The Decisive Battle Begins

On the day of the decisive battle, the sun had yet to rise above the desert horizon. The desolate landscape was shrouded in dim light, and the sand seemed coated in a layer of ash-gray.

The reconnaissance team to which Riyue belonged had set out very early. Their mission was to gather data on the battlefield terrain before the fighting began, monitor enemy troop movements, and detect any potential ambushes. Four hundred and twenty men scattered, scouting the entire battlefield.

Riyue, along with Mizuki and Shibi, formed a three-man squad to investigate the terrain behind a small sand dune.

Mizuki retracted her Byakugan and shook her head, saying, "No ambushes detected."

A moment later, Shibi extended his index finger. A tiny Kikai Insect folded its wings and landed on his fingertip, relaying information to him. Shibi looked up and said, "The terrain here has been scouted. There's nothing suspicious; this battlefield is vast and flat, with few places to hide."

"Konoha is so much better. Here, it's just sand, not a hint of life. The climate is arid and the temperature is too high," Mizuki complained about the weather.

"Once we win this battle, the outcome will be set," Riyue offered a word of comfort, and the three continued their movement toward another sand dune.

Intelligence on the entire battlefield gradually became transparent to the reconnaissance squad, and they would only regroup once the battle commenced.

Time quickly reached noon.

The scorching sun hung in the sky, and the desert heat was intense. Under the baking sun, the uneven air density caused the horizon to shimmer and blur, with some areas even creating a mirage-like reflection effect. The endless yellow sand appeared exceptionally empty and quiet; even the breeze had ceased, and the stagnant atmosphere felt suffocating.

A few vultures circled in the sky not far away, though it was unclear if they smelled the scent of blood or sensed the impending great battle and had gathered for a feast.

Suddenly, small, black, human-like dots began to appear on both sides of the desert. The dots multiplied, and soon, dense masses of troops surged forward. Dust and sand kicked up behind them as the armies of Hidden Sand and Konoha raced toward the battlefield, both sides advancing toward the center of the desert.

Tsunade and Sakumo Hatake ran at the very front of the formation, followed by numerous guards and elite troops. Further back were the 11,000 men of the main Konoha force, with another 1,000 in reserve at the rear.

Chiyo, Ebizo, and Kalo led the 8,000-strong Hidden Sand force from the other side. When the two armies reached a certain distance, they gradually came to a halt.

The two armies stood in opposition, the wind and sand began to rise, and the tension was palpable.

Tsunade noticed that the eyes of the Hidden Sand ninjas were filled with fighting spirit, as if a repressed volcano were about to erupt. A sense of foreboding rose in her heart, and she couldn't help but frown.

"Monster Strength Woman! Today, I will avenge Dosa!" As soon as Chiyo saw Tsunade, she spoke through gritted teeth. Enemies meeting face-to-face were bound to be hostile, and when women met, it was a life-or-death struggle.

"Hmph! You old hag, bring it on!" Tsunade refused to lose the upper hand. Her momentum remained undiminished, and with a confident smile on her face, she hooked her finger at Chiyo in provocation.

"Monster Strength Woman! Who are you calling an old hag?" Chiyo glared at Tsunade with wide eyes, waving her fists.

"Whoever calls me a Monster Strength Woman is who I'm talking about!" A vein pulsed on Tsunade's forehead as she shouted back at Chiyo.

"Slug Woman! Monster Strength Woman! Monster Slug!" "Old. Hag!" The two began to trade insults across the distance.

"Hmph!" "Tch!" Both flushed red with anger, turned their heads away, and ceased the verbal sparring.

Both sides prepared to strike; the decisive battle was about to begin!

Meanwhile, in the reconnaissance squad, Shikaku was looking at a map with Riyue and the others nearby. A ninja arrived with a message.

"A small Hidden Sand unit is flanking to the east. It looks like they are trying to circle behind our army! There are about 1,000 of them; no other special circumstances were found," the messenger reported.

"Are they planning to pincer us from the rear when the battle starts? Or raid our base camp? Or perhaps they want to cut off our retreat?" Shikaku felt puzzled.

"One thousand men isn't enough for a pincer maneuver. A raid on the base camp would be too blatant, especially since the base is heavily guarded and 1,000 men couldn't break in. That leaves only one option: blocking and pursuing us when our main force retreats or is routed!" Shikaku thought for a moment and said.

Riyue pondered, "But does Hidden Sand know for sure that we will retreat or be routed? Could it be... they are that confident they will win? But what advantage does Hidden Sand have to be so confident? They don't have any edge to speak of..."

Shikaku also felt it was strange. "Let's notify Lady Tsunade first."

Upon learning of this, Tsunade immediately dispatched 500 men to intercept the enemy.

A gust of wind swept across the front lines of the two armies, kicking up yellow sand. (BGM: Lightning Speed, Takanashi Yasuharu)

A fierce look flashed in Tsunade's eyes, and she waved her hand: "Attack!!" The commander of the Konoha ninjutsu unit immediately raised his right hand, executing the order: "Ninjutsu unit, advance! Prepare to use ninjutsu!" Nearly a thousand Konoha ninjas leaped out of the formation, stood in several rows at the front, and performed hand seals rapidly!

"Ninjutsu unit, move out!" Chiyo of Hidden Sand was not to be outdone and immediately issued the attack order. Hundreds of Hidden Sand ninjas also jumped out.

"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!" Hundreds of fire-style ninjas simultaneously spat out flame bullets. Hundreds of fireballs surged forth, flying toward the Hidden Sand ninjas opposite them.

At the same time, the ninjas beside them performed hand seals: "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" They spat out a violent gale, and hundreds of powerful gusts propelled the dense fireballs toward the enemy. The wind fueled the fire, and the flame bullets instantly connected to form a massive barrage of fire, swallowing everything in its path with unstoppable force!

"Everyone, together! Water Style: Water Formation Wall!" Twice as many water-style ninjas jumped out from the Hidden Sand side. Each spat out a column of water. Working in unison, despite the lack of water in the vicinity, the columns converged to erect a surging wall of water in front of the Hidden Sand troops.

"Whoosh! Hiss~~~" The raging fire collided with the water waves. The water wall blocked the fierce flames, and for a time, steam billowed, white vapor filled the air, and a thick fog formed in the middle of the battlefield.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!" Several fireballs flew out of the fog and exploded among the Hidden Sand troops. Simultaneously, several wind blades sliced through the pervasive mist. "Swish! Swish!" They cut directly through several Konoha ninjas, leaving them decapitated. "Boom! Boom!" Several kunai attached with Explosive Tags detonated in the crowd, and ninjutsu and hidden weapons flew out from the fog from time to time.

"Kill! Charge in!" The Konoha ninjas were the first to rush into the fog, intending to engage the Hidden Sand in close-quarters combat.

"Go! Take them down!" The Hidden Sand ninjas, having grown impatient, quickly charged forward as well.

"Clang! Ding! Clatter! Clash! Pop! Bang!" The sound of weapons colliding erupted in the fog, accompanied by war cries. Occasionally, sparks could be seen flying from the clashes. The mist evaporated rapidly in the desert heat, revealing the vanguard troops locked in fierce combat.

"All-out attack!" "Everyone, attack!" Tsunade and Chiyo waved their hands simultaneously. The main forces surged forward, and the two armies collided violently, immediately engaging in a back-and-forth struggle of flashing blades and shadows.

"Die!" A Hidden Sand ninja plunged his kunai into an enemy's chest, a grim, satisfied smile on his face. But the next second, his smile vanished, as his back was slashed by another Konoha ninja. His tactical vest was cut in two, leaving only a long, bloody gash on his back. The Hidden Sand ninja fell to the ground, unwilling to accept his fate.

"Ugh... kill..." A Hidden Sand ninja had his throat slit by a kunai but still tried to shout and attack. However, blood gushed out, clogging his throat so he couldn't make a sound. He clutched his neck; the more he tried to scream, the more blood sprayed out. He soon breathed his last.

"Ah!" A Konoha ninja plunged a sickle into a Hidden Sand ninja's abdomen. Thinking he had finished off his enemy, he didn't expect the enemy to backhand a blade and sever his arm. Blood gushed like a pillar, and he collapsed, unable to rise.

"Bang!" A burly Konoha chunin punched an enemy, sending him flying. Just as he was about to press his advantage, the sound of something cutting through the air rang out beside him. He turned his head. "Swish! Swish! Swish!" He saw several kunai flying toward his face, instantly turning him into a pincushion.

"Got one!" The Hidden Sand ninja smiled and put away the scroll he had used to release the kunai. Just as he turned back, he was slammed into the ground by a punch. The Konoha chunin reappeared, smiling coldly: "That was a substitution, idiot!" He turned and charged at another enemy...

The two sides quickly intermingled, locked in a fierce melee. Ninjas from both sides often fought in small groups, covering for each other, locked in an inseparable struggle. A faint scent of blood gradually began to drift across the battlefield.

The Hidden Sand forces were at a disadvantage from the start due to their inferior numbers, yet Chiyo and her commanders remained calm and composed at the center of their formation, seemingly unconcerned by the current situation.

Since Chiyo and her group remained stationary, the Hidden Leaf commander, Tsunade, naturally held her position as well. She stood at the center of her lines, keeping a constant watch on Chiyo, knowing it was not yet time for the commanders to intervene.

However, the White Fang of the Leaf, Sakumo Hatake, cared little for such restraint. He led the Leaf's elite forces straight into the thickest part of the enemy ranks. With the White Fang leading the charge, he sprinted forward, his hand reaching back to grip the short white blade at his back.

"Kill!" Two Hidden Sand ninja lunged at him, one from the front and one from behind, their kunai drawn. Sakumo Hatake leaned forward slightly while running, his footwork shifting as his speed surged. In the next second, he "swam" through the gap between the two like a fish.

"Swish! Swish!" Two flashes of cold light followed, tracing beautiful arcs through the air. The two Hidden Sand ninja suddenly froze in place. Sakumo had already sheathed his White Fang Blade, as if he had never drawn it at all, and continued his sprint forward. The Leaf elites following closely behind him leaped past the two men without a second glance.

Only then did thin lines of blood appear on the vital points of the two frozen men. A few seconds later, blood sprayed out as they collapsed to the ground, dead. By then, Sakumo had already charged a hundred meters ahead, his cold blade flashing once more to strike down several other unlucky enemies.

Sakumo Hatake performed a Body Flicker Technique, appearing in a flash amidst a dozen enemies. Using his momentum, he spun sharply, his White Fang Blade tracing a beautiful arc of cold light. The enemies around him stiffened instantly before falling to the ground one by one.

The enemy furthest from him instinctively recoiled, suffering only a severe wound. As he clutched his chest and tried to flee, a Leaf elite ninja following behind Sakumo finished him off with a single strike. These Leaf elites continued to follow the White Fang's lead without pause, rampaging through the Hidden Sand ranks and shattering their formation.

Sakumo Hatake's entry turned the tide of the battle into a one-sided slaughter. Leading the Leaf's elite forces, he moved as if through empty space, reaping lives with every step.

The Hidden Sand ninja were terrified; the White Fang's speed was simply too great. Those who attempted to attack him were no weaklings—they launched full-force ambushes, surrounded him, and attacked from all sides—only to be cut down by the White Fang's even fiercer, faster, and more agile techniques.

Those who tried to flee could not escape the ten-meter radius around him. Often, a Hidden Sand ninja would take only two steps before a flash of cold light struck from behind, leaving them decapitated. The area around the White Fang was like a domain of death; within the ten-meter radius of his blade's cold light, not a single Hidden Sand ninja remained alive.

Gradually, the main Hidden Sand force could no longer hold their ground, showing faint signs of breaking.

"It seems they won't be able to hold out much longer..." Chiyo remarked, observing the unfavorable situation.

Ebizo looked toward the distance and nodded at Kalo. "The reinforcements should be arriving soon. Go and prepare. The Hidden Sand will be victorious!"

Kalo immediately turned and left, taking over a hundred Wind Style ninja from the Hidden Sand with him.

Just then, the wind began to rise in the depths of the desert. It whipped up the dry sand, creating a dust cloud that spread across the desert floor, growing ever wider. The wind intensified, eventually escalating into a gale!

Riyue, stationed with the reconnaissance squad, sensed the change in the weather as the sand began to swirl. Feeling a sudden sense of foreboding, he activated his Byakugan to peer into the distance.

"This is... Oh no! A sandstorm!!"