Konoha Is Still Konoha

Beichen Haotian, who had been asleep, was also awakened. After asking Nara Shikafu, he learned why the war had begun ahead of schedule.

"It seems Dan Katō will have a hard time escaping this calamity. Forget it—such is fate. Better focus on preparing for battle. Don't let ourselves stumble in the gutter." Beichen Haotian glanced toward Sunagakure, then left with Nara Shikafu and his teammates.

The rain poured down, striking the leaves with dense, rhythmic patters. Tsunade led the reinforcements onward with an anxious expression, her feet rapidly treading across the slick tree trunks.

A few kilometers from the battlefield, they finally encountered the returning assassination unit. The unit had lost a third of its men, but had inflicted even greater casualties on Sunagakure. All things considered, they had come out ahead.

"Orochimaru! Orochimaru! Where's Dan?" Tsunade shouted anxiously.

"He's behind us. His injuries are severe, and the wound won't stop bleeding. Go take a look quickly. Only you might be able to save him." Rainwater slid down Orochimaru's hair as he pointed behind him.

Upon hearing that, Tsunade hurriedly leaped to the rear. The two Konoha ninja carrying Dan recognized her and quickly set the makeshift stretcher on the ground.

Dan was already unconscious, blood still flowing endlessly from his wound. Tsunade quickly moved around him and knelt on the ground. A rich green light emerged from her hands as she pressed them over Dan Katō's wound.

Yet as Tsunade poured in Chakra, the wound only shrank slightly while blood continued to gush out.

"Damn it, stop bleeding already!" Tsunade roared.

"Damn it! Damn it! What do I do?" Tsunade said in a panic, like an enraged and despairing lioness.

Maybe the Chakra flow wasn't enough. I have to go all out. Tsunade gritted her teeth and unleashed all the Chakra in her body. Green light blazed from her hands, yet it did not illuminate even the area within a dozen meters.

Unfortunately, Dan Katō's injuries were far too severe. Blood continued to flow, covering Tsunade's hands. She kept channeling Chakra and calling Dan Katō's name.

"Dan, don't die!"

"Dan, don't die!"

"Damn it, work already!" Tsunade screamed in despair as though she had lost her mind.

The rain grew heavier, and the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive. Dan was well liked in Konoha. Seeing him like this left every Konoha ninja unbearably heavy-hearted. Grief and suffocating despair filled the air.

Orochimaru rested his right hand on a tree and watched Tsunade struggle again and again, only to be disappointed again and again. His heart was deeply shaken once more, and he quietly sighed to himself, Life really is so fragile. He watched everything in silence, his gaze cold and resolute, with a faint trace of sorrow. No one knew what he was thinking.

"No!" A desperate, agonized cry echoed through the forest. Tsunade stared hopelessly at Dan, whose breathing had ceased and whose chest no longer rose and fell. The pain in her heart was beyond description.

Looking at her hands covered in her lover's blood, coupled with that hopeless reality, Tsunade could no longer bear the blow and fainted.

Orochimaru's pupils contracted. In a flash, he appeared behind Tsunade and caught her. He sent Chakra into her body and finally revived her.

"Now is not the time to grieve. The decisive battle has already begun. You are important—your presence can prevent many tragedies like this one. Pull yourself together, Tsunade. If you must grieve, wait until after we defeat Sunagakure. Turn that grief into fury and unleash it upon them!" Orochimaru, usually a man of few words, rarely said so much. Only because Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the others had grown up with him did he feel some attachment. Otherwise, he had seen this sort of thing too often for it to stir his emotions even slightly.

After hearing Orochimaru's words, some light returned to Tsunade's eyes. She rose to her feet and looked toward Sunagakure, her calm gaze concealing bone-deep hatred.

"Let's go. We'll return and regroup first, then join the battle. This rage must be vented upon Sunagakure!" Orochimaru said in a hoarse, cold voice.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"

At that moment, hatred and resentment filled the hearts of every Konoha ninja present.

Meanwhile, Beichen Haotian had already followed his squad onto the battlefield. The decisive battle between Konoha and Sunagakure had erupted in full.

The land for dozens of miles around was completely engulfed in war. Beneath the torrential rain, merciless slaughter gradually unfolded. Killing clouded people's minds, and some had already gone red-eyed, attacking without mercy anyone not wearing Konoha attire.

Under the gloomy sky, flowers of blood bloomed everywhere. Explosions, flames, lightning, raging winds, massive boulders, and floods ran rampant across the land.

Nearly all of both sides' forces had been deployed. The Konoha White Fang, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya appeared on the battlefield, inflicting massive casualties on Sunagakure. What puzzled Sunagakure was that Tsunade, one of the Konoha Sannin, had not appeared. Only some Katsuyu could be seen on the battlefield. While this gave Sunagakure a small sense of relief, it also made them wary, suspecting Konoha might be plotting something.

Across the vast battlefield, three areas shone brightest. One was where Orochimaru fought. He wielded all kinds of Ninjutsu with ease, while his unique and vicious snake-based Ninjutsu inflicted tremendous casualties and fear upon the enemy. Huge snake Summoned Beasts rampaged through the battlefield, smashing rocks and trees, devouring ninja, while countless venomous snakes bit their enemies without regard for losses. Orochimaru alone held back five Elite Jonin, yet still had the strength to attack other Sand Ninja. He intimidated countless enemies and even left psychological scars on those with weaker nerves.

Another was where Jiraiya fought. He skillfully wielded Fire Style, Earth Style, Wind Style, and Water Style Ninjutsu. His Fire Style Ninjutsu in particular was immensely powerful. Combined with his self-created Needle-Hair Ninjutsu and the aid of the many toads of Mount Myōboku, one man held back the future Fourth Kazekage Rasa and Chiyo. Though he did not hold the advantage, neither side could gain the upper hand. His strength was no weaker than Orochimaru's.

The final area was where the Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, fought. It was also the most dazzling battlefield of them all. Hatake Sakumo completely suppressed the Third Kazekage's Iron Sand Technique. His white blade-light was incomparably sharp and swift as lightning; his movements were like the wind, and his mastery of Lightning Style Ninjutsu was profound. Every defense and attack was severed by that white-glowing short sword. Nothing could withstand it, and nothing could outrun it—the White Fang perfectly embodied those eight words.

Even while suppressing the Third Kazekage, he still had the strength to inflict massive casualties on the surrounding ninja. Anyone targeted by Hatake Sakumo could not withstand more than two strikes if they were ordinary Sunagakure Jonin. Those below Jonin were even less of a challenge for him, like chopping vegetables.

That short sword shimmering with white Chakra was like the Grim Reaper's scythe harvesting lives. Countless Sand Ninja died beneath its blade. Sunagakure lost their courage at the sight, while Konoha's morale soared.

This battle brought the Konoha White Fang's fame in the Ninja World to new heights, overshadowing even the Konoha Sannin. That streak of silver-white hair and that white Chakra blade, even when mentioned years later, still inspired admiration and awe.

Those three places were the most dazzling, like suns in the sky. Yet there was another place like a bonfire. Though not as eye-catching as the three, its role was no less important, bringing hope and vitality to the Konoha ninja.

In a valley behind Konoha, shrouded by a special barrier, the ground was covered in strange formulas. Konoha Hospital ninja formed a circle, passing Chakra among themselves while protecting Tsunade at its center.

White smoke rose from the battlefield from time to time as small Katsuyu were continuously summoned. Some searched for Konoha ninja who had not yet lost their lives, while others crawled directly onto injured Konoha ninja to heal their wounds.

Konoha's casualty rate immediately dropped sharply compared to Sunagakure's, while their sustained combat strength increased greatly. Konoha ninja had already been able to suppress Sunagakure on the frontal battlefield. In terms of foundations, Sunagakure could not compare at all. Konoha possessed clans large and small—the Uchiha Clan, Hyuga Clan, Nara Clan, Yamanaka Clan, Ino Clan, Aburame Clan, and more—all far stronger than Sunagakure's various clans.

With all these advantages stacked together, Konoha's edge gradually widened. There was no question of showing mercy. Under Hatake Sakumo's decisive and ruthless command, they relentlessly weakened Sunagakure's fighting forces.

However, Sunagakure was very strong in this era, ranking among the top three of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. They had their own pride. Though at a disadvantage, they resisted tenaciously and inflicted no small number of casualties upon Konoha.

The battle continued for three days and three nights. Whenever they were too exhausted to continue, they withdrew to rest for a while before rejoining the fight. The ninja of both sides ravaged the terrain for dozens of miles, leaving it unrecognizable. The landscape had shifted, smoke filled the air, and devastation lay everywhere.

After three days of bitter fighting, Sunagakure finally could not hold on any longer. They began fighting as they retreated, leaving the Land of Rain and gradually moving toward the Land of Wind.

Sure enough, Konoha was still Konoha—the village blessed by the protagonist's halo. No village could possibly defeat Konoha, Beichen Haotian thought as he watched the fleeing Sunagakure forces.

The Konoha ninja on the battlefield immediately erupted into cheers. This war was finally about to be won.

At this point, Sunagakure's fighting spirit had weakened and their morale had fallen to rock bottom. It was the perfect time to pursue them, earn merits, and claim rewards. Countless Konoha ninja rushed to chase down Sunagakure and gain more military achievements. Konoha's Genin in particular were young, driven, and the most aggressive and impulsive. But sometimes, recklessness and impulsiveness could cost lives.

Thanks to O Book Oo Bug and 1HK Motorcycle for the recommendation votes!