Chapter 187: Konoha's Full-Scale Counterattack
"Lady Tsunade, what should we do now?" Minato Namikaze asked, refocusing on the immediate situation.
"Since Iwagakure has deployed a Jinchūriki, it means they've abandoned their strategy of avoidance and are preparing for a full-scale confrontation with Konoha," Tsunade stated gravely. "We are to return to the camp immediately and prepare for battle!"
"But wasn't the Jinchūriki already critically injured by Hoshikawa ?" Minato asked with some hesitation.
"A Jinchūriki possesses Tailed Beast chakra; their regeneration is far beyond that of a normal person. He'll recover given some time," Tsunade replied, pausing before giving a cold sneer. "But this gives us the perfect opportunity to strike first and drive them straight back to the Land of Earth!"
"Yes!" Minato understood immediately.
It was clear Iwagakure intended to start a war, given the appearance of Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki. But by sheer luck and skill, Hoshikawa had struck a major blow, completely disrupting Iwagakure's attack timing. If Iwagakure couldn't attack, Konoha would.
Minato immediately deployed the Flying Thunder God Technique again. The three of them returned to the main Konoha camp.
"Hoshikawa !" Kurenai Yūhi and Rin Nohara, who were waiting anxiously, rushed over the moment they saw them. Besides them, the returning Jōnin, as well as Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Might Guy's squad, were also present.
In fact, no one needed to be notified; they had all sensed the immense chakra from the Tailed Beast Ball.
"I'm fine," Hoshikawa said, smiling into Kurenai and Rin's concerned eyes. "My chakra reserves are just heavily depleted."
Since he started training with the Strength of a Hundred Seal, which had been about two and a half years ago, he had used up over a quarter of the chakra he had accumulated during that time in a single battle. In other words, if he fought the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi another three or four times, his entire reserve would be completely exhausted.
"What exactly happened out there?" Shibi Aburame asked, thoroughly confused. "My insects sensed a terrifying amount of chakra."
"It was a Tailed Beast Ball," Minato said with a wide smile. "Iwagakure deployed the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi."
"What?!" Everyone's faces were etched with shock. They all knew something about Jinchūriki and Tailed Beasts. The appearance of the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi meant a major war was unavoidable.
"Then why are you smiling?" Shibi Aburame raised an eyebrow. He'd been teammates with Minato and knew he wasn't one to find joy in suffering.
"Hoshikawa severely injured the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi," Minato's smile grew even wider.
"No way!" Obito Uchiha blurted out instantly. It wasn't just because he disliked Hoshikawa ; he genuinely found the claim too ridiculous. It was like telling a high school student that his deskmate had just won a Nobel Prize. How could something so absurd happen?
Kurenai, Rin, Kakashi, and Might Guy stared at each other, frozen in disbelief. Even the usually bold Might Guy felt as if he were hallucinating.
"Minato, don't joke around," the Jōnin said, thinking Minato was just trying to lighten the mood. If it had been Hiruzen Sarutobi who critically injured the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi, it would have been plausible. But Hoshikawa ? Was that even possible? He was a Chūnin who graduated just three years ago, a boy nearly ten years younger than their average age.
"I wouldn't lie about this," Minato cleared his throat and announced loudly. "All of you, prepare immediately! We are launching a full-scale counterattack against Iwagakure!"
"Yes!" Everyone was momentarily stunned, then quickly responded, though the shock in their hearts was indescribable. The decision to launch a full-scale counterattack confirmed it: the news of the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi being severely injured had to be true.
"H-how is that possible?" Obito Uchiha felt utterly demoralized. He already knew the gap between himself and Hoshikawa was vast after losing to him before. But having seen the strength of the mysterious old man, Madara Uchiha, he felt there was still hope once he awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan. Now, being told that Hoshikawa had injured a Jinchūriki, could even the three-tomoe Sharingan beat him?
"That's incredible!" Rin Nohara looked at Hoshikawa , her eyes full of admiration. A Jinchūriki was the final resort of an entire village, yet he had managed to injure one. His strength had completely left them behind.
"I was just lucky; my Water Release happens to counter him perfectly," Hoshikawa said modestly. There were indeed many coincidental factors that allowed him to defeat the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi. If it had been any other Jinchūriki, he would have definitely had to retreat. And strictly speaking, it wasn't a true defeat. After all, he still couldn't withstand a Tailed Beast Ball.
The Jōnin, of course, didn't believe his modesty. While Water Release countered Fire Release in theory, a Jinchūriki's immense chakra was usually enough to completely disregard the elemental advantage.
As Minato's orders were relayed, the news of Hoshikawa severely injuring the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi quickly spread throughout the Konoha camp. Many ninja harbored a deep fear of Jinchūriki and Tailed Beasts, given their overwhelming power. The emergence of Hoshikawa , a ninja who could combat a Jinchūriki, drastically boosted morale and even provided a beacon of hope for winning the war.
Half an hour later, the Konoha forces received their assignments and left the camp. Minato Namikaze led Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Might Guy. Their mission was similar to the original timeline: to infiltrate the Iwagakure rear. No one was better suited for the task than Minato, with his Flying Thunder God Technique.
Hoshikawa watched them leave, wondering if Obito Uchiha would still be critically injured and rescued by Madara Uchiha in this altered timeline. He wasn't sure, as the situation now included a Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi, even if he was injured.
"Hoshikawa ," Tsunade walked up to him and asked, "Do you need to rest?"
"I don't," Hoshikawa replied with a smile. "With the Strength of a Hundred Seal, aside from the chakra depletion, I feel perfectly fine."
"That's just... a monster," Shibi Aburame couldn't help but grumble. What do you mean, 'I fought a Jinchūriki and feel perfectly fine?'
"Senior Shibi, are you coming on the mission with us?" Hoshikawa looked at Shibi Aburame, who stood behind Tsunade. Besides him, there were three other Aburame clan ninja, all Jōnin.
"Our mission is to track down and tie down the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi," Shibi Aburame nodded. "Naturally, I can't defeat him, so I'll only be responsible for tracking his location. Your performance is the key."
"You're too kind, Senior Shibi," Hoshikawa responded with a smile.
"No time to waste, we leave now!" Tsunade stated firmly. "We only have one day!" With the Tailed Beast chakra regeneration and medical ninja treatment, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi would likely be roughly healed within a day.
"Yes!" Hoshikawa , Shibi Aburame, and the other six quickly answered.
Led by Tsunade, they headed toward the previous Iwagakure outpost. Ten minutes later, they reached their destination.
"What a terrifying sight!" Shibi Aburame exclaimed, looking at the utterly ravaged, apocalyptic outpost. He waved his hands, and a massive number of Kikaichū flew out to begin reconnaissance.
Due to the Tailed Beast Ball's destruction, the Iwagakure ninja had long since relocated, but they had left traces. With Rōshi's injury, they were in a state of shock and less careful than usual.
"Follow me!" Shibi Aburame said, his spirits lifting.
The eight ninja followed the Kikaichū for half an hour until they arrived at another outpost.
"It's not Iwagakure's main camp," Shibi Aburame observed.
"They must have anticipated our move," Tsunade mused. "If we attacked, the main camp would be prioritized, which would make it difficult to treat Rōshi's injuries."
"Too bad," Hoshikawa suddenly thought of something. "If I could have laced my Water Release with poison, he definitely wouldn't have escaped."
"...?" Shibi Aburame subtly stepped back half a pace.
"Poisoning a Water Release jutsu? Only you would think of that," Tsunade rolled her eyes at him. It was certainly possible to poison the water, but most Water Release jutsu had such a wide range, and the poison needed time to spread. In combat, trying to execute such a move would likely cause the enemy to seize the advantage instead.
"There are eighty-seven ninja inside the outpost," Shibi Aburame reported, retrieving his Kikaichū, his expression grim.
"It looks like the remaining ninja from the previous outpost," Tsunade nodded slightly. "Hoshikawa and I will go in first; the rest of you provide support as needed." They only had eight ninja total. Everyone except her and Hoshikawa would be in great danger if they were surrounded.
"Yes!" Shibi Aburame, Kurenai, and the others quickly agreed.
"Wait." Hoshikawa grasped Tsunade's wrist. "The distance is perfect; I can launch a Water Release jutsu before they notice."
"Do it." Tsunade, recalling his performance against Rōshi, couldn't help but pity the Iwagakure ninja.
Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
Hoshikawa didn't hesitate. He formed hand seals and released a tidal wave of water from his mouth. Instantly, the entire outpost was submerged in seawater, forming an oval-shaped water prison.
Screams rang out. Though Iwagakure had patrolling ninja, they were completely overwhelmed by the calamitous volume of water and had no time to resist. Many Genin and Chūnin were knocked unconscious by the force of the waves.
Shibi Aburame instinctively swallowed hard. Now he understood why Hoshikawa could suppress the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi. Was this even Water Release anymore?
In the original story, only Tobirama Senju and Kisame Hoshigaki had ever used the Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave jutsu. The reason was the massive chakra cost required. Shibi Aburame was witnessing the jutsu for the first time, and it was deeply shocking.
Just then, the ground of the outpost shook, and a large patch of lava surged out, quickly burning a vacuum in the water. It was the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi.
He was clearly undergoing treatment; his shoulder was bandaged, but blood was already seeping through the bandages as he used ninjutsu.
"It's that Water Release Monster!" The Iwagakure ninja who managed to reach the vacuum area all had panic etched on their faces.
"Quiet!" Rōshi yelled, highly displeased. But the movement pulled at his wound, making his face immediately turn pale.
"Lord Rōshi, you and the Medical-nin must leave immediately. We will hold them off," Dōshisha observed the situation. "They're only eight people!"
"Be careful!" Rōshi hesitated for a few seconds but ultimately agreed. In his current state, fighting would only make things worse. It was better to focus on healing, and then he could deal with that annoying brat later.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!" Dōshisha commanded. A dozen Iwagakure ninja formed hand seals simultaneously. In an instant, a thick, Great Wall-like fortification formed around them. In a sense, this was also a Composite Jutsu.
"Don't worry, I released Kikaichū to follow Rōshi and the others!" Shibi Aburame interjected.
"Did he call Hoshikawa the Water Release Monster?" Kurenai asked, blinking.
"Probably," Hoshikawa twitched his mouth. "That code name is terrible." He much preferred one like Minato's, the Yellow Flash.
Tsunade looked amused. Her student, being called the Water Release Monster—it felt incredibly contradictory. Anyone who didn't know would think she was the one who specialized in Water Release, when she was actually a Medical-nin.
"Attack!" Tsunade regained her focus and charged forward without hesitation.
The ground shook as two earthen hemispheres flew toward her from the sides, attempting to crush her. Tsunade reacted quickly, smashing both earthen spheres with two successive punches.
Secret Technique: Insect Tornado!
Shibi Aburame waved his hands, and a tornado composed of Kikaichū vaulted over the earthen wall, sweeping toward the Iwagakure forces. The three other Aburame clan ninja followed suit, directing massive numbers of Kikaichū to fly out. The next second, screams echoed.
Spirit Transformation Technique!
Rin Nohara, standing her ground, let her soul escape, passing directly through the earthen wall to take control of an Iwagakure ninja and launch a suicidal attack.
"Kurenai, the wall," Hoshikawa reminded her before forming hand seals.
Composite Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!
A colossal water dragon roared out. Kurenai's own water dragon followed right behind it. The two water dragons slammed into the earthen wall, instantly tearing open a passage.
Body Flicker Technique!
Tsunade, seeing the opening, immediately rushed through the hole and landed amidst the Iwagakure ninja.
Heavenly Foot of Pain!
She stomped down, and the ground cracked open. The nearby Iwagakure ninja were all sent flying, blood splattering, their screams rising in a cacophony.
Chidori Stream!
Hoshikawa appeared in front of Tsunade with the Body Flicker Technique. Lightning permeated the air. He drew his Lightning Fire Sword and immediately performed the Dance of the Crescent Moon. Three Hoshikawa s charged the Iwagakure ninja, and three men instantly fell.
"Damn it!" Dōshisha quickly formed hand seals.
Earth Release: Earth Spikes!
The ground swelled, and countless earthen spikes rose up, aiming for Hoshikawa .
Tsunade snorted and threw a punch. Dōshisha was horrified and quickly raised an earthen wall. But his spikes were ineffective and instantly shattered by Tsunade's attack. Dōshisha hastily retreated.
Just then, a pair of hands shot out and grabbed his ankles. He instinctively looked down and saw Hoshikawa beneath the ground. When? And how is his hand seal speed so fast? Why does he even know Earth Release?
Dōshisha's delay, caused by Hoshikawa , allowed Tsunade to catch up. One punch later, blood splattered, and his heart was ripped out.
"Nice teamwork," Tsunade noted with a glance at Hoshikawa before diving back into the fight.
With more than half of the Iwagakure forces killed, the remaining ninja fled outward.
"Don't chase them! Our target is Rōshi!" Tsunade didn't care about the fleeing ninja.
The group, led by the Kikaichū, once again pressed on in Rōshi's direction.
(End of Chapter)
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