Chapter 155: Decisive Battle Of The Land Of Rivers War
Anbu Tent Area.
Kiiroinu stood in front, facing all Anbu.
“The Land of Rivers war has already lasted half a year.
Hidden Sand Village is the weakest among the five great hidden villages. In half a year, Hidden Sand Village has suffered over 1,000 ninja casualties.
After Hidden Mist Village declared war on us, we Konoha fought on three fronts.
Both sides have reached their limits.
The cruel war has lasted half a year, and both sides want to get results as soon as possible.
Hidden Sand Village decided to end the war with a gamble-style decisive battle.
In the final decisive battle, there will be no behind enemy lines missions, no assassination, no containment. Both sides will commit all their forces.
Hippopotamus Squad, Yak Squad, follow me to the front battlefield to assist the main force.
Fox Squad, head to the White Wild River battlefield to assist Deputy Commander Hatake Sakumo’s flank force.
Anbu has two missions in the decisive battle.
The first mission is to faithfully record the battlefield situation for Hokage, not missing any detail.
The second mission is to enter the battle representing Hokage at the most critical moment.
Anbu is Hokage’s direct troops, not only Hokage’s sharpest blade, not only Hokage’s eyes, but also the embodiment of Hokage’s influence.
Each squad leader go receive enough exploding tags, distribute all stocked kunai and exploding tags.”
Yoru noticed that Kiiroinu kept emphasizing Hokage, deliberately omitting Anbu Minister Danzo.
Kiiroinu this person has some ambition.
Purple Cat Squad received a large amount of ninja tools and exploding tags.
Yoru led the squad away from the Anbu Tent Area, heading to the flank rally point.
The camp area was full of assembling troops everywhere, appearing unusually chaotic.
Yoru saw some ninja whispering, and asked Purple Cat: “Purple Cat, has there been any changes in the camp recently? Why do some people seem absent-minded before the battle?”
Purple Cat said quietly: “Captain, Commander-in-Chief Shikaku abolished the ninjutsu assessment system last night, and some civilian ninja mindsets have changed, worrying they won’t get ninjutsu suited to them.”
Yoru felt a bit uneasy in his heart.
Before the decisive battle, Nara Shikaku publicly broke ties with Hatake Sakumo, abolishing Hatake Sakumo’s most important policy, the ninjutsu assessment system.
After the Land of Rivers war, Nara Shikaku not only did not become friends, but also developed major conflicts.
Is it because of the rumors in the camp about being careful of the Nara Clan’s shadow secret jutsu controlling their own people?
Nara Shikaku is not afraid of Hatake Sakumo doing something in the final decisive battle… he should not be afraid. Hatake Sakumo is not that kind of person; Hatake Sakumo will definitely consider the big picture.
Outside the camp, the main force completed pre-battle mobilization.
The troops were divided into two: one commanded by Nara Shikaku and Tsunade as the front troops, the other commanded by Hatake Sakumo as the flank force.
Even Tsunade had changed into her battle vest.
Her gaze was weary, twisting her shoulders, seemingly unaccustomed to this steel vest.
She looked at several Senju ninja.
Most Senju ninja were in the medical department, a few still in the combat sequence, contributing and bleeding for Konoha. She hoped these few could survive.
Tsunade would recommend them to become jonin.
Yoru bypassed the front troops and saw the flank force.
Hatake Sakumo stood at the very front, his expression resolute, seemingly unaffected by the abolition of the ninjutsu assessment system.
He waved his hand, and the flank force left the camp, heading to the preset battlefield.
Yoru hurried to follow.
He did not report to Hatake Sakumo’s command; Fox Squad would judge independently and act independently.
Below White Wild River, the river water surged.
On both shores of White Wild River, a large number of Sand Ninja ran north, bypassing to the rear of the Konoha Unit.
The two sides collided thunderously in the middle section of White Wild River.
Yoru found a high ground to the west of White Wild River, stood on a stone, and watched the battlefield with a telescope.
The Sand Ninja’s commanders were the son and daughter-in-law of Hidden Sand Village advisor Chiyo, the elite jonin Tuoci couple.
Tuoci was Hidden Sand Village’s puppet master genius, mastering all puppet technique theory at age 5, creating a puppet praised by the Second Kazekage at age 6, graduating early from the ninja academy at age 7, and becoming a Hidden Sand Village jonin at age
Hatake Sakumo was similarly a genius, a genius praised by the Second Hokage.
On the battlefield, two geniuses met—this was the time to test the quality of geniuses.
Only the genius with the purest quality could survive.
A dead genius, no matter how dazzling or brilliant before, all became a joke, a stepping stone for the genius who survived.
Tuoci and his wife joined forces, charging toward Hatake Sakumo.
Tuoci swung his hand forcefully, and ten puppets flew out from behind him, rushing toward Hatake Sakumo like kites.
Tuoci had long mastered the top puppet technique skill of controlling one puppet with one finger.
Around him, the ten puppets varied in form: some for defense, some wielding giant hammers, some small swift puppets.
Tuoci’s wife’s puppet technique attainment was equally superb, controlling 6 puppets with both hands.
Yoru looked carefully; Tuoci’s puppets were not the Chikamatsu Collection from comics, but those ten puppets looked imposing.
A white light flashed on the bank of White Wild River.
It came!
Hatake Sakumo’s secret jutsu, Chakra Crystal Refinement Secret Jutsu!
A large amount of Lightning Release Chakra was compressed and refined by Hatake Sakumo until the Lightning Release Chakra crystallized, reaching a solidified state.
The chakra short sword swung, and the refined Lightning Release Chakra shone dazzling white, carrying a several-meter-long blade aura, instantly slicing through two puppets.
Amid crackling sounds of hitting the ground, the yellow hardwood puppet shells cracked, and the steel frames inside broke cleanly.
The steel cross-sections even showed a bright red of molten iron.
Too countered—Hatake Sakumo’s blade aura was too brilliant, the puppets’ strength ceiling insufficient; in front of White Fang, they were like toys.
Tuoci had some estimate of Hatake Sakumo’s strength, but seeing the miserable state of the puppets, his eyelids still trembled.
However, he did not panic.
Two chakra control lines shot from one finger; the halved puppets could still be manipulated, and separately at that.
Even if puppets were dismantled into eight pieces, Tuoci could make the weapons on the fragments attack at the right moment.
Hatake Sakumo, facing the Tuoci couple alone, temporarily fell into the puppets’ siege.
The puppets shattered more as they fought, but severed legs and arms could still launch attacks.
Mechanisms in the puppets’ shattered chest cavities suddenly activated, forcing Hatake Sakumo to stay vigilant and respond carefully at all times.
Yoru shifted his gaze to other directions on the battlefield.
Beside White Wild River, Konoha committed around 600 people, 10 squads.
Sand Ninja came around 500, including as many as 300 puppet masters.
One puppet master’s combat power equaled three normal Sand Ninja.
Puppet masters hid in the gorges of White Wild River, while puppets leaped onto the gorge shores, clashing fiercely with Konoha ninja.
Purple Cat held a scroll beside him, recording Konoha Side’s performance by squad.
This record would be confirmed against the reports submitted by each squad after battle, deciding mission rewards.
For certain standout ninja in the squads, there would also be special records.
The battle fell into a stalemate, with casualties quickly appearing on both sides.
Yoru thought to himself, cannot let Hatake Sakumo suffer a big loss here. The ninjutsu assessment system has already been abolished; if this turns into a pyrrhic victory here, even if the Tuoci couple is killed, Hatake Sakumo’s prestige will suffer a major blow.
He put down the telescope and said: “Aries, Hanashika, you two protect Purple Cat here to record the battlefield situation. I’ll go do something to break the stalemate.”
