Gods could not bleed.
To ordinary Konoha ninja, Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, was a god.
Yet a god had been wounded by them.
Though it was only a piece of shrapnel embedded in Ōnoki's leg, it proved that Ōnoki was not a god.
Kawadera Uchiha shouted, "Quick! Release the Ninja Hawks!"
More than a dozen Ninja Hawks took flight outside the Medical Department.
Kawadera Uchiha had no time to make more Shrapnel Explosive Tags.
But how could Ōnoki know whether those Ninja Hawks carried Shrapnel Explosive Tags or not?
Ōnoki watched as the many Ninja Hawks released from the Medical Department stopped in midair instead of flying toward the Medical Department.
After being delayed for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi caught up as well.
The hundreds-of-meters-long Adamantine Enma Staff swept through the sky and blocked Ōnoki.
The battle between the two Kage Level ninja fell into a stalemate. Neither Ōnoki nor Hiruzen Sarutobi could do anything to the other.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's taijutsu was formidable, and Dust Release, which required some preparation time, could not hit him.
Ōnoki flew high in the air. The Earth Release Flight Technique made him nearly invincible, but he also had no way to break through Hiruzen Sarutobi's defenses and reach the Medical Department anytime soon.
Kawadera Uchiha was looking up with great interest when three people appeared in a Body Flicker.
The leader was Naraichi, Hiruzen Sarutobi's Hokage assistant.
Naraichi hurriedly asked, "Who was the one who injured Ōnoki just now?"
Dazhou Yamanaka hurried forward a few steps, his voice suddenly rising. "Me! It was me! Me!"
Seeing that Chu Inuzuka, captain of the Medical Guard Battalion, seemed to have something to say, he quickly cut him off and continued shouting,
"I was inspired by Kawadera Uchiha, and we worked together to create the suicidal Ninja Hawk tactic! It's extremely effective against aerial targets!"
Naraichi said, "Dazhou Yamanaka, I now appoint you captain of the Anti-Air Unit!
"Ask for anyone you need. I require the Anti-Air Unit to begin its counterattack within three minutes!
"Gangcheng Nara will help coordinate everything. His orders are my orders!"
After saying that, Naraichi disappeared in a Body Flicker, leaving behind only the other pineapple head.
Dazhou Yamanaka thought, So I get my day in the sun after all!
He said to Gangcheng Nara, "Lord Gangcheng! My Anti-Air Unit needs two companies, thirty-two Yamanaka Clan ninja in total, as well as one explosive company responsible for making Explosive Wooden Barrels."
"Explosive Wooden Barrels?"
Gangcheng Nara understood the request for two companies of Yamanaka Clan ninja—they were probably going to use the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques—but he did not understand what Explosive Wooden Barrels were.
Dazhou Yamanaka said, "Kawadera Uchiha! Make Kawadera Uchiha the explosive company commander! He knows how to make Explosive Wooden Barrels!"
The orders were swiftly relayed. Dozens of seconds later, two companies of Yamanaka Clan ninja arrived before Dazhou Yamanaka.
Dazhou Yamanaka looked at the confusion on his clansmen's faces and felt absolutely delighted.
You all laughed at me and said I had no Ino-Shika-Cho teammates. Well, now none of you have teammates either. You've all been pulled out too!
Ninja Hawks, Fire Release ninja, sealing ninja—the battalion had been assembled.
Dazhou Yamanaka came before Kawadera Uchiha and said,
"Kawadera! You're a company commander now. A company commander's record must feel like a dream to you, right?
"An Uchiha rarely gets the chance to become a company commander in an ordinary Konoha unit.
"Get to work making Explosive Wooden Barrels. Don't worry, I'll apply for a huge mission reward for you after the battle!"
Kawadera Uchiha said, "Then I'll have to thank you."
What a pain. He had originally only wanted to get an A-rank mission reward from Tobirama Senju, yet somehow he had been dragged into an Anti-Air Unit.
Within the Sea of Consciousness, Kawadera Uchiha said, "Second, where's my reward?"
A tremor passed through his soul as Tobirama Senju completed a Mind Awakening.
Kawadera Uchiha's [Illusion] rose from 8.2 to 8.3, further improving his genjutsu ability.
"Second! I gave the Shrapnel Explosive Tags I created to Konoha. That's no small contribution to Konoha. Is there another reward?"
"Of course not." Tobirama Senju said firmly, "Konoha has its own wartime regulations.
"If you refuse Gangcheng Nara now, he will certainly have you executed."
Kawadera Uchiha left the Sea of Consciousness, thinking that this damned world was truly awful.
He had Kureya Inuzuka and Ken Aburame teach the temporary company members how to make Explosive Wooden Barrels.
He personally led others in hurriedly drawing Explosive Tags.
Ninja Hawks flew into the sky one after another.
Some served as decoys, circling above Ōnoki's head and frightening him.
Others carried Explosive Wooden Barrels filled with several Explosive Tags and shrapnel, waiting for the right moment to dive at Ōnoki.
Ōnoki had no choice but to spend considerable effort dodging or dealing with those Explosive Wooden Barrels.
The explosions from the Explosive Tags were insignificant, but the fast-flying shrapnel gave Ōnoki a terrible headache.
Seeing the situation improve, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly said,
"Naraichi! Well done!
"I'll hold Ōnoki back. Counterattack! Order a counterattack!"
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Based on the battlefield conditions, Naraichi swiftly issued orders to every unit and began the counterattack.
Outside the Medical Department, Kanzuki Senju came to Kawadera Uchiha's side and said, "Brother-in-law, we've received orders to head to the front for the counterattack. Goodbye!"
Kawadera Uchiha looked at the three twelve-year-old children, unsure what he could even wish for them.
"Go. Once this battle ends, maybe you'll be able to take the Chunin Ninja Exams."
Kanzuki Senju with her twin ponytails, Shingu Senju with his glasses, and the Inuzuka Clan ninja carrying a white-and-brown puppy left the Medical Department.
Kawadera Uchiha lowered his head and continued drawing Explosive Tags.
One Explosive Tag every two minutes. He did not know how many he drew—perhaps thirty, perhaps forty—until he was too exhausted to extract any chakra. Only then did no one ask him for Explosive Tags anymore.
Ōnoki flew away, and the battle ended.
Kawadera Uchiha received another mission and led his squad onto the battlefield to carry wounded soldiers.
After walking a few dozen steps, he saw more than a dozen enormous pits. Those pits had been created by Ōnoki's Dust Release.
Kawadera Uchiha carefully examined them. Their walls were incredibly smooth; dirt, grass roots, and vines had all been cut with perfect neatness.
The bottoms were absolutely flat. Anyone struck by Dust Release would instantly be reduced to dust.
After walking another two hundred steps or so, they encountered many Konoha ninja.
The severely wounded had already lost clarity of consciousness and groaned on the ground.
Those with lighter injuries gritted their teeth without making a sound, cold sweat streaming down their faces as they signaled for the seriously wounded to be carried away first.
Kawadera Uchiha thought, If I get hurt in the future, I'd better pretend to be delirious and scream. Otherwise, I'll be rescued last.
They carried wounded soldiers three times, each round trip taking them farther than the last.
On the fourth trip, Kawadera Uchiha suddenly saw a familiar figure.
Shingu Senju, whom he had just parted from, stood there blankly, holding the white-and-brown puppy in his arms and clutching a lock of pale golden hair in one hand. His eyes were unfocused and vacant.
That... that lock of hair?
Kawadera Uchiha walked over and asked, "Shingu, where's Kanzuki?"
Shingu Senju slowly raised his head, his neck stiff. "Kanzuki charged too fast. Dust Release swept over her, and she... she only left behind this hair."
Kawadera Uchiha froze. He did not say anything more and continued carrying the wounded.
"Second, I did save Kanzuki Senju. She charged too recklessly and died in Dust Release herself."
"You can't take back my reward."
More than ten seconds later, Kawadera Uchiha continued,
"Hey, Second, why aren't you saying anything?"
No matter how great the Will of Fire was, before the mere lock of pale golden hair left from a twelve-year-old child, it seemed pale and powerless.
After finishing the mission of carrying the wounded, he learned from Xingyue that thirty-eight Senju Clan ninja had died in this battle.
That included five twelve-year-old Genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy, including her closest cousin, her uncle's child.
Xingyue rested her head on Kawadera Uchiha's shoulder, then continued treating the wounded.
Kawadera Uchiha saw that one patch of his shoulder had become wet.
For the first time, the number of Senju Clan ninja had fallen below two hundred. Only 192 remained.
Tobirama Senju said, "Kawadera Uchiha, I'm giving you an S-rank mission. Protect the Senju Clan ninja to the best of your ability. Save as many as you can..."
"An S-rank mission reward? Can I know what the reward is?"
"A forbidden technique no worse than the Eight Inner Gates."
Kawadera Uchiha heard rare exhaustion in Tobirama Senju's voice and did not press further.
Kawadera Uchiha asked, "By any means necessary?"
"By any means necessary?" After a silence, Tobirama Senju said, "Of course, by any means necessary."
"Alright!"
Kawadera Uchiha was instantly filled with fighting spirit. It seemed Tobirama Senju had finally felt some urgency, and his mindset had changed.
He looked forward to his second forbidden technique.
Seeing Shingu Senju standing there blankly, still clutching that lock of pale golden hair, Kawadera Uchiha felt somewhat miserable as well.
His sister-in-law, whom he had only known for a few days—how could she just be gone like that?
Before you continue