Saruto | The Celestial War (Part 2)

Chapter 14: Converging On The Frontlines

"Shikamaru!" Ino spoke with the intelligence modifier over her head and eyes, "I've got word from the Medical Division in the Hidden Grass!"

Whipping my head to her and away from the holographic map of our troops.

"Patch me through!" I ordered.

Immediately she threw her pointer and middle finger. Looking to her for guidance, she nodded, confirming that I was patched through.

"Chief Shikamaru Nara, here," I confirmed through the Mind Body Transmission jutsu.

Immediately, I was put through to Captain Kyuna Senju and Lord Sixth.

"Chief," she said, facing me with a distraught look in our shared mind space.

The mind space was like a dark realm with pooling water at our feet.

"We have learned that the infected shinobi poisoned with white chakra are just test subjects."

Looking into her eyes, I grew skeptical of her theory. Then looking over to Lord Sixth, I saw him in full confidence of her words with arms crossed over his dark gray flak jacket. Seeing his demeanor, I decided to hear Kyuna Senju out.

"Kaushiki," she spoke hesitantly, "Kaushiki Otsutsuki is trying to, on top of using his blood for an Infinite Chakra flower, is trying to find a way to weaponize and kill all the descendants of the Otsutsuki here on Earth."

"What?" I was shocked.

She nodded before continuing, "we bombed at the Medical Compound but learned that my Wood Style infused with my Byakugou of the Senju clan was immune to the white chakra. I theorize that with future analysis of Saruto Uzumaki-Uchiha, I can create a cure-all medicine."

"I see," I thought hard.

A cure-all medicine. What would that make us if we had that kind of power?

"Also," she croaked, "I don't mean to alarm, sir, but..."

Looking at her, I saw her exchange a worried look with Kakashi. What were they hesitant to tell me? What did I not know?

"The Fourth Division," Kakashi said, "75% of the troops in the Fourth Division were killed by Kaushiki Otsutsuki."

What...

Immediately I broke away from the Mind Body Transmission Technique and addressed Intelligence with urgency.

"Status of the Fourth Division!" I ordered harshly.

As Intelligence worked fast to update our data on the War Table, they were quick to respond.

"Sir, communications and sensors are still down in the Hidden Sand," a Yamanaka clan member said.

Whipping myself back into the transmission jutsu, I looked at Kakashi with anger in my eyes.

"How do you know this?!" I yelled.

I thought about Temari, Shikadai, Shikadami, and Shikadan that were on the frontlines with Commander Shinki and the Fourth Division. Were they still alive? Suddenly, I felt overwhelmed by the memories of my father's death during the Fourth Shinobi War. Not again... Not-

"We got a messenger sent by Commander Shinki from the frontlines in the Hidden Sand," Kakashi confirmed.

"Patch them through, Ino!" I ordered and she was quick to weave her hand signs.

Suddenly, a woman appeared with head low. Looking up to me, I saw her eyes.

"Grandfather," she said with burden.

"Shikadami..." I spoke with relief that she was alive but by the look on her face, something was wrong, "Is this true?"

"Grandfather...it's true," she said burdened, "We were ambushed by millions of enemy forces and then Kaushiki, he killed them all."

My heart dropped to learn that Kakashi's words were true.

"And Shikadan..." she spoke heart broken, "he's in critical condition."

No.

"Ino! Patch the superiors of the First, Second, Fifth, Daimyo Protection, and the Surprise Attack Divisions through!" I ordered Ino as she appeared in the Transmission Realm.

Immediately, Yurui and Saruto of the First Division, Sekki and Sasuke of the Second Division, Kagura of the Fifth Division, Lord Gaara, Lord Omoi, and Lady Kurotsuchi of the Headquarters Protection Squad, Lord Chojuro of the Daimyo Protection Squad, and Araya and Naruto of the Surprise Attack Division appeared.

Surprised to see where they were, they acknowledged my presence. As I observed their bodies, I could tell they were all battered and bruised from their respective battles.

"Report status'," I urgently remarked.

"The First Division is enroute to the Fourth Divsion's position," Yurui spoke in confidence.

"The Second Division is enroute," Sekki reported.

"The Fifth Division is enroute," Kagura proclaimed.

"The Kages hold their position in the Hidden Rain Headquarters location," Supreme Leader Gaara confirmed.

"The Surprise Attack Division is enroute to the Frontlines," Captain Araya croaked while in critical condition, "but we have sustained heavy casualties by the enemy forces."

"The Daimyo Protection Squad is maintaining position in the Land of Iron," Lord Mizukage Chojuro said in confidence, "No sign of the enemy at our position."

Kyuna then looked to Captain Araya who was limp and wounded.

"Captain Araya, I will send some of my medical-nin to aid you," she spoke in seriousness.

I could be seen from behind his mask as he weakly laughed, "Thank you."

She smiled back before looking back to me for her next orders.

"Supreme Leader Naruto," I said looking at my friend, "Alert Yodo Nara to her new position as the captain of the Surprise Attack Division."

Naruto was quick to acknowledge.

"Shikadami has reported the state of the Fourth Division and we need all available divisions to immediately head to the frontlines. There is a sighting that Kaushiki is there right now. We are still unable to establish communication with the Fourth as well as the Third Division on the coast but our target is Kaushiki Otsutsuki on the frontlines," I recalled.

Looking at Sasuke and Naruto, I could tell that they were worried about their daughters, Commander Sarada and Princess Himawari on the coast but understood what our goal was.

"Yes, Chief!" they all spoke in unison.

As they all disappeared from the Mind Body Transmission Jutsu, I glanced at my granddaughter who glanced at Saruto.

"Be safe," she whispered.

He then mouthed the words I love you. Before disappearing from the transmission.

Breaking from the jutsu, I looked to the great hall that I was in, hearing the heavy rainfall outside.

I thought about my grandson and hearing about the critical state he was in and then to my wife and son struggling to maintain their position on the frontlines.

Looking at the war table, I saw each of the divisions with the exception of the Third Division converging on the Fourth Division in the Hidden Sand. Would I lose connection with them once they had entered the frontlines? It was up to them to finish them.

Glancing to the coast, I cursed to myself being unable to know their status.

I then thought about what Kyuna had told me about the white chakra. Could there be really a way to counterattack the white chakra poison using Saruto's blood. If we had known this information back then, would we have been able to save Boruto Uzumaki? Or was everything that had happened been orchestrated by a higher power?

Were mere mortals allowed to handle power like this?

Only time would tell. I had confidence that Saruto would be able to save us all.