Expelling Rock Ninja from the Land of Grass!

Yakushi Nonō, Dai, and Qingshan Yi each led a portion of the troops, beginning drills to adapt to the tactics. Uchiha Kin, meanwhile, took advantage of this rare moment of downtime to find a patch of dappled shade, close his eyes, and rest.

The "command" of a battlefield was not something just anyone could handle. From the moment he received his orders yesterday until now, his brain had been operating at high speed, all while managing the wounded on the battlefield, considering negotiations, attending meetings, and summarizing reports.

During this time, though he had snatched a few moments of sleep, it was like a drop in the ocean compared to the energy he had expended.

It could at most be considered a "relief" from fatigue.

The ninja regarded him with both respect and awe. Seeing him rest, they consciously moved their training grounds further away. Minato Namikaze, who had wanted to talk with him a few times, also held back. It wasn't until around three o'clock in the afternoon that Uchiha Kin woke up.

He sat up and glanced at the sun, roughly estimating the current time. Then, he pulled out his watch and took a look.

15:12

"Assemble!"

Uchiha Kin gathered the troops, and the three squads of ninja stood neatly before him.

"The time is just about right. Next, I give the order—Mission One: Completely expel the Rock Ninja from the Land of Grass and restore order to the Land of Grass.

"Mission Two: After Mission One is complete, encamp on the border of the Land of Earth and await further orders! Depart!"

His orders made the ninja's blood boil, their breathing growing heavier. The war had dragged on until now, and it had been incredibly frustrating. Initially, they had fought the Rock Ninja in the Land of Grass, only to have the Rock Ninja break through their homeland.

The central battlefield was even more brutal, with the Sand Ninja pushing all the way to Kikyo Castle, engaged in a desperate defense of their doorstep.

To the east... the Land of Lightning had also penetrated deep into the Land of Fire, retreating steadily under the lightning-fast attacks of the Cloud Ninja.

Konoha, on the eastern, central, and western fronts, had been experiencing nothing but defeat, routs, retreats, and losses. The ninja of Konoha had been beaten into submission, their spirits broken. It was only in yesterday's battle that they truly held their heads high. Uchiha Kin, with an absolute, crushing victory, had injected a powerful stimulant into these three hundred-plus individuals! Thus, at this moment, every action, every glance, every word from Uchiha Kin seemed to possess an inexplicable power.

It was a commanding presence, like a mountain, moving like the heavens collapsing, with a spirit that could swallow up ten thousand miles like a tiger. Forged by victory, it was invincible!

"Kin!"

They shouted "Kin," which was not only Uchiha Kin's name but also the bugle call for battle.

Kin: Primary killer. Sharp, cutting edge.

These three hundred men were divided into vanguard, center, and rear armies. The vanguard was led by Qingshan Yi, the center by Dai, and the rear by Yakushi Nonō. Minato Namikaze, along with Nohara Rin and Kakashi, acted as security personnel alongside Uchiha Kin.

After the Rock Ninja retreated from the Land of Fire to the Land of Grass, they had slowed their pace. Qingshan Yi's vanguard happened to encounter the Rock Ninja.

"Kill!"

Qingshan Yi shouted "Kill," and the formation broke, charging towards the Rock Ninja. Each ninja began forming hand seals for the Phoenix Sage Fire.

The ninja spread out, creating distance between them. This wider, sparser, yet nightmarish formation made the Rock Ninja's scalps tingle. Whistle sounds of "doo" and "doo" rang out. The Rock Ninja at the forefront immediately unleashed an Earth Flow Wall. After releasing it, they ignored orders and turned to flee.

"Doo! Doo! Doo!"—The whistle sounds became more urgent!

A Uchiha ninja threw a steel wire shuriken, which flew over the Earth Flow Wall. The Phoenix Sage Fire followed along the steel wire, burning its target. A brief scream was heard as the ninja who had released the Earth Flow Wall was incinerated.

Some ninja rolled to the side, dodging the Earth Flow Wall, as flames erupted from the side, transforming into fireballs that scattered everywhere.

This defensive line collapsed in an instant, and the Konoha ninja who had held back their ninjutsu began their second wave of attack!

Fireballs the size of washbasins exploded across the battlefield, one after another, seemingly without end. The Konoha ninja acted as if their chakra would never be depleted. Although the Rock Ninja commander tried desperately to maintain order, he could not stop the rout.

The Rock Ninja's courage had been shattered in yesterday's battle!

If these Konoha ninja could be killed, it would be one thing. But they would be injured one moment and then appear alive and well the next, seemingly unkillable. What was the point of such a war?

Upon seeing the second wave of Konoha ninja arrive, the Rock Ninja commander also gave up...

Retreat!

This retreat took them all the way back to the border.

In less than two hours, the entire Land of Grass was "liberated." Uchiha Kin personally drafted a proclamation of peace.

Proclamation to the People of the Land of Grass

It stated that the Rock Ninja had wickedly initiated war, invaded the Land of Grass, and disregarded international rules, causing the people of the Land of Grass to suffer greatly from the hardships of war. It also denounced the Rock Ninja's invasion of the Land of Fire, expressing that the Land of Grass, as a fallen nation, and its ninja, forced to survive, had no choice but to appease both sides, which was understandable. Finally, it expressed strong condemnation of the Rock Ninja.

The Grass Shadow of Kusagakure, an old man nearing sixty, led about ten ninja, standing by the roadside, respectfully awaiting the Konoha ninja's "passage."

"I, Hashimoto Ōshige, the village shadow of Kusagakure, pay my respects to the ninja of Konoha..." The shadow of a small village, utterly humble.

The dozen or so ninja beside him remained silent.

These Konoha ninja carried an extremely arrogant aura that made them fearful. Suppressed, they dared not speak. One person said, "Wait," and went to report. After a while, he returned, saying, "Follow me."

About ten ninja were left behind, and only Hashimoto Ōshige was asked to follow. He met Uchiha Kin.

So young!

Hashimoto Ōshige was shocked by Uchiha Kin's youth. He hadn't expected the commander of this group to be so young.

However, the abyssal aura emanating from this young man made him afraid to even breathe deeply.

"You are the Grass Shadow of Kusagakure?" Uchiha Kin asked.

"Yes, I am Hashimoto Ōshige, the Grass Shadow of Kusagakure..." After he finished speaking, seeing that Uchiha Kin did not continue to question him, he felt compelled to speak again. "Lord, you have helped the Land of Grass drive out the Rock Ninja and restored peace to our land. The Land of Grass is eternally grateful. I represent the Land of Grass and Kusagakure in thanking you.

"We have prepared a banquet for you, and we implore you, Lord, and all the ninja of Konoha, to not refuse. This is our humble offering."

Uchiha Kin remained noncommittal, merely watching him. After Hashimoto Ōshige had finished speaking, and after a considerable pause, he finally replied, "A banquet... is not necessary. The Land of Grass has just experienced war and its people are impoverished. We ninja of Konoha are a righteous force, and we will not take a single thread or strand from the Land of Grass... You may return; we must continue on our journey."

After speaking, he didn't give Hashimoto Ōshige any more chances to speak and sent him away. Then, the troop continued their march.

He intended to go straight for Qingshi Town and talk with the Rock Ninja there!

He wanted the Rock Ninja to beg for negotiations.

He wanted to decide the location of the negotiations himself.

Qingshi Town was a good place.