Konoha's Counterattack! Kumogakure's Surprise Assault!

Konoha and Kumogakure had been facing off across the border between the Land of Frost and the Land of Lightning for several days.

During that time, Lin Hai's injuries miraculously healed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the urgently recalled Shimura Danzo, and numerous elite Konoha jonin had also arrived at the front lines.

Konoha's forces had never been stronger. A great battle was on the verge of breaking out.

Inside the Hokage's tent.

Uchiha Hui, the current head of the Uchiha Clan, was looking solemnly at the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

"Hokage-sama, I came today because there is an important matter I wish to discuss with you."

Tobirama folded his arms and looked at him coldly.

"I was wondering. Whenever war reaches its most critical point, your Uchiha Clan not only refuses to contribute, but also loves forming factions and pulling little tricks in the rear."

Tobirama spared him no courtesy as he warned, "You'd better not tell me the daimyo's assassination had anything to do with your Uchiha Clan!"

Uchiha Hui was startled and hurriedly explained himself.

"Please judge wisely, sir! When the daimyo was assassinated, I was carrying out a top-secret mission in the Land of Wind. You knew about that!"

"Our Uchiha Clan is a complete mess internally as well. Though I am the clan head, I am not of the purest main-family bloodline, so many of the more radical clansmen simply refuse to follow my orders!"

Tobirama was silent for a moment, his expression easing slightly. "State your purpose."

Uchiha Hui carefully chose his words. "I suspect there is a mysterious force within the village secretly inciting members of our Uchiha Clan, attempting to carry out certain... activities detrimental to Konoha."

"Activities detrimental to Konoha?"

Tobirama sneered and tore away the pretense directly.

"If you mean rebellion, then say rebellion! Do you really think I'm blind in that village?"

"I know all about the rotten business in your Uchiha clan! Ever since Madara Uchiha's era, your clan has never stopped complaining! You came all the way to the front lines just to report this to me?"

Uchiha Hui rubbed his hands awkwardly, finally revealing his true purpose.

"I want to bring Lin Hai back to Konoha. As one of the legitimate bloodline, it is time for him to study the secret techniques of our Uchiha Clan."

"The secret base beneath Naka Shrine?" Tobirama saw through him in a single sentence.

A storm rose in Uchiha Hui's heart.

As expected! Every move of our clan, even our most closely guarded secrets, is under the Second Hokage's control!

A sheen of cold sweat appeared on his forehead as he nodded repeatedly.

"Lin Hai will soon turn ten. When he comes of age at twelve, I intend to formally pass the position of clan head to him."

"After all, he is the Uchiha Clan's most noble legitimate bloodline."

"Only if he succeeds as clan head will those unruly thorns in the clan submit willingly. They won't resist him the way they resist me."

Tobirama nodded slightly in approval.

"Lin Hai has a great talent for genjutsu. He truly needs your Uchiha Clan's unique secret techniques to build a foundation."

"The genjutsu I teach tends toward assassination and practical combat, and it isn't entirely suited to him."

"The reason I kept him at my side was because I wanted to cultivate him into Konoha's future towering tree, a supreme powerhouse capable of influencing the entire shinobi world's balance!"

Tobirama looked at Uchiha Hui and set the terms.

"Once this war against Kumogakure is over, I'll let him return to the village with you!"

Outside Konoha's main camp, atop a high mountain with an excellent view.

The Second Raikage and the white-haired burly man were holding binoculars, observing Konoha's camp a thousand meters away.

"Tobirama Senju really leaves no gaps in his troop deployment," the Second Raikage said with a slight frown.

The white-haired burly man lowered his binoculars and asked in confusion.

"Raikage-sama, why don't we get closer? From a thousand meters away, we can't see their internal troop movements at all."

The Second Raikage shook his head and asked, "Do you know what Tobirama Senju's most feared ability is?"

"Water Release?"

The white-haired burly man thought for a moment. "No, I've heard his taijutsu has also reached the pinnacle. Could it be genjutsu? This subordinate is dull-witted and truly cannot guess."

The Second Raikage's expression turned grave.

"Whether it is Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi who possesses Wood Release, or Madara Uchiha, who possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan, neither can compare to Tobirama Senju in one particular ability."

"That is—sensory techniques!"

The Second Raikage pointed toward the camp ahead, deep wariness in his voice.

"Tobirama Senju's sensory range is astonishingly vast. If he wishes it, no movement within dozens of miles can escape his perception."

"The distance we're at now is precisely his blind spot when he isn't deliberately using sensory ninjutsu. One step closer, and we'll be exposed!"

The Second Raikage gave Konoha's camp one last deep look, then turned away.

"Konoha has been mobilizing troops frequently lately. Tobirama Senju will likely launch a full-scale assault against us within the next few days. We should return and prepare for battle as well!"

With that, he leaped away and vanished into the forest.

The next morning.

Tobirama Senju summoned every Konoha jonin and troop commander for the highest-level war council.

Looking at the gathered Konoha elites, Tobirama spoke in a ringing voice.

"Kumogakure is a ninja village where the entire population values martial strength, with formidable military power. In terms of overall strength, they rank second only to Konoha. Therefore, we must not take this battle lightly!"

"I have ordered every deployable combat ninja from the ANBU to be transferred here. Konoha's most elite fighting force has now fully assembled!"

"It is time to show Kumogakure who the number one village in the shinobi world truly is!"

Tobirama abruptly rose and walked to the enormous battle map.

He pulled out a small red flag representing Konoha and drove it heavily into the map.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, heed my command!"

"Your disciple is here!" Hiruzen stepped forward.

"You will lead five hundred elites as the vanguard. Like a sharp blade, drive straight into the heart of the Land of Lightning!"

"Kill gods if you meet gods, kill Buddhas if you meet Buddhas! Any Kumogakure resistance you encounter along the way is to be killed on the spot. Take no prisoners!"

"Your disciple accepts the command!" Fierce battle intent blazed in Hiruzen's eyes.

Tobirama drew out a second red flag. "Shimura Danzo! Uchiha Kagami!"

"Present!" the two answered in unison.

"You two will lead one thousand ninja and set an ambush along the Land of Frost border! The ANBU will fully cooperate with you."

"Your mission is to hold back the retreating Kumogakure forces led by Gold and Silver. Under no circumstances are they to return to reinforce the Land of Lightning!"

"We will not fail the mission!"

Tobirama drew the final red flag and planted it at the central army's position.

"I will personally command the remaining two thousand troops as the central army's main force. We will remain half a day's travel behind the vanguard and direct the entire battle from the center!"

Tobirama swept his gaze across every Konoha ninja present, his voice filled with incomparable confidence and dominance.

"Konoha has stood for more than a decade and fought countless wars, great and small."

"On the battlefield, we have won every battle and never suffered defeat! Today, against Kumogakure, we will return with total victory as well!"

"Total victory! Total victory!!"

Deafening roars echoed through Konoha's entire main camp!

Atop the mountain.

The white-haired burly man lowered his binoculars, a bloodthirsty smile curling across his lips.

"Send word to the Raikage. Konoha's army has already broken camp and begun moving!"

He turned to the Kumogakure elites behind him and barked sharply.

"I will personally lead the special operations unit straight into Konoha's central army camp and carry out a decapitation strike! As long as we can slow their march, it will be a great achievement!"

A Kumogakure jonin hesitated. "Sir, before the Raikage left, he specifically ordered that you must never act alone..."

"Shut up!"

The white-haired burly man cut him off brutally. Muscles bulged all over his body as lightning flared around him.

"In this world, the person capable of breaking through my Lightning Release Armor hasn't been born yet! Tobirama Senju is no exception!"

Before his words had even faded, he transformed into a violent bolt of lightning and shot toward Konoha's central army camp.

Within Konoha's vanguard.

As they traveled, Lin Hai said gloomily to Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him.

"Brother Monkey, my dad is the Uchiha Clan's dignified clan head. Why is he mixed in with the vanguard as some ordinary foot soldier charging into battle?"

"Doesn't he know how dangerous this is?"

Hiruzen looked at Lin Hai as though he were an idiot.

"How did that brain of yours grow? You know it's dangerous, yet you begged to join the vanguard?"

"Your dad gave up the comfortable rear and came to the front lines to eat dust. Wasn't it all to secretly protect you?"

"Teacher said that once you turn twelve, you'll formally take over as the Uchiha Clan's head. Your dad came this time intending to tie you up and drag you back to the village by force."

Lin Hai rolled his eyes, his face full of disdain.

"I don't care about being clan head! Becoming the family head at twelve and handling all that trivial nonsense every day?"

"Sooner or later, I'd turn into some rigid, boring old fossil like the Second Hokage and old man Sasuke. Just thinking about it is terrifying!"

Hiruzen looked at him with jealousy. "You brat really don't know how lucky you are! That's the position of Uchiha Clan head!"

Just as the two were teasing each other, the ground ahead suddenly began to shake violently.

"Rumble—!"

Accompanied by an ear-splitting sound of earth splitting apart, a massive chasm dozens of meters wide and bottomless in depth appeared without warning before the vanguard, brutally cutting off their path.

Hiruzen immediately lost his playful expression, his face darkening. "What's going on? Enemy attack?!"

Lin Hai reacted swiftly. Dropping to one knee, he thrust his joined fingers fiercely into the ground and closed his eyes.

"Sensory Technique!"

The next second, Lin Hai's eyes flew open. His expression changed instantly, and cold sweat even beaded on his forehead.

"Brother Monkey, this is bad!"

Lin Hai's voice trembled slightly. "It's Kumogakure! Their chakra signatures cover the mountains and plains! There are at least three thousand of them! We've been surrounded!"

Hiruzen swiftly surveyed the surrounding terrain, displaying the decisiveness of an outstanding commander.

"The original surprise attack plan is canceled! All troops, retreat to the high ground on the right!"

"Use the favorable terrain to establish a defensive line on the spot! Hold fast and await reinforcements!"

Under Hiruzen's decisive command, Konoha's five hundred-man vanguard quickly and orderly withdrew toward the high ground.

The white-haired burly man charged wildly through the dense forest like a human tank.

"Have those two idiots, Gold and Silver, really withdrawn from the Land of Waterfalls already?"

As he raced forward, he confirmed it with his subordinates behind him.

A Kumogakure subordinate shouted back, "Yes! Iwagakure's army has fully withdrawn and did not pursue!"

"The Gold Horn Unit led by Lords Gold and Silver, acting as the advance force, has already arrived nearby!"

"Hahahaha! Heaven is helping me!" The white-haired burly man laughed arrogantly.

"Tobirama Senju is dead today!"

"With Lords Gold and Silver assisting me, combining the power of the three of us, even if he's a god, we'll leave him here today!"

"Go tell the Raikage that the battle here is already decided. Tell the old man to sit tight in the rear and wait to receive news of victory!"

"Stay here and watch carefully. Watch how I alone crush Konoha's bunch of weaklings!"

At that moment, a dazzling red signal flare suddenly exploded in the sky.

The white-haired burly man looked up, and the smile on his face became even more savage.

"It seems Gold and Silver are in position. It's time to let the shinobi world witness the power of my strongest spear!"

"Hell Stab—Four-Finger Nukite!"

The white-haired burly man concentrated lightning-nature chakra into four fingers, transforming his entire body into an unstoppable bolt of lightning that hurtled straight at Konoha's central army camp!

Konoha's central army camp.

Tobirama Senju was calmly directing the army's departure from camp.

Suddenly, his heart clenched, and an intense sense of unease surged within him.

Such terrifying chakra fluctuations... This chakra, brimming with violence and destruction, is practically like... the Nine-Tails?!

Without hesitation, Tobirama crouched down and pressed two fingers to the ground, instantly expanding his sensory range to its limit.

Only a minute passed.

Tobirama's eyes snapped open, his face turning livid as he growled.

"Damn it! I actually forgot about those two disasters!"

"Madara Uchiha didn't crush them to death while he had the chance, and now they've become a major threat!"

Tobirama abruptly rose and shouted an order to the ANBU beside him.

"Immediately notify the ANBU commander-in-chief. Have him personally lead one thousand elites to reinforce the vanguard at top speed! Go!"

The ANBU ninja accepted the order and departed.

Tobirama drew the Sword of the Thunder God from his waist, lightning dancing wildly over its blade.

He roared at the Konoha ninja around him, "A powerful enemy is attacking! All troops, form ranks and face the enemy with me!"

The moment his words fell.

"Boom!"

Konoha camp's heavy gates of solid steel were instantly shattered by a blinding white flash as though they were made of paper!

The white-haired burly man crashed into the center of the camp like a falling meteor, carrying terrifying force.

As the smoke cleared, Tobirama stood with his arms folded, coldly watching him.

"Youngster of Kumogakure, this old man has been waiting for you for a long time."

The white-haired burly man let out a furious roar and pounced at Tobirama like a crazed beast.

The surrounding Konoha ninja immediately unleashed their ninjutsu.

Countless kunai, shuriken, Fire Release, and Wind Release techniques poured down upon the white-haired burly man like rain.

Yet a despairing sight unfolded.

All attacks were instantly deflected upon striking the layer of Lightning Release Armor flashing with blinding arcs of electricity around the white-haired brute's body, failing to leave even a single mark!

"Being able to charge into my Konoha camp alone isn't just arrogance. You do have some skill."

Tobirama sneered and rapidly formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade!"

A spear formed from rapidly rotating, high-pressure water appeared in Tobirama's hand.

He hurled it fiercely.

At the same time, Tobirama gripped the Sword of the Thunder God and vanished in an instant.

"Flying Thunder God Slash!"

The white-haired brute had just been struck by the Hard Whirlpool Water Blade. The immense impact halted him for a moment, and his Lightning Release Armor rippled violently.

Before he could steady himself, Tobirama appeared out of thin air at his side!

The Sword of the Thunder God carried an aura of destruction as it slashed viciously at his waist!

"Bang!"

Even with the protection of the Lightning Release Armor, the white-haired brute was sent flying by the heavy blow.

Midair, the white-haired brute thrust one hand into the ground, forcibly stopping his retreat.

He looked up at Tobirama, his eyes filled with fervor and fighting spirit, while his other hand rapidly formed seals.

"Lightning Release: Black Panther!"

Violent, ink-black lightning surged wildly from his body.

It transformed into a massive black panther with bared fangs and claws, roaring as it pounced toward Tobirama.

Rather than retreat, Tobirama charged forward, thrusting the Sword of the Thunder God straight into the black panther's gaping maw.

A miraculous sight unfolded: the violent black lightning was completely absorbed by the Sword of the Thunder God!

Then Tobirama swung the Sword of the Thunder God, sending the absorbed lightning back without altering it in the slightest.

An even larger black lightning panther lunged back at the white-haired brute.

The white-haired brute smashed the lightning panther apart with one punch, then shook his slightly numb arm.

Looking at the Sword of the Thunder God in Tobirama's hand, he praised, "It can actually absorb and reflect my black lightning. What an unparalleled sword!"

Tobirama narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You took a Hard Whirlpool Water Blade and a Flying Thunder God Slash head-on, yet you're completely unhurt? Kid, give me your name!"

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

A dark-red energy shell compressed from high-density chakra fell from the sky like a meteor, crashing viciously toward where Tobirama stood.

Tobirama's expression changed, and he instantly activated Flying Thunder God to escape.

"BOOM!!!"

A deafening explosion rang out.

The terrifying shockwave blasted a massive crater over twenty meters wide into the spot where the white-haired brute and Tobirama had been standing.

The smoke dispersed.

At some point, two burly men with six whisker-like markings on their cheeks had appeared beside the white-haired brute.

The characters "Gold" and "Silver" were tattooed on their shoulders respectively.

The wild man with the character "Gold" tattooed on his shoulder looked at Tobirama Senju in the distance and burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! Tobirama Senju, it's been a long time! I've really missed that head of yours!"

Tobirama looked at the two of them, his face darkening to the extreme.

"Gold... Silver... I never expected you two vermin to arrive so quickly!"

"Back then, my brother and Madara Uchiha couldn't even be bothered to kill scum like you. Who would've thought that today, you'd actually amount to something!"

Hearing this, Gold flew into a rage.

Nine-Tails chakra boiled wildly around his body, making him look like a demon descended upon the world.

"Tobirama Senju!! Stop spouting such arrogant nonsense!"

"If Hashirama and Madara Uchiha hadn't meddled back then, I would've unified the ninja world long ago!"

"Today, you Konoha trash are destined to die here! I'll use your blood to wash away the humiliation of that day!!"