Second Hokage's Decapitation Operation! Decisive Battle in the Land of Rain!

The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, led eight hundred Konoha elites on a relentless march day and night.

Eight days later, the army finally reached the border of the Land of Rain.

Tobirama ordered the entire army to rest where they stood.

He had just entered the central command tent when an ANBU who had rushed back from the front lines dropped to one knee, his voice urgent.

"Lord Hokage! The latest battle report!"

"Three days ago, Sunagakure launched a night raid and captured Heavenly Chasm Rock and North City's supply depot, both defended by Iwagakure!"

"Iwagakure has fully withdrawn from the Land of Rain battlefield. Nearly five hundred of our ninja are trapped at a temporary stronghold and urgently request support!"

Tobirama's brows furrowed, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"I can understand Iwagakure putting in only a token effort, with their minds entirely on the Land of Hot Springs battlefield."

"But how could a fortress defended by nearly a thousand Iwagakure ninja fall overnight?"

The ANBU did not dare conceal anything and reported truthfully.

"According to our investigation, Sunagakure deployed more than a thousand puppets to forcefully assault Heavenly Chasm Rock."

"And North City was taken by a single Sunagakure female ninja named Chiyo, who used puppet techniques to capture it alone!"

Tobirama gave a cold snort.

"Chiyo?"

"Sunagakure actually has such an outstanding woman among its ranks."

"But they think this is enough to swallow up Konoha's people? Naive!"

After a brief moment of thought, he decisively issued his orders.

"Return to the front lines immediately and notify Hiruzen Sarutobi. Tell him to hold the line for three days at all costs!"

"At dawn on the third day, launch a full assault with the first ray of sunlight and cooperate with my decapitation plan!"

"Yes!" The ANBU accepted the order and vanished instantly.

Tobirama then summoned another ANBU from his personal guard.

"Go at once to the camp of Iwagakure's retreating forces and find their highest commander."

"Tell him that within three days, he must retake Heavenly Chasm Rock and North City at any cost!"

"In return, this year's annual tribute from the Land of Earth to the Land of Fire will be reduced by half!"

"If they fail to take them within three days, don't blame me for turning hostile."

"Tell him that before I came here, I had already obtained the Land of Fire Daimyo's authority to act at my own discretion!"

"Understood!" The ANBU accepted the order and withdrew.

Land of Rain, temporary camp of Iwagakure's retreating forces.

The Iwagakure commander stared at the Konoha ANBU before him, his face filled with shock.

"Are you sure?"

"As long as we take those two fortresses, we won't need to cooperate with Konoha in attacking Sunagakure anymore, and half the annual tribute will be waived?"

The ANBU's voice was icy, without the slightest emotional fluctuation. "Absolutely true. The Second Hokage holds the Daimyo's special authorization. His word is final."

The Iwagakure commander fell silent.

A few minutes later, he slammed his hand onto the table.

His eyes were filled with greed and ruthlessness.

"Deal!"

"Within three days, Heavenly Chasm Rock and North City will definitely be returned to their rightful owners!"

The Konoha ANBU nodded slightly, turned, and left.

Land of Rain, Sunagakure frontline headquarters.

"What did you say? Iwagakure is counterattacking Heavenly Chasm Rock and North City like rabid dogs?" The First Kazekage abruptly rose to his feet.

The Sunagakure messenger kneeling on one knee spoke in a trembling voice.

"Since yesterday, nearly a thousand Iwagakure ninja have launched a ferocious assault regardless of the cost."

"Because the enemy is using large numbers of high-level Earth Release techniques, the walls simply can't be held."

"Lady Chiyo requests immediate reinforcements!"

Ebizo, standing nearby, frowned deeply. "Lord Kazekage, it seems Tobirama Senju has arrived."

"What does Iwagakure's counterattack have to do with Konoha?" The Kazekage was deeply puzzled.

"Iwagakure's attention was never here, which was why taking those cities had been so easy in the first place."

"Now they're suddenly fighting for their lives. Konoha must have promised them tremendous benefits!"

Ebizo's analysis was orderly and convincing. He suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with urgency.

"My lord!"

"We must immediately launch a full-scale assault on Konoha's stronghold!"

"Before Konoha's reinforcements arrive, we must wipe out those five hundred men first!"

"As for my sister's side, have her hold the fortresses at all costs. We can reinforce her after destroying Konoha's stronghold!"

The Kazekage pondered for a moment, then waved his hand.

"We should reinforce Chiyo first."

"We have an absolute numerical advantage. There's no need to rush."

"Pass the order. Send a thousand men to reinforce Chiyo at once! Tomorrow morning, launch the full assault on Konoha!"

Ebizo stamped his foot anxiously. "My lord! Speed is the essence of war. Delays invite change!"

"What are you panicking for? Those five hundred Konoha ninja are already turtles in a jar. They can't escape even if they grow wings."

The Kazekage smiled confidently and turned to leave the command room.

Watching the Kazekage's departing back, Ebizo let out a long sigh.

"I just hope... everything goes smoothly tomorrow."

Border of the Land of Rain, Konoha camp.

The night was deep, and a fine rain fell without pause.

Lin Hai stood beside Tobirama, looking at the silent forest around them before he could not help speaking.

"Lord Second Hokage, isn't tomorrow's decapitation plan too risky?"

"We have fewer men, and the Kazekage is immensely powerful. If we get surrounded..."

Tobirama smiled faintly, his eyes brimming with incomparable confidence.

"Don't worry. I know the Kazekage's strength."

"If I want to kill him, no one can stop me!"

"Tomorrow, the five hundred defenders led by the monkey and my eight hundred elites will stab into Sunagakure's camp like two sharp blades."

"As long as Sunagakure's attention is divided, I'll have enough time to take the Kazekage's head!"

"Once the Kazekage dies, Sunagakure will be leaderless, and the war will naturally end."

"Then we can free up our hands to deal with the troubles of the Lands of Water and Lightning."

Lin Hai was puzzled. "Kumogakure and Kirigakure are fighting Iwagakure fiercely right now. What does that have to do with us?"

Tobirama looked into the distance, his gaze profound.

"They will eventually decide a victor."

"The winning side will absolutely take the opportunity to declare war on Konoha!"

"I have a feeling the Cloud-Mist Alliance will win. Kirigakure is currently fighting us in the Land of Whirlpools, and Kumogakure will sooner or later declare war on us for the sake of its ally."

"So we must end this quickly and force Sunagakure into peace talks!"

Lin Hai finally understood.

"Go get some sleep."

Tobirama patted Lin Hai on the shoulder, his tone heavy.

"Tomorrow's battle will be extremely brutal."

"This isn't an exercise. This is a real meat grinder."

"Survive."

Lin Hai nodded and returned to his tent.

Lying on his field cot, Lin Hai listened to the rain outside the tent, his heart filled with complicated emotions.

"After living two lives, I never expected to be heading to war at eight years old."

"This isn't movie special effects. This is a hellish battlefield that takes lives."

Lin Hai clenched his fists.

"I have to survive!"

The next morning.

The first ray of sunlight pierced the heavy rain clouds and shone upon the earth.

Konoha's temporary stronghold.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood proudly atop the city wall, clad in armor.

He glanced at Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado beside him.

"Koharu, Homura!"

"I'll take the vanguard and lead seventy jonin to tear straight through their defenses!"

"You two cover us from behind!"

"Remember, don't die here!"

The two nodded heavily.

Hiruzen bit his finger and slammed his hand against the city wall.

"Come out, Enma!"

"Today, let's wreak havoc in Sunagakure's camp!"

"Bang!"

The white smoke dispersed, revealing Enma carrying the Golden Cudgel. He grinned broadly. "Gladly!"

"Transform!"

Hiruzen caught Enma as he transformed into the Ruyi Jingu Bang, then leaped from the city wall.

"Kill!"

Seventy Konoha jonin followed close behind, leaping down from the wall like fierce tigers descending a mountain.

The city gates flew open!

More than four hundred Konoha ninja surged out like a tidal wave, charging straight toward Sunagakure's camp!

Alarm bells blared throughout the Sunagakure camp.

Ebizo rushed out of his tent. Seeing the wolf-like Konoha ninja, the unease in his heart instantly swelled to its peak.

The Kazekage immediately ordered the formation of defensive lines.

The first wave of Sunagakure ninja pressed forward to meet Konoha's charge.

At the very front, Hiruzen Sarutobi dragged the Golden Cudgel behind him with one hand.

Just as the two sides were about to clash, he suddenly stopped, took a deep breath, and the muscles in both arms bulged!

"Ruyi! Ruyi! Giant Force Sweeps the Army!"

Hiruzen roared and swung the Golden Cudgel with all his might!

The black staff, originally only as tall as a person, crazily extended the instant it was swung!

In an instant, it became a colossal pillar over a thousand meters long!

Accompanied by a terrifying howl, it swept toward the charging Sunagakure army!

Blood and flesh flew as screams rang out without end!

The two sides instantly entered the most brutal close-quarters battle!

Meanwhile.

Within the dense forest not far behind Sunagakure's camp.

The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, pointed toward the open ground ahead and ordered a jonin.

"Lead the main force in a frontal assault and create chaos!"

"I'll lead a ten-man squad to carry out the decapitation!"

"Yes!"

Konoha's main force rapidly spread out and launched its charge.

Tobirama led Lin Hai and nine other elite ANBU around to a blind spot in Sunagakure's camp without making a sound.

Tobirama pressed one hand against the soil and closed his eyes.

His immense sensory ability rippled outward like waves.

A moment later, he abruptly opened his eyes, killing intent blazing in his red gaze.

"Found him!"

"That old Kazekage's chakra is right ahead!"

Tobirama growled, "Stay close to me. Don't fall behind!"

"Whoosh!"

Tobirama leaped ten meters into the air and landed directly in the heart of Sunagakure's camp!

The instant his feet touched the ground, Tobirama's hands flashed through a series of seals.

"Genjutsu: Black Darkness Technique!"

An absolute darkness capable of stripping away all light instantly spread from Tobirama, enveloping several hundred meters of Sunagakure's camp!

Countless Sunagakure ninja fell into blind panic, unable to see even their own hands.

Lin Hai and the nine ANBU followed closely behind, charging into that abyss-like darkness.

A one-sided, silent slaughter had begun!