Izuna smiled. "How can you be so sure you can defeat us? And this time, I'm not the only one who came!"
After speaking, he clapped his hands. Two figures stepped out from behind him. One had a pale complexion, smooth long hair, snake-like pupils, licked the corner of his mouth, and looked at them with a mocking expression.
The other was wearing a jōnin combat uniform, had spiky white hair, carried a glowing chakra short sword at his waist, and looked at the enemy with a gentle expression.
Orochimaru! Hatake Sakumo!
Hatake Sakumo might not be famous yet. Because of Ryun Uchiha's arrival, he did not kill Chiyo's son, Chiron, and did not earn the title of Konoha's White Fang. But that doesn't mean he is weak.
However, Orochimaru is a bona fide Kage-level powerhouse, with a dazzling array of various jutsu. One technique, the Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, could easily trap a Kage-level expert.
The Third Raikage's face turned ashen, his brows tightly furrowed. His breathing became heavy. Now, it was general against general, and his side did not have the advantage. His son's strength had only just reached the threshold of the Kage level.
He probably could only deal with that white-haired guy. If Ryun Uchiha were here, he would certainly find it strange. That white-haired guy is not weak at all!
Hiruzen Sarutobi might not even be able to defeat him, let alone Orochimaru. Among Kage-level experts, Hatake Sakumo is one of the top few.
His Hatake sword style is smooth and fluid, capable of both offense and defense. In terms of pure sword techniques and ninjutsu, even Izuna probably isn't his match. Of course, Izuna has the Sharingan.
Sometimes one has to sigh. Being born into a good clan and possessing a good Kekkei Genkai gives a shinobi a huge boost!
Without Susano'o, Hatake Sakumo is invincible. Even the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, without half a Tailed Beast, wouldn't dare say he could steadily defeat Hatake Sakumo.
"Are you looking to start a war?" The Third Raikage asked a foolish question. Uchiha Izuna rolled his eyes at him. Wasn't that obvious?
Haven't we been at war for a while now? But he still spoke politely to the Third Raikage, A. "The war started long ago. It's just that you are too weak, so you might not have much of a sense of experience, or perhaps the experience hasn't been good."
Very good. It would have been better not to say anything. These provocative lines, this indifferent demeanor, perfectly illustrated the correct way to open a conversation for an Uchiha clan shinobi!
The Third Raikage, A, took a deep breath. "How about a ceasefire? Konoha has already killed over four thousand of our shinobi. Isn't that enough?"
He was suppressing his furious emotions. If he were alone, he would have charged forward long ago. But he couldn't. With so many shinobi around, he had to endure!
"Ceasefire? You start the war when you say, you stop the war when you say? Since when is there such a good thing in this world!" Uchiha Izuna's eyes held a mocking expression.
"Want to withdraw your troops? It's too late..." Uchiha Izuna's voice carried a bone-chilling coldness.
Please, we are all adults. Don't be so naive! Stop playing these empty games. Bring out something substantial, otherwise where would Konoha's face be?
The Third Raikage's expression shifted uncertainly. He looked at his own shinobi's morale compared to Konoha's shinobi's current spirit and found his side completely defeated, completely unable to muster any fighting spirit.
Moreover, everyone was injured now. If they charged into battle, he estimated that in less than an hour, the troops he brought would be completely wiped out!
Since that was the case, there was only one method left. The Third Raikage looked at Uchiha Izuna and spoke.
"Izuna, you are also a hero from the Warring States period. Wanting me, A, to surrender unconditionally is impossible. However, I have a method that can reduce the losses for both our villages!"
"Oh? Let's hear it!" Uchiha Izuna said with a laugh. He knew that this Raikage A was only rough on the surface; his heart was actually very meticulous. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to see through his arrangements earlier. It was just that in recent years, he had been too complacent, too arrogant, or perhaps he had underestimated Uchiha Izuna too much.
"Each of us sends out three people for separate battles. If we win, you give us a path to return to Kumogakure." The Third Raikage stared intently at Uchiha Izuna.
"Heh, and if you lose?" A playful light appeared in Uchiha Izuna's eyes.
"If we lose, we surrender unconditionally, sign the terms of defeat, and compensate your side for your losses!" The Third Raikage said firmly.
"Sir, you must not! Right now we have the advantage. Even if we have to pile up bodies, the Third Raikage will die. There's no need to duel with them!" Orochimaru said, cupping his hands.
In his view, as long as they took the Third Raikage's life this time, even if all 7000 shinobi died, it would be worth it. After all, this was the only Kage that Kumogakure could put forward!
Hatake Sakumo held the opposite opinion. "I think the sir is benevolent and righteous. This move doesn't cost a single soldier or weapon, and it can also guarantee the safety of our comrades!"
Uchiha Izuna glanced at the two and had a general understanding. Orochimaru could serve as overall commander. Hatake Sakumo could only lead a team of no more than 1000 people.
After all, kindness does not command troops. This is something everyone knows. This isn't to say Hatake Sakumo is bad, but that he isn't very suited to leading troops. (In the original work, Hatake Sakumo never served as a battlefield commander; he was only a sharp blade pointed at the enemy. The author checked. Other fanfics, the author doesn't know.)
Uchiha Izuna thought for a moment and then smiled. "Of course! But how about best two out of three?"
"Naturally!" The Third Raikage, A, nodded.
"Good, then have your people retreat, and I'll have my people retreat too!" Izuna smiled.
"Everyone, retreat three hundred meters!" The Third Raikage shouted.
"You too! Orochimaru, Hatake Sakumo, stay!" Izuna smiled.
"The first match, I wonder who the Raikage will send?" Izuna looked at the Third Raikage, a light shining in his eyes.
"The first battle will naturally be fought by my son, A!" After speaking, the Third Raikage patted his son A's shoulder, his face full of confidence.
"Good, then my side will send Hatake Sakumo!" Uchiha Izuna smiled, as if everything was under his control.
"Hatake Sakumo? This Konoha jōnin? Izuna, have you lost your mind? Let me be honest with you, my A has already touched the threshold of the Kage level! He's not someone any random Konoha jōnin can deal with!" The Third Raikage, A, was very proud at this moment.
Uchiha Izuna's lips curled upward. Hooked. He knew Hatake Sakumo's strength very well. Without using Susano'o or genjutsu, he could only fight to a draw against him.
Let alone your little... big boy. Uchiha Izuna glanced at the young lord A and curled his lip. He really didn't know what the Raikage's family in Kumogakure ate to grow up, each one a burly man with bulging muscles.
He couldn't appreciate this kind of violent aesthetics. Probably only certain individuals could stand it.
Hatake Sakumo accepted the order, stepped forward with a smile, and looked at the young lord A. "Please advise me!"
The young lord A was not good with words. He just nodded to indicate he understood. Not humble at all!
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