The Savior of Konoha

"Captain, didn't you head to the battlefield a long time ago? Why are you only arriving now?"

Shiranui Genma wiped the grime from his face; due to the prolonged fighting, the senbon dangling from the corner of his mouth was already stained with blood.

"Bang!"

Hyuga Qinglan dodged a massive boulder flying from behind without looking back, answering, "Sorry, I received secret orders earlier to go fetch reinforcements."

Reinforcements?!

There are even more experts?

The younger generation of Konoha ninja looked at each other in confusion. In their eyes, Orochimaru bringing the Sunagakure forces down from the heavens and the reunion of the Sannin was already the greatest support possible.

Could it be that Orochimaru's calculations went even further than this?

And there's more...

"Look, they've arrived."

Hyuga Qinglan looked toward the far distance, his gaze piercing through the rear of the Iwagakure formation.

At the edge of the horizon, a dark, dense crowd like a low-flying storm cloud stained the earthy-yellow wasteland with a deathly gray.

And at the very front of that silent marching army, a colossal beast was shaking the earth with rapid vibrations.

Standing quietly atop the head of this monster was a man.

A gas mask obscured most of his face, leaving only those eyes, cold as ice and filled with a murderous aura.

"The Poisonous Weapon"—Salamander Hanzo.

Has arrived on the battlefield.

"Ibuse, clear the field."

The giant salamander let out a roar, its massive body trembling violently before it suddenly opened its blood-red maw, the depths of its dark purple throat appearing to lead straight to hell.

Immediately following, a thick, nearly tangible purple poisonous mist erupted outward.

The Iwagakure ninja who faced that gorgeous yet lethal mist head-on barely had time to react; their faces flushed red, their skin turned a bruised purple, and they collapsed in despair, twitching as they fell.

In just a few breaths, that once rock-solid rear defensive line had transformed into a silent, purple Purgatory.

"Hanzo... how could he appear here too?!"

Ōnoki's astonishment in the sky was written all over his face.

As he waved his hand to drop massive Earth Release boulders, he frantically dodged the Gold Dust that Rasa kept raining down on him, his aged face filled with shock and horror.

Sunagakure attacking, he could endure.

The Sannin reuniting, he could resist. After all, Iwagakure's core strength remained, and the Jinchuriki were still in play.

But the appearance of Hanzo changed the nature of the situation entirely.

This man, who had single-handedly ignited the Second Great Ninja War and was revered as the "Poisonous Weapon," was actually leading the entire main force of Amegakure and standing openly on the side of Konoha.

Ōnoki's gaze swept across the battlefield, and an unprecedented sense of powerlessness surged into his heart.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Rasa, Salamander Hanzo...

Three Kage...

No...

Add to that the "Konoha Sannin," who were world-renowned and capable of rivaling Kage.

And there was the Yellow Flash, who intelligence reports claimed had exhausted his chakra and been sent back to the village.

Even Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki hadn't been deployed yet.

Meanwhile, his own two Jinchuriki were currently being held fast by Orochimaru and Jiraiya, unable to even look after themselves.

"Konoha... is it truly impossible to wipe them out?"

Ōnoki muttered to himself, his voice shredded by the gale.

Objectively speaking, Iwagakure's core strength was no worse than Konoha's; at this very moment, the number of Jonin in Iwagakure even exceeded that of Konoha.

But the problem was that Konoha never lacked those who could change the tide of battle at critical moments.

Jonin, geniuses, monsters—no matter what word was used to define them, they always appeared in Konoha.

Every war, every crisis, there would always be a few names emerging from the Konoha camp to rewrite everything.

Even the reinforcements were the same.

That guy, Salamander Hanzo...

What kind of methods did Konoha use to make him willing to personally step onto the field as a "mercenary"?

"Retreat..."

These two words were squeezed through his teeth as if they had exhausted his entire body's strength.

The order spread rapidly through the entire army via the sensory unit.

Some were unwilling, some were relieved, and some were furious. But not a single person argued.

Continuing the fight would only result in a greater cost.

"However... even if I leave, I won't let you Konoha lot have it easy!"

With a sudden shift in tone, Ōnoki's eyes widened, and a dazzling white light erupted from his palms. Before retreating, he attempted to unleash a Particle Style of unprecedented scale toward the densest cluster of Konoha's younger generation.

Yet, the very moment the white light began to take shape, several terrifying auras locked onto the small figure high in the sky simultaneously.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Orochimaru, Rasa, Tsunade, and a disheveled Jiraiya.

Further away, Salamander Hanzo.

Even a nameless Hyuga brat had sensed it.

"..."

Ōnoki's fingers froze in mid-air.

In the end, he smiled helplessly and aimed this final strike at the purple poisonous mist billowing behind him.

BOOM!

The Particle Style tore through the poison formation, forcibly carving out a path to safety.

The two jinchuriki coordinated their movements, covering each other to block the pursuit of Orochimaru and Jiraiya, maintaining their final formation as they slowly retreated toward the rear.

Seeing Ōnoki begin his withdrawal, Salamander Hanzo also raised his hand at the opportune moment, preventing the Amegakure forces from advancing further.

For him, this sortie was merely a way to display his power to Konoha and secure benefits; he had no intention of letting his elite forces suffer losses at this time.

Rasa did the same; he retracted his vast clouds of Gold Dust and quietly returned to the Sunagakure lines.

Dusk finally sank completely below the horizon.

The battlefield was filled with wails, and the shattered ninja tools and scattered corpses told the tale of the recent carnage.

Along the path of the Iwagakure retreat, most of those left behind were genin and chunin.

These were essentially cannon fodder sent by Ōnoki to preserve the high-end combat power of his village.

"The meaning of life... at this moment, it seems so meaningless."

Orochimaru stood atop the massive head of Manda, looking down at the layers of corpses and blood beneath his feet, his tone as cold as ice.

Behind him, countless Konoha ninja who had narrowly escaped death were watching him with eyes that bordered on the worship of a deity.

That figure with flowing black hair, who had led the reinforcements to turn the tide, had become the sole savior in the hearts of Konoha at this moment.

"..."

Orochimaru savored these burning gazes, his narrow eyes first glancing at Hyuga Qinglan, who was guarding Hyuga Yumi, before finally landing on the complex expression of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Teacher, while their morale is broken, I have decided to lead the team in a pursuit..."

Orochimaru licked his lips, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "We must make Iwagakure remember forever that Konoha is not a soft persimmon..."

The moment his words fell, even before Sarutobi Hiruzen could react, the shouts of the Konoha ninja erupted like a tsunami.

The frustration, pain, and intense resentment that had built up over several days on the Rock Battlefield were quickly twisted into a frenzy called "revenge" under Orochimaru's subtle instigation.

"That's right! Lord Orochimaru is right!"

"Konoha's dignity cannot be trampled upon!"

"Let those bumpkins hiding in the rocks see the will of Konoha!"

The roar of the crowd rose wave after wave, shaking the mountains and forests.

Yet, Orochimaru, at the center of the storm, remained unmoved.

A dim, inscrutable luster flickered in his narrow eyes as he quietly waited for his dear teacher to issue the order.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked around, his heart sinking.

The Konoha ninja who met his gaze were mostly weary, but even more so, they were exhilarated.

"..."

Finally, his gaze swept over the younger generation who had survived the ordeal.

Although they remained silent, the terrifyingly firm look in their eyes, tempered by the baptism of war, made even this "Professor of Ninjutsu" feel a sense of dread.

"But the village's ninja are already..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's throat moved as he tried to call for a halt, his heart bitter.

The large-scale slaughter had already exhausted everyone; if they pursued now, it was highly likely that Ōnoki would be driven to total madness, resulting in mutual destruction.

Furthermore, although Sunagakure and Amegakure were currently allies, there was no guarantee they wouldn't take advantage of the situation.

"Teacher, as long as you give the order, I have my own arrangements for the remaining variables."

Orochimaru spoke softly, his tone filled with respect.

"Give the order, Hokage-sama!"

"With Lord Orochimaru leading us, Iwagakure will have no power to fight back!"

"Third Hokage, we of the Uchiha will surely make Iwagakure retreat in defeat!"

Listening to the thunderous, tsunami-like calls for battle, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his heart pounding incessantly.

He realized with absolute clarity that at this very moment, the prestige of Orochimaru had reached its zenith amidst that monstrous sea of blood.

If he were to force a stop to it now, he feared that the morale he had just managed to consolidate would scatter with the wind.

"In that case... you may go." Sarutobi Hiruzen finally let out a long sigh.

He had compromised.

"However, the village's wounded..."

"I understand, of course... but those can be handled by my good partners, Jiraiya and Tsunade..."

"As for Lord Rasa and Lord Hanzo, I shall leave the duty of receiving them to you, Teacher."

Orochimaru extended his long tongue with keen interest, his final gaze cast toward Hyuga Qinglan, who was waiting quietly beside the Hyuga Clan Main Branch.

The intent behind that look was clear.

Lord Qinglan, would you like to come along?

Hyuga Qinglan shook his head almost imperceptibly, signaling that he would not.

Orochimaru felt a hint of regret, but he said nothing more, leading his direct subordinates as he vanished into the night.

"Hyuga Qinglan, just now, why did Lord Orochimaru... look at our side?"

It was only after that suffocating pressure had completely dissipated that Hyuga Yumi, her body covered in tiny bloodstains, spoke with lingering fear.

"Could it be because the contributions of the Hyuga Clan have finally been recognized by him?"

Her tone held both the excitement of having earned merit and the trembling of one who had survived a brush with death.

She had hidden her plans from the family, secretly following the squad of Hyuga Tokuma to the front lines, wanting to prove on the battlefield that she was not just a vase from the Main Branch who could only be protected.

Even though the high-ranking members of the Main Branch had been furious and tried their best to stop her upon learning the news, by the time she actually stepped onto the battlefield, everything was already a foregone conclusion.

The family had been forced to provide her with protection.

In the end, the reason she was still alive was not because of how noble her status as a Main Branch lady was, but because there were enough Branch Family members dying in her stead.

"..."

Hyuga Qinglan did not respond, merely counting the number of people within the position belonging to the Hyuga Clan.

Looking around, aside from Hyuga Yumi, a member of the Main Branch, everyone else was a Branch Family ninja.

Among them, those he was familiar with—Hyuga Gakuto, Itsudan, and Hayato, with whom he had stood guard at the gates—were nowhere to be seen.

They were likely already dead...

And if Orochimaru were to remember anyone, perhaps it would be those Main Branch ninjas who hadn't shown up...

But what did that have to do with Hyuga Qinglan?

"Perhaps. Maybe he was just looking at the sunset."

Hyuga Qinglan said calmly, devoid of any excess emotion.

"You..."

Hyuga Yumi's willow-leaf brows arched, and she habitually wanted to summon the authority of the Main Branch to reprimand this Branch Family member for his rudeness, but when her gaze touched the mangled corpses nearby, that haughty spirit instantly withered away.

The bloody battles of the past few days had taught her that without the Branch Family sacrificing their lives to save her, she, this so-called member of the Main Branch, was nothing more than a lone leaf in a giant ocean wave, liable to be crushed at any moment.

And Hyuga Qinglan, this genius of the Branch Family who had performed so perfectly on the battlefield, was now her only reliance.

She silently closed her mouth, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

"..."

Hyuga Qinglan naturally sensed the shift in her attitude, but he didn't care in the slightest.

More accurately, it had nothing to do with him, this "Shadow Clone" left behind to hold the post.

He looked up toward the direction where Iwagakure had retreated, a trace of unfathomable thought swirling within his deep Byakugan.

I wonder if things... are going smoothly for the original body.

Creak... creak...

The thick layer of snow emitted a dry sound under the trampling of his boots.

In the middle of the endless snowfield, a long, deep trail wound its way across the expanse. Hyuga Qinglan dragged a massive black bag, strolling through this land of wind and snow.

The biting cold wind whipped past his black robe, making a hunting sound.

From his rapid march out of the Land of Rain to his entry into the territory of the Land of Iron, the weather had taken a sharp turn for the worse along with the crossing of the border.

The drizzling rain had transformed into a pristine, heavy snowfall.

Moonlight filtered through the clouds, spilling onto Hyuga Qinglan's fair face. He stopped in his tracks, his gaze locking onto a hidden cave partially obscured by frozen trees ahead.

Seeing that familiar silhouette, his brows finally relaxed.

"The door... leading to the moon."

Hyuga Qinglan stepped into the cave, purple chakra slowly gathering in his palm.

In an instant, a brilliant radiance illuminated the craggy cavern, casting the hanging stalactites in a dreamlike glow.

At the end of this narrow passage, a chilling breeze carrying the fluctuations of space-time rushed toward him, but he did not stop, walking straight to the edge of a deep pool at the very back.

The pool water was clear to the bottom, yet it shimmered with a faint, eerie light, as if it connected to an abyss in another dimension.

This was precisely the other passage leading from Earth to the moon.

It had been opened by the Otsutsuki Main Family based on a suggestion he had made in his previous life.

And now, as time flowed on, the energy within this deep pool was subtly waning.

"..."

Hyuga Qinglan stood still and stared for a long time, the Byakugan in his reflection cold and profound.

In the end, he withdrew his gaze and untied the black bag.

He placed the four Iwagakure ninjas, who were in a deep coma, in the center.

As he slowly formed hand seals, countless complex and cryptic jutsu patterns spread wildly from beneath his feet, like black roots digging into the earth, rapidly connecting to the bodies of the four sacrifices.

Finally, Hyuga Qinglan looked toward a hidden niche in the side wall of the passage, where a crystal box, sealed for many years, stood silently.

With the infusion of chakra, the lid slid open slowly, revealing four well-preserved DNA samples brimming with vitality.

"Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation!"

Dust dancing in the air and summoned paper talismans followed the connected jutsu patterns, frantically climbing onto the torsos of the four sacrifices.

They eventually converged upon the four DNA samples.

"Urgh..."

The screams were stifled in their throats by the jutsu, and the faces of the four ninjas rapidly peeled away and reorganized.

Replacing them were four silhouettes that felt incredibly familiar to Hyuga Qinglan.

Translucent, crystalline skin and the iconic pale horns on their foreheads.

The Otsutsuki Main Family, long sealed away by history...

Hyuga Qinglan watched these four shells gradually regain their vitality, a trace of genuine amusement finally appearing in his eyes as he whispered softly:

"It has truly been... a long time, everyone."