Taiichi's soul slipped out of Nonou's body and shot straight back into his own. The shadow clones vanished as he spread his golden wings and lifted into the sky again. He glanced down at the tiny figure of Nonou far below, let out a quiet sigh, then turned and flew away.
He didn't leave Earth Country. Instead he used his flight advantage to roam across the land, planting Flying Thunder God markers in every major town and city he passed. Four days later he had set up over a hundred points across the entire country. From now on, Earth Country was only a blink away for him.
During those days he kept a close eye on Nonou. Just as he suspected, Danzo made no move against her while the mission was still active. Even so, the job was brutal. Taiichi didn't know the exact details, but five full jonin squads had been hunting her by the end. That told him everything he needed to know.
More than once he almost dropped in to help, but he held back. Nonou hadn't called for him. Interfering would've disrespected the choice she made.
Once she finished the mission and returned safely to the Leaf camp, Taiichi finally headed back to his own post.
"Taiichi. Get everything sorted?" Orochimaru asked as Taiichi walked into the command tent. He didn't press for details. As long as Taiichi wasn't betraying the village, Orochimaru gave him plenty of freedom.
"Yeah, it's done. Anything happen with Cloud while I was gone?"
They had worked together long enough that the formal tone was gone. This version of Orochimaru still wanted to become Hokage more than anything else, so he kept his more extreme impulses in check. Their relationship sat somewhere between superior and fellow researcher. Orochimaru respected Taiichi's strength and talent. Taiichi respected Orochimaru's relentless scientific drive.
"Killer B came back," Orochimaru said with a thin, amused smile. "Yesterday's report said he left the front against Iwa. He should be arriving at their camp in the Land of the Moon today. Your timing is perfect."
Taiichi frowned. "He left? They're just giving up the advantage they built in Earth Country?"
Orochimaru gave him a strange look, then explained. "You capturing one of their jonin made them nervous. They pulled Killer B back to keep this side of the front from collapsing. Meanwhile, the Third Raikage himself has gone to the Earth Country front. Cloud is serious about breaking Iwa this time."
Taiichi rubbed the back of his neck. So his little visit had forced Cloud to change their entire strategy. He hadn't meant to do that.
Still… if the Third Raikage was personally heading to the front, would this be the battle that killed him? Part of Taiichi was tempted to go watch that legendary fight in person.
Before he could say anything, Orochimaru continued.
"Taiichi, things are quiet right now. Perfect time to move on to the next stage of the body modification research—human trials."
Taiichi blinked. "Already?"
Orochimaru's eyes held a mix of irritation and reluctant respect. Working with Taiichi had produced solid results, but the kid was extremely strict about how they used test subjects. That caution had doubled the time some experiments took. Even so, progress with Taiichi was still better than working alone and hitting dead ends.
"It's not fast enough for me," Orochimaru said. "I want the human trials finished in the next two months. If the results are good, I'll perform the modification on myself."
There was real urgency under his calm tone. Taiichi didn't argue. He just hoped Orochimaru knew what he was doing.
"Alright. When do we start?"
"This afternoon, if you're ready."
No hesitation. They spent the next several days buried in the lab while the front stayed strangely calm. Cloud didn't push hard either. With both Taiichi and Orochimaru off the battlefield, A and Killer B stayed in their camp as well. The northern front settled into a quiet rhythm of small skirmishes with no major clashes.
Leaf held the Land of Hot Springs. Cloud held the Land of the Moon. Both sides probed and harassed along the border without committing to anything big.
What impressed Taiichi most about Orochimaru wasn't his strength or his jutsu. It was the way he thought—like a true scientist. The days spent assisting him taught Taiichi more about research methods, Yin Release, and medical ninjutsu than he had learned in years.
He even caught himself wanting to bring White Zetsu to the lab so they could study it together. Back in Wind Country he still had a hidden lab holding one live White Zetsu specimen. He checked on it whenever he had spare time, but results had been slow. Orochimaru's methods had already given him new ideas. Once he tested them on White Zetsu, he expected real breakthroughs.
While the northern front played its quiet game and the southern front stayed locked in fighting with Mist, the western front exploded.
Danzo used the intelligence Nonou had brought back to launch a devastating offensive. While Iwa was rotating troops, Danzo threw everything he had at their main force in Grass Country and shattered it.
"Lord Danzo, what are your orders?" a blood-covered jonin from Root asked after the main battle ended.
Danzo actually smiled, though the expression looked cold and calculating. "Full pursuit. I want every last Iwa ninja wiped out of Grass Country."
The order spread fast. Leaf forces, newly energized by victory, chased the fleeing Iwa troops without mercy. The Iwa ninja ran hard, only fighting when they had no choice.
Within half an hour Leaf had overrun Iwa's main camp in Grass Country. The place was already burning—supplies and food stores set ablaze by the retreating forces. All that remained was an empty, smoking shell.
An hour later Danzo arrived under heavy guard. He walked through the ruined camp with open satisfaction. This victory would erase the stain of losing his elder seat. Nothing washed away failure like battlefield success.
A logistics ninja reported that Iwa had burned everything before they fled. Danzo's face darkened for a moment, but he quickly dismissed it. The biggest prize was already in his hands.
Then fresh news arrived: the forward units had chased Iwa all the way to the Earth Country border and were requesting further orders.
Danzo didn't hesitate. "Tell them to keep going. They have permission to push fifty miles into Earth Country. Kill as many as they can."
Mimura Yagami, now serving as deputy commander, spoke up cautiously. "Lord Danzo, extending the line that far will make coordination difficult. Once we're inside Earth Country, Iwa resistance will harden fast."
Danzo ignored him completely and gave the order anyway. The troops around him were riding high on victory. They cheered the decision. Mimura tried to speak again, but one of his own subordinates quietly pulled him back and shook his head. The moment had passed.
Danzo noticed the exchange and sneered inwardly. Mimura had been too cautious for too long. That was why the western front had been the weakest of the three. Now that Danzo had delivered a real win, no one wanted to hear the old man's warnings.
"Move out," Danzo said, voice carrying. "We're establishing a new forward camp inside Earth Country. Let's show Onoki what happens when you make an enemy of Leaf."
The surrounding ninja roared in approval. Even the regular Leaf forces were caught up in the moment. For the first time in the war, they were pushing Iwa back hard and threatening their homeland.
Mimura stayed silent. The energy around him was too strong. Maybe Danzo was right this time. Maybe caution really was the wrong call after a victory like this.
Danzo felt the surge of support and let himself enjoy it. He kept his face stern as he continued issuing orders, but inside he was triumphant. This was only the beginning.