Strike Behind Enemy Lines, Blossoming at the Center!

At the border of the Land of Wind, the Third Kazekage held intelligence reports from both sides, his face revealing barely suppressed excitement.

The intelligence we have comes from two directions.

On one side is Ebizo.

On one side is information about Kirigakure).

Both are referring to the same thing. Not only in the west, but also in the east, many traveling ninjas have been recalled, including Jonin and Chunin. Although some have been brought back, the overall situation seems to be declining.

The intelligence from both sides matched.

"Lord Kazekage, what do we do now?"

Rasa suppressed his excitement.

"Um..."

The Third Kazekage was still somewhat hesitant.

Unlike Rasa.

Rasa was just a Jonin. He needed merit, fame, and status, but he didn't need them. He only needed to be responsible to everyone in Sunagakure.

so.

Rasa may be impulsive and warlike, but he cannot blindly start a war.

but.

Besides the problems in the village, he also had to consider the attitudes of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, Feudal Lord were now eager to expand.

If he doesn't take action, the support for Sunagakure will decrease, which would undoubtedly be a catastrophe for the Sunagakure.

After hesitating for a moment, the Third Kazekage picked up the other intelligence reports, examined them repeatedly, and said, "Our side, the Konoha headquarters is near Kikyo City, right?"

"Yes."

Rasa nodded.

The Third Kazekage's fist slammed heavily onto Kikyo City.

"Tonight we'll attack Kikyo Mountain. Since no one dares to strike first, let's take action and see what the Konoha Ninja are made of."

"Yes!"

The night was quiet.

Shibi Aburame suddenly sensed that the insects were starting to stir.

He immediately sensed something was wrong.

Soon, he learned some information from the messages relayed back by some insects.

The Sunagakure has launched an attack!

Bang!

The signal flare exploded in the sky.

Orochimaru gazed at the distant light, a cold smile playing on his lips.

The fish has taken the bait!

Sunagakure.

He stepped out of the Kikyo Mountain fortress and looked around. After the chaos, most of the ninjas who had been resting on Kikyo Mountain had come to gather.

They looked up.

Orochimaru.

One of the Sannin, he had led everyone to achieve numerous merits on the battlefield, but this time he was sent to the west, and everyone had heard some rumors about it.

Some say that Orochimaru was demoted because he made a mistake.

Some people also say...

He came to start a war.

but.

These rumors circulated mostly among the Chunin and Genin ranks; among the Jonin, virtually no one dared to whisper behind Orochimaru's back.

The more powerful one becomes, the more one understands how terrifying Orochimaru is.

At this moment.

Orochimaru scanned the area.

His voice was slightly hoarse. "Sunagakure is attacking. Everyone prepare for battle. I'm issuing the battle plan now. One small team..."

One command after another was issued in an orderly manner.

"Captain, look!"

Kakashi pointed to the distant glow of a signal flare.

Minato Namikaze's expression was grave.

This is the most dangerous warning flare.

Something's happened up ahead!

He looked behind him and saw that Kyohiko and Kurenai Yuhi, who had just been resting, had gathered around.

"We can't rest now, a signal flare has been fired up ahead, something must have happened. We need to get there and provide support!"

Minato Namikaze stood up, "Talking as I walk."

"Good."

Everyone got up and rushed towards the explosion site.

Along the way, the sounds of Explosive Tag and Ninjutsu echoed from ahead.

Minato Namikaze was extremely anxious.

"Captain, don't rush, we can't be hasty."

Kyohiko calmed down.

There's no use in being anxious now. No matter how fast the four of them go, they can only manage to get there with the strength of four people.

He looked around.

"There are several other teams behind us. They came as a group and are an important part of our force. Do they have anyone protecting them?"

"There are ten Jonin with the team, so there shouldn't be any major problems, but we should send a message back to warn them."

Minato Namikaze calmed down a bit.

He immediately took out paper and began to write.

"I also left a Flying Thunder God Kunai behind me, which can be used to send Flying Thunder God back directly to them and raise their vigilance."

"After issuing a warning, we'll go provide support..."

Minato Namikaze thought about it for a while, but still felt something was off.

As Kyohiko said, four people might be very useful in small missions, but their effectiveness on the battlefield is very limited unless they are strong enough.

He looked worried.

"Kyohiko, what are your thoughts?"

"Let's warn the rear, get to the front lines first, and then make a decision based on the situation on the ground. There's no use saying anything now."

Kyohiko's thoughts were racing.

Orochimaru is a master at fishing.

According to intelligence, Konoha did indeed transfer a large number of people; otherwise, there wouldn't have been more than ten elite Jonin later on.

They've hit a really bad spot!

With this kind of operation, it would be difficult for the Third Kazekage not to get hooked.

However, this would result in losses at the front lines...

His heart sank.

To minimize losses, the primary objective is a decapitation strike, targeting areas the enemy must defend.

Alternatively, cut off the enemy's retreat route to inflict even greater losses on Sunagakure!

Kyohiko had an idea in his mind.

As he approached Kikyo Mountain, he used his senses to explore his surroundings. Although he didn't know the terrain, the Chakra aura around him was like a beacon.

The Sunagakure took the bait, but they were also extremely ruthless. Just by sensing the Chakra aura, he knew there were three or four hundred people there.

Among them were ninjas from Konoha and Sunagakure.

He doesn't understand the ninjas of Sunagakure and Konoha, and cannot make accurate judgments based solely on his senses.

However, once you go around to the back, it's all people from Sunagakure!

"Minato, how about we make a bet?"

How do we bet?

Minato Namikaze.

Kakashi and Kurenai Yuhi were in charge of reconnaissance and guard duty, but we were not too far away from them and could hear their discussions and orders.

Kyohiko didn't answer immediately, but instead drew lines on the ground.

Under the moonlight, Minato was barely visible.

He knew.

This is how Kyohiko perceived his surroundings.

Hundreds of people were engaged in a fierce battle.

The four of them alone could not instantly change the course of the battle.

"It's nighttime now, and we're fighting head-on, so it's hard to tell friend from foe right away. Why don't we infiltrate behind enemy lines? They're all enemy there, so we don't have to worry about who's friend or foe."

Kyohiko pointed towards the Land of Rivers, "Let's try a center-blooming strategy."

Minato Namikaze was stunned.

Central flowering?

Are you kidding me?!

Four people running into enemy territory? Isn't that just suicide?

but.

After thinking about it carefully, he realized that what Kyohiko said actually made some sense.

If they could directly infiltrate behind enemy lines and mobilize the enemy forces, it might be even more helpful to the front lines.

only...

"Can Red keep up?"

"I'm fine."

Kurenai Yuhi immediately spoke.

During her year at the hospital, although she didn't participate in many missions, she didn't neglect her physical exercise and strength training. On the contrary, Tsunade would give her guidance, increasing the intensity of her strength and physical training.

Her performance throughout the trip has been commendable.

Compared to Might Guy, she can't keep up with Kyohiko and Kakashi, but she's enough to protect herself and won't hold everyone back.

"Then let's take action."

"Rasa, we were too reckless in this operation!"

"Taira, this is the Lord Kazekage's order, not my decision. Telling me won't help."

Rasa observed the battle situation at the front while dealing with the Jonin beside him.

Taira is also Jonin of Sunagakure, specializing in puppets and poison, which is quite different from his style. However, as a fellow Jonin, he can question Taira's decisions.

Upon hearing that it was the Kazekage's order, Taira fell silent.

"Then I'll take some men to support Pakura. She always fights desperately. What if Orochimaru recovers and attacks her directly? We'll be..."

Taira was speaking, his eyelids suddenly twitched.

Something's not right!

"Rasa, don't you feel...?"

He looked outside.

Just now, he seemed to hear some noise, like the sound of a trap, very faint, but he still noticed it.

"What?"

"It seems someone is dismantling the trap; I just heard a slight noise."

"No way?"

This is the rear area.

Rasa paused for a moment, then immediately squatted down, formed a hand Hand Seals, and a patch of golden sand quietly spread outwards from him.

Taira, however, was not satisfied with simple Ninjutsu reconnaissance.

He called over his men.

"Go and look around, check if the traps have been damaged."

"Yes!"

The Sunagakure ninjas dispersed.

Instantly, screams rang out.

There really is an enemy!

Rasa's mind went blank for a moment before he came to his senses.

Now is not the time to daydream.

He rushed into the forest immediately, and the Gold Dust beneath his feet gathered, turning into a floating platform that lifted him up and sent him flying into the air.

Then--

Rasa saw the enemy below.

The numerous figures, numbering in the dozens, were roughly judged to be mostly ordinary Clone Technique.

There were only one or two enemy teams that actually attacked; otherwise, the ninjas from Sunagakure would have discovered them long ago.

His gaze swept across the area.

In that instant, one Kunai flew towards him.

Rasa sneered and instantly used magnetic force to attract the Kunai to one side. Then, Gold Dust surged and gathered around the place where the Kunai had been shot out.

Around him, Gold Dust coalesced into spears.

Just as he fired the Gold Dust- flecked spear, a figure appeared beside him.

Flying Thunder God!

Minato Namikaze was some distance away from him, but there was another person beside him.

Kyohiko's Shadow Clone.

"Go!"

He directly flung Kyohiko 'Shadow Clone away.

Kyohiko's Shadow Clone was currently enveloped in Lightning Style Chakra, and although he was in the air, his speed and agility were still considerable.

Rasa's gaze sharpened.

This kid in front of me, is he that genius Jonin from Konoha?

He dared not be careless.

Layers of Gold Dust enveloped him, separating him from Kyohiko, but—

Bang!

The terrifying fist pierced straight through the Gold Dust's defenses, creating a gap in the Shield of Gold Dust.

How is that possible?

Rasa's pupils contracted.

Since mastering Magnet Release, his Shield of Gold Dust had never been broken, but now...

He didn't have time to be shocked.

because.

The next instant, the other party threw a piece of wood through the gap.

It is made of wood and cannot be attracted by Gold Dust, but a symbol is clearly engraved on it.

Not good!

Rasa was startled.

He immediately contracted the Gold Dust, using it to protect himself, while the Gold Dust spread and transformed into iron spikes.

but.

Kyohiko unleashed a burst of Chakra from his entire body.

With his Lightning Release Chakra Mode combined with his Strength of a Hundred strength, every part of his body can unleash tremendous power.

A vertical elbow strike.

Gold Dust defense--

Broken!

The next second, the Gold Dust Barrier spread, and Kyohiko's Shadow Clone dissipated on their own, their Chakra returning to his main body.

but.

Boom!

A loud explosion rang out in the sky.

One after another, Explosive Tag flew up from below via the Flying Thunder God and the wooden plaque, along with a multitude of hidden weapons and poisons.

Those were all moves used by Taira's men to attack Minato Namikaze, but now they were all redirected into the air.

Boom!

A deafening roar.

Flames, poison, and numerous hidden weapons transformed into the most dazzling fireworks in the sky.

Taira looked up, his face filled with astonishment.

At the same time, he saw a figure hidden in the treetops ahead.

A little girl.

The opponent Hand Seals, and their figure instantly twisted, transforming into a flurry of cherry blossoms.

Taira's consciousness was immediately plunged into oblivion.

Genjutsu: The Falling Cherry Blossom Illusion Technique.

Not good!

He immediately realized something was wrong and quickly dispelled the Genjutsu.

Sizzle!

A piercing sound rang in my ears.

What was that sound?

Whoosh!

Immediately afterward, he involuntarily let out a scream, his eyes fixed incredulously on his heart—

A hand crackling with lightning pierced right through his body!

Kakashi, panting, then swiftly kicked him away.

A Jonin was assassinated without a trace.

Minato Namikaze Body Flicker Technique.

"Withdraw!"

"But, that..."

Kakashi stared at the sky.

The ninja who used Magnet Release Ninjutsu is definitely not dead. If they could kill him, their gains would be even greater.

Enveloped in layers of Gold Dust, Rasa broke out in a cold sweat.

He never imagined that he would one day encounter such a difficult battle.

What drove him to despair was--

At this moment, he could only stay in the sky, trying to stay as far away from the battlefield below as possible, while his subordinates were killed one by one.

Rasa was powerless.

What made him even more helpless was that waves of poisonous gas seeped in, causing him to be poisoned uncontrollably.

We must save ourselves!

He maneuvered the Gold Dust Platform as far away from the ground as possible.

At that moment, a loud splashing sound erupted from below.

The water rose up, transforming into a water dragon wrapped in lightning, heading towards the sky.

Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!

Although it wasn't a version supported by Senjutsu Chakra, Kyohiko's main body accumulated and unleashed Ninjutsu that surged forward while Rasa was being attacked repeatedly.

Under the moonlight, Rasa saw through the Eye of Sand that the water dragon contained Kunai, Shuriken, and various iron spikes, as well as a massive amount of Lightning Style Chakra.

They swirl in the water like blades of predator.

It can't be won!

You absolutely must not get infected!

He tried his best to move the sand platform, but how could his flying speed keep up with the speed of the water dragon?

Wow!

The spinning water jets emitted roaring sounds.

The water splashed.

Below, Kyohiko wanted to deliver another blow, but Minato Namikaze's shadow Shadow Clone was already beside him.

"Let's go! Kazekage is coming."

He sensed a figure rapidly approaching in the sky.

"Yes!"

Kyohiko sensed it slightly and also noticed the Third Kazekage.

The Third Kazekage, piloting the Iron Sand Wings, flew in from the sky and is now very close.

They lacked the means to counter airborne attacks and were currently behind enemy lines. Continuing to linger would likely put them in grave danger, so they had to retreat as soon as possible.

However, the four of them had already wiped out the surrounding squads.

Main objectives achieved.