(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
****************
After a night of rest, most of the wounded in the ninja coalition had recovered.
Colt, having gained a significant number of points, couldn't help but laugh with satisfaction.
Following a brief recovery of Chakra, the ninja coalition set out once again to rendezvous with the front-line troops.
Hinata, utilizing her Byakugan, moved swiftly between the battlefields, searching for White Zetsus infiltrators among the allied forces.
Her heightened sense of smell allowed her to easily distinguish between humans and White Zetsu.
"Hahaha! Sasori, who would've thought that one day we'd be helping the Five Great Nations against the Akatsuki!" Deidara's voice rang out as a giant white bird soared through the sky.
Sasori and Deidara, still dressed in their Akatsuki robes adorned with red clouds on a black background, sped through the air.
Despite joining the Ninja Alliance, they remained attached to their Akatsuki uniforms, with no intention of changing them.
"As long as I can practice my art; it doesn't matter who the enemy is," Sasori replied calmly, though his hands, hidden within his large sleeves, tightly gripped two scrolls.
They were 'Father' and 'Mother,' which had been sent to him from Sunagakure the night before.
"I'm not so indifferent!" Deidara retorted, anger evident in his tone.
"That guy, Tobi, pretended to be an intern to deceive me. I never expected him to be the one behind the Akatsuki... I'll settle the score with him this time!"
The memory of Tobi's deception, where Deidara had boasted of being able to protect him, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
As the bird flew over Gaara's group, Sasori jumped off and landed on the ground.
He had been instructed by Chiyo to support Gaara and protect the Kazekage.
Sasori didn't object; he was curious to see just how far the Kage, acknowledged by his grandmother, had reached.
Seeing Sasori descending from the sky, many ninjas tensed, ready for an attack.
Akatsuki's uniform had become infamous, and Sasori's sudden appearance seemed like an impending assault on them.
Gaara, however, motioned for the others to stand down, his expression calm.
He had already been informed of Sasori's arrival.
"Where is the enemy?" Sasori asked without preamble.
"We are withdrawing towards the coastline to join forces with the First and Second Divisions for a combined assault," Gaara replied.
"Let's go, then," Sasori nodded, but Gaara stopped him, saying.
"Your puppets have taken heavy damage. Don't push yourself too far. I don't want Elder Chiyo to experience the pain of losing a child once again."
Sasori paused, surprised by Gaara's words, but explained.
"Kamiyo Colt has given me Chiyo's puppets. I am now at my strongest."
With that, he continued forward, appearing impatient, though his eyes held a complicated expression.
Meanwhile, in the Third and Fifth Divisions, the troops led by Kakashi and Mifune were advancing further than any others, but their enemies were also the strongest.
The previous day's battles against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the various Bloodline Ninjas had resulted in heavy casualties.
Even with Kakashi and Guy's efforts, only three had been sealed.
Today, however, Kakashi was facing an opponent who made his scalp tingle—his own father.
"Father..." Kakashi muttered, seeing the familiar figure with the same white hair.
He was wearing Konoha's green ninja vest, and flames adorning half the sleeve of his right arm.
It was Hatake Sakumo, the famous "Konoha's White Fang,".
One of the early powerhouses of Konoha, whose prestige was so great that even the Sannin treated him with respect.
"Kakashi, long time no see," Sakumo said, recognizing his son through the mask and the color of his hair.
"Father... did Orochimaru dishonor even your body?" Kakashi asked, his voice laced with anger as he tightly gripped his kunai.
Sakumo shook his head slightly.
"Orochimaru? It's not him who controls me. But it seems you've been through a lot."
He glanced at Kakashi's Sharingan and the scar that adorned his face with a hint of emotion.
Hearing that Orochimaru wasn't the one controlling his father, Kakashi frowned, making a mental note of the information.
"This Sharingan was a gift from a friend, and it's my most precious treasure," Kakashi said, recalling how he once didn't understand his father's decision to abandon a mission for the sake of his comrades.
He now felt a deep sense of guilt for not understanding his father back then.
Sakumo raised his arm, ready to draw his sword, but a smile lingered on his face.
He saw that his son had indeed changed a lot.
"The ones behind me are getting impatient, but I'll do my best to point out my weaknesses. Be careful!"
With lightning speed, Sakumo drew his ninja sword and struck down two seal squad ninjas in an instant.
"So fast!" Kakashi's pupils shrank as he quickly ordered the others to retreat, rushing forward to face his father alone.
At that moment, he fully understood why his father was known as Konoha's White Fang.
Kakashi's body was activated by the lightning chakra, surrounding his short sword with a strong current.
Hatake Sakumo's mastery of lightning attributes was on par with the Raikage, though their focus differed.
With the insight granted by his Mangekyō Sharingan, Kakashi barely kept up with Sakumo's speed, struggling to hold his own.
He employed various small ninjutsu in quick succession to maintain a stalemate.
"Kakashi, it seems you've become a bit slack in your family's swordsmanship," Sakumo remarked, frowning slightly.
With Kakashi's genius, his close combat should have been much better.
As their weapons clashed with a sharp, pleasant sound, Kakashi smiled bitterly.
Ever since his White Fang short sword broke when he was twelve and he gained the Sharingan, he hadn't focused on his family's swordsmanship, which was why he was struggling now.
Suddenly, wild laughter echoed from the sky.
"Hahahaha! Tobi, are you here yet? Your senpai is here to seek revenge!" Deidara's voice boomed as he rode his clay giant bird, quickly locking onto the Edo Tensei army and dropping pre-made clay bombs.
A series of explosions rang out, causing even many allied troops to scramble.
One of Deidara's clay figures targeted Hatake Sakumo.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Ball!"
A ball of lightning shot from Sakumo's hand, neutralizing Deidara's bomb.
Seeing the familiar scene, Deidara's mouth twitched before he roared in frustration.
"Again with these Lightning Style ninjas!"