White Fang

With Beichen Haotian joining them—a fighter stronger than a Special Jonin and with some chance of defeating a Jonin—how could Sunagakure's Genin possibly hold out? Moreover, Beichen Haotian had one more Genin under his command. Among the rank-and-file Genin, Konoha's Genin were among the very best.

The battle ended quickly. With Beichen Haotian's speed and ruthless methods, the Sunagakure Genin did not even have a chance to flee.

The tallest tree in the forest catches the wind first! Given his current age and strength, he should avoid drawing too much attention from the enemy. Keeping a low profile while growing stronger was the best strategy.

As for Konoha's internal affairs, he was Tsunade's sworn younger brother, had good relations with Orochimaru and Jiraiya, and had earned the Third Hokage's appreciation. Those with ill intentions should have some reservations. Still, he had to remain cautious.

These thoughts flashed through Beichen Haotian's mind. He flicked his bloodstained Tang Saber, scattering crimson droplets across the grass, then smoothly sheathed it on his back with clean, decisive grace.

The person in Konoha whom Beichen Haotian needed to guard against most was Shimura Danzō, that radical, crazed politician who would stop at nothing. Given his talent and strength, he had likely caught Danzō's attention long ago. The only reason Danzō had not invited him into Root was probably because the war kept him too busy to bother.

In truth, Beichen Haotian did not reject the idea of joining Root. To restore the might of his saber techniques from his previous life, killing was absolutely unavoidable, and Root was an excellent place for slaughter. But that was only if he was not brainwashed or branded with the Tongue Root Disaster Seal that controlled others. If he lost his individuality and his life and death were held in another's hands, what enjoyment could there be?

"Move. Keep going," Beichen Haotian said coldly, leading the Genin onward through the mountains and forests in search of suitable opponents.

He still was not strong enough. He needed to keep getting stronger! For every person he killed, the Blood Battle Breaking Army Saber Technique he had perfected and evolved in the One Piece World would grow a little stronger. His strength would recover a little more, and his foundation for the future would become that much greater.

As time passed, more and more ninjas were sent out, and their strength steadily increased. Konoha at this time was filled with powerful figures. The Third Hokage, Danzō, the Konoha Sannin, and famous clans such as the Uchiha Clan, Hyuga Clan, and Yamanaka Clan all possessed numerous Elite Jonin, even Kage-level experts.

Combined with their vast numbers of highly capable rank-and-file Genin and the Chunin who formed the backbone of the battlefield, Konoha's strength surpassed that of the other four great ninja villages by far. It could overwhelm any one of them head-on.

Even the weakest of Konoha's Five Great Legions, the Fourth Legion, held a firm advantage against the Sand Ninja's Second Legion under the command of the Konoha White Fang, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the other Jonin. And this was without even employing the strength of experts above the Jonin rank.

The casualty ratio between the two sides had reached one to three. In other words, a single Konoha ninja had a strong chance of taking down three Sunagakure ninjas. After losing the upper hand in the probing clashes, the Sand Ninja wanted to quickly dispatch powerful fighters to turn the situation around.

Unfortunately, Konoha gave them no such opportunity. After gaining a clear advantage, Hatake Sakumo decisively ordered a full-scale assault.

Against the Sand Ninja, Hatake Sakumo did not use any schemes or tricks. He was not the sort of person who enjoyed such tactics. More importantly, the Fourth Legion had one-third more Jonin and Elite Jonin than the enemy. Once the enemy had lost enough combat strength, they could defeat them with complete confidence.

Shimura Danzō's mission was not to defeat the Stone Village. He only needed to hold them back and keep Konoha from being attacked from both front and rear. One-third of the First Legion's Jonin and Elite Jonin had been transferred away.

The great battle unfolded across dozens of miles. That day, dark clouds filled the sky, hanging so low they seemed oppressive, while fierce winds howled. The animals in the mountains and forests were cowed by the boundless killing intent and hid in their dens, not daring to take a single step outside.

Eight thousand ninjas from both sides began a bloody slaughter. Unlike ordinary armies, ninja fighting in the mountains and forests did not involve lining up in formation for a frontal clash. Under the leadership of Jonin, Elite Jonin, and Kage-level experts, they fought with every means imaginable.

Ambushes, traps, poison, sneak attacks, transformation-based assassinations, ganging up on the few with the many—every kind of despicable tactic emerged without end.

Beichen Haotian joined the battle as well, but this time he was no longer leading a team. Instead, he fought alongside Orochimaru. He had not followed Tsunade because Orochimaru's methods toward enemies were as cruel as winter snow, and he would never show mercy. Following him would allow Beichen Haotian to kill more people without earning Tsunade's disapproval for his brutal methods.

Real war was nothing like anime, where blood was rarely seen. It was incomparably cruel. For Beichen Haotian, an enemy having their throat slit in one stroke and blood spraying out was already the best possible death. The sights of enemies being decapitated, having their arms, legs, or even waists and abdomens severed, with blood, organs, and entrails spilling everywhere, carried a visual impact far beyond what the word "bloody" could describe.

War was fraught with danger. There were no shortage of people stronger than Beichen Haotian, and a moment of carelessness meant death. Naturally, he could not afford to hold back.

Just as Beichen Haotian followed Orochimaru, leading several hundred ninjas after encountering two hundred Sand Ninja and preparing to slowly surround and kill them—

A Konoha ninja in a Jonin Vest, a white-haired man in his thirties, flashed forward and appeared at the very front of the group.

The short sword with a white hilt on his back slid from its sheath. It was about a foot long, ancient and unadorned. Strange white Chakra wrapped around the blade, radiating a dazzling glow as he swept it horizontally.

A white Lightning Tiger let out a wild roar and charged at the Sand Ninja with terrifying voltage and electric current.

The Sand Ninja hurriedly used Wind Style, Earth Style, and various other techniques to block it, but before that incomparably condensed Lightning Tiger, their defenses shattered one after another. It continued onward without losing momentum and struck more than twenty Sand Ninja. Their screams echoed through the forest, then abruptly fell silent.

Beichen Haotian saw that more than thirty Sand Ninja had been completely carbonized, blackened beyond recognition, their deaths incomparably miserable. It was easy to imagine just how powerful that voltage and current had been.

Beichen Haotian gave Hatake Sakumo a solemn look. As expected, he had comprehended Blade Intent. Though he had revealed very little of it, Beichen Haotian had still sensed it.

"Those who dare stand against Konoha will be exterminated," the white-haired man said coldly.

The moment his words fell, Hatake Sakumo's figure became an afterimage and vanished. White lightning flashed and disappeared where he had stood. Then, within the Sunagakure formation, streaks of white saber light crisscrossed. In the span of a single breath, ten streaks appeared almost simultaneously. More than a dozen Sand Ninja spilled blood and collapsed limply to the ground.

What incredible speed. With my current Observation Haki, I can only glimpse a trace of his shadow. Lightning Body Flicker? No, it must be more than that. There should be the Hatake Clan Secret Technique as well, perhaps even a technique he created himself.

Orochimaru licked his lips, his pupils icy cold as he prepared to enter the fray. The others reacted as well.

"Damn White Fang!" An enraged voice came from afar. A young, handsome man clad in armor rushed over, followed by several hundred Sand Ninja.

Magnet Release, Sand Time Iron Rain.

Pitch-black iron sand appeared in the air and condensed into countless dense Senbon. They were incomparably sharp and carried potent poison; an ordinary ninja could die from even a graze.

"Third Kazekage, I didn't expect you to come as well. Were you planning to catch Konoha off guard? Unfortunately, even with you here, you still cannot stop Konoha from claiming victory. At most, you can make us pay a somewhat greater price." A confident smile appeared on Hatake Sakumo's cold face. The White Fang in his right hand shone brilliantly as he unknowingly left the Iron Sand Rain's attack range. The speed and distance of his Body Flicker left many present staring in amazement.

"Arrogant. I have long heard that the Konoha White Fang's swordsmanship is extraordinary, but I refuse to believe it. Today, this place will be your grave," the Third Kazekage said with equal confidence.

"Is that so? Then come, let us fight!" Hatake Sakumo's bold voice rang out. His figure vanished from where he stood, charging alone into the enemy formation. He appeared before the Third Kazekage, and the White Fang short sword in his hand slashed out. Lightning flickered around it. It was more than a tier faster than before, yet it did not produce the slightest sound of air being torn apart.

This... the White Fang's Blade Intent is speed. So fast that even when it cuts through the air, the sound of breaking air cannot emerge in time. Beichen Haotian watched from the Konoha side, inwardly shocked.

The Third Kazekage immediately gathered iron sand into a hard, thick shield. Strange white lightning flashed across the White Fang short sword. Its high-frequency vibrations made it incomparably sharp; after only a brief pause, it cut through the shield.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Third Kazekage pulled away from Hatake Sakumo. White Fang's unpredictable Body Flicker, terrifying saber speed, and immense attack power caused cold sweat to seep down the Third Kazekage's back.

I absolutely must keep my distance, the Third Kazekage thought.

Magnet Release, Iron Sand Sky Wing.

A great amount of iron sand appeared before the Third Kazekage and formed a pair of enormous black wings. The Third Kazekage actually rose into the air. Though he did not fly very high, he had gained the advantage of the sky.

Magnet Release, Iron Sand Gathering Attack.

More iron sand was extracted from the earth, forming iron sand spears, iron sand drills, and iron sand blocks that stabbed down at Hatake Sakumo from the sky.

Hatake Sakumo's response was simplicity itself. Terrifying Chakra flowed from his body. In an instant, no one knew how many times he swung his short sword. A huge streak of white saber light, carrying a sharp aura, illuminated the sky and struck the iron sand. In an instant, the weapons formed from the so-called iron sand broke apart and turned into smaller grains of iron sand.

The leaders on both sides were fighting fiercely, and those below could not simply stand by and watch. Centered around the two of them, the battle began in earnest.

Aside from the White Fang and the Third Kazekage, the most eye-catching person was Orochimaru. By himself, he suppressed an Elite Jonin skilled in Wind Style Ninjutsu and puppet techniques, while still having the spare strength to inflict casualties on other Sand Ninja.

However, the Third Kazekage had brought several hundred more Sand Ninja to the battlefield, so their combined numbers exceeded those Konoha had brought. But Konoha's ninjas were of higher quality and had one or two more powerful fighters. Thus, Konoha was merely at a disadvantage; it could barely be considered a draw.

In this kind of situation, Beichen Haotian did not dare act too flamboyantly. He fought a Sunagakure Chunin with great enthusiasm.

In short, both sides found their own opponents and began fighting to the death.

I'm not very good at writing war scenes, so please forgive any flaws or unreasonable parts. Thanks to Zhuhán Wàndāndàn for the recommendation vote! Thanks to "Don't Babble When You've Got Nothing to Do" for the recommendation votes!