Land of Fire, Konoha 27th Year, September 10th, Western Front River Battle
As agreed, the nobles of these countries launched their attack on the Land of Fire on the same day. The wind on the border of the Land of Rivers carried moisture, but it could not dispel the bloody stench that permeated the battlefield.
The morning of September 10th should have been a busy harvest season for farmers, but on the plains of the western frontier of the Land of Rivers, an army of more than three million men was spreading out like a migrating swarm of ants, with the Kunai of ninjas and the scabbards of samurai gleaming coldly in the morning sun.
The daimyo of the Land of Rivers sat in his command tent on a high platform at the rear, tapping his fingers on the gilded armrest. Outside the tent, the whispers of the nobles drifted over—these pampered gentlemen were dreaming of dividing up the land of the Land of Fire, as if the fertile farmlands and bustling towns of the Land of Fire would automatically fall into their laps once they crossed the border.
" The Land of Fire is embroiled in wars everywhere; its strength should have been exhausted long ago." The Minister of Revenue stroked his beard, his voice filled with greed. "We've mobilized the entire nation, deploying three million troops to press their borders. Even if they're a powerful ninja nation, do you think they can withstand a relentless onslaught?"
The Daimyo of the Land of Rivers sneered, looking at the small red flag representing Konoha on the sand table, which was almost completely surrounded by a large group of blue flags. " Hatake Sakumo? He's just a greenhorn who rose to power based on his father's reputation. I heard that his father, Masataka Hatake, once commanded the White Tiger Corps, but he never dared to cross the border of the Land of Wind until his death. How old is this kid? He dares to come to the western front. He really doesn't know his own limitations."
Unbeknownst to them, on the opposite bank, the White Tiger Corps's position was a formidable force of 100,000 elite troops, standing ready for battle. Hatake Sakumo stood atop the command tower, his short, silver-white hair whipping in the wind. On the display screen behind him, the engines of the Thunder Falcon Second- generation fighters were already warmed up, the metal hulls of 180 aircraft gleaming coldly in the sunlight. The Heavenly Chief Mecha Second mechs stood in neat formation, runes shimmering at the joints of 150 mechs, their ship-slaying blades poised to fire inside. In the distance, at the Thunder Artillery position, 200 cannons were already raised, the thunder runes on their muzzles crackling.
"General, the enemy's vanguard is only ten miles from the riverbank," came the staff officer's voice from the communicator.
Hatake Sakumo's lips curled into a cold smile, "Proceed according to plan. Send a squadron of 60 Thunder Falcon in a long, single-file formation to deliver a little 'gift' to them."
The next second, 60 Thunder Falcon fighter jets streaked across the sky like a silver rain of arrows, flying in a straight line over the Land of Rivers army. Rune cannons under the wings spat out tongues of fire, and specially made shock bombs exploded among the crowd. Although their destructive power was limited, they instantly disrupted the dense formation. The Land of Rivers ninjas quickly Hand Seals, and Water Release: Water Formation Wall rose from the ground, but it could only barely block the harassment from the fighter jets.
"A swarm of flies!" the Land of Rivers's frontline commander roared, brandishing his longsword. "All troops, assemble and advance! Don't give them a chance to pick us off one by one; wipe out their ground forces in one fell swoop!"
The three million-strong army, like a surging tide, slowly closed its ranks and steadily advanced towards the riverbank. Ninjas unleashed water curtains in front, followed closely by samurai holding shields. The heavy armor of the legion formed a shimmering ocean under the sunlight. They believed that as long as they advanced as a group, they could withstand the sporadic attacks from Konoha.
Just then, above the clouds, 120 Thunder Falcon fighter jets were already lying in wait. The pilots in their cockpits, looking at the dense enemy formation below, grinned menacingly. "The general said, the main course is here. Violet Thunder Rune Bomb, prepare to drop!"
120 purple light trails fell from the clouds, like a punishment descended by the gods. The moment the Violet Thunder Rune Bomb touched the ground, violent lightning and flames erupted instantly. The purple lightning and fire spread like vines, vaporizing people wherever they passed, twisting and melting iron armor under the high temperature, and even scorching and cracking the ground.
"What the hell is that?!" The nobles of the Land of Rivers, who were watching the battle from the rear, froze on their faces in an instant. They watched as their three million-strong army fell like wheat being slashed by a sickle, their defensive lines collapsing inch by inch amidst the thunder and fire, and even their screams were drowned out by the explosions.
" Water Release! Use a large-scale Water Release!" the surviving ninja roared, Hand Seals. " Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!" " Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Dozens of giant water dragons erupted from the ground, rushing towards the sea of fire ignited by the Violet Thunder Rune Bomb. The water vapor instantly evaporated, transforming into a thick fog that blotted out the sky. The entire battlefield was shrouded in white mist, with visibility less than three meters. The air was filled with a strange stench of water vapor, burnt flesh, and blood. The screams and explosions in the distance could be heard faintly, making it seem like a ghostly realm from legend.
"Now!" Hatake Sakumo's voice rang out in the mech communication channel. "Mech squadron, stealth infiltration. Target: enemy heavy armored legion."
150 Heavenly Chief Mecha activated their optical stealth capabilities, passing through the water mist like ghosts and silently landing on the battlefield. Hatake Sakumo's flagship mech, " White Tiger," lit up its eyes, its ship-slaying sword hummed as it unfolded, and the runes switched to the scarlet "Reverse Blade: Returning Wind" mode.
"Reverse Blade - Returning Wind!"
With a low shout, the ship-slaying sword transformed into a spinning red halo, unleashing a 360-degree, all-around slash. The mechs, like tigers breaking into a flock of sheep, flashed red blades through the white mist. The Land of Rivers's proud heavy armored legion was cleanly cleaved in two, armor and all, the crisp sound of breaking armor mingling with the muffled thud of shattering bones, creating a melody of death.
"Retreat! Retreat now!" Someone shouted this first, instantly igniting the entire army's rout. The three million-strong army completely collapsed, fleeing like stray dogs. The White Tiger Corps's ninjas pursued like cheetahs, while Thunder Falcon fighters skimmed low, reaping the fleeing enemy. The Heavenly Chief Mecha rampaged across the ground, leaving a trail of corpses in their wake.
Hatake Sakumo stood in the cockpit of his mecha, watching the enemy army flee towards Land of Rivers River City Land of Rivers. A report came through the communicator from the artillery position, "General, the Thunder Artillery are in position, requesting permission to bombard River City!"
"Accurate. Use curved trajectory, five rounds fired simultaneously."
Two hundred Thunder Artillery adjusted their muzzle angles, and the lightning runes on their muzzles suddenly lit up. The next second, cannonballs, whistling sharply, traced eerie arcs, crossing the battlefield and landing on River City. The first volley of bombardment caused the moat to explode with huge splashes; the second volley caused cracks to appear in the city walls; the third volley caused the city towers to burst into flames; the fourth volley caused the moat water to boil; after the fifth volley, the once wide moat had evaporated completely, and the towering city walls had been scorched by the high temperature into a translucent, molten glass-like substance, gleaming eerily in the setting sun.
As night fell on September 15th, the White Tiger Corps had already caught up with the River City. The stench of blood from the battlefield lingered for dozens of miles. The routed soldiers of the Land of Rivers crowded at the city gate, wailing and howling. The guards on the city walls looked at the Hell scene outside the city, their hands trembling uncontrollably.
In the Daimyo's residence in River Castle, an emergency meeting was underway. The flickering candlelight illuminated the deathly pale faces of the assembled ministers. The Minister of Revenue slumped to the ground, clutching a shattered jade ruyi, and suddenly burst into tears. "It's over... it's all over... the White Tiger Blade of Konoha is beyond human resistance!"
The daimyo stared at the territory circled in red on the map, his face ashen. His voice hoarse, he commanded, "Abandon the capital! Abandon all towns on the north bank! Have the Onmyoji prepare the ritual immediately to summon the River God!"
"But Daimyo, the river god has been asleep for a hundred years, forcibly summoning him would..."
"No buts!" The daimyo slammed his fist on the table, his eyes bloodshot. "Are we just going to watch the White Tiger Corps raze the entire Land of Rivers? Let the River God hold them off, even if it's just for a day!"
Outside the council chamber, the pale moonlight shone on the charred city walls. Sporadic explosions echoed from the distant battlefield, and the battle flags of the White Tiger Corps fluttered in the night wind. The nobles of the Land of Rivers had lost their dreams of Land of Fire; they huddled in a corner of the capital, listening to the sounds of pursuit outside the city, experiencing for the first time a fear that penetrated to their very bones—that man they had regarded as a "young upstart," Hatake Sakumo, with his White Tiger Corps, was crushing all their resistance with a power far beyond its comprehension.