Chapter 292: How Do The Star Shinobi Have Sharingan, Byakugan, And Wood Release?
Breach the ninja village!
Since Ninja God Hashirama Senju established the ninja village system, although small ninja villages like Sky Village have been destroyed.
But none of the Five Great Shinobi Villages has been breached yet.
Menma listened seriously to Hikari’s report, his gaze following the baton moving on the sand table, nodding slightly from time to time.
This strategic train of thought is clear and decisive, perfectly matching the current characteristics of Land of Stars’ forces being elite but insufficient in number.
Utilizing the natural barrier of Sea of Death and the mobility and combat power advantages of our elite troops to keep the enemy outside the national border is the best choice.
‘Little Nine needs at least a few more days to absorb the Ten-Tails, and must not be disturbed during this period.’ Menma thought to himself.
He vaguely remembered that in the original story, after Gaara was captured, it took the Outer Path Demonic Statue one day or three days to absorb the One-Tails.
Despite the overwhelming disparity in enemy and allied forces, the high-level officials of Land of Stars present showed no excessive worry on their faces.
Whether the newly joined Uchiha and Hyuga members, or those who had long followed Menma like Uzumaki Kushina and Gōta, their eyes burned with desire for battle and yearning for merit instead.
This emerging country needs a resounding victory to declare its power to the entire ninja world!
Subsequently, the meeting entered the discussion phase.
Uzumaki Kushina proposed suggestions from administrative and internal affairs perspectives: “I agree with the Staff Department’s proactive strike strategy. At the same time, we should use this war opportunity to further strengthen internal control and purging. Those remnants of nobles from the original five countries, as well as potential opponents dissatisfied with the new policies, are likely to stir up trouble during wartime. I suggest authorizing Anbu and Konoha Military Police Force to conduct a thorough internal investigation and rectification, ensuring absolute stability in the rear during the war.”
Uchiha Hikari raised a more profound and worrying issue: “The strategy is good, but we must consider the possibility of the war expanding.”
Her finger pointed to the eastern border of Land of Stars on the sand table: “Stone Village of Land of Earth has an ambiguous attitude. Recently, they unfoundedly accused our ninjas of cross-border attacks on their strongholds. Although we firmly denied it and carried out equivalent counterattacks, the potential threat on the east line always exists.”
Then, Hikari’s gaze turned to Uchiha Shisui and Hyuga Hizashi sitting opposite, her tone intensifying: “In addition, there is Konohagakure of Land of Fire. They have a traditional ally relationship with Sand Village. Once the battle becomes stalemated, or Sand Village pays enough cost to request, the possibility of Konoha joining the war is not nonexistent. We must prepare for the worst—”
“That is, simultaneously cope with the pressure of two-line or even three-line warfare from Wind Country on the west line, Earth Country on the east line, and Fire Country!”
The shadow of multi-line warfare made the atmosphere in the conference room tense again.
This is indeed a burden too heavy for an emerging country like Land of Stars to bear.
Menma listened calmly to everyone’s analysis and concerns until all voices fell, then he slowly spoke, his voice not loud but carrying a majestic decisiveness that instantly attracted everyone’s attention:
“The concern about multi-line warfare is valid. But everyone can rest assured, this war will not last too long.”
His gaze swept over everyone: “I will end it in the fastest way.”
Menma stood up, walked to the sand table, and began issuing the final combat orders:
“I command: Star Ninja Army immediately forms four standing legions!”
“Each legion has twelve branches under it. Each branch consists of three standard squads（squad）, with a standard squad composition of four people.”
“First Legion, commanded by Uchiha Hikari! Responsible for the main attack direction on the Sea of Death front line, must consolidate and expand the forward defense line, pinning down Sand Village’s main force in Sea of Death!”
“Second Legion, commanded by Hyuga Hizashi! Assist Hikari, coordinate with First Legion in combat.”
“Third Legion, commanded by Natsuhi! Responsible for east line defense, strengthen alert at all passes and outposts on the borders toward Land of Earth and Land of Birds, strictly guard against possible movements from Stone Village.”
“Fourth Legion, commanded by Uzumaki Kushina! As reserve team and logistics support legion, responsible for garrisoning major cities, strategic supplies transportation and allocation, full-line medical support, and other heavy duties. At the same time, internal purging work will be coordinated by you with Anbu and Konoha Military Police Force!”
“Konoha Military Police Force, expand the special police force, cooperate with Fourth Legion for internal security and logistics tasks in major cities, and when necessary, serve as mobile reserve troops to support the front line.”
One command after another landed like bedrock, clear and explicit.
The structure of the four legions and special police force not only considered the abilities and specialties of each commander but also balanced the forces to a certain extent.
First, Second, and Third Legions are mainly composed of standing ninjas, while Fourth Legion includes police, logistics, medical, and administrative support forces, oriented toward assistance and logistics transportation organization; the special police force is composed of elite ordinary people, with core backbone being Uchiha and Hyuga ninjas, who handle internal security while also serving as mobile response troops.
“Yes! Lord!” The four named individuals responded in unison, their eyes flashing with firm light.
With Menma’s orders issued, this emerging war machine of Land of Stars began operating at unprecedented efficiency.
Benefiting from the modern administrative and logistics system Menma established earlier, distinct from traditional ninja villages, the orders were quickly transmitted nationwide through new scientific communication ninja tools.
Grain and supplies reserved in various counties; weapons, ninja tools, Military Rations Pills, and other strategic supplies produced by various arsenals, were continuously gathered toward the capital through the initially scaled railway network, then sent to the western front line by specialized transport troops.
And the mobilization efficiency of Star Ninjas was even more astonishing.
Since the Star Ninja Army adopted a modular organization with “branch” as the largest combat unit from its inception, daily training and missions were mostly based on this.
At this moment, a dozen branches quickly assembled, forming higher-level “legion” combat clusters, with no major chaos in coordination and connection between squads and branches.
Teams of ninjas in deep blue Star Ninja uniforms, in squad and branch units, silently and swiftly headed to the western front line via railway and rapid march, like streams merging into rivers.
A solemn yet uplifting atmosphere enveloped the entire Land of Stars.
……
That night, Star Capital, Uzumaki residence.
After ending the long and tense military meeting, Menma and Uchiha Hikari returned home.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had been waiting in the living room, their faces showing obvious concern.
“Menma, Hikari, how’s the situation?” Kushina asked impatiently. Though a reanimation jutsu body, the worry in her eyes was no different from before her death.
Menma sat on the sofa, explaining the general strategic deployment to his parents.
“…That’s the basic situation. Little Nine’s absorption of the Ten-Tails is not yet complete, estimated to take another two or three days. The Ten-Tails’ resistance is stronger than expected, and I’m worried its original master might come looking. So, during this period, I must stay by Little Nine’s side as much as possible to ensure the absorption process is not disturbed.”
He looked at Uchiha Hikari, his gaze carrying trust and entrustment: “Therefore, the front-line command at Sea of Death is fully entrusted to Hikari. Hyuga Hizashi is experienced and can serve as deputy to assist her in stabilizing the front.”
Then, Menma looked at Minato: “Father, with Hikari at the front line, the rear hub, logistics coordination, intelligence summary, and coordination with various counties have Uzumaki Kushina, but we still need someone who can hold the scene and is good at coordination to sit in. I hope you stay in Star Capital, responsible for overall command.”
Minato Namikaze listened seriously to his son’s arrangements, analyzing calmly: “Your arrangements are reasonable. Hikari’s strength is beyond doubt. But she indeed lacks experience in commanding large-scale legions. With Hizashi, who has experienced two ninja wars and has a steady personality, assisting by her side, it can make up for deficiencies in this aspect and avoid recklessness.”
He changed the topic to the east line: “However, for Stone Village on the east line, is it stable to have Natsuhi in charge? I heard Kushina mention before that Natsuhi is a jonin from the former Star Ninja Village, with acceptable strength, but Stone Village’s Onoki is cunning and calculating…”
Menma nodded, taking over: “Natsuhi’s abilities are trustworthy, and Third Legion is mostly composed of former Star Ninja Village ninjas, who are familiar with the eastern border terrain and more suitable for defensive combat.”
The Natsuhi couple once stole the meteorite to prevent the harm of meteorite training to Star Ninja Village ninjas. After being discovered by the contemporary ‘Star Shadow’ Yoruya, they were not punished but given heavy responsibilities, living incognito for years, and taking the opportunity to abolish meteorite training. Until the Hokage plot began, Yoruya and others assassinated Yoruya, restarted meteorite training, and Natsuhi became active, trying to steal the meteorite to stop the training.
Later came the plot story of Naruto and his group arriving.
This is also one of the reasons Menma trusts them.
He sighed lightly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness: “Father, you know my ideal. I want to break the monopoly of ninja clans on chakra and resources, letting everyone have a chance to grow strong, no longer bound by bloodline and origin. But training a new generation of civilian ninjas takes time, and what we lack most is time.”
“At this stage, the talents available to me are mostly from various ninja clans. Among the four legion commanders appointed this time, only Natsuhi comes from a small ninja village. I also want to promote civilian ninjas, but… it still needs waiting.”
Minato nodded in understanding, walked forward, and gently patted his son’s shoulder.
“I understand your difficulties. Breaking old barriers and establishing new order is never something that happens overnight. You’ve already done very well.”
His eyes gradually sharpened: “Rest assured, Star Capital and the large rear, leave it to me. Logistics coordination, intelligence analysis, internal coordination, I will do my best with Kushina and the others.”
“As for internal…” Minato’s tone suddenly turned cold, carrying a hint of killing intent: “If anyone dares to cause trouble internally during the war, even launch a rebellion, no matter their identity or background, I, Minato Namikaze, will absolutely not show mercy!”
At this moment, he was no longer the Konoha little sun always with a gentle smile, but the “Golden Flash” famed for speed in the Third Great Ninja War, chilling enemies!
………………
Northwest of Land of Wind, south of Sea of Death.
Hot wind whipped up sand grains, stinging the face faintly.
A force of over two hundred Sand Ninjas was using undulating sand dunes for cover, quickly and covertly detouring to the east side of the front line.
Their goal was to bypass the main defense line of Star Ninjas in Sea of Death, infiltrate Land of Stars territory, then disperse to destructively damage key facilities like railways, bridges, warehouses there, thereby relieving the huge pressure on the frontal battlefield.
Leading this surprise attack force were Sand Village’s elite jonin Yura and Fugai.
There were ten special jonin in the team, fifty chunin, and the rest were all experienced genin, even many who participated in the Third Great Ninja War a few years ago, making it a truly elite force.
“Speed up! We must pass through this area before sunset!” Yura urged in a low voice, his eyes scanning the seemingly endless sea of sand around, a faint unease in his heart.
This desert was too quiet, almost only hearing the wind sound.
However, as the force advanced to a relatively flat sandy area, abnormality suddenly occurred!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!
“Enemy attack—!!”
The shrill alarm had just sounded when it was drowned by deafening explosions and ninjutsu howls!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The originally calm sandy ground suddenly erupted!
Over a dozen figures in deep blue Star Ninja uniforms suddenly burst from under the sand!
They seemed to have long fused with the yellow sand, revealing their fangs only at the moment of attack.
“Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!”
Violent airflow whipped up a sandstorm, obscuring vision!
“Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!”
Earth dragons bursting from underground spat countless gravels, impacting the Sand Ninja team like cannonballs!
“Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!”
Fireballs carrying scorching high temperature devoured panicked Sand Ninjas!
What terrified the Sand Ninjas even more was that many Star Ninjas held a strange “kunai gun” they had never seen before!
These weapons could precisely shoot kunai bound with explosive tags at extreme speeds, exploding violently the moment they landed or hit targets, with astonishing power, causing horrific casualties in the dense Sand Ninja team.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Ah!”
“Damn Star Ninjas!”
“It’s an ambush! Break out quickly!”
“Damn it! Intelligence leaked! There are spies…”
In just one round of sudden ambush, this two-hundred-man Sand Ninja force suffered nearly half casualties!
Screams, explosions, ninjutsu collisions
“Don’t panic! Assemble! Earth Style ninjas, create cover!” Fugai shouted at the top of his lungs, and together with Yura, he barely managed to rally the remaining terrified Sand Ninja.
They stood back-to-back, hastily using Earth Style to raise several low earthen walls as temporary barriers.
However, when they calmed down a bit from their shock and clearly saw the situation on the surrounding sand dunes, a deeper chill rose from the bottom of their hearts.
The Star Ninja surrounding them numbered only twelve!
Twelve people ambushed and severely damaged their 200-man unit?!
“They only have twelve people! Charge out! Kill them!” Yura was both shocked and furious, a feeling of being humiliated surging in his heart. He issued the order sternly, trying to break through forcefully by relying on their numerical advantage.
The surviving Sand Ninja also had red eyes, bursting out with their final ferocity amid various roars and shouts.
The invisible blades formed by Wind Release: Wind Cutter Jutsu whistled out, the rock spears condensed by Earth Style: Rock Stealing Stake were densely thrown, puppet masters manipulated ferociously shaped puppets to pounce forward, and some poison-specialist ninjas released purple poison mist, attempting to envelop the battlefield.
“Be careful of poison gas! Everyone, equip your gas masks!” A calm yet slightly immature voice rang out.
The one who issued the command was a boy with a refined and handsome face and pale skin. He had white medium-short hair, wore a Star Ninja Headband around his neck, had two red dots decorating his forehead, and most strikingly, a pair of pure white eyes.
It was precisely the captain of this Star Ninja ambush squad, Kimimaro Kaguya.
He was the first to put on the standard-issue gas mask, while issuing the final command to his teammates behind him: “Eliminate them all!”
As soon as the words fell, Kimimaro’s figure had already turned into a streak of white lightning, charging out first from the simple cover and killing toward the chaotic Sand Ninja team!
His hands instantly drew two pure white bone knives from his arms, which was the Kaguya Clan’s Bloodline Limit—the Corpse Bone Pulse!
Following closely behind were three similarly young Star Ninja.
Mizuki Haku’s face was gentle and beautiful, and as he formed hand seals with both hands, cold Ice Release chakra rapidly gathered.
The few small freckles on Yukimi’s face seemed eager to jump, her brown medium-length hair danced in the air with her leaps, and her body began to blur somewhat during the charge, as if it were about to merge into the air.
Neji Hyuga wore the newly obtained Star Ninja Headband around his neck, with no restraint on his forehead, his pure Byakugan already activated, the surrounding meridians bulging up, allowing him to see clearly the chakra flow and movements of every enemy on the battlefield.
The other Star Ninja team members also moved quickly.
Some taijutsu experts, propelled by the leg auxiliary modules of the Chakra Kinetic Armor, burst forth with astonishing speed, closely following Kimimaro and others as they charged into the enemy formation for close-quarters combat.
The other part quickly pulled away, either forming hand seals to perform ninjutsu or raising kunai guns to conduct precise mid-to-long-range firepower suppression.
The deep blue Chakra Kinetic Armor on their bodies shimmered with a metallic luster under the sunlight, with the energy circuits at the joints glowing faintly, providing powerful protection and power support.
The battle instantly entered a white-hot phase!
Kimimaro Kaguya charged into the group of Sand Ninja, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep.
His Corpse Bone Pulse was peerlessly sharp, easily able to slice through the Sand Ninja’s defenses; the bone spikes that occasionally burst out from various parts of his body were even more impossible to guard against.
Ordinary Sand Ninja genin and chunin could hardly last even one exchange in front of him before being instantly killed.
“Corpse Bone Pulse? Byakugan?! What the hell is this guy?!” A few Sand Jonin barely exchanged a few rounds with him, but they were soon forced into dire straits by that violent and precise dance of bones, letting out cries of alarm.
Neji stayed close by Kimimaro’s side. His Byakugan could not only see through the enemy’s weaknesses but also take in every subtle change across the entire battlefield.
“Three on the left side, prepare Wind Release!”
“Rear puppets, joints are fragile!”
“Be careful, the poison mist is spreading on the right flank!”
Neji’s calm voice kept ringing out, providing his teammates with crucial real-time battlefield intelligence through the communication device.
His Gentle Fist precisely struck the acupoints of the Sand Ninja, disrupting their Chakra flow. Every Sand Ninja who got close to him felt their Chakra circulation become sluggish, with their strength greatly reduced.
“Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals!”
Bai shouted softly, instantly creating multiple ice mirrors
His Ice Release displayed astonishing power in this scorching desert, not only disrupting the Sand Ninja’s formation but also using the reflection of the ice mirrors for high-speed movement and attacks; however, the hot environment greatly consumed his Ice Release Ninjutsu.
Cold senbon shot toward the Sand Ninja like a torrential rain, and the occasionally used “Ice Rock Dome” could even create small-scale ice barriers to provide cover for teammates.
Those Sand Ninja, who had spent most of their lives in the desert and never seen ice or snow, were dumbfounded and felt fear in the face of this power that defied common sense.
Meanwhile, Yukimi’s figure flickered indeterminately on the battlefield, her “Smoke Transformation” Bloodline Limit allowing her to be immune to physical attacks to a certain degree, shuttling through the battlefield like a ghost.
She sometimes appeared behind the Sand Ninja to deliver a fatal strike, and other times turned into smoke to disrupt the enemy’s ninjutsu release.
Meanwhile, two young ninjas in the team, wearing Uchiha Clan robes over Star Ninja uniforms, also displayed astonishing combat power.
Their movements were swift and deadly, and as they swung their ninja swords, the Sharingan precisely predicted every action of the enemy, consecutively killing more than a dozen Sand Ninja who tried to organize a counterattack, like two sharp daggers deeply wedged into the center of the Sand Ninja formation.
“Sha… Sharingan! It’s a Uchiha ninja!” A Sand Ninja, before dying, stared fixedly at the opponent’s Sharingan and let out a scream of utmost terror.
Yura and Fugai were now covered in blood, their hearts filled with disbelief and horror.
Not only were the opponents well-equipped with seamless tactical coordination, but this squad of merely twelve people surprisingly gathered Byakugan, Corpse Bone Pulse, Ice Release, Sharingan, and even the legendary Wood Release!
What kind of monster team is this exactly?!
And the final collapse came from Yukimi.
She took a deep breath, suddenly pressing both hands onto the scorching sand, attempting the newly mastered Bloodline Limit.
“Wood Release: Forest of the Sea Descent!”
Rumble——!!!
In the incredulous, nearly despairing gazes of Yura, Fugai, and all the surviving Sand Ninja, a lush green forest full of life actually burst forth from this Sea of Death at a speed visible to the naked eye, growing wildly!
Thick trees tore through the sand, vines wrapping upward, instantly turning a small patch of desert into a bizarre woodland!
“Wood… Wood Release?! How is this possible!!!” Fugai’s voice completely changed pitch, his eyes behind his glasses nearly bulging out of their sockets!
The power of the legendary First Hokage has actually appeared here?!
Forests grow in the desert!
This scene, completely defying logic, like a miracle or rather a nightmare, utterly crushed the last bit of fighting spirit in the remaining less than fifty Sand Ninja!
They stared blankly at that forest, their will to fight finally completely collapsing, weapons dropping from their hands one after another, their faces filled with despair.
“Sharingan… Byakugan, and now Wood Release, damn it, are we fighting Star Ninja or Konoha?!” Yura felt it was utterly absurd.
“Ah—! Monsters! They’re all monsters!” A Sand Ninja threw away his weapon and fled in panic.
“Impossible to win… We’ll all die here…” Some Sand Ninja trembled.
Kimimaro coldly watched the collapsing Sand Ninja.
He said softly: “It’s over.”
In the instant Yura locked eyes with an Uchiha ninja, he only felt that in the opponent’s scarlet eyes, three tomoe slightly rotated, and his entire consciousness blurred, his movements instantly stiffening.
Pfft!
A cold, blood-stained kunai silently pressed against his throat.
The one holding the kunai was an Uchiha ninja.
On the other side, Fugai was also pierced through the shoulder by a sharp bone spike from Kimimaro, heavily nailed to a newly grown tree trunk, completely losing the ability to resist.
The battle was over.
The desert returned to silence again, leaving only the sound of wind sweeping yellow sand, and the faint groans of the wounded.
Twelve Star Ninja stood like rocks in the center of the battlefield, surrounded by Sand Ninja who were dead or wounded, numbering far more than ten times theirs.
Yura looked at all this in a daze, as if back to the battlefield of the Third Great Ninja War more than ten years ago, feeling the same powerlessness when facing those Konoha elites at their peak.
No, this squad in front of him was more terrifying than any Konoha force he had encountered back then!
……
After arranging the cleanup of the battlefield, Kimimaro Kaguya walked to Neji, who was leaning against a newly grown tree and breathing slightly.
Hak was carefully treating a wound on Neji’s arm caused by a poisoned kunai graze; they had already searched the captured Sand Ninja for the corresponding antidote.
“How do you feel?” Kimimaro’s voice remained flat, but his gaze toward Neji carried a hint of approval.
“Not bad, detoxified in time, doesn’t affect movement.” Neji wiped the sweat from his forehead; the high-intensity battle and continuous Byakugan use had consumed him greatly.
Kimimaro nodded: “Today’s battle, you performed outstandingly. Whether it was the use of Byakugan or the execution of Gentle Fist, both were impeccable.”
“As expected of the top student who graduated early from this year’s Ninja Academy!” Yukimi, sitting on the ground resting nearby, had consumed a huge amount of chakra using Tree Sea Descent, making her face somewhat pale, but she still laughed lively: “After the war broke out, I heard many classmates applied for early graduation, but it seems only Neji passed the super strict exam!”
Hak also smiled gently, adding: “The Ninja Academy’s early graduation standard requires at least the strength to stably fight a Chunin. Neji’s performance has far surpassed an ordinary Chunin.”
Neji felt a bit embarrassed being praised by his companions; he subconsciously touched his smooth forehead, where the Caged Bird restraint was no more.
He changed the topic and asked: “Captain Kimimaro, what do we do next?”
Kimimaro looked around; the team members were methodically rounding up captives, treating wounded from both sides, and collecting useful intelligence and supplies.
Even for Sand Ninja, after surrendering as captives, the Star Ninja would provide some treatment based on the Land of Stars’ battlefield regulations, but whether they survived depended on them.
“The threat from this flanking force has been eliminated.” Kimimaro judged calmly: “Escort the captives back to the Sashin frontline base. If we move fast, we might still catch the major battle on the main front.”
……
At the same time, at the edge of the Sea of Death, outside the Sashin Oasis.
The main battlefield here had an intensity far surpassing the ambush war that Kimimaro and the others encountered.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa had almost emptied Sand Village’s reserves, deploying over two thousand five hundred ninja here besides necessary defensive forces, attempting to crush the Land of Stars’ defensive line with absolute numerical superiority.
However, the battle situation completely exceeded Rasa and all Sand Village high-level officials’ expectations.
The Star Ninja Army’s two legions, plus support troops, had a total force of less than four hundred.
But the combat power they displayed made the Sand Ninja, who held absolute numerical advantage, feel suffocated.
The Chakra Kinetic Armor commonly equipped by Star Ninja provided excellent defense; conventional Sand Ninja kunai and shuriken could hardly cause effective damage unless hitting directly.
Even more incomprehensible to the Sand Ninja was that many Star Ninja could instantly release various small-scale nature transformations without hand seals, or with only minimal gestures!
Fireballs, Wind Blades, earth walls came effortlessly; though less powerful than ninjutsu requiring hand seals, on the ever-changing battlefield, this rapid jutsu release brought huge tactical advantages.
And those prominent clan crests in the Star Ninja lineup made Rasa’s heart bleed.
The Uchiha Clan’s Sharingan, with insight, copying, and Illusion Technique, was like a nightmare on the battlefield.
The Hyuga Clan’s Byakugan, combined with Gentle Fist, was the nemesis of taijutsu ninja and Sand Ninja who relied on chakra points for ninjutsu, while also providing the Star Ninja Force with large-scale reconnaissance vision, rendering many of the Sand Ninja’s small-scale maneuvers ineffective.
There were also the Blood Pond Clan’s Blood Dragon Eye with their eerie blood manipulation abilities, and the Red Eye Clan who could interfere with perception…
All sorts of unheard-of, unseen Bloodline Limits and abilities shone brightly on the battlefield.
Rasa stood on the rear high ground, watching his nearly two thousand ninja besiege the opponent’s less than four hundred, yet being beaten back steadily with the front line constantly retreating, a absurd feeling surging in his heart.
Where was this facing off against a newly risen small country?
This was clearly the feeling of facing Konoha at its peak during the Third Great Ninja War!
Even more so!
On the battlefield, ninjutsu lights flashed and exploded continuously, Sand Village puppet fragments flew everywhere, poison mists canceled out by Star Ninja purification ninjutsu.
The efficient “kunai guns” in the Star Ninja hands continuously spat flames, shooting explosive tag kunai into dense Sand Ninja areas, causing continuous chaos and casualties.
Four hundred Star Ninja were actually pressing two thousand Sand Ninja back!
A day of fierce battle temporarily came to an end in the sunset glow.
The Sand Ninja retreated like a tide to the camp they set up in the oasis.
The camp was filled with cries of the wounded everywhere, bandaged injured groaning in pain, the heavy scent of blood and herbs mixed together, nauseating.
Rasa’s face was ashen as he patrolled the camp, with Baki following beside him, equally grim-faced.
“Lord Kazekage, preliminary count today, we lost over eighty ninja again.” Baki’s voice was dry: “After four consecutive days of combat, our total casualties have exceeded five hundred. Among them, two Jonin killed, two seriously injured, and the losses of Chunin and Genin are even more…”
Rasa’s heart sank sharply, interrupting him: “What about our gains? How many Star Ninja did we eliminate?”
Baki shook his head, a bitter and incredulous expression on his face: “The enemy… is extremely tough. They are highly organized, with perfect coordination; even if a team member falls, nearby teammates will desperately retrieve the body or wounded. We… we’ve only confirmed collecting five Star Ninja corpses so far. Preliminary estimate, their casualty figures might be… less than thirty.”
“Less than thirty?!” Rasa almost squeezed the words through his teeth, a chill instantly spreading through his body.
Nearly one to seventeen kill ratio!
He couldn’t fathom no matter what, why the combat power gap between the two sides’ ninja was so vast?
Those strange armors, those ninjutsu without hand seals, those endless Bloodline Limits…
What kind of monster was the Land of Stars?
At this time, Chiyo Granny, with a haggard face but eyes burning with hatred flames, walked over; her voice hoarse and heavy: “Rasa, the casualties are too great… even comparable to the most brutal campaign losses of the Third Great Ninja War. More importantly, the opponent’s casualties are minimal. If we continue fighting like this, Sand Village’s foundation will be shattered! We can’t keep hard-fighting like this!”
Rasa took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the irritability and fear in his heart, and asked: “Elder Chiyo, any news on the flanking raid troops on the left and right wings? Have they successfully infiltrated the Land of Stars territory?”
The ones he sent weren’t just Yura and Fugai’s squad, but another led by Scorching Release ninja Yakura and Jonin Ryosuke, conducting a larger-scale flanking from the west side, targeting the Land of Swamps newly annexed by the Land of Stars.
Chiyo Granny shook her head: “No news yet. However, the Star Ninja main force is pinned here by us, so their defenses in other directions domestically must be relatively weak. High chance of success for the raid.”
She paused, suggesting: “To create opportunities for the raid troops and maintain the front line, I suggest… tomorrow intensify the frontal offensive, don’t let them notice the possible chaos in our rear.”
Rasa was silent for a moment, looking at the countless pained faces in the camp; he knew Sand Village had no retreat.
The war was initiated by him; if he backed down now, not only would the Land of Wind’s interests not be secured, but Sand Village’s status in the Ninja World would plummet.
“Pass the order: at dawn tomorrow, continue the offensive!” Rasa’s voice carried a desperate resolve: “Tell everyone to hold on! Konoha’s promised reinforcements will arrive soon! As long as we wait for Konoha, wait for Rock Village to also declare war on the Land of Stars, victory will ultimately be ours!”
He seemed to be speaking to Baki and Chiyo, more like hypnotizing himself.
Rasa could only pin his hopes on the slim Konoha promised support, and anticipate that the Land of Earth Rock Village would soon be dragged in to attack the Land of Stars from the east.
Only then might Sand Village have a slim chance of survival.
Little did he know, one of the raid troops he had high hopes for had already been thoroughly crushed deep in the desert by a Star Ninja squad of only twelve.
