Kurenai had always been paying close attention to information regarding Ryou.
Asuma was not yet aware of Ryou's combat record, but Kurenai's home was already covered with reports of his achievements.
Sunagakure's Kazekage had been killed, their Tailed Beast stolen, and the Sunagakure Shinobi forces had suffered heavy losses.
Takigakure was destroyed, the Seven-Tails and the Great Tree were seized; even Elite Jonin like Jiraiya and Minato returned empty-handed.
Ryou's threat level was second only to Madara; in some respects, he was even more terrifying than Madara.
Because he had no bottom line—if he couldn't win, he would just run away.
Madara did not operate at that kind of moral standard.
Therefore, after learning how terrifying Ryou was, Kurenai became fearful of him and could no longer muster the thought of revenge.
Shinobi are judged by their combat records; if you don't have one, don't talk nonsense.
Asuma lectured Kurenai: "Kurenai, don't be afraid of him. When the time comes, I'll take care of it myself!"
Kurenai turned around to maintain her weapons, ignoring Asuma's boasting.
Suddenly, the tent flap was lifted, and in walked Kurenai, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, and two others wearing black trench coats and Anbu masks.
"Dad!"
Kurenai stood up.
"Big brother!"
Asuma also greeted his elder brother.
Yuhi Shinku smiled at Kurenai, then looked at the two Anbu beside him.
"Dan, Sasuke-sama, how does it feel to see your descendants?"
Shizune felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Could it be—
The person on the left slowly took off his mask, revealing sky-blue hair, turquoise eyes, and strange cracked patterns on his cheeks.
Shizune's body suddenly stiffened, as if frozen in place, her breath catching in her throat.
The figure before her had clearly been buried in death long ago, yet now he stood there in reality.
Kato Dan opened his arms and smiled at Shizune, saying, "Shizune, long time no see!"
"Uncle!"
Shizune rushed forward and hugged Dan.
Asuma looked at the person next to Kato Dan, who also took off his mask, revealing a sharp and capable face.
Asuma's pupils constricted; this face was very similar to his father, the Third Hokage, when he was young, and standing next to his elder brother, they looked like brothers.
Shinnosuke laughed, "Asuma, hurry up and greet Grandpa!"
Sarutobi Sasuke died very young, around the age of 30. When he died, the Third Hokage was still a rookie who hadn't even found a wife yet.
Neither Shinnosuke nor Asuma had ever met this grandfather of theirs.
"Grandpa—"
Asuma quickly knelt before him.
Sarutobi Sasuke supported Asuma before he could fully kneel and said to Asuma and Shinnosuke, "Good, good. Seeing Monkey's two children makes this trip worth it."
"I really have to thank Monkey's disciple for allowing me to return to the world of the living once again."
Asuma was a bit confused: "Big brother, what's going on?"
Shinnosuke then explained the matter of the Edo Tensei to Asuma.
...
Akimichi Choza's squad.
Choza was the Jonin instructor for Might Guy, Ebisu, and Shiranui Genma.
Yamanaka Inoichi was the Jonin instructor for Anko's squad.
Since Inoichi was serving as the Captain of the Intelligence Division at Headquarters, responsible for receiving and relaying intelligence from everywhere, Anko's squad was taken over by Choza.
However, because Anko wasn't there, Anko's squad only had Gekkō Hayate and Yūgao Uzuki left.
Yūgao asked Choza: "Senior Choza, do you know where Anko went? The higher-ups said she went on an important mission, but what kind of mission is it?"
Choza shook his head: "I don't know either. Inoichi said Anko's transfer order was signed by Elder Danzo, so Elder Danzo should know where she went."
Yūgao and Hayate thought of that gloomy old man with bandages wrapped around his eyes and shuddered; they wouldn't dare approach such a cold old man.
Choza smiled: "Forget it, I'll go ask for you later."
"Thank you, Senior Choza!"
Hayate said: "Senior Choza, I heard your wife is pregnant!"
Choza nodded: "Not just my wife, but Nara Shikaku's wife, Inoichi's wife, and Tsume and Kushina are all pregnant too."
"The end of the Third Great Shinobi War was supposed to be a peaceful baby boom, but I didn't expect this whole Uchiha Madara situation to happen!"
Choza sighed; the worst thing in life is having a child on the way but being forced to head to a dangerous front-line battlefield.
Hayate comforted Choza: "Senior Choza, don't worry. This time, we will definitely defeat Uchiha Madara."
"I hope so!"
Choza looked at his squad training nearby. Might Guy and Shiranui Genma were practicing Taijutsu, while Ebisu—
Hmm?!
Ebisu was hiding by the tent, reading a little yellow book.
Choza walked over helplessly and grabbed Ebisu's shoulder: "Ebisu, didn't you say you wanted to become the best elite private tutor?"
"Are you going to teach your students this kind of unhealthy stuff?"
Ebisu tucked the book away and said sheepishly, "Senior Choza, I just don't want to leave any regrets."
"If the Allied Forces are unfortunately defeated, I won't be able to see anything anymore!"
Might Guy and Shiranui Genma took a break from their training and walked over.
Might Guy boosted Ebisu's morale: "Ebisu, don't say such discouraging things. Admitting defeat before the battle has even begun is a major taboo."
Ebisu looked at Might Guy in surprise: "Guy, you're actually lecturing me?"
Shiranui Genma, with a senbon in his mouth, quipped: "Ebisu, defeat must be a good thing for you, right? Because then you can get sexy older sisters in your dreams."
Ebisu paused: "Oh yeah, why didn't I think of that? Genma, you really reminded me. Come on, let's go join Uchiha Madara right now."
Choza squeezed Ebisu's head with his large hand and joked: "Ebisu, your teacher will send you to a military court."
Suddenly, two Anbu members arrived, leading two Shinobi who were tightly wrapped up.
The Anbu gave a few instructions to the two mysterious Shinobi and then left.
Choza looked at these two people disguised as Anbu with some confusion.
Then, the two mysterious people pulled off their masks and hoods.
Revealing two faces that left Choza extremely shocked.
One face had two thick, dark eyebrows slanted upwards, a signature black mustache and goatee, and cheeks covered in stubble.
It was Might Duy.
The other had a head of fluffy, wild silver-white spiky hair, slightly deep eye sockets, and an aura that was both cold and casual.
It was Sakumo, the White Fang of the Leaf!
Choza was horrified: "Senior Sakumo, Senior Duy!"
"Dad..."
Might Guy stood stunned in place, staring at Might Duy as if held by an invisible hand, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
"Guy!"
Might Duy hugged Might Guy, crying uncontrollably, tears gushing out like a waterfall.
Might Guy was the same; father and son wept loudly, ignoring everyone else.
The people around them watched, somewhat speechless.
Might Duy and Might Guy's way of expressing their feelings was too direct, but it was precisely this directness that illustrated their hot-blooded youth.