"I've been practicing my cursed energy a lot lately," Shiratori said. "And I found that I unintentionally created a new cursed tool, this guy."

He patted the broom he was holding and said regretfully, "Unfortunately, it doesn't have any other abilities. It can only fly."

A trace of realization flashed in Hanzō's eyes.

So that's how it is.

The boy's cursed energy was too mysterious, even he couldn't predict what kind of change it might produce.

"If it weren't for you, Sensei, I wouldn't have been able to even touch cursed energy. Now I'm already able to control part of it. I'll be just like you, I'll perfectly control my own power," Shiratori said happily to Hanzō, his eyes filled with admiration for him.

[Reminiscence detected: Hanzō +3000 points]

[Energy transferred to Choso]

[Development progress: 50.9%]

Hanzō looked at Shiratori. This child had been working so hard to grow.

Whether it was taijutsu, ninjutsu, or cursed energy, Shiratori had been growing rapidly in all areas.

He still remembered how afraid the boy had once been of cursed energy. And now, he could already control part of it. Of course, he had helped him, but the most important factor was Shiratori's perseverance.

A look of satisfaction flashed in Hanzō's eyes. He hadn't misjudged Shiratori.

He was becoming a second version of him.

[Reminiscence detected: Hanzō +3000 points]

[Energy transferred to Choso]

[Development progress: 51.2%]

"I can fly up high and scout ahead for everyone," Shiratori continued.

Hanzō didn't refuse, having an aerial view could indeed be very helpful. He reminded him, "Be careful."

"Got it!"

After nodding, Shiratori quickly ascended on his broom.

Hanzō looked up at him flying high ahead and then addressed the ninjas behind him, "Keep moving forward."

A bluish light gradually covered the land. The rain began to lessen.

Shiratori sat lazily on the broom. He had already fallen in love with it. Flying felt absolutely wonderful.

He didn't know much about Momo, and even less about her technique.

Could it be that her cursed technique only allowed her to fly on a broom?

He mentally accessed the system to check her cursed technique.

[Query: Tool Manipulation technique data]

[Access required through status interface]

Don't tell me to open my profile page and check it myself. If I have to do everything manually, what's the point of having you?

He cut off the system before it could respond with its usual mechanical instructions.

[Tool Manipulation Technique]

[Core Principle: Grants autonomous action to inanimate objects through cursed energy manipulation for flight, attack, defense, and reconnaissance]

[Advanced Application: Objects can be imbued with semi-autonomous behavior for complex command execution]

[Basic Application: Direct physical manipulation through cursed energy control]

That's better.

---

After a long day of travel, when the lead-gray sky was once again dyed with deep gold and red from the setting sun, Shiratori and the others finally arrived at the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind.

His broom descended, and he touched the ground with his feet, only to find the terrain before him had suddenly changed.

The Land of Rain's muddy earth and low shrubs had vanished. In their place was scorched, barren ground. And far in the distance, the silhouette of yellow sand flickered faintly in his vision.

The rain and clouds of the Land of Rain couldn't reach the borderlands. Above him, the rain had stopped. The dark clouds scattered, revealing a deep blue sky.

"Form ranks. Set up camp."

Hanzō's order was concise and forceful.

The ninjas moved in groups of three, nine forming a unit, quick and orderly.

Earth Release users pressed their hands to the ground; the earth rose and hardened into low but sturdy barriers.

Ninjas skilled in traps began placing explosive tags and various trigger-based mechanisms around the camp perimeter.

Thick waterproof tarps were rapidly deployed and fixed atop the reinforced earth with Earth Release techniques.

Shiratori watched their smooth, coordinated movements. He occasionally stepped in to lend a hand or ask about things out of curiosity.

For example, the layout of the tents inside the camp had been carefully designed.

The core area surrounded Hanzō's command tent and the logistics and medical zone, with elite units stationed around it. The outer perimeter housed the sensory, scouting, and patrolling ninjas' tents.

The ninjas were also divided into frontline combat units and support units.

The frontline combat units were split into:

Assault squads for breaking enemy lines and main combat;

assassination squads, responsible for targeting enemy logistics and intel ninjas;

defense squads for the camp's protection;

and strategic squads for large-scale battlefield sweeps.

The support and logistics units included:

Medical teams, responsible for battlefield first aid;

Intelligence teams, for decoding information and monitoring the battle;

Trap teams were there for setting up traps and early warning systems;

and supply teams, for managing resources and logistics.

Earth watchtowers rapidly sprang up at key locations like mushrooms after the rain. Shadows flitted past Shiratori's eyes as ninjas took their positions, their eyes sweeping the area like searchlights.

"Shiratori," a hand landed on his shoulder, it was Suishin. "You're the captain of the medical team now. I'll be counting on you."

Rotsuki appeared on his other side, and upon hearing that, winked playfully at him.

Suishin and Rotsuki were among the few medical-nin remaining before Shiratori had arrived in Ame.

He hadn't expected them to appear on the frontlines.

"Come on! Let's check out where we'll be working!"

Suishin and Rotsuki each hooked an arm around him and led him toward the medical tent.

The medical team's tent was large, built to accommodate as many wounded as possible.

At the moment, it was completely empty.

Suishin sighed. "Once the war officially starts, this place will be filled with injured ninjas."

"But it's okay," he took a deep breath, "as long as the three of us work together, we'll definitely increase our treatment efficiency."

Shiratori looked at Suishin and Rotsuki. He figured they had misunderstood something.

"I'm going to the battlefield."

"…Huh?"

"…What?"

Suishin and Rotsuki stared at him in disbelief.

"Medical-nin aren't allowed on the battlefield!" Rotsuki whispered anxiously, his eyes full of concern.

"I'll fight and save people at the same time on the battlefield. You two take care of things here."

Shiratori smiled at them, eyes full of trust.

Suishin and Rotsuki looked at each other, completely stunned.