in the air, looking a little embarrassed.

"Tiantian, what are you doing?"

"Xiao Li was badly injured and just woke up. I was planning to make him some fish soup to nourish him," Tiantian said pitifully. "But this fish is too slippery and covered in slime. I can't catch it at all!"

It is not easy to catch a fish in the winter because the nearby river has been frozen for a long time.

"I only know how to eat. I can't help you." Choji was a little embarrassed and suddenly asked, "By the way, how is Neji? Is he awake?"

"No." Tenten's eyes darkened for a moment, "If it weren't for Neji and Rock Lee desperately covering me, I might have died there."

"Ah... this kind of thing." Choji was not good at speaking. He scratched his head, "We are partners. It's okay. Neji will wake up soon."

"Yeah." Tiantian responded, obviously in a bad mood.

Choji regretted leaving the tent. He didn't know how to handle this atmosphere, so he took advantage of Tiantian's work to remove the fish scales. He looked around to see no one, and moved back into the tent with a guilty conscience.

He breathed a sigh of relief after entering the tent.

It's not that he doesn't care about his companions, it's just... well, he doesn't know how to comfort them. It's kind of awkward just standing there.

"It would be great if Naruto was here, he's the best at this kind of thing."

After noon, snow was falling from the sky.

Tiantian carried the fish soup towards the medical department's tent. Shikamaru watched her leave and then slowly walked out of the tent.

"Why are you hiding every day?" Shikamaru's voice suddenly sounded in his ears.

"You're going to scare me to death, Shikamaru!"

"It's obviously you who is sneaking around here. Did you make Tenten angry?" Shikamaru asked again.

"How can it be!"

"Then what are you hiding from?"

"Let me tell you, this is what happened..." Choji gestured and said a bunch of random things, "I've been in a bad mood every day. As you know, Neji and Rock Lee are both injured."

"If you see something like this, you have to say something, otherwise it will be embarrassing, but I don't know what to say, which is even more embarrassing. After thinking about it, of course it's better to hide."

"Actually, Lee and Neji are fine. They'll be fine after a few days of rest." He added, "She's probably just feeling guilty. Sigh, this kind of thing is really..."

Shikamaru held his forehead, thinking that Choji had been hanging around Naruto for so long that his mind was full of these random thoughts. It wasn't childish, but it was just boring.

The death toll has been increasing recently, and even Asuma will be on the front lines next month. He suddenly felt that this war was absurd, and even the person behind White Zetsu hadn't been found for nearly half a month.

White Zetsu is elusive and every deployment will cause massive casualties. Sometimes White Zetsu lands in a town, and the ninja troops not only have to deal with White Zetsu, but also have to evacuate the people.

All responses were very passive, and White Zetsu was not afraid of death at all. But ninjas are human, and they would naturally feel fear when facing a fearless monster. How could they fight this battle?

What's worse is that he can clearly feel that the war is not over yet, and this winter seems to be getting particularly long.

"When will Naruto come?" Shikamaru suddenly asked.

"I'm not going." Naruto went into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of ice water. The heater was on in the living room, and he was used to drinking ice water even in the middle of winter.

"You have a solution, right?" Mao Yue Xi Yan didn't know if it was because of the back pain, but she was lying on the sofa and couldn't get up. Her usually cold tone softened a little.

"Yes." Naruto leaned against the window and opened a small gap.

The cold wind whistled as the winter breeze blew in, and Naruto's fingers turned icy. He looked out the window at the vast expanse of white, and narrowed his eyes.

"Then..." Mao Yue Xi Yan wanted to say something, but suddenly her waist felt sore and she stopped talking.

She was no longer the simple ANBU captain; everything about her belonged to the sturdy young man in front of her. The butt determined the head, so there was no need to hold back.

Whether it was the interests of the village or the people of the Fire Nation, she had already made her choice yesterday.

The past is gone with the wind, and the flowers fly without wind.

"You mean there are deaths on the battlefield, right?" Naruto was only wrapped in a bath towel, his body was as strong as if it was cut by a knife, and he turned to look at Uzuki Yugao.

"So what? War always means death." His voice grew colder, as if echoing the rustling winter air. "I said the man controlling White Zetsu was coming for me. Do you believe me?"

"I don't believe it." Mao Yue Xi Yan shook her head, as if her wound was injured, and she took a deep breath, "How did you offend him?"

"I.....went to his mother."

"That's it?" She looked up at Naruto with a puzzled look on her face.

"That guy is rather mean. You should know him. He's Danzo's old subordinate, Kabuto Yakushi," he began to explain, "He used to be an external member of the Root, but was later chosen by Danzo to be the dirty talker."

"His mother... can't be called mother. Kabuto Yakushi was originally an orphan, and the orphan at the time was Nono. You should have heard of her, or at least have an impression of her."

"Yes." Mao Yue Xi Yan really had an impression, but it was too long ago and she couldn't remember it clearly.

"Kabuto Yakushi regarded her as his mother. Nono could only see the growth trajectory of Kabuto Yakushi through photos, and Danzo also used some tricks in secret."

Naruto smiled and continued.

"Nono has blurred the appearance of Kabuto Yakushi. Even if Kabuto Yakushi stood in front of her, she would not be able to recognize him."

"Why did Danzo do this?" Uzuki Yugao was slightly stunned. The Anbu didn't have so many twists and turns.

"Seal the ring." Naruto uttered two words.

"Kabuto Yakushi has done too much dirty work for Danzo, and he's not fit to continue living."

"Nono is also a former member of the Root. She knows too many secrets that are detrimental to Danzo, and Danzo doesn't want her to live. So he uses Kabuto Yakushi as a threat and forces Nono to assassinate Kabuto Yakushi."

"Nono had already retired and was killed by Kabuto Yakushi. Unfortunately, Kabuto Yakushi escaped in the end, and Danzo did not successfully complete the sealing of the ring."

"You seem to be particularly patient today?" Mao Yue Xi Yan suddenly said.

"Because our positions are different now, you are no longer the captain of the Anbu, but Captain Uzuki Yugao." Naruto turned his head and looked at her again, "I thought you wouldn't shout."

"You!!!" Mao Yue Xi Yan rarely broke down, her hands clenched tightly, and her silver teeth were about to grind.

She wanted to say something, to hit him back fiercely, but the thought went through her mind and she settled down. She was not good at arguing, and she was too lazy to say such shameless words to him.

"Do you understand now?" Naruto returned to the topic just now, "I offended Kabuto Yakushi so much that he must avenge me while he's alive. White Zetsu is his handiwork."

"I won't leave Konoha until he moves. I won't lose my temper just because a few people die and let him lure me around like a dog."

"Things on the battlefield must ultimately be resolved by battlefield means. Not by relying on tailed beasts, nor by the power of some Jinchūriki."

"Well, do you have any solution now?" she asked again.

"Deal with what?" Naruto was a little surprised.

"Kabuto Yakushi."

"I guess so. If I see him again." He frowned, then turned fierce, "I will definitely reincarnate Nono and ask her!"

"Why the hell did I risk my life for such a useless thing!"

Chapter 521 Witch Shion

Mao Yue Xi Yan rested for two days, but still felt sore in the waist, and couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

He shouldn't have held on to his breath and insisted on fighting that guy. That guy was like a tiger or a wolf, and although he was not seriously injured, his back bones were almost broken.

On the table lay the intelligence reports from the past two days. The fighting on the front lines was brutal. The most brutal part was that the ninja troops were constantly being attacked. The White Zetsu had no camp at all and were always elusive.

Simply put, the ninja army has never lost in a head-on battle, but the fact is that they have always been beaten.

She hadn't gone out much in the past two days, staying at home to recuperate due to illness. Naruto had already cleared out the White Zetsu in the village, and this man was a man of his word.

Mao Yue Xi Yan raised her cup and suddenly thought that this person didn't seem to be doing anything big. But she quickly dispersed the chaotic thoughts in her mind and decided not to bother herself with trivial matters.

You're already lying down, why think so much? Just obey the orders and be transferred.

I felt like I lost a lot that night, but now I don't think about anything anymore. My mind is empty. Although... I feel a little unmotivated, it does feel very relaxing.

"Why are you becoming more and more like Hongdou, that silly woman." Mao Yue Xi Yan shook her head and regained her clarity. "I'd rather die than become stupid. It's too..."

~~

"It's too hard for me, isn't it?" Choji groaned. "It's almost New Year's Day. When can I go home? I have to stay here day after day."

"Stop making noise!" Shikamaru turned his head and stared at Choji, feeling a little annoyed.

Before him lay a heavily labeled blueprint, covered in tiny characters. Choji remembered it was still white when he brought it yesterday. Shikamaru hadn't slept all night and filled the map with writing.

"Shikamaru, why don't you take a break?" Choji advised in a low voice.

"I can't sleep, get up and take a look." Shikamaru's eyes were red, staring at the map without blinking, "Find me another map of Sand Village, and also one of Kumogakure. In short, the more the better."

"Ah! Those...those are all secrets!" Choji was shocked and frightened. His chubby cheeks trembled and his eyes narrowed. "Shikamaru, your father would beat me to death if he knew!"

"Father and the others are discussing matters in the central military tent. How could they have the mood to care about us?" Shikamaru said in a calm voice. He didn't look at Choji while speaking, his eyes fixed on the map.

This map marks all the places where White Zetsu has appeared, which is nothing surprising. There is a more detailed map in the Konoha think tank account of Nara Shikaku and others.

Confidential information could not be leaked, and Shikamaru was not qualified to sit at the table and brainstorm. His father was still alive and could still take charge of the situation.

Kakashi stayed in Konoha and stayed in the Hokage Building to reassure the people.

There are also a group of elite jonin still staying in Konoha. Due to the chaos caused by White Zetsu, Konoha has only dispatched the ninja troops from the Land of Fire to assist in defense and has not sent out its main force.

The real fighting Hokage, Asuma and his men were all guarding Konoha, and the fighting on the front line was indeed tragic. But the risk was not too great, so he and Choji came.

"Shikamaru, are you okay?" Choji was worried when he saw Shikamaru's crazy look. He thought that it was just a battle, and he wouldn't go crazy, I hope.

"I said I'm fine, don't ask anymore." Shikamaru was a little impatient, but he finally took a deep breath and controlled his temper. "Can you help me get some maps?"

"That's not taking, that's stealing. If you're caught, you'll die," Shikamaru corrected.

"Okay, help me steal one..."

Chouji: “….”

He was certain Shikamaru was crazy. Nara Shikaku was in charge of the war, so why was Shikamaru joining in? Even if he wanted to understand, there was no need to fight so hard.

Even if you really want to participate, why not just ask your father directly? If you insist on using this method, if you are accidentally discovered, you will be doomed.

He left and hurried to the main tent, where the first generation of Ino-Shika-Cho were conferring. Choji tried to be as quiet as possible as he prepared to get some blueprints.

The new drawings are not really a secret. After all, the five major countries all have detailed maps of each other, but the detailed layout is marked as confidential.

Those blank blueprints...it depends on the situation. Anyway, the enemy we're facing now is the White Zetsu, and the five major nations are already preparing a coalition. Detailed intelligence will definitely be shared later, so blank blueprints are nothing.

He quietly went in, poured some water for a few uncles, rolled up a few blueprints from the side and slipped away. Some people noticed him, but didn't pay much attention.

This little fat boy is full of humor, and he looks timid and like a mouse when holding the blank map.

"Chouji." Akimichi Choji couldn't bear it anymore and called out to him.

"Father..." Shikamaru looked guilty and hid the map behind him.

"What are you rushing for?"

"Um...I..." Shikamaru looked at a loss, wishing he could hide in the crack of the ground and slip away.

Just when Shikaku Nara was at a loss, he sighed and spoke to help him out.

"Chouza, don't scare Choji. Shikamaru must have asked him to come. This kid has been well behaved since he was young, that's why he was ordered around by Shikamaru and the others. Choji, ask Shikamaru to come see me."

Choji didn't respond, but instead glanced at his father. Seeing that there was no displeasure on Akimichi Choji's face, he hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"it is good."

He hurried out of the tent, and before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, he took out the map hidden behind him and sorted it out. Just as he was about to look for Shikamaru, he suddenly saw a group of people pushing a corpse covered with a white cloth passing by the tent.

Perhaps the stretcher bearers were too tired and accidentally pulled off the white cloth, revealing a horrible corpse. Choji's face turned pale, his throat welled up, and he almost vomited.

"I don't know when this battle will end..."

~~

"We're just getting started." Yakushi Kazuto turned around and looked at Black Zetsu calmly. "After the New Year's Festival, while they were relaxing, my Impure World Army was ready."

"But winter is almost over!" Black Zetsu was a little dissatisfied, thinking that this snake-skinned monster was crazy and fussy, "Why not take action sooner!"

"Don't be impatient, I haven't collected enough corpses yet." Yakushi Kabuto has been obsessed with digging graves recently, and he never gets tired of it, with a sinister smile on his face.

"Are 100,000 White Zetsu a lot? They can't accomplish anything significant if they're scattered. As for joining together...joining together to take down Konoha? If they can't kill everyone, there's no point."

"Besides, Konoha doesn't have any tailed beasts, only that guy. If you don't mind, you can take 20,000 White Zetsu and attack Konoha."

"The premise is that you can conquer them. Why bother? The Nine-Tails is not here. What you should do now is to collect the tailed beasts, not to urge me to send troops. It's tiring to control so many White Zetsu."