"Shikaku, our rear has been attacked. Also, the scouts have spotted a massive wave of enemies heading our way—they're numerous! We must formulate a battle plan immediately!"
"First, send a unit to reinforce our comrades at the back. The rest of us will prepare for combat. No matter how these enemies appeared, we can only face them head-on—Hiashi!"
"Understood, I'll relay the orders right away."
Hiashi fully grasped Shikaku's intent. His tone turned extremely serious as he quickly left.
The commands were carried out swiftly.
The long formation shifted into action. Frontlines flipped to become the rear, and weapons turned backward in unison.
Everyone sprang into motion, rapidly taking their assigned positions.
Some stayed behind to prepare for battle using the terrain, while others rushed to support the besieged allies.
According to intelligence, the enemy numbers far exceeded Konoha's current main force.
A brutal battle was unavoidable!
As commander on site, Shikaku immediately used secret techniques to inform Minato's vanguard unit of the situation, then began organizing the battlefield.
Soon, he pinpointed a suitable location on the map for direct confrontation.
"Fall back first! Reinforcements have arrived—don't get stuck in prolonged fights. Wait until we regroup before showing these damned bastards just how strong Konoha truly is!"
A Chunin slashed through an enemy's throat with a slightly awkward motion, then sprang backward to gain some distance.
As he fell back, he signaled his comrades to follow—his expression grim.
At the edge of his vision, he could already see the approaching reinforcements, yet not even a hint of relief stirred in his heart.
Only those who had fought these enemies understood that eerie sensation.
These foes... weren't even human!
As Konoha's support staff, they lacked powerful combat abilities to begin with—and now suddenly faced overwhelming numbers.
They'd been surrounded instantly, fragmented into small groups, and hunted down one by one.
After great sacrifice breaking through, the enemies still pursued relentlessly, thinning their escaping ranks.
The enemies were grotesque humanoid creatures with pale white skin.
Though their fighting techniques seemed clumsy compared to trained ninja, their fearless ferocity terrified Konoha's warriors.
"That's it? That's all that made it out?"
The supporting ninja glared at this scattered group of about a hundred survivors.
Without pausing, he hurled a shuriken deep into a distant enemy. But the creature merely staggered before sprinting forward again, completely unfazed.
Faced with that fearless monster, the ninja froze for a second—then someone yanked him back.
"There are just too many enemies—we need to get out of here now," panted the survivor, explaining to the arriving reinforcements. "The others... I'm afraid most of them won't make it."
The Logistics Unit, numbering over a thousand, was surrounded and slaughtered. Everyone's faces turned grim. Deep down, they felt a new level of fear toward the enemy's terrifying power.
"Keep retreating! The main force is still behind us—we can't fight them here."
The supporting ninja looked out at the countless white figures charging down from the hill ahead and recalled what the escaping ninja had just reported. Their steps quickened with urgency.
Thus, the support troops that had just arrived barely encountered the escaped logistics ninja before turning around and fleeing toward the rear.
Chasing after them came wave after wave of White Zetsus, like a river overflowing its broken dikes.
The only comfort for these fleeing ninjas was that although the enemy was numerous, they acted without strategy or discipline—just blindly charging forward with brute instinct.
"Hahaha! Keep chasing! These ninja aren't as powerful as we thought! I could take on ten!"
"Crush them! We're unstoppable!"
One White Zetsu, pierced by multiple shuriken yet still running steadily, wore an unrestrained mad grin across his face. He swung a weapon he'd picked up off the ground and led the charge at the front.
His movements were like a child swinging a toy sword, playing at being a hero destined to conquer the world—each motion wildly exaggerated.
Their limited brain capacity made it difficult for White Zetsus to comprehend danger.
Human emotions such as fear and terror didn't exist within them.
Inside their minds existed only one single purpose: to kill as many ninjas as possible.
As to *why* they did it? Even they couldn't begin to understand.
Whatever the reason… Just do it!
That earlier shout from the White Zetsu seemed to ignite others' enthusiasm too.
Those behind him roared loudly, continuing their wild charge without hesitation.
All the White Zetsus seemed to be in a race, pushing themselves forward with twisted smiles plastered on their faces.
Moreover, since most of them were imperfect specimens, some had facial features dislocated, others had skin resembling burns from boiling water, while others had bodies clearly misaligned from left to right.
All these bizarre details heightened the eerie nature of the White Zetsu army, increasing the psychological pressure on the escaping Konoha ninja.
If this scene absolutely required a comparable analogy, it would resemble Saitama's memory of absurdly enthusiastic giants—showing off exaggerated running styles and performing wild mid-air Armstrong spins.
They reveled in what passed for "innocence" in their minds.
[Explosion!]
A group of White Zetsus leading the charge were suddenly blasted high into the air, clearing out a space over ten meters wide.
Limbs flew like fireworks into the sky before finally falling back to the ground.
Yet in the next second, even more White Zetsus from the rear surged forward, instantly filling the empty space.
Except for the crushed corpses underfoot, it was as if the explosion had never happened at all.
They didn't care about their fallen comrades, maintaining those grinning expressions, letting loose various unsettling cries.
Witnessing this horrifying sight, the Konoha ninja's faces turned grim once again.
Especially those reinforcements who had just arrived, they felt a deep sense of shock.
"These enemies... they're completely unafraid of death. As long as the wounds aren't fatal, they'll keep fighting," explained one ninja to his companion. He had previously fought against White Zetsu.
He casually pointed behind him to show his confused comrades what he meant.
Where his finger indicated, numerous White Zetsu with limbs blown off in the earlier explosions were still fiercely charging straight at them.
It looked almost comical, but a deep unease still crept into their bones.
"This..."
The watching ninja's face turned slightly pale, since these enemies had completely shattered their understanding.
Although the enemies clearly didn't look human, they hadn't expected them to defy natural limits entirely.
Injuries didn't affect their ability to keep chopping people up?
Still, fleeing needed to continue. They also had to leave behind some explosive tag traps on the ground.
At least this could delay the enemy pursuit a bit, right?
Don't let appearances fool you—though the enemies looked like mindless fools chasing them, their speed was definitely not slow.
And most terrifying of all, despite chasing for so long, the enemy maintained their pace without any decrease.
The only thing worth celebrating was that the enemies were genuinely stupid—traps that ordinary ninja could immediately spot, they charged straight into without the slightest hesitation.
Thus, one side chased while the other fled, with explosions continuously stretching between them.
During this time, some of the ninja were caught by White Zetsu, dragged into the sea of enemies, and ultimately disappeared without a trace.
Moreover, as the pursuit continued, the sheer number of White Zetsu once again shocked them.
Back at that hill position where they had encountered each other earlier, White Zetsu kept surging out endlessly. By now, they'd already run distances ranging from one to two kilometers away.
"Hold on! The main force is just ahead!"
Those ninja who had broken through White Zetsu's encirclement before now had pale faces, looking extremely exhausted.
So the still-energetic ninja continually encouraged them.
This was one reason why they managed to keep running.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The main force also spotted the ninja rushing toward them from the distance.
The Hyuga clan ninja immediately identified these as their own comrades.
Therefore, the frontline split open a gap, incorporating the weary escapees into their ranks before charging forward together.
When the distance reached an appropriate range, Konoha directly unleashed their ninjutsu.
A sky full of dazzling ninjutsu instantly transformed the entire chamber's atmosphere.
The sky looked just like a fireworks display lighting up above them—red, blue, and yellow swirling together.
"Damn it, they're all gathered here, but don't be afraid—we are still invincible!"
Just as they were about to catch up with the previously escaping enemies, White Zetsu saw even more enemies appear within their line of sight.
Facing the enemy's incoming Ninjutsu (chakra-based techniques), they showed no fear and kept charging forward recklessly.
Boom! Boom!
Various techniques struck clusters of White Zetsu, instantly clearing patches of land, though more White Zetsu quickly surged in to fill those gaps.
"So this is the enemy?"
Shikaku observed the endless waves of White Zetsu rushing toward them from ahead, his expression turning thoughtful.
These creatures seemed to match what their intelligence reports previously described—artificial bodies possibly created using Hashirama's cells?
"There are more over here! And there too!"
As he contemplated, voices from his subordinates sounded beside him.
Looking around, besides directly ahead, enemies started emerging along both left and right horizons.
Soon, Konoha's forces directly clashed with the front line of White Zetsu troops.
They couldn't simply keep hiding behind and launching jutsu attacks forever.
Regardless of their own chakra reserves, considering how recklessly the enemies charged forward without fearing death, even dead bodies would soon fill this space.
So instead of waiting around, it was better to strike while they were still fresh and go for hand-to-hand combat.
Although outnumbered, they clearly held the advantage in power—this unit was Konoha's main fighting force, composed mostly of Chunin (experienced ninja) level fighters.
Faced with this overwhelming tide of enemies, Shikaku naturally felt no fear.
Besides, Minato's reinforcements should arrive shortly, which would significantly improve their situation.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has been constantly moving within the center of Konoha's formation, guarded closely by an elite ninja guard squad."
A White Zetsu protruded halfway from a rock, keeping its usual calm expression as it spoke to Nagato nearby.
Their goal was clear—capturing the Nine-Tails required maintaining precise tracking of its host.
"It seems Konoha hasn't learned from its previous defeat. They still think they can protect the Nine-Tails? Futile resistance!"
Upon receiving this intelligence report, Nagato first let out a cold chuckle before his eyes darkened toward the battlefield nearby.
Previously, due to various physical burdens caused by the Rinnegan, he might have needed to consider the balance between enemy and ally strengths carefully.
However, after implanting Hashirama's cells, instead of burdening him, the Rinnegan now assisted his body. This change meant they could afford a slightly different approach.
Slowly rising from his seated position on the rock, he seemingly generated gravitational force beneath the ground that made small pebbles tremble and dance.
"Some folks just ain't got a clue about real power gaps. Then I've got the duty to make 'em understand that gap. Only through such understanding can lasting peace be achieved!"
White Zetsu said nothing, but appeared to grasp Nagato's meaning completely.
Following Nagato's gaze, he focused his attention on that distant unit, finally settling on Minato Namikaze.
"You continue monitoring the Nine-Tails to ensure it remains within our sight at all times. I'll handle this area first then come find you. The Nine-Tails must not slip away!"
The Deva Path behind Nagato soared skyward, quickly reaching midair before heading outward in the distance, while Nagato himself slightly turned his head sideways to issue instructions to White Zetsu.
His tone was calm, but White Zetsu could clearly sense a strong determination within it.
"I understand! However, Yugito has powerful sensory abilities. It seems she's already detected my surveillance, and her abilities are especially effective against me—I dare not get too close either."
"You don't need to approach her directly. Just make sure she stays within your range of observation. I should arrive very soon."
"Fine then!"
White Zetsu sank into the ground, smirking all the while.
Now then, the first step is clearing the battlefield!
Nagato looked toward the Konoha ninja, his Rinnegan glowing with a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic intensity.
Whoosh—Deva Path's speed increased dramatically.
"Huh? What's that?!"
Minato instinctively looked up at the sky, the slight happiness he had just felt from sealing several Impure World bodies instantly disappearing.
He recognized the figure already flying overhead.
Because of their altitude and their own carelessness, they only noticed him now!
Deva Path?!
His eyes sharpened, his pupils constricted sharply as if realizing something terrifying.
"Fall back! Fall back!"
Minato quickly turned around and shouted at his subordinates, who were still stunned.
Although the formation had become scattered from earlier battles, based on his understanding of the enemy's strength, he knew everyone was currently inside the opponent's attack range.
The Deva Path within his sight had already raised both hands, and Minato's internal alarm bells began ringing furiously.
His pale blue eyes flashed with seriousness—he knew something big was about to go wrong.
"It's Pain!"
"Quickly retreat!"
"He's the leader of Akatsuki Organization!"
Minato's warning caused some of the ninjas to snap out of their shock. They looked upward and quickly realized who the figure in the sky was; their expressions changed instantly.
No further explanation was needed—they scattered in panic without hesitation.
Most of them had seen it all before—the devastation in Konoha during Pain's previous attack—making the current situation feel eerily familiar.
They dared not think further, praying the enemy's ultimate technique wouldn't descend just yet.
The excitement from their earlier small advantage vanished completely in this instant.
Yet, compared to the Deva Path standing there with arms spread wide, their actions were still as slow as ants.
[Shinra Tensei!]
Deva Path coldly stared at the densely packed group of Ninja Forces below. His gaze momentarily focused intensely before he released the jutsu directly.
A white light blossomed in midair, then rapidly expanded outward, quickly catching up to those who had fled slightly ahead.
The air seemed to freeze momentarily, everyone's expressions frozen on their faces—fear, panic, and all kinds of negative emotions clearly visible.
The white light grew brighter and brighter, soon blurring their expressions, their figures gradually swallowed by the radiance.
Boom—Boom—
The earth began roaring violently!
This attack came far too suddenly.
Almost the instant they saw Deva Path, everyone's first thought was to pull away immediately.
This was a dark memory lingering over Konoha.
But soon, some of them realized that in such a short time, escaping the attack range was nearly impossible. They might as well unite and resist with their ninjutsu.
Yet opportunities are fleeting.
By the time those rational individuals fully grasped this thought, Deva Path's ninjutsu had already arrived right before them.
It was already too late!
From a distance, a mushroom cloud erupted and spread outward, eventually consuming everything in its path.
The scene felt utterly powerless.
When the dust finally settled, everything on the ground had been flattened, fresh earth exuding moisture.
The Konoha unit previously scattered here was gone without a trace.
Though not completely vaporized, most of the ninja had been instantly wiped out by Nagato's amplified attack.
Only those on the outskirts who reacted quickly enough made it out alive.
Still, even they suffered severe injuries, buried beneath rocks and soil.
Shun!
Minato appeared at the edge of the technique, gripping two shinobi under each arm.
Asuma and Guy.
At that moment, these two happened to be closest to him, so he had no choice but to act accordingly.
He turned to face the center, his expression grim.
"This..."
Guy and Asuma both collapsed to the ground, still dazed from the sudden catastrophe.
"It's him again!"
Guy clenched his fists tightly, eyes wide with fury, glaring at the figure slowly descending in the distance.
Earlier, after defeating his own father by unlocking the Sixth Gate, he had just stepped out of the [Eight Gates Formation] and was still weakened, making it hard for him to react when the enemy attacked.
"Everyone... is just dead?"
Asuma looked like he was reliving a horrible memory—the bodies piled up and burned back in the village, all victims of this very technique.
Such a ninjutsu had actually been used twice against Konoha in such a short time.
His eyes grew red, chest heaving violently.
Earlier, during his battle with Danzo, he had sustained some moderate injuries. Now, upon exerting himself, he couldn't help coughing.
"Are you alright?"
Eyes locked on the approaching figure, he drew a kunai and asked the two beside him.
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