Reinforcements

The sun shone brightly that day, and Konoha's ninja reinforcements finally arrived.

"Father."

Karot thought when he saw who had arrived.

That was right—it was Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo. Karot hadn't expected Hatake Sakumo to return to the battlefield.

Hatake Sakumo had no time to catch up with Karot and immediately called a general meeting.

"Today, I'll speak on behalf of the Hokage and say this to you all: thank you for your hard work."

"We serve Konoha!"

"The Hokage has seen the achievements you've made on the battlefield. Once the war is over, you'll be rewarded according to your merits."

Hatake Sakumo had also commanded troops on the battlefield, so he knew that empty words were useless.

"Although Kumogakure hasn't made any major moves recently, you can't let your guard down just because the enemy hasn't attacked today."

"I've brought a thousand elite ninja this time to shatter Kumogakure's hopes. We'll move out tonight."

When Hatake Sakumo finished speaking, the ninja below him couldn't help but look shocked.

"Sakumo-sama, isn't this too rushed? You've only just arrived, and you're already throwing yourself into the war."

A Konoha Jonin asked in surprise.

"You have a point. Kumogakure will think the same way, which is exactly why we'll catch them off guard."

"I support Senior Sakumo's plan."

The plan had already been discussed with Orochimaru before they arrived. Orochimaru stepped forward to strongly support Hatake Sakumo. After all, Orochimaru was the true Supreme Commander on the front lines. Without his help, the plan couldn't be carried out.

"I agree, too."

Nara Shikamaru raised his hand.

Seeing Nara's support, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans stood together.

More and more people raised their hands in favor, and the plan was approved without a hitch.

After the strategy meeting ended, father and son finally had some time alone.

"Karot, I'm truly proud of you."

When Hatake Sakumo learned that Karot had killed the Eight-Tails, he was so shocked he could hardly put it into words. That had been a Tailed Beast, after all. Even Hatake Sakumo had never imagined such a thing.

"It's no big deal, Father."

Karot waved his hand, looking smug.

"I didn't expect you to be the one sent to reinforce us."

Karot's expression turned serious. He'd thought it might be Danzo, since Danzo and Orochimaru were "close" allies at this point in time.

"Kumogakure lost the Eight-Tails. They'll definitely retaliate next time, and I have Lightning Release Chakra, so I'm the perfect person for the job."

Hearing Hatake Sakumo's answer, Karot was filled with emotion.

Hatake Sakumo had come to the front lines himself because he was worried Kumogakure would retaliate against his son. That way, he could keep an eye on him. A father's love for his son was deeply moving.

"How has Kakashi been doing lately, Father?"

Karot hadn't heard anything about Kakashi in a long time, so he couldn't help asking.

"Kakashi's doing well. The fighting on that front isn't as fierce as it is here. With Minato there, Kakashi should be safe."

Hatake Sakumo was optimistic about Kakashi's situation.

"The moon is full tonight. With Kakashi away, our family can't be together."

"What, Father? The moon is full tonight?"

Karot asked urgently.

"That's right. It's the fifteenth tonight. Didn't you know?"

Hatake Sakumo asked, looking confused.

Damn, it's the night of the full moon. Saiyans turn into Great Apes!

Ever since he was little, Karot had never left home on a full-moon night. After becoming a ninja, he'd kept his eyes closed whenever he had to act on one. But this was a battlefield. Fighting with his eyes closed would greatly reduce his combat power. Karot looked at his tail and fell into thought.

Hatake Sakumo saw his son staring silently at his tail. He knew Karot was a very strong-willed person. If Karot didn't want to tell him something, no amount of questioning would help.

"Father, if I look directly at the moon on a full-moon night, I'll turn into a giant ape."

Karot revealed the secret he'd kept deep in his heart.

"Is it because of your tail?"

Hatake Sakumo had guessed the reason when he saw Karot staring at his tail in silence.

"Yeah."

Karot nodded.

"Is turning into a giant ape a problem?"

He went straight to the heart of the matter.

"When I turn into a giant ape, my strength increases about twentyfold."

"Hmm? Twentyfold?"

Hatake Sakumo couldn't believe his ears and asked again.

"That's right, Father. The problem is that I might lose my sanity and go on a rampage, destroying everything around me. That's the scariest part."

"Ah. Can you turn back?"

Hatake Sakumo asked anxiously, his face full of worry.

"Yes. You just have to cut off my tail. But I'll fall unconscious afterward."

"That's good, then. That's good."

A father's first concern was always his son's safety.

"I want you to place a seal on my tail, Father. If I lose control, activate it and cut off my tail."

Karot looked solemn. A twentyfold increase in combat power wasn't just an expression—his speed would increase twentyfold, too. Who in the world could stand against him then? He was afraid he might accidentally kill Hatake Sakumo, and that would be something he'd regret forever.

Time passed, and night fell. Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo each led a team, advancing toward Kumogakure's camp from the east and west.

The Aburame Clan sent out their insects to locate Kumogakure's sentries and eliminate them without making a sound. The insects devoured the bodies completely. Hatake Sakumo and his men reached their designated position safely. All they had to do was wait for the signal to attack.

"Attack!"

Hatake Sakumo waved his hand, and a rain of Explosive Tags flew into Kumogakure's camp.

"Boom! Boom!"

Explosions rang out one after another.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The Cloud Ninja shouted to raise the alarm. People poured out of the tents.

"Don't panic! Squad leaders, organize your teams and prepare to fight!"

A figure covered in lightning shouted loudly. The Cloud Ninja stopped panicking once they heard his voice. Their pillar of support had appeared: the Third Raikage, A, the strongest ninja in Kumogakure.

Killer B had returned badly wounded, so A had come to the front lines to restore morale. He hadn't expected Konoha to lose patience first and launch an attack. But in A's eyes, it was no big deal. Once he stepped in, no one in the world could stand against him.

"Kill them!"

The Cloud Ninja and Konoha clashed. Ninjutsu flew in every direction, blazing brilliantly in the pitch-black night. Every flash of light meant another life had been lost. Konoha had come in force and was well prepared, while the Cloud Ninja had been caught off guard and fell into a disadvantage.

"Damn you, Konoha! Aah!"

The Two-Tails Jinchuriki entered Tailed Beast Transformation. She moved at incredible speed and kept unleashing Fire Release. The entire battlefield became a sea of flames.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Konoha's Water Release ninja repeatedly unleashed water techniques to put out the flames. Matatabi was inflicting too much damage on Konoha.

Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru fought the Raikage, but he was too powerful. The two of them could barely protect themselves and couldn't afford to get distracted.

"Summoning Technique!"

"Go deal with the Cloud Ninja, Orochimaru's Snake. Eat as much as you want."

Orochimaru ordered the snake without giving him a chance to speak.

"Hatake Sword Style!"

"Shallow Shadow Snake Hand!"

None of their attacks could break through the Raikage's Lightning Armor. That showed just how powerful the strongest Raikage really was.