Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

On the other side, Pakura was accompanied by four Shadow Guards, and they coordinated seamlessly. All of them were elites among Jōnin, worthy of becoming Shadow Guards. Together, the five successfully blocked Sakumo's attacks.

The Flying Thunder God Technique was rendered less effective as they consciously kept their distance. Despite opening four of the Eight Inner Gates, Sakumo had not managed to land a single kill since the battle began. Instead, he had sustained a slight injury from Pakura's Scorch Release. Both sides were worn down—Pakura and the Shadow Guards were all injured and visibly tense.

Sakumo retrieved several Military Ration Pills from his ninja gear bag, placing one in his mouth, biting it into pieces, and swallowing to replenish his depleted chakra. With determination in his eyes, he kept moving. A sudden flash of brilliance crossed his gaze.

"Kenjutsu: Sky Shatter!" he exclaimed.

A green streak slashed through the air with a thunderous sound, hurtling toward one of the Shadow Guards.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

"Wind Release: Blade of Wind!"

"Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!"

The remaining guards quickly reacted in unison to counter his attack. Sakumo's blow narrowly missed, slicing past the guard's ear. An ear fell to the ground as Sakumo, forced to avoid their Ninjutsu, missed his intended target once again.

Meanwhile, the ninjas on both sides continued their fierce battle across the battlefield. Screams echoed constantly as the fight raged. The clash lasted from dawn to dusk before both sides finally retreated, leaving behind a sea of blood and lifeless bodies.

As night fell, the moonlight illuminated the desert battlefield, where giant scorpions feasted on the remains. Exhausted, both the Suna and Konoha forces rested in their camps, unable to spare time for the fallen.

"Kazekage didn't enter the battle today. He must be leading a group to strike at our supply lines."

Tsunade and Sakumo shared a hearty dinner in the camp after a grueling day of combat. Both appeared visibly drained from the effort.

At noon, Shukaku had not withdrawn despite the truce. Instead, Bunpuku had taken the initiative to confront Tsunade once more. Both Shukaku and Tsunade, ever alert for each other's weaknesses, fought to a stalemate, ending their duel in a draw.

Sakumo, however, was deeply frustrated by his inability to secure a single kill before the truce.

"Fortunately, Kawakaze has already gone. He will not fail," Sakumo said confidently. Even with the Third Kazekage, known as the "Strongest Kazekage," as his opponent, he trusted Kawakaze's abilities.

"That kid is ruthless. Don't worry," the Seven-Tails whispered again into Tsunade's ear.

On the Suna ninja side, Bunpuku sat meditating in a small house, eyes closed, focusing on healing his wounds. Meanwhile, Pakura presided over a strategy meeting.

"Konoha's Kawakaze Hatake didn't show up today. I suspect they've discovered Lord Third's objective," Pakura said, her voice tinged with concern. "We can only do our best to delay the Konoha ninja so they cannot send reinforcements."

Pakura's face was pale; she had sustained multiple injuries in her fight against Sakumo. Both brothers proved equally challenging opponents.

"Both sides have suffered heavy losses in today's battle," she continued. "We can only hope Lord Third returns victorious soon."

The intelligence officer reported the day's battle losses, looking visibly heartbroken.

"Master Bunpuku, are you still holding up?" one of the Shadow Guards asked worriedly, recalling the shocking sight of Shukaku being kicked into the air during the battle. His heart had sunk at the display.

"I'm fine," Bunpuku replied calmly, though he didn't open his eyes. Shukaku stirred within him, bristling with irritation, tempted to jump out and berate the Shadow Guard. Who did he think he was underestimating?

"Everyone, get some rest. We'll fight again tomorrow," Pakura concluded, swiftly dismissing the meeting. The ninjas dispersed, each retreating to recover for the battles ahead.

At dawn the next day, the great battle between Konoha and Suna resumed. Tsunade continued her duel with Shukaku, while Sakumo once again confronted Pakura and her five Shadow Guards. After the ferocity of the previous day's fight, both sides approached the battle with more caution. The intensity had lessened, as if each side was waiting for news of progress elsewhere.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, leaving even more blood on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Kawakaze had joined the supply troops, leading them toward the garrison point.

The Third Kazekage and his forces were already waiting at the ambush site.

"Sensei, will the people from Sunagakure still come?" Minato asked. He and Nawaki stood alongside Kawakaze, guarding the long convoy as it moved steadily forward.

The group remained vigilant, ready for any surprises. Several Hyūga clan members took turns scanning the surroundings with their Byakugan, never allowing themselves a moment of relaxation.

"It would be better if they don't come," Kawakaze said with a slight smile. So far, no suspicious figures had been spotted.

"But it's so boring," Nawaki muttered, trailing behind Minato. It was clear he was hoping for some action.

"You can't expect anything good," Kawakaze snapped, shooting him a glare.

"I didn't mean it like that," Nawaki replied with a sheepish grin.

"Okay, stay alert," Kawakaze said curtly, continuing to lead the troops forward at a steady pace.

Another day passed. The Suna and Konoha ninja, drained by continuous battles, unanimously agreed to a temporary truce, both sides anxiously awaiting news. Spies dispatched by each camp were locked in their own struggles, with both sides claiming victory but returning no decisive information.

Suna Ninja Camp.

"Chōmei is driving this old man crazy!" Shukaku bellowed from within Bunpuku's body. Despite days of fighting, he hadn't been able to gain the upper hand.

"When I was younger, the Seven-Tails was no match for me!"

"Don't blame the road for being uneven if you can't walk it," Bunpuku said wearily. He was already feeling overwhelmed. Shukaku had spent years boasting about his strength, but after this fight, Bunpuku was starting to doubt the truth of those claims.

"It's that woman who's too strong—not that I'm not capable!" Shukaku roared indignantly. Unwilling to admit weakness, he stirred restlessly within Bunpuku, itching to return to the battlefield. The room filled with dust as an invisible force began to swirl.

"Master Bunpuku, please control yourself," Pakura said firmly. She knew this disturbance was Shukaku's doing. Her face was as pale as paper, and the Shadow Guards around her looked as wilted as frostbitten plants.

"Okay," Bunpuku finally relented, speaking a few soothing words to calm Shukaku.

"Lord Kazekage hasn't sent any news yet, and continuing to fight like this isn't a solution," a Suna ninja muttered. Despite being on home turf, their casualties were mounting.

"Today's truce will hold, but as long as Lord Third doesn't return, we will continue to attack," Pakura stated firmly, resolutely following the orders of the Third Kazekage.

A collective sigh escaped the Suna ninja. What else could they do? All they could do now was pray for the Kazekage's swift return.

Konoha Camp.

Tsunade's expression was equally grim. The Suna ninja were proving to be far more formidable than expected. The past few days had been grueling, yielding nothing but casualties without significant progress. Every evening after the battle, she treated the wounded while fretting over the security of their supply routes. The strain was beginning to show.

"Don't worry too much. It's not easy for the Suna ninja either," Sakumo said, trying to reassure her. "When Kawakaze returns in a few days, and Duy recovers, the balance of victory will shift in our favor."

"You're right," Tsunade agreed. "Judging by the time, Duy should be recovering soon." She knew Duy's injuries better than anyone, and Sakumo's words brought her a measure of comfort.

"Get some rest. Tomorrow will bring another fight," Sakumo advised.

At that moment, Chōmei perked up, unable to suppress his lively nature despite having been scolded earlier for being too noisy.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to give Shukaku a good slap," Chōmei declared gleefully. He seemed to be the most enthusiastic about the battles these past few days. As a child, he had been bullied, and now he reveled in striking back.

"Shut up," Tsunade snapped, startling Sakumo momentarily. Fortunately, he realized she wasn't speaking to him.

"I'll head out first. Take it easy on him," Sakumo said with a faint smile as he stood up, adjusting his forehead protector for support.

My sweet Nayuki is so much better.