Inside the Konohagakure camp, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to that of Sunagakure. While the latter's camp might have seemed relatively calm, the mood in Konohagakure was tense. The pressure of fighting on three fronts weighed heavily on every Konoha shinobi, each one worried about the future of the village—especially with the decisive battle set for tomorrow.
Inside Minato's tent, the air was thick with anticipation. Minato and Jiraiya sat, listening intently to an ANBU report.
"Apologies, Jiraiya-sama, Minato-sama. Our operatives were unable to gather any intelligence from the Sunagakure camp. We cannot confirm if the Fourth Kazekage is still present."
"Even the Hyūga clan's Byakugan and Shibi's insects couldn't confirm it?"
Minato asked, his voice calm yet filled with concern.
"No. Our camps are about five kilometers apart, which is beyond the range of both the Byakugan and Shibi-sama's insects. In addition, Sunagakure has shinobi patrolling the plains between our positions, making it difficult for our forces to get close."
Jiraiya ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"It seems like Sunagakure was well-prepared for this."
Minato, however, seemed lost in thought. His brow furrowed as he mulled over the situation.
"Sensei, something about Sunagakure's actions in this war feels strange."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Jiraiya asked, intrigued. Minato took a moment, carefully considering his words before speaking.
"I don't know if it's just my imagination, but it seems to me that Sunagakure isn't really trying to wage an all-out war against us."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.
"What makes you say that?"
Minato continued, his gaze sharp.
"First, their strategy was highly unorthodox. Kumogakure and Iwagakure have always engaged us near the border or in disputed territories. But Sunagakure... they bypassed that strategy entirely and struck deep into the Land of Fire. Furthermore, our intel shows they didn't bring enough supplies for a prolonged conflict."
Jiraiya nodded, encouraging him to go on.
"Second, their actions in this war have been... restrained. The Kazekage, especially, seems more focused on avenging the Third Kazekage than waging a full-scale war. But that doesn't seem like the whole story—especially considering their sudden withdrawal. It's all starting to feel off."
Minato leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming more serious.
"And lastly, we were told Sunagakure sent 3,000 shinobi for this operation. But on our front, we've only encountered about 300—mostly chūnin and jōnin. Where are the genin? What are they hiding?"
Jiraiya rubbed his forehead, clearly troubled by these questions, but he had no answers.
"This is a real headache. So, what's the plan for tomorrow?"
Minato sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"The Hokage's orders are to delay the battle as long as possible, to avoid a full-scale confrontation with Sunagakure. We can make some concessions if necessary, but if push comes to shove, we'll have no choice but to engage in battle."
Jiraiya let out a long breath, understanding the gravity of the situation. It was clear that the Hokage had no intention of holding Danzō accountable for his actions—if anything, it seemed the Hokage might have quietly condoned them all along.
With a frustrated sigh, Jiraiya muttered under his breath.
"When will this war ever end…?"
---
Night fell quickly, casting a shadow over the battlefield. The Konoha shinobi started lighting their campfires, preparing meals, and maintaining a sense of routine. However, the tension in the air was palpable, as the battle lines on the plains remained drawn. Both Sunagakure and Konohagakure shinobi patrolled the area, ever watchful for any signs of movement.
Visibility was severely limited once night settled in, and the Konoha shinobi knew the risks of getting too close to Sunagakure's forces.
On the Sunagakure side, wisps of smoke rose into the dark sky, and the flicker of campfires illuminated the encampment. But a closer inspection would reveal a strange absence—there wasn't a single soul in sight. Where had all the Sunagakure shinobi gone?
At the edge of the plains, nestled within the forest, the Sunagakure forces had already executed a detour, positioning themselves just one kilometer away from the Konoha camp. From this distance, the Konohagakure camp was visible, but beyond this range, Konoha's sensory shinobi would detect their presence.
Rasa, standing among his gathered forces, stared ahead with grim determination.
"It's time."
He said, his voice calm but filled with purpose.
"For the Third Kazekage—revenge begins now!"
"Yeah!!"
The Sunagakure shinobi responded in unison, their eyes glowing with a fierce crimson light. This night was destined to be one of bloodshed.
Rasa raised his hand, commanding the next move.
"Magnet Release: Shukaku's Avatar!"
With a deafening tremor, a colossal figure resembling a mountain rose beneath the moonlight. The sheer magnitude of the creature shook the ground, and the air itself seemed to tremble with its presence.
At that moment, Konoha's sensory shinobi immediately sensed the shift in the atmosphere.
"Enemy attack!" one shouted.
"It's Sunagakure!" another cried out.
But it was already too late.
Shukaku's massive tail, towering high above the battlefield, swung violently, smashing them to chunks of flesh and bones.
"Magnet Release: Sand Shuriken!"
Rasa called another jutsu. From Shukaku's tail, countless sand shuriken erupted, spinning through the air like a deadly storm. They rained down relentlessly upon the Konoha camp, slicing through tents and shinobi alike. The sound of agony filled the air as screams echoed across the battlefield.
"Attack!"
Rasa ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos. The Sunagakure shinobi surged forward, charging into the disarray of Konoha's ranks without hesitation.
"Kill them all!!!"
Pakura and Michikawa shouted, rushing past Rasa to join the fray. But Rasa remained still, waiting—waiting for his true opponent.
Suddenly, a voice rang out, fierce and commanding.
"Summoning Jutsu: Toad Shop Collapse!"
The moonlight was abruptly blocked out by a massive shadow descending from the sky. Rasa's senses, honed by the memories of a transmigrator, immediately recognized the threat. Had he not studied the intelligence on the Sannin earlier that afternoon, Jiraiya's attack might have caught him off guard. But Rasa had been prepared. He had accounted for every potential tactic that the Sannin might employ.
Boom!
The earth shook as Shukaku's Avatar leaped backward with astonishing speed, narrowly avoiding the devastating aerial strike. The massive figure landed with a tremor, standing firm as it evaded the attack.
On top of the toad Gamabunta's head, Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, his expression grim as he realized his strike had missed.
At first, when Minato mentioned that the Fourth Kazekage seemed to have extensive knowledge about him, Jiraiya found it difficult to believe. But now, the reality was even more astonishing—this man didn't just understand Minato; he also had an unsettlingly precise understanding of Jiraiya himself.
In a shinobi battle, sheer strength alone wasn't enough—intelligence and information were just as vital. Yet, Jiraiya realized he knew next to nothing about this Kazekage; all his knowledge was based on Minato's reports. That meant from the very beginning, he was already at a disadvantage.
But there was no time to dwell on this realization.
The moment Gamabunta landed on the battlefield, half of his enormous form sank into a massive sand pit, and the quicksand continued to pull him deeper, trapping him further with each passing second. Before Jiraiya could react, Shukaku's enormous tail came sweeping toward the toad.
Clang!
Gamabunta swiftly drew his twin blades, intercepting the blow. However, the sheer force of the strike was overwhelming, and despite his efforts, Gamabunta's massive body sank even deeper into the sands.
Rasa saw the opening and seized the opportunity to strike.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Shuriken!"
A barrage of golden shuriken, dense with magnetic energy, shot toward Gamabunta. Jiraiya, grinning in the face of danger, quickly formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Giant Flame Bullet!"
It was a standard Fire Release technique, but Jiraiya's training at Mount Myōboku had taught him how to refine chakra into oil. With the aid of toad oil, the power of his fire-style jutsu was amplified tenfold.
The intense flames shot forward, melting Rasa's gold dust into a river of molten liquid, which rained down from the sky like fiery rain.
"Not done yet!"
Jiraiya shouted, his confidence unwavering.
Even as the molten gold fell, Jiraiya continued to form hand seals with unerring speed and precision.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Three additional fire dragons surged from Jiraiya's mouth, encircling the original giant flame. The dragons attacked from the front, left, and right, while the Giant Flame Bullet barreled forward, hitting Rasa head-on.
To release two jutsu simultaneously with such precision, controlling them as if they were extensions of his own will, was the mark of a true master. The technique was a testament to the skill of the Third Hokage's disciple, the legendary "Ninjutsu Professor."
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