Kamehameha

"The storm is coming, Karot. Ever since you completed your mission, the Cloud Ninja forces on the front lines have been growing. War is imminent."

Inside the tent, Orochimaru explained the recent changes to Karot. It was Karot's display of strength in the Cloud Ninja's rear that had caught Orochimaru's attention. After all, the ninja world was ultimately ruled by strength; the stronger you are, the higher your status. Karot's strength was a crucial cornerstone for Orochimaru's front.

"What do you need me to do, Lord Orochimaru?"

Karot asked calmly. Nothing in this world came for free, and Karot knew there had to be a reason he was being singled out.

"Once the war begins, I need you to hold off A. Reliable intelligence indicates the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki has also arrived on the battlefield. I can't be in two places at once."

Orochimaru revealed his objective.

"Understood. It's my duty. If there's nothing else, I'd like to take my leave."

"Hmm."

When Karot emerged from the tent, Hyuga Sanada, Kazumi, and Matsushita were already waiting.

"Karot, you're back! It's so good you're safe!"

Kazumi hugged Karot, tears welling up. When she learned he was undertaking such a dangerous mission, her heart had been uneasy, fearing she might lose him, her younger brother. Now that he was back safe, she could finally relax.

Sanada watched Kazumi embrace Karot before him, his raised arms feeling awkward.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?"

Karot opened his arms, waiting for Sanada. The two then hugged tightly, a single embrace between brothers speaking louder than any words.

Matsushita looked at his students, wishing the moment could last forever – no war, no death, just genuine friendship.

"Karot, congratulations on completing an S-rank mission."

Matsushita was genuinely happy for Karot. In the blink of an eye, Karot's growth had far surpassed his imagination.

"Thank you, Teacher Matsushita. I'll keep working hard."

The war didn't pause; it arrived as if summoned. The entire Land of Tang became a massive battlefield.

On the Cloud Ninja side, A led two thousand ninja, advancing aggressively. The Leaf Village, led by Orochimaru, resisted with fifteen hundred ninja.

King against king, soldier against soldier.

Karot faced his old rival, A.

"Karot, you got away last time, but you won't be so lucky today."

A roared furiously, eager to eliminate the man who had stained his reputation.

"Oh really? You didn't have the strength last time. Do you think you do now?"

Karot spread his hands, inviting A to try.

The two immediately engaged in a fierce battle, their clashes echoing across the battlefield, drawing the attention of both Cloud and Leaf ninja. Karot shifted from a punch to a claw, raking the ground and lifting a massive boulder. He swung the stone at A.

"Haa!"

A's body crackled with electricity as he shattered the boulder with a single punch. Debris rained down as they clashed again, trading blows, each seeking to inflict damage.

On another part of the battlefield, Orochimaru summoned the gluttonous snake, Manda.

"Orochimaru, you know the rules. I want two hundred people this time."

Aware of Manda's nature, Orochimaru pointed.

"Everything ahead is yours. Eat as much as you can."

Manda, rarely seeing Orochimaru so generous, opened its massive maw and charged towards the Cloud Ninja.

It swallowed Cloud ninja whole, one after another, inflicting heavy losses. The colossal summoned beast placed immense psychological pressure on the Cloud forces.

"Expansion Jutsu!"

"Shadow Clone!"

"Fang Over Fang!"

"Mind Disturbance Jutsu!"

As the ninja from the Leaf Village's clans unleashed their techniques, the Cloud Ninja began to retreat.

"Damn you Leaf bastards!"

Killer B, eight tails erupting from his body, swept across the Leaf ninja, causing a large number of casualties. It was like bringing a Gatling gun to a knife fight; it was unfair.

"A Tailed Beast!"

"That's the Eight-Tails!"

The perfect Jinchuriki, Killer B, arrived with his Eight-Tails, shattering the Leaf Village's advantage. A strategic weapon wasn't just a saying; it had real power.

The Eight-Tails rampaged across the battlefield, as if in enemy territory, inflicting heavy losses on the Leaf ninja.

Orochimaru charged forward. Manda roared.

"It's you, the bastard who prevented me from getting my sacrifice last time! This time, we'll swallow you whole!"

Manda, charging headfirst to exact revenge, was met by Orochimaru and the three Jonin of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation.

Manda, with its colossal size, was an easy target. It was ensnared by the Eight-Tails' tail and crushed into a cloud of white smoke, disappearing. As it vanished, it defiantly shouted.

"I'll eat you when I get back."

Orochimaru paid no mind to the Eight-Tails' failure, cooperating with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to corner it. However, the Cloud Ninja had more than one Tailed Beast; the Two-Tails, Matatabi, appeared in its Tailed Beast form.

"Ah."

"Run!"

The Two-Tails continuously unleashed Fire Style jutsu on the battlefield. The Leaf Village ninja cried out in pain, their pleas useless as they were burned alive.

"Eight-Tails, it's up to you."

Orochimaru instructed. He was the only one on the field capable of dealing with the Two-Tails, Matatabi, while he knew the Ino-Shika-Cho could barely hold their own against the Eight-Tails. It was a desperate measure, as no one had expected the Cloud Ninja to deploy two Tailed Beasts on the Leaf Village battlefield, intending to crush the Leaf ninja with overwhelming force and advance into their territory.

"Matatabi, let me face you. Shadow Snake Hand!"

Countless snakes emerged from the ground, coiling around Matatabi's body. Matatabi unleashed a pale blue flame that incinerated all the snakes, turning Orochimaru's attack to naught.

Matatabi was incredibly fast and skilled in taijutsu, launching a fierce assault on Orochimaru. As a Kage-level ninja, Orochimaru's taijutsu and ninjutsu were among the best, and he was in peak condition, making him incredibly powerful. Wielding the Kusanagi sword, he fought Matatabi to a standstill.

"This is bad, retreat quickly!"

Akimichi's voice echoed across the battlefield. Orochimaru turned his head and saw the Eight-Tails rearing back, condensing a massive Tailed Beast Bomb. Orochimaru thought to himself.

"Not good."

He wanted to intervene, but how could Matatabi let him? The Tailed Beast Bomb was aimed directly at the Leaf Village's encampment, where the wounded, Medical Ninja, and military supplies were all located. If it were hit by the Tailed Beast Bomb, the Leaf Village would lose this battle.

The three Jonin of Ino-Shika-Cho watched with wide, disbelieving eyes. Orochimaru was powerless to stop it, and could only watch as the Tailed Beast Bomb was fired towards the Leaf Village encampment.

At that moment, Karot deliberately took a punch from A, using the force to propel himself between the Tailed Beast Bomb and the encampment.

"Karot, dodge quickly!"

Matsushita Hokuto shouted urgently upon seeing Karot directly facing the Tailed Beast Bomb. To his surprise, Karot showed no reaction.

Karot's expression hardened. He bent his knees slightly, brought his hands together in a cross shape, and suddenly, starlight erupted between his palms. A powerful Ki instantly appeared in his hands. He shouted.

"Kamehameha!"

"Hah!"

Karot unleashed a massive energy beam from his hands that collided with the Tailed Beast Bomb. As the saying goes, the left side loses in a beam struggle; Karot's Kamehameha pushed the Tailed Beast Bomb back into the Eight-Tails' mouth.

"Boom!"

The Eight-Tails was blasted away by the Kamehameha.