The moon shone brightly, with few stars in sight. Its cold light filtered through gaps in the leaves, scattering dappled patches across the dense forest on the border of the Land of Rivers.
The night breeze swept past, bringing the damp moisture of the distant river valley. The forest was so quiet that only the endless chorus of insects could be heard.
Several dark figures moved through the forest. At their head was Orochimaru.
The Konoha ninja force under his command had made a long march and joined Jiraiya, who had arrived earlier to meet them, along with the border troops under his command.
Behind them, countless figures filled the forest clearing, packed together in a dark mass.
The Anbu Ninja who had come to meet them dropped to one knee and quickly sketched a simple map on the ground with a kunai, then gave a concise report.
"The Sunagakure frontline camp is ten li from here, built along the river valley."
His voice was low, and he spoke rapidly. "It's divided into a front and rear wing. We haven't confirmed their exact numbers, but judging by our previous encounters, the size of their tents, and their usual raids, they have no fewer than three thousand troops stationed there."
Jiraiya folded his arms, his bushy brows drawing together slightly.
He glanced over the weary, silent Konoha reinforcements behind Orochimaru, then turned to the Jonin commander from the Sarutobi Clan who was responsible for the defenses here.
The commander looked exhausted by Sunagakure's constant harassment. His forces had dwindled from two thousand to fewer than eighteen hundred, leaving them able to do little more than hunker down and defend.
"Our current forces, together with the reinforcements Orochimaru brought, total about three thousand eight hundred."
Jiraiya analyzed the situation in a low voice, audible only to the few people around him.
"We should be no weaker than Sunagakure in numbers. Lord Hiruzen's orders are to end this quickly, crush them, and deter any would-be troublemakers."
He turned to Orochimaru.
"Your troops have traveled a long way and haven't stopped to rest. Can they hold up if we launch an attack tonight?"
Orochimaru's golden snake-like eyes glinted coldly in the moonlight.
"No problem. A brief rest will be enough. Tonight is the perfect time to strike."
"Good!"
Jiraiya's eyes flashed, and he made his decision without hesitation. "We'll hit Sunagakure before they realize our reinforcements have arrived and catch them off guard. We'll launch a surprise attack immediately!"
The Sarutobi Clan commander stood to the side, listening silently as the two Sannin settled on an assault plan in an instant.
His lips moved. A flicker of resentment at being ignored crossed his mind, but more than that, he felt relieved.
It felt good to have someone else take the pressure. Besides, he wouldn't lose any credit for the victory, and if they failed, it wouldn't be his fault.
At Orochimaru and Jiraiya's command, nearly four thousand Konoha Ninja moved toward the river valley under their squad leaders, spreading out and taking up advantageous positions.
For ninja, ten li was no more than the time it took a modern person to squat for a dump.
Sunagakure's watch posts, both open and hidden, were layered one after another. Given the size of the Konoha force, sneaking close enough to launch a surprise attack was simply impossible.
But with the Byakugan's penetrating vision and the assassination skills of elite ninja like Orochimaru and Jiraiya, the Sunagakure sentries out in the open were picked off one by one.
That gave the Konoha force the advantage of striking first!
When the force appeared in the shadows on either side of the river valley, the towering watchtowers around the Sunagakure camp blared a shrill alarm!
"Enemy attack!"
The warning cry had barely pierced the night before it was drowned out by a far more violent roar.
"Throw!"
At the signal agreed upon in their battle plan, the Konoha squad leaders all barked the same sharp command.
The next moment, the moonlight above the valley suddenly dimmed.
Thousands of shuriken and kunai swept down from both banks like an upside-down rainstorm, their piercing whistles filling the air as they blanketed the entire front of the Sunagakure camp!
The metallic storm mercilessly ripped through tents and lodged in wooden fences. The Explosive Tags attached to the weapons detonated in a frenzy.
Many weapons struck Sunagakure ninja who had rushed out of their tents in a panic, spraying vivid blossoms of blood.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Combined Ninjutsu: Wind-Fire Conflagration!"
Under Jonin guidance, Chunin from different squads quickly formed Hand Seals and worked together.
Dozens of ninja skilled in Wind Release joined forces to unleash a fierce gale.
The wind fanned the flames. The Fire Style users who followed immediately breathed out torrents of fire that swelled in the gale, transforming into dozens of scorching, clawing fire dragons that roared into the Sunagakure camp!
Tents, supplies, and ninja who couldn't dodge in time were set ablaze in an instant.
The entire eastern side of the valley became a sea of fire, turning the horizon blood-red!
The front half of the Sunagakure camp descended into chaos. Screams, explosions, and the crackling of flames rang out without end.
Sunagakure was, after all, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Once the initial panic passed, its ninja began organizing an effective counterattack under the shouts of their mid- and lower-ranking commanders.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
Dozens of earthen walls erupted with a rumble, blocking the incoming ninja tools and Fire Style attacks.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"
A dense barrage of invisible wind blades shot out from the Sunagakure positions, clashing with the Konoha ninja tools in midair with a series of metallic clinks.
Sunagakure puppeteers also released their strangely shaped puppets under cover from their comrades.
They brandished poisoned blades and spat deadly Senbon, charging into the Konoha vanguard's formation like ghosts.
The Konoha offensive came in waves, one surging in before the previous one had even receded.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Konoha ninja from the direction of the river drew up its waters. A massive water dragon surged into the sky and slammed into the Sunagakure defenses as they tried to regroup.
"Lightning Style: Earth Flash!"
Leaping bolts of lightning raced along the damp ground and flowing water, leaving many Sunagakure ninja collapsing in spasms.
The light of ninjutsu flashed wildly across the night sky, clashing and exploding.
Every thunderous boom brought a tremor through the earth and the end of another life.
The burning camp lit the scene, illuminating countless figures darting back and forth.
Sparks flew in every direction as kunai clashed, while Explosive Tags boomed one after another.
Suddenly, a mountain-heavy surge of Chakra burst from the center of the camp!
"Magnet Release: Sand Gold Funeral!"
At a commanding, icy shout, a sea of Gold Dust surged into the sky like a tsunami.
The torrent of Gold Dust quickly solidified into a massive barrier stretching across the camp in the river valley, blocking the raging fire dragons and Water Dragon Bullets.
"It's Lord Rasa!"
Amid the Sunagakure ninja's cheers, Rasa, with short brown hair, stood atop a cloud of Gold Dust. Flowing Gold Dust swirled around him, and his eyes were full of murderous intent and wariness.
"Konoha Ninja, die!"
He formed Hand Seals, and the Gold Dust beneath his feet churned like a living thing.
"Magnet Release: Sand Gold World Method!"
More Gold Dust surged up from underground, transforming into countless sharp spears that rained down on the Konoha positions.
This indiscriminate, wide-area ninjutsu attack immediately suppressed Konoha's offensive. Many ninja were forced to retreat and dodge, while others were pierced by the Gold Dust spears and pinned to the ground.
"Finally, someone worth fighting."
Orochimaru, who had been holding the rear nearby, let a flicker of excitement cross his slit pupils. He exchanged a glance with Jiraiya, and the two of them charged at Rasa, one in plain sight and the other concealed.