Ambushed

Orochimaru led the troops out on schedule. Their immediate goal was to reach the border as quickly as possible, which meant traveling through the Land of Hot Water. It lay between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, serving as a buffer zone. If war broke out, the fighting would instantly spread into the Land of Hot Water. That was the tragedy of a small country.

By the time they reached the Land of Hot Water, six days had passed. The large force's slow pace had delayed their journey, and when they arrived, they found the atmosphere in the country strangely tense.

It was far too quiet. Even in wartime, the streets shouldn't have been completely empty.

"Scouting unit, move out."

The staff officer gave the order.

"Yes, sir."

The scouts were dispatched at once. The Aburame Clan released their insects, while members of the Hyuga Clan activated their Byakugan to gather information.

"Damn! The Hyuga Clan!"

The Cloud Ninja lying in ambush saw members of the Hyuga Clan in Konoha's ranks and realized their ambush might be wasted.

"Attack them directly! We're close enough in numbers. It's anyone's fight."

The Cloud Ninja commander in charge of the battlefield had intended to spring an ambush, bloody Konoha's vanguard, and seize the initiative. But with the Byakugan in play, there was no point in trying to ambush them. They would have to fight head-on.

"Everyone, get ready!"

"Charge!"

The commander waved his hand, and the Cloud Ninja hurled Explosive Tags, shuriken, kunai, and other weapons at Konoha's troops.

"Damn it, we're surrounded!"

Konoha's scouts were at the front and took the first hit. Wiping them out would be like blinding Konoha.

The other ninja saw countless kunai with Explosive Tags attached flying toward them. Their faces filled with terror.

"Summoning Technique!"

At the sight, Orochimaru bit his finger, dragged it across his palm, clasped his hands together, then pressed them to the ground.

With a "poof," three giant snakes appeared on the battlefield, coiling around Konoha's troops. All the Explosive Tags detonated against their bodies, spraying flesh and blood and staining the earth crimson.

"Lord Orochimaru has joined the fight!"

The Konoha ninja who had survived the initial attack shouted in relief.

The Cloud Ninja gave them no chance to relax. When their plan failed, they immediately launched an assault, and hundreds of ninja attacked Konoha's position.

Konoha's ninja recovered from the initial onslaught and quickly engaged the Cloud Ninja, showing just how capable the village's shinobi were.

Ninja fought across the Land of Hot Water. Ninjutsu ran rampant, destroying the surrounding buildings and forests.

Some ninja fell unwillingly. Others set off Explosive Tags and took their opponents with them. Death became the order of the day, and the fragility of life was laid bare.

"Is this what war is like?"

Many Genin who had only just graduated and been sent to the battlefield couldn't help asking. Living people died before their eyes, and blossoms of blood kept bursting open, each one marking another life's end. Unable to bear the reek of blood, some bent over and vomited.

As commander of the ninja forces, Orochimaru drew the Cloud Ninja's special attention. Four Cloud Ninja Jonin surrounded him from every direction. It was only natural to take every precaution against Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. After all, defeating him was a chance to make a name for themselves. Fame and fortune—the goals of a lifetime—were right within reach. How could that not drive them wild?

"You Cloud Ninja certainly planned this well."

Orochimaru spoke coldly. One-on-one, the Cloud Ninja stood no chance against him. So they had sent four Jonin to keep him occupied from all sides, hoping the Cloud Ninja could first wipe out Konoha's battered troops, then join forces and overwhelm Orochimaru with hundreds of ninja.

"That's not something you need to worry about, Orochimaru. Just watch as Konoha's ninja die!"

Seeing their plan unfold smoothly, the Cloud Ninja couldn't help gloating.

"You think you can hold me, Orochimaru, here? Aren't you overestimating yourselves?"

Orochimaru sneered.

"Shadow Snake Hand!"

His arms instantly transformed into countless snakes, which lashed out and wrapped around all four Cloud Ninja Jonin.

Anyone who became a Jonin had survived countless battles. They reacted in an instant, swiftly cutting off the snakes' heads with their kunai. Just as they thought they were out of danger, a sword shot from a snake's mouth and pierced a Cloud Ninja's heart.

"Underestimating me comes at a price."

The three remaining Cloud Ninja Jonin tensed, ready for anything.

Karot moved constantly across the battlefield. His body was his strongest weapon, and no ninja could withstand his attacks.

A brush left them wounded; a touch left them dead. Wherever the red figure passed, Cloud Ninja fell.

"Sanada, what are you doing?"

The shout snapped Sanada out of his daze. He looked back in confusion.

"Karot, is... is this what war is like?"

His voice trembled. Sanada had killed before; he had carried out plenty of assassination missions.

But seeing lives treated as worthless on the battlefield had shaken him to the core. A comrade who had been leaping around one moment was a cold corpse the next.

He watched, unable to do anything but watch. He feared becoming one of them. Even more, he feared being consumed by bloodlust and turning into a heartless butcher.

He had already killed too many since the fighting began. His hands were soaked in blood, and he had lost all respect for life.

"Get a grip! This is war—a fight to the death! I don't want to have to visit your grave, you idiot!"

Karot grabbed Sanada by the collar and roared at him.

Konoha's training was far too forgiving. The Konoha ninja's performance on the battlefield made that plain. They panicked and ran around looking for their teachers to protect them; some even froze in place and were slaughtered.

A battle that had been evenly matched was gradually tipping in the Cloud Ninja's favor.

"Stay close to me."

Karot ordered Sanada.

Karot searched the battlefield for Kazumi, afraid something might have happened to her. As he moved through the fighting, more and more people gathered behind him, forming a formidable force.

"Kid, you're getting too cocky."

A Cloud Ninja Jonin saw Karot charging unchecked across the battlefield, leaving more and more Cloud Ninja dead. His anger boiled over.

He thrust the kunai in his hand toward the blind spot behind Karot. He had been lying in wait for a long time, just waiting for this lethal strike. There was no reason it would fail.

A cruel smile spread across his face. Nothing pleased him more than bringing down a prodigy.

"Karot, wa—"

Hyuga Sanada was about to warn Karot, but he didn't have time to finish.

"Go on back!"

Karot was ready for him. He spun and drove a kick into the Cloud Ninja's head, crushing his skull and sending him flying. Karot had been keeping track of the battlefield the entire time. To him, an ambushing Jonin stood out like a bright light. He had deliberately left an opening.