Squad Z had finally been replenished with personnel once again.

  In fact, the abnormal speed of this squad's personnel replenishment ily proved that Konoha was fag a serious she of ma this time.

  Or rather, it should be said that ier stages of the Shinobi World War, every ninja vilge faced this pressure. The Five Great Nations were all gritting their teeth and persevering, striving to squeeze out their st bit of otential. It could be described as "eating grass, produg milk."

  At this point in the war, none of the sides had achieved what they wanted. So, was there any point in tinuing such a war?

  Naturally, there wasn't.

  Sihere was no point, could all parties work together ahe war?

  What a joke.

  War was like a gamble. Sihe gamblers had already staked so many chips in the early stages, their only option ier stages was to keep increasing the stakes. Only by increasing the stakes was there a possibility of preserving everything. Bag out would only result in a total loss.

  Whether it was war ambling, the partits' thinking was highly sistent. At the beginning, the goal was defio profit. In the final stage, the goal was to minimize losses.

  Uhese circumstances, after Squad Z pleted its assembly, it was naturally immediately dispatched to the front lines again. Following Nindo, Izayo became the ander of this ninja squad. However, this time they didn't receive a mission in advance. Everything would depend ouation at the front.

  Habara didn't know how many teams simir to Squad Z existed in Konoha, but he thought that Squad Z was at least not unique. Ironically, even on fodder had bee a scarce resource by this point.

  However, pared to the first time he was suddenly thrown onto the front lines, Habara felt much more fident now. This was like a maiden's first time on a bridal sedan – awkward the first time, familiar the sed.

  Of course, apart from the issue of experiehe more important thing was that he had strengthened his abilities.

  During the journey from Konoha to the front lines in the Land of Rice Fields, both Izayo and Daigo could tell that Habara seemed to be in good spirits. If they had actively asked Habara the reason, he would have definitely replied, "Learning makes one fulfilled and brings happiness."

  Habara had obtaihe highest academic qualification in the ninja world through self-study, and for the first time, he had learned ninjutsu that could be released through hand seals: the legendary Transformation Teique, Substitution Teique, and e Teique.

  So, pared to st time, Habara had a bit more fidehis time. He just didn't know how many of these twenty-four people would survive the mission.

  On a slightly off-topic, but relevant note, ninjas in the Shinobi World War could actually say, "I'm not ied in money," and they would genuinely mean it. Because money was meaningless without life. At least before leaving Konoha, Habara was worried about how to spend all his money.

  After much deliberation, he decided to exge the money for something valuable, pact, and practical… explosive tags.

  One explosive tag currently cost 800 ryhly equivalent to the price of 10 bowls of Ichiraku Ramen. It could be said that you wouldn't lose out or be fooled. Faced with high-quality, inexpensive explosives, who wouldn't be tempted?

  Therefore, Habara now carried 100 self-purchased explosive tags and 12 explosive tags received from Konoha, making him a mobile arsenal… It wasn't that he didn't want to buy more, but the ninja tool shop owner had to keep some stock.

  …………

  "O rest. Maintain good spirits. , we'll be leaving the Land of Fire's borders."

  Before leaving the territory of the Land of Fire, Izayo routinely ordered the ninjas to rest.

  They really had to rest well now, because for some people, after this rest, the rest wouldn't be so easy to describe… It could be said that there would be no more ces to rest, or it could be said that they would rest forever from then on.

  Habara casually pced the two regur iron pilrs behind him horizontally and then moved a stoo pder a rge tree. The down, leaning against it.

  A light drizzle was falling from the sky.

  "Habara, here…"

  After a short while, Daigo came to Habara's side, holding a steamial lunchbox, and ha to him.

  "Thank you."

  Habara thanked her and took the lunchbox.

  The lunchbox tained some kind of instant noodle dish. It tasted very ordinary, but even if it was ordinary in terms of food, it was far better than military ration pills. Unless absolutely necessary, who would want to live on those things?

  The warm food quickly replenished Habara's body temperature, which was quietly being lost in the drizzly weather. His body immediately warmed up.

  The trees in the middle distance were a lush green, and the mountains in the distance were shrouded in mist. A group of people resting in su enviro – those who didn't know better would think they were having a piic.

  Habara sat there, occasionally taking a bite of noodles. The rainwater collected in various plex ways in the opy of the tree behind him, and uhe force of gravity, it dripped down, one drop at a time, hitting a half-buried bluestone, stantly making a "drip, drip" sound.

  Drip, drip, drip.

  La , da , , da ~ da…

  Uh… hmm?

  Okay, eating also made one happy.

  But when Squad Z left the Land of Fire and arrived at Konoha's front-line camp in the Land of Rice Fields, Habara ultimately uood a truth… happiness was always temporary.

  Because of the surprise attae time ago, Konoha had to repce the front-line ander with someoronger and with better trol. So, the Third Hokage sent someone who had beeing in Konoha back to the front lines.

  This "someone" was Habara's old acquaintance, Orochimaru.

  Actually, Namikaze Minato could have solved Konoha's front-line problems more quickly, but at this time, he was about to bee the Fourth Hokage, so he had to stay in Konoha.

  So, Orochimaru was thrown back to the front lihis also saved him from stantly dug inhumane experiments in Konoha.

  When Squad Z arrived at the camp, they happeo run into Orochimaru.

  Orochimaru sed the group, and then his gaze fixed on Habara.

  Habara was also surprised. Where did this wild Orochimaru e from? Wasn't the "Dungeon Story" already over? Was there a sequel? He could only quickly lower his head, while silently muttering, "Snakes have poor eyesight. You have no reason to see me."

  A ninja nearby expihe situation of this squad to Orochimaru. The vilinous character smiled slightly and then gave a crisp order, "Your squad's mission is to dutelligehering to the southwest, primarily to iigate Iwagakure's movements, monitor Takigakure's situation, be wary of them siding with Iwa, and firm that the detour route from the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Grass back to the Land of Fire is still clear."

  Say what you will, but Orochimaru's and sounded quite professional.

  Then, he tinued, "However, before you act, I o pull out a special talent. He has another mission…

  Habara, what an ued reunion."

  Go to hell.

  Could Habara say that?

  No.

  "Yes, Orochimaru-sama," Habara slowly raised his head, revealing an awkward smile.

  Go to hell.

  He could only say it in his heart. He could even say it as many times as he wanted.