As Orochimaru advanced, Yamaru had already led the Amegakure ninja to block Konoha's path. A sense of relief washed over him—finally, he understood the Konoha ninja's intentions.
"Yamaru-sama, the Konoha forces are outnumbered. Should we avoid direct confrontation?" Tsugijirō suggested cautiously beside him. He still believed that engaging head-on was unwise.
"Lord Hanzō's orders are clear: stop the Konoha ninja at all costs," Yamaru snapped. "If we avoid the fight, are you saying we should let them pass? Let them devastate our land and our people?"
Yamaru's frustration boiled over, drowning out Tsugijirō's reasoning. One thought consumed him: to kill Orochimaru and make him feel pain.
Seeing Yamaru's rage, Tsugijirō silently stepped back. Hanzō himself had appointed Yamaru as the leader, and there was no changing his mind now.
"Lord Yamaru, the Konoha forces have been spotted," reported a surveillance ninja.
"Attack! Prepare Water Release techniques!" Yamaru ordered sharply. "Let them know what it feels like to drown."
Despite his anger, Yamaru wasn't reckless—he understood how to exploit their terrain. A flood of water techniques would scatter the Konoha forces, with weaker ones likely swept away.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
...
The ninjas of the Land of Rain, adept in Water Release, unleashed their techniques, merging them into a massive, surging wave aimed at the Konoha forces. The wave, a terrifying force of nature, roared toward the enemy line.
Orochimaru, watching the deluge with calm indifference, allowed a smirk of disdain to curve his lips.
"Earth Release Team, prepare defenses," he ordered.
"Yes!"
Hundreds of Konoha ninjas adept in Earth Release immediately began forming hand seals.
"Summoning Technique: Triple Rashōmon."
Orochimaru slammed one hand to the ground, completing his seals. In an instant, three massive, ominous gates erupted from the earth. Their fearsome mouths and sturdy structures absorbed and dispersed the wave's impact repeatedly. By the time the remnants of the flood reached the defensive earth wall, it had been reduced to harmless trickles.
"Well done, Orochimaru," Kawakaze said, barely concealing his excitement as he marveled at the legendary defensive technique. He speculated that even his Sage Mode might struggle to overcome it.
"Go."
With a curt nod, Orochimaru gave the signal, leading the Konoha forces in a counterattack. Kawakaze followed closely, though he noticed that some of the younger ninjas lagged behind, unable to match the leaders' speed.
Sakumo, drawing his short sword, dove into the fray like an eagle striking prey. With precision and ruthlessness, he cut through the Amegakure forces, leaving no room for resistance.
"Gate of Joy, open!"
Might Duy's voice rang out as he opened six of the Eight Gates. A green whirlwind of destruction, Duy tore into the Amegakure ranks, sending ninja flying like cannonballs with every strike. His immense power was on full display, marking the first time his terrifying battlefield presence was seen.
Orochimaru combined devastating Ninjutsu with deadly precision in Taijutsu, summoning venomous snakes that struck with lethal accuracy.
The Konoha forces, inspired by their leaders, fought with unmatched ferocity. Their numerical advantage, coupled with their skill and momentum, quickly threw the Amegakure forces into chaos.
Yamaru, witnessing the overwhelming strength of the Konoha, felt dread creeping into his heart. His earlier confidence vanished as he realized the gulf in power. Even as he struck down several Konoha Chūnin and Genin, the realization hit him—this battle was unwinnable.
He turned to see Tsugijirō launched into the air by Duy's ferocious kick, lifeless before hitting the ground.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Yamaru shouted as he fell back, rallying a dozen or so ninjas around him while they fought their way to safety.
Once the leader loses the will to fight, the army becomes lambs to the slaughter.
The Amegakure Ninja were being decimated by the Konoha forces. No one on the battlefield was more ruthless than these ninjas, as one life after another was extinguished without mercy.
Under Kawakaze's protection, two young ninjas fought fiercely, managing to kill several Chūnin. Any Jōnin who targeted them were swiftly intercepted by Kawakaze, who effortlessly sent them to their deaths.
By this point, the Amegakure Ninja had completely lost their ability to resist. Yamaru led fewer than a hundred survivors in a desperate scatter and retreat. The battlefield was too vast for Orochimaru to chase them all, so he focused on eliminating those who remained.
His pale face was smeared with blood, yet his movements retained their eerie elegance. The venomous snake coiled in his sleeve struck with relentless ferocity.
In less than two hours, the battle was over. Not a single Amegakure Ninja was left alive on the field.
"What do you think?"
Kawakaze stood unscathed, his spotless appearance in stark contrast to the mangled remains and blood-soaked ground around him.
"Ugh…"
Nawaki vomited first, quickly followed by Minato, who couldn't hold back either. This was their first encounter with such carnage.
"This is war," Kawakaze said sternly. "Only one side survives. You must become stronger, or you'll end up like them one day."
His words were harsh, punctuated by a swift kick to a severed hand on the ground, which caused the two youngsters to retch again.
Kawakaze knew this lesson would leave a lasting impression. Only by confronting the grim reality of war would they be driven to grow into formidable ninjas.
"I understand, Sensei," Minato said, regaining his composure as he wiped his mouth.
Nawaki, pale and trembling, managed a nod. Though shaken, he understood the gravity of the situation.
"Let's go. We need to see what Orochimaru has planned next."
Kawakaze led the two young ninjas toward Orochimaru, who stood nearby surrounded by a group of Konoha forces.
As Kawakaze approached, the other ninjas stepped aside, allowing him to speak directly with Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, some Amegakure Ninja managed to escape," Kawakaze said. "We should prioritize the safety of our supplies."
"They're no longer a threat," Orochimaru replied with a faint smile. "Less than a hundred escaped, and they're all injured. Even if they reach their camp, they won't survive."
"Still, caution is wise," Kawakaze insisted, unwilling to dismiss even a minor threat.
"Perhaps," Orochimaru conceded. "But with their forces broken, I doubt we'll face any significant resistance unless Hanzō of the Salamander himself returns."
"Shall we rest and regroup, then?" Kawakaze asked.
"Yes. I'll send someone to notify the rear guard and bring up supplies. If Hanzō doesn't return, the path ahead will be easy to take."
Surveying the battlefield, Orochimaru estimated that over 800 Amegakure Ninja had been defeated. This aligned with Kawakaze's earlier assessment.
Hanzō's strategy of splitting his forces had failed. With only 3,000 Amegakure Ninja in total, dividing them had merely delayed their collapse.
Yet, something about the situation unsettled Kawakaze. If the Land of Rain were truly so easy to conquer, how had Hanzō managed to battle Sunagakure, the Land of Iron, and still have the strength to challenge Konoha later in the original story?