Tōka sprinted toward the eastern side of the outpost. He had no idea how long the genjutsu could hold Ebizo.
All he could do now was make the most of every second. Any extra distance he could put between them was worth it.
Fortunately, the outpost was not very large. Before long, the massive form of the slug came into Tōka's view.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Just as Tōka was about to move forward, two black shadows dropped down and blocked his path.
"Sunagakure Shinobi?"
Unlike Konoha's leaf forehead protectors, Tōka recognized Sunagakure's symbol at a glance.
Why were Sunagakure Shinobi here?
Unease stirred in Tōka's heart. Had Sunagakure already cut off Konoha's retreat?
"It's a Konoha brat. Kill him!" While Tōka sized them up, they were also sizing him up.
The two Sunagakure Shinobi were both Puppet Masters. Though they possessed only Chunin-level strength, they specialized in poison and trap-setting.
Clack, clack, clack...
Mechanical joints twisted with strange noises.
Two bizarre-looking puppets suddenly charged forward, their green-glinting blades in the night making Tōka's scalp tingle.
"Puppet Masters again?" Tōka's little face darkened slightly, but he was not afraid if they were only Chunin.
Pfft!
A blade tore through flesh and stabbed into Tōka's body.
At the same time, a puff of white smoke rose, revealing a round log.
"Substitution Technique!"
The two Puppet Masters hiding in the darkness tensed as they sensed a dangerous presence rapidly approaching.
A chill rose from the soles of their feet and shot straight to their scalps.
"Looking for me?" Tōka's teasing voice rang out. His sustained speed might not have been exceptional, but his instantaneous burst speed was absolutely no weaker than Gai's.
The two Sunagakure Shinobi turned toward the voice, only to see two fingers pressed against their foreheads.
An aura of decay and death formed a shadow over their hearts.
"All-Killing Ash Bones: Bone Bullet Barrage!"
Pfft! Pfft! Short finger bones sank into their foreheads, and their bodies instantly crumbled apart.
In the end, they turned into scraps of paper and scattered into ash.
"Now then, what should I do about the traps in this area?" Tōka frowned at the desert ahead.
The battle on the eastern side of the outpost was in full swing. The slug's enormous size had drawn the attention of most of the Sunagakure Shinobi.
Meanwhile, Sakumo Hatake, who was secretly hunting down Sunagakure's elite, had been held up by Chiyo.
This time, Chiyo had deployed her White Secret Technique, leaving White Fang unable to break away for the moment.
The battle had reached a stalemate. Konoha's ninjas were outnumbered, while Sunagakure was not lacking in powerful fighters either.
Before they knew it, Konoha had fallen into a situation where they were being suppressed across the board.
"There are a little too many troops in a single Sunagakure outpost!" Tsunade bit her lip, her face clouded over.
She did not yet know that the infiltration and sabotage of the southern outpost had failed. At this moment, she was still deliberately drawing Sunagakure's attention.
Tōka had seen all of this.
"We can't drag this out any longer. No matter how strong Sakumo Hatake and Tsunade are, they can't overcome an army of thousands of Sunagakure Shinobi."
Tōka did not particularly care about Konoha's casualties.
He was currently behind Sunagakure's lines. Wearing a Konoha forehead protector, he would definitely be classified as Sunagakure's enemy. There was no way he could escape alone.
Tōka and Konoha were tied to the same rope. If one suffered, both suffered!
"If I want to get through, I have to destroy the traps first."
The moment he thought about destroying the traps, Tōka was stumped.
He knew nothing about setting or dismantling traps! The Ninja Academy taught it, but Tōka was only a midterm transfer student.
Besides, he had attended school for only a handful of days.
"What should I do..." Tōka held his chin with one hand, his brows knotted tightly together.
At the Sunagakure outpost, Tsunade stood atop the massive slug, looking somewhat exhausted as she glanced toward the interior of the outpost.
The blaze from earlier had flashed briefly before falling completely silent.
Clearly, Tsunade had noticed the problem. The plan to infiltrate and burn the provisions had most likely failed.
"Tell everyone to prepare to retreat!" Though Tsunade was a woman, she was extremely decisive in her actions.
Sensing the severity of the situation, she immediately gave the order to the Yamanaka Clan ninja beside her who was responsible for relaying commands.
"Yes!"
The Yamanaka ninja nodded slightly, formed hand seals with both hands, and called out, "Ninja Art: Mind Transmission Technique."
Without using any device, it allowed them to communicate directly and transmit their words into another person's mind.
On the battlefield, the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Transmission Technique could perfectly relay orders.
The Yamanaka ninja's voice immediately sounded in Tōka's mind.
"Lady Tsunade has ordered an immediate retreat!"
"This is bad. If Konoha retreats directly, they'll definitely step into the traps!"
Tōka's little face changed dramatically. Perhaps Sakumo Hatake and Tsunade could make it through the trapped area alive.
But the rest of Konoha...
The thought flashed through his mind, and Tōka immediately pulled out an Explosive Tag and tied it to the end of a Kunai, intending to use it to warn the Konoha ninjas.
Tsunade controlled the slug to cover the rear, while Sakumo Hatake secretly provided support and dealt with Sunagakure's elite.
The remaining Konoha ninjas also began to fall back. The first to leave the outpost was an elite squad consisting of one Jonin and three Chunin.
Tōka stared solemnly into the distance, gripping the Kunai tightly in his hand. His nerves were stretched taut, and a thin layer of sweat seeped from his palm.
He only had one chance, because he carried only a single Kunai equipped with an Explosive Tag!
He was waiting for an opportunity, a chance to warn the Konoha ninjas that this area was trapped!
The elite Konoha squad clearing the way ahead raced closer and closer, nearing the trapped area...
"Now!" Tōka's gaze sharpened, and with a flick of his wrist, he launched the Kunai.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...
The Explosive Tag activated, giving off the smell of burning.
Under the pitch-black night sky, the Kunai carrying the Explosive Tag shot out with a whoosh like a missile trailing a long tail.
Boom!!
The Kunai landed precisely within the trapped area, and an earth-shaking explosion rang out.
It immediately triggered a chain reaction among the large number of Explosive Tags buried underground. The Explosive Tags within the traps detonated one after another.
Rumble...
A massive shockwave spread in all directions, whipping up a sandstorm that filled the sky.
The elite Konoha squad at the front immediately halted.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down the middle-aged Jonin's temple as he stared at the enormous mushroom cloud not far ahead, his heart pounding wildly.
A cold breeze brushed past, bringing an icy chill to his back.
Only then did he realize that his back... had somehow already been soaked in cold sweat.
If they had taken another ten steps forward just now...
The thought had barely crossed his mind when a chill shot up from the soles of his feet.
"There are traps ahead. Everyone, follow the path blasted open by the Explosive Tags!"
As the captain of the elite path-clearing squad, the middle-aged Jonin possessed exceptionally rich combat experience.
He immediately took out several Kunai, each with an Explosive Tag tied to its end.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!
With a rapid series of flicks, he threw them out, the Kunai forming a straight line.
Yet their landing points were completely different despite being so close together...
Rumble!!
The traps laid by the Sunagakure Shinobi were bombarded in succession, and every mechanism was destroyed.
The Konoha ninjas swiftly retreated along the trail of explosions...
Suddenly!
A terrifying presence came from behind. Tōka, who had already retreated to the edge of the forest, changed expression.
He knew it. Ebizo of Sunagakure had caught up!
"Brat, I'll definitely kill you this time!!" Ebizo roared through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing scarlet.
As a strategist, Ebizo rarely lost his temper.
Yet Tōka had made him suffer twice in a row.
Ebizo's calm heart, which had remained undisturbed for decades, had truly been enraged this time!
Clack, clack, clack...
Two puppets filled with the aura of death transformed into black shadows and attacked Tōka like ghosts.
At that very moment, two figures rapidly descended from the sky!
Bang!
Terrifying force shattered the ground, and cracks as thick as bowls surged toward Ebizo like an earth dragon.
"Tsunade?!" Ebizo immediately abandoned his charge at Tōka and leaped backward.
White Fang and Tsunade landed together, standing directly beside Tōka.
Most of Konoha's forces had retreated from the Sunagakure outpost. At the same time, Chiyo and Rasa led a group of Sunagakure Shinobi in pursuit.
The two sides fell into a standoff. Sunagakure had the numerical advantage and intended to leave every Konoha ninja behind.
Though Konoha had fewer people, all of them were elites. Moreover, the presence of Sakumo Hatake and Tsunade kept the Sunagakure Shinobi from acting rashly.
"White Fang, today is the day you die!" Chiyo said viciously, her gaze never leaving White Fang.
The hatred of killing one's child was irreconcilable!
Then, a vast wave of gold dust surged from the direction of the outpost, sweeping over them like a tide that blotted out the sky.
"None of you are leaving here unscathed today!" Rasa hovered in the air and shouted coldly.
Then he waved a hand, and a group of Sunagakure Shinobi rapidly emerged from the forest. In the blink of an eye, they surrounded the Konoha group.
An ambush?!
The same three words sprang into everyone's minds.
For a moment, a cloud of gloom settled over their hearts.
The atmosphere became strange, sinking into deathly silence.
Tsunade's expression was extremely ugly, alternating between green and red. Three parts exhaustion, seven parts fury!
"Don't get too cocky, Rasa!" Tsunade roared without backing down. No one capable of keeping her here had been born yet!
"There are too many Sunagakure Shinobi. Don't act recklessly!" White Fang said in a low voice.
"They're just two old fossils with one foot in the grave." Tsunade snorted disdainfully. She would not lose in presence, and although she mocked them aloud, a trace of gravity showed in her eyes.
"Tsunade, our plan was exposed. You should be able to figure out..." Sakumo Hatake said meaningfully.
Without waiting for Tsunade to respond, he continued, "These people are Konoha's foundation. We cannot afford to lose them here."
Tsunade pursed her lips and swallowed the retort she had been about to make. The thirty people brought for this operation were all Jonin from the Hokage's faction, with the weakest among them being elite Chunin.
Every one of them was a branch that had inherited Konoha's Will of Fire!
After a brief silence...
"You take everyone and leave first. I'll cover the rear!" Sakumo Hatake said solemnly.
"What? If anyone is staying behind, it should be me!" Tsunade's anger, which had only just subsided, erupted again as she shouted.
The danger of one person covering the rear was obvious. It could be said to be a certain death sentence.
Sakumo Hatake was the supreme commander in this battle against Sunagakure. How could he possibly stay behind alone?
The others also volunteered to remain, but Sakumo Hatake issued an order as the highest commander.
"This is an order!" Sakumo Hatake said gravely.
At once, all voices around him fell silent.
When a man had made his resolve, any persuasion or sorrow was an insult to him!
A hero stood tall between heaven and earth!
Tsunade gritted her teeth, then abruptly turned away, her long blond hair whipping behind her.
"Slug, kill them!"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"
The slug's enormous body suddenly swelled up like a balloon.
Pshh~~
A stream of intensely corrosive acid sprayed out, instantly opening a gap in the Sunagakure encirclement blocking Konoha's retreat.
Tsunade lowered her body, gathered strength, and leaped high, leaving a green arc in the air before crashing heavily down toward the earth.
"Heavenly Guard Kick!"
Bang!
The ground cracked apart, and massive fissures instantly swallowed the nearby Sunagakure Shinobi.
"Retreat!" Tsunade shouted, charging out first.
The nearby Konoha ninjas saw this and surged through the opening in the encirclement.
"Don't think you can escape!" Rasa could not possibly let such a perfect opportunity slip away.
If this battle could leave all these Konoha ninjas behind, then even for the strongest of the Five Great Nations, such massive losses would be enough to make Konoha suffer for quite some time.
"Magnet Release..."
Rasa had only formed the first hand seal with both hands extended when a silver flash streaked past, brimming with killing intent!
The hairs on his arms stood on end. He immediately abandoned the attack, flashing away in a rapid retreat.
Rip—!
The sharp blade sliced through the air, producing a teeth-grating sound.
The white trail it carved through the sky lingered for a long time without fading.
"If you want to pass, you'll have to get through me first!" Sakumo Hatake stared coldly at Rasa, his tone calm yet impossible to ignore.
Rasa's expression darkened slightly. As the Fourth Kazekage, he had actually been afraid!
Even if that fear had only filled his heart for an instant...
He was the Fourth Kazekage!!
"Bastard! Since you're looking to die, I'll kill you first!" Rasa roared, his hands moving rapidly as sand gold surged through the sky and rushed madly toward Sakumo Hatake.
Chiyo attacked at the same time. She would never let go of any chance to kill Konoha's White Fang!
Ebizo opened his mouth, intending to tell Rasa and Chiyo to stop besieging Sakumo Hatake. Pursuing and killing the Konoha shinobi was the highest priority.
However, when he saw the fury on Rasa's face and the madness in Chiyo's eyes...
The words in Ebizo's heart ultimately remained unspoken. He sighed softly. If they could leave Konoha's White Fang here, that would not be so bad either...
The night sky seemed draped in a mysterious black veil, while the frigid air stung their skin.
The cold seeped into flesh, blood, and bone marrow...
Tōka silently glanced at Sakumo Hatake. That seemingly ordinary middle-aged man now stood like a towering mountain, blocking every Sunagakure shinobi.
Perhaps this would be their last meeting.
Time flew by. Tsunade led Konoha's remaining forces away at speed, and they were already beyond the Land of Rivers.
A silvery-white star streaked across the distant horizon...
The fierce Sunagakure shinobi charged at Sakumo Hatake like madmen, heedless of their lives.
Sakumo Hatake swung his arm numbly, cutting down everyone who came near him.
There was only one thought in his mind: block this path and buy more time for the Konoha shinobi.
Corpses fell at his feet one after another...
After who knew how many swings, Sakumo Hatake felt that the bodies around him were beginning to obstruct his vision.
Blood gathered together, flowing into the sand and being swallowed by it, flowing into the forest and forming a visible pool of blood.
Time passed like a white colt flashing through a crack.
The horizon gradually brightened with a faint pale glow.
The clamorous world began to fall silent, and the Sunagakure shinobi no longer scrambled to charge forward.
The faces of the crowd had changed from their initial madness to sheer terror...
They seemed afraid—afraid of being killed.
Countless corpses were piled around that man. Blood and mountains of bodies buried him deep within.
The air seemed frozen by his overwhelming killing intent. Even Sunagakure jonin felt chilled to the bone.
Everyone stared dumbfoundedly at the forest entrance, at that lean figure, without moving...
Suddenly!
A humming sound exploded!!
The White Fang Blade seemed to sense its master's powerful fighting spirit. It trembled lightly, its hum piercing the void and spreading into the distance.
The Sunagakure shinobi instinctively took a step back, gazing at the tall, thin man with even greater terror.
The ground was stained red with blood, and a rich stench of gore assaulted their nostrils.
The Sunagakure shinobi had been utterly terrified by Sakumo Hatake's slaughter!
What kind of person was this?! He was practically a demon wearing human skin!
His blade was red, his hands were red, his clothes were red, and his shoes were red.
His face was red as well; his original complexion could no longer be seen.
"White Fang is renowned for his blade technique. Don't get close—use ninjutsu to attack from a distance!" At the crucial moment, Ebizo shouted a warning.
The Sunagakure shinobi, trapped in darkness, seemed to have found their final sliver of light.
No one cared about anything else anymore. They gathered chakra frantically, countless hand seals flashing beyond the forest.
"Magnet Release: Great Burial of Sand Gold!"
"Wind Release: Great Scythe Weasel!"
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Puppet Technique: Three Treasures Crushing Suction!"
"..."
For a moment, chakra poured forth like a breached flood. The Sunagakure shinobi unleashed the strongest attacks of their lives.
Wave-like chakra transformed into all manner of ninjutsu and mercilessly bombarded that man.
Whoooosh—
A gale swept up waves of yellow sand and lashed the forest wildly.
Sakumo Hatake held his blade in one hand, standing quietly with his eyes closed, as though he had not noticed the overwhelming torrent of ninjutsu crashing toward him.
A trace of tenderness crossed his taut face, along with a touch of regret.
Kakashi, I won't be able to watch you grow up.
But I believe you will become an extraordinary ninja!
Suddenly!!
Sakumo Hatake's eyes snapped open, and a mighty aura surged into the sky!!
Gathering his last remaining chakra, blinding strands of white light burst forth all over his body.
He shone brilliantly in the darkness, like the North Star fallen into the mortal world.
The hand was a blade, and the blade was a blade!
"Blade Technique: Thousand Blades of Fang!"
Buzzz!!!
A streak of white light split the darkness in two.
Several days later, a piece of news shocked the entire world!
In the Land of Rivers, the Sunagakure shinobi had devised a trap to kill Konoha's elite forces.
During the breakout, Sakumo Hatake had single-handedly blocked thousands of pursuing Sunagakure shinobi. Not a single person crossed the sandy border and entered the forest throughout the entire night.
The White Fang Blade, originally pure white, had been dyed crimson with blood by the final moment of battle. Even its hilt no longer showed its original color.
The Bloodstained White Fang!
Sakumo Hatake died from exhaustion. Even in death, he stood like a mountain, guarding the narrow path used by the Konoha forces to retreat.
Until...
The night passed, and the rising sun climbed into the sky.
Feeling the warmth of sunlight, a Sunagakure shinobi finally gathered the courage to stagger toward that man... (To be continued)
Before you continue