Night, Chaos, and Battle (Part 2)

Every ninja squad and every individual ninja possesses a corresponding level of adaptability; they are certainly not so fragile. However, on a night where the situation remains unclear, Konoha fears the onset of disorderly fighting among its own ranks far more than it fears the enemy. Such chaos would only exacerbate the current confusion and lead to the collapse of the entire camp.

With the command system lost, such a scenario was not impossible. Yet, at this critical juncture, the Susanoo appeared at the very first moment.

The "giant" served as a massive deterrent to both friend and foe. To the Uchiha and other Konoha ninja alike, the Susanoo is an exceptionally rare and uncommon ninjutsu. Consequently, some were momentarily unable to determine whether this technique originated from their own side or the enemy. But once it signaled with Konoha's secret code, its identity was naturally made clear.

At this moment, the order transmitted by Kagami Uchiha was simple: "Hold your positions and repel the incoming enemy." Yet, this simple command was enough to pull the Konoha ninja back from the brink of panic.

It was not that his command was particularly brilliant, but rather that he proved Konoha's command capability still existed—knowing he could not issue more detailed instructions, Kagami Uchiha chose to devolve command authority to the most basic combat units.

Perhaps in Kagami Uchiha's judgment, small-group defensive tactics were the best course of action, or perhaps it was the only order he could issue at the time. Regardless, Hanyu and Hatake would no longer rashly head toward the command center.

"Fighting independently, perhaps that is a correct judgment, but..." Hanyu climbed to the top of a pillar, gazing toward the battle at the command center.

Yet, in the darkness of the night, the situation over there remained unclear.

However, Hanyu knew that despite its intimidating presence, an incomplete Susanoo was not truly invincible. Furthermore, this technique consumes a massive amount of chakra, severely drains the Mangekyo Sharingan's ocular power, erodes the user's body, and imposes an irresistible mental burden.

Kagami Uchiha was clearly not someone who possessed an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan... Did the command center really not need reinforcements?

However, this was not a question Hanyu needed to consider, because even if they did need support, the ninja at his current location would not move recklessly... Tonight, the most intense fighting was taking place at the Konoha command center, but the second most intense location would be the Konoha Hospital where Hanyu was stationed.

It was foreseeable that the battle here would also become difficult.

Striking the enemy's vital forces is one of the most basic and important goals in war. It is precisely because of the existence of medical units that ninja do not become mere disposable consumables. Therefore, once the front-line medical system is destroyed, the ability to sustain combat operations is severely compressed. At that point, as long as the Sand Village leadership isn't foolish, they would certainly seize the opportunity to launch a large-scale offensive, aiming to cause the total collapse of the Konoha front.

It was precisely because they understood their own strategic value that the front-line hospital began to mobilize as soon as they noticed the outbreak of hostilities tonight. Under the direction of medical ninja, all wounded personnel began moving toward a specific point within the hospital.

Whether they were wounded or medical ninja, personnel were given the highest priority for protection; other medical resources and equipment were relegated to a secondary position.

"Hanyu!"

Hanyu heard someone calling his name. He turned his head and saw Koga, followed by more than a dozen ninja.

Hanyu quickly leaped down from his high vantage point to reach them, and then heard the other continue, "Next, the wounded and the medical ninja without combat capabilities will be concentrated in the center of the hospital. We are preparing to deploy a protective barrier there, while the ninja capable of combat will guard the perimeter..."

"I understand. I will stay outside. So... how many people do we have in total?" Hanyu did not wait for the other to continue, choosing decisively to remain outside the barrier.

The protective barrier was clearly a contingency Konoha had prepared for such emergencies. Theoretically, Hanyu was still a patient at the hospital, and if he had been thick-skinned enough to demand shelter within the barrier, it wouldn't have been impossible, but in reality, he was perfectly healthy.

Therefore, he chose to fight.

It is not that one cannot retreat, but to retreat at a time like this would be cowardice... Hanyu could allow himself to be timid, fearful, or greedy for life, but he would not allow himself to be a coward.

Furthermore, looking at the group of ninja behind Koga—nearly all of whom were wounded yet still chose to remain outside the barrier to fight—Hanyu would never make such a request.

"Very well. There are about a hundred ninja here capable of combat, which should normally be enough to defend this area... I will also stay here to oversee the overall situation," Koga nodded and said.

Hanyu actually wanted to persuade him to hide inside the barrier; after all, based on his understanding, the man was a pure medical ninja who lacked the combat skills for life-or-death struggles... One must know that not every medical ninja is highly skilled in medicine, a master of combat, good-looking, and well-endowed.

Being highly skilled in medicine was enough for them to fulfill their duties.

However, Hanyu's words of comfort remained unspoken; he could not interfere with the resolve and determination a person had already set.

Next, Koga arranged the combat-capable ninja into their defensive positions. Almost as soon as he finished the deployment, a dark red, four-sided barrier was erected at the very center of the hospital, protecting a large number of personnel within.

But just like Kagami Uchiha's Susanoo, such a massive barrier acted like a beacon in the night, guiding the invading enemies toward these two directions... assuming the Sand Village hadn't already identified the locations of the command center or the hospital before the invasion.

Hanyu and Hatake Sakumo stayed together, jointly guarding one direction in the darkness.

"They're coming. One in front, one behind, two in total!" Hanyu whispered to Hatake. As soon as the enemies entered his range, his sensory ninjutsu provided immediate feedback.

As he spoke, faint blue electric arcs began to flicker across Hanyu's body.

"Wait, aren't you exposing our posit—"

Hatake didn't even have time to finish his sentence before Hanyu's figure abruptly vanished from where he stood. Then, a line of electric light flashed through the night. This ghostly, unpredictable speed sent Hanyu behind the second enemy in an instant.

At this moment, perhaps Hanyu should have uttered a menacing line, something like "Those who offend me shall be executed." However, all that surfaced in his mind was that "What are you looking at? → Let's test it then" routine.

It wasn't that this line lacked spirit or momentum, but it required coordination and buildup, and it lacked sufficient intimidation... Fortunately, he quickly recalled another phrase.

He whispered from behind the enemy:

"Is this melon of yours ripe?"

The enemy did not understand Hanyu's words, but the cold, murderous tone sent a chill straight to his brain.

Before he could turn around to see who had appeared behind him, he felt a surge of warmth in his abdomen. Then, he smelled a faint scent of blood in the air.

Only then did he see a young ninja standing behind him, wrapped in faint lightning, holding a short sword firmly in his hand. The blade had already pierced through his left kidney and punctured his abdominal cavity.

Oh, now he understood what "is the melon ripe" meant...

Intend to kill, must kill, instant kill.