Starting Out With Indra's Chakra

Hatake Sakumo wore a worried expression. He feared that if they deployed too many ninja, the Amegakure Ninja and Sunagakure ninja would raid their base instead. If the camp was destroyed, how would they replenish their supplies?

"No need. Take whatever supplies we can carry, leave the rest here, and set up Explosive Tag traps."

This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi was even abandoning the camp. Keeping it was useless anyway; they would only be passively beaten. They might as well abandon the camp and risk everything in one decisive fight.

"Once we reach the Sunagakure camp, I'll take the Sealing Squad to deal with the One-Tail Jinchuriki. Sakumo, the Third Kazekage is yours. Chiyo will be handled by Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade. Danzo, Ebizo is yours."

After setting the plan, Hiruzen Sarutobi told them to prepare. This was a battle of utmost importance to Konoha.

If they succeeded, Konoha might not turn defeat into victory, but at least they would gain a chance to catch their breath instead of remaining helplessly on the defensive.

When night fell, every ninja in Konoha Camp mobilized and charged toward the Sunagakure camp. Although they were discovered before they arrived—

Sunagakure still reacted too slowly. Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had predicted, they had never expected Konoha to launch a counterattack.

Even the highly cautious Chiyo believed Konoha was already at the end of its rope. Forget counterattacking—even holding their ground would be extremely difficult.

Because they were unprepared, the Sunagakure ninja suffered terribly.

"Damn it! Those despicable Konoha Ninja actually launched a sneak attack!"

The Third Kazekage glared furiously at Hatake Sakumo, who blocked his path. He wanted to break away and command the chaotic Sunagakure ninja, but Hatake Sakumo held him firmly in place.

"There is no such thing as despicable on the battlefield."

Hatake Sakumo said calmly.

Besides, wasn't launching sneak attacks perfectly normal for ninja?

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!"

This was the Third Kazekage's strongest ninjutsu. Countless spikes of Iron Sand pierced through the area enclosed by the barrier, while the Third Kazekage could fly freely within it.

Facing this technique, Hatake Sakumo could only dodge for his life. Though he looked miserable, he was not in mortal danger.

The Third Kazekage tried using Magnet Release to control the White Light Chakra Sabre in Hatake Sakumo's hand, but failed.

Other than their first clash, when he had successfully controlled the White Light Chakra Sabre and caught Hatake Sakumo off guard, he had never succeeded again.

Hatake Sakumo had discovered that once he wrapped the White Light Chakra Sabre in Lightning Chakra, it could no longer be controlled by Magnet Release. Perhaps it had been demagnetized.

Hatake Sakumo and the Third Kazekage became locked in combat. Neither could do anything to the other. Both were Kage-level experts; Hatake Sakumo lacked the ability to kill the Third Kazekage, but the Third Kazekage could not kill Hatake Sakumo either.

Elsewhere, the One-Tail Jinchuriki Bunpuku had no choice but to undergo Tailed Beast Transformation against Hiruzen Sarutobi, even though they were in the Sunagakure camp.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi had prepared for this long ago. He temporarily suppressed One-Tails Shukaku, allowing the Uzumaki Clan Members in the Sealing Squad to seize the chance to seal One-Tails Shukaku.

This war weapon, One-Tails Shukaku, was actually easier to deal with.

Ebizo was also held back by Danzo. Though Danzo had become one-eyed, his combat strength remained formidable, at the very least no weaker than Ebizo's.

Chiyo was even more overwhelmed. She faced the combined assault of Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. Although Chiyo's poison was powerful, Tsunade's antidotes stripped it of its deterrent effect.

Even while controlling the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, the masterpiece of a Puppet Master, she was still thoroughly suppressed and constantly in danger. Among Sunagakure's Kage-level experts, she was in the most perilous position.

Furthermore, the Clan Heads of Konoha's Major Clans were basically all here. Their combat strength was at least Elite Jonin level, and some even possessed Quasi-Kage-level strength.

For example, the current Uchiha Clan Head possessed Quasi-Kage-level strength. Liu Feng had taken some Uchiha Clan Members back with him, but he had only taken a portion of them.

The Uchiha were now divided into two branches, and the current Uchiha Clan Head still commanded one branch.

There was also the Clan Head of the Hyuga clan, along with Konoha's hidden Anbu experts. Their combined combat strength erupted all at once, and Sunagakure simply could not withstand it.

"One-Tails Shukaku has been sealed."

The Third Kazekage glanced toward One-Tail's location, his expression turning ugly. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Sealing Squad had easily subdued One-Tails Shukaku, that Battlefield Weapon of Mass Destruction.

Then he looked at Grandma Chiyo, who was in grave danger and even risked dying on the battlefield.

Ebizo was not faring well either. After settling One-Tails Shukaku, Hiruzen Sarutobi went to support Danzo, and the two of them besieged Ebizo together.

Pfft!

Distracted, the Third Kazekage received a slash across his back.

"Distraction on the battlefield leads only to death."

Hatake Sakumo stared at the Third Kazekage with eyes like those of an asura. That strike had only lightly wounded the Third Kazekage, but his opportunities would only grow more numerous.

"Retreat!"

The Third Kazekage shot Hatake Sakumo, his great enemy, a hateful look. He used ninjutsu to block Hatake Sakumo, then broke free.

Under the Third Kazekage's leadership, they rescued the critically endangered Chiyo and Ebizo, then immediately led the Sunagakure forces into retreat.

After enjoying victory for some time, the Sunagakure ninja now fled in crushing defeat. They could only abandon their supplies, along with their camp.

Sunagakure suffered devastating losses this time. Leaving aside the supplies they had lost, the ninja casualties alone made the Third Kazekage's heart ache.

In this unforeseen sneak attack, Sunagakure lost nearly a thousand ninja killed or wounded. More importantly, the One-Tail Jinchuriki had once again fallen into Konoha's hands.

After winning the battle, the Konoha Ninja did not pursue their victory. Instead, they abandoned the Sunagakure camp, taking only Sunagakure's supplies as they departed.

However, Konoha's camp had also been attacked. Upon receiving word that Konoha had attacked Sunagakure, the Stone Ninja and Amegakure Ninja chose not to aid Sunagakure and instead attacked Konoha Camp.

With the main force gone, Konoha Camp naturally could not hold out and was directly overrun.

What Ōnoki had not expected was that Hiruzen Sarutobi had long planned to abandon the camp. Even after breaking into Konoha Camp, they gained nothing. Instead, they suffered heavy casualties from the Explosive Tags left behind by the Konoha Ninja.

"Build a camp here and strengthen our defenses to avoid being ambushed."

Hiruzen Sarutobi chose another location and ordered the Earth Release Ninja to build a camp. At the same time, he sent ninja from the Hyuga clan to scout out the enemy.

Elsewhere, the somewhat battered Sunagakure ninja gathered the scattered survivors and prepared to take revenge on Konoha.

"Damn Ōnoki! Damn Hanzo of the Salamander!"

The Third Kazekage furiously punched an innocent tree beside him. Since Sunagakure's supplies had been destroyed, he planned to borrow some supplies.

But both Ōnoki and Hanzo of the Salamander refused him.

"Since that's the case, don't blame me for being rude. Send men to seize supplies from the Land of Rain," the Third Kazekage said furiously.

"No. If we truly do that, our cooperation with Hanzo of the Salamander will be over. That is absolutely unacceptable. I firmly oppose it."

Chiyo rejected the Third Kazekage's idea. This was not the time to fall out with Hanzo of the Salamander. Joining forces against Konoha was the most important thing.

"Then what are we supposed to do about the food we lack?"

The Third Kazekage frowned. Since Chiyo had rejected the idea, she could come up with a solution.

"I'll speak with the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki and Hanzo of the Salamander."

"They did not even give me any face. What use will it be for you to go?"

"I will persuade them to lend us supplies, but we will have to pay a certain price."

Chiyo glanced at the Third Kazekage. They could only obtain supplies by paying a price now. Otherwise, Sunagakure could forget about sharing in Konoha's spoils.

On the Land of Rain battlefield, Konoha's situation had eased slightly. Meanwhile, Liu Feng had also roughly determined the number of Cloud Ninja.

"Three thousand Cloud Ninja?"

This time, the Cloud Ninja were led by the Third Raikage, with roughly three thousand ninja. Their numbers were three times Liu Feng's force.

"Young Master, what should we do? Should we take the initiative and attack?"

"No. We have fewer ninja than them. Taking the initiative would be suicide. Wait for them to strike first. We can set traps and ambush them beforehand."

Liu Feng wore a smile, showing no concern at all over the Cloud Ninja's numbers.

The Cloud Ninja would definitely take the initiative. Their numbers exceeded Liu Feng's, and they had the Third Raikage leading them. If they still did not dare attack Liu Feng, they might as well not participate in the Ninja World War.

Therefore, Liu Feng was certain that the Cloud Ninja would launch a surprise attack. All they needed to do was prepare traps and wait for them to take the bait.

At the Cloud Ninja's temporary camp, the Third Raikage had already learned some information about Liu Feng's group.

"Father, Konoha is looking down on us too much. They actually sent a twelve-year-old brat to be their commander."

The future Fourth Raikage A wore an expression of disdain. At this time, however, A still looked young and was not much older than Liu Feng, though he looked older than his age.

"Hmph. Konoha will pay the price for underestimating us."

The Third Raikage snorted heavily. It would have been one thing if Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had not come personally, but he had actually sent a twelve-year-old child. The Third Raikage had flown into a rage the moment he received the intelligence.

"The Konoha Ninja have not made any moves yet. Could this be a trap?"

Dodai, the Elite Jonin deeply trusted by the Third Raikage, looked worried. Konoha could not possibly have simply given up on itself by sending a twelve-year-old child.

Even if they truly had sent him, he must possess some extraordinary ability.

Well, although Liu Feng had twice forced the Third Kazekage into a miserable retreat and even captured One-Tails Shukaku, giving him an impressive record, the Cloud Ninja actually possessed little information on Liu Feng.

Even within Konoha, few people knew about Liu Feng's accomplishments.

Hiruzen Sarutobi would not promote Liu Feng. He even wanted to suppress Liu Feng's reputation. As a result, the Third Raikage had gathered little intelligence and greatly underestimated Liu Feng.

Of course, even if the Third Raikage knew some of Liu Feng's accomplishments, he would still underestimate him and might even believe those achievements had been exaggerated.

Yet that contempt was beneficial to Liu Feng. The more the Third Raikage underestimated him, the greater the losses he would suffer in the end.

"A mere Konoha force is nothing. No matter what schemes they use, they are bubbles before my fists. Pass down my order: attack the Konoha forces."

The Third Raikage gave the order.

"Lord Raikage, when should we attack?"

"Time is of the essence. Attack now."

"What, now? I think it would be better to attack the Konoha forces at night." Dodai hesitated. Attacking now—wasn't that treating the enemy too lightly?

"No need. The Cloud Ninja must take Konoha as quickly as possible. Otherwise, we will have to divide the benefits with the Stone Ninja and Sunagakure ninja later."

The Third Raikage shook his head. He had his own considerations. Konoha now appeared destined for defeat, and he naturally wanted the largest piece of the Cake. He even wanted to swallow the entire Cake himself.

In the end, the Cloud Ninja assembled without making any attempt to conceal themselves. After gathering their ninja forces, they charged toward the Konoha troops.