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"Report!"
"Our Sunagakure logistics base is under attack! The Ichihara City security forces cannot be contacted."
"Midori City has also not sent back any news for a day and a night; the situation is worrying!"
"On our side…"
With the Third Kazekage away from the Village for battle, Chiyo, as the Advisor Elder, naturally took on the responsibilities of the Kazekage, fully managing all affairs in the Kazekage Building.
However, since several days ago, various locations within the Land of Wind began to suffer attacks from several Konoha units. Cities everywhere suffered heavy casualties, and the entire Land of Wind was in a state of alarm daily. The nobles responsible for managing the cities continuously sent communiques to the Land of Wind's Daimyo Manor, resulting in emissaries from the Land of Wind coming to demand accountability almost every day.
As a Sunagakure high-ranking official, Chiyo naturally understood that the Daimyo Manor had no choice but to do this. After all, even a Daimyo could not withstand the joint questioning of dozens of high-ranking nobles, and naturally could only push the blame onto Sunagakure—no, this wasn't even blame, because protecting the country was precisely the duty a Ninja Village should fulfill.
But now, Sunagakure was completely powerless to stop the invasion of these Konoha Ninja.
Even if they were only small-scale units, the destructive power of a Ninja compared to ordinary people was something even an army could not match.
In just a few short days, the logistics and supply system of more than half of the Land of Wind was essentially cut off. Even merchants dared not travel these days, hiding away, causing the nobles in various cities to begin experiencing considerable hardship.
It must be known that the Land of Wind was not a country with vast resources like the Land of Fire. Over eighty percent of this country's territory was desert, and most of the rest was barren land. All the people living in this country relied on the limited number of large oases and resources produced in the fertile areas on the fringes. The trade routes between various cities could almost be called the country's lifeline.
Naturally, they also became the primary targets of the Konoha Ninja, in addition to attacking the logistics system.
However, facing this situation, Chiyo currently had no solution.
The Third Kazekage had gambled everything, leading all his forces to attack the Kikyo Castle defense line in the Land of Fire. Most of the remaining Ninja in all of Sunagakure were old, weak, sick, and disabled. Even all these people combined numbered no more than four thousand. The limited able-bodied Ninja were assigned to various logistics lines to protect the rear routes of the Sunagakure army.
However, these dispersed Ninja became the primary hunting targets for the Konoha Ninja.
"Damn those Konoha Ninja!"
Chiyo slammed the table, making the documents on it jump.
If the Sunagakure army were here, why would they allow the Konoha Ninja to be so rampant now?
Furthermore, the problems of attacks throughout the Land of Wind were gradually becoming minor issues. From the continuously compiled intelligence reports from various locations, Chiyo could tell at a glance that these Konoha Ninja were clearly advancing towards Sunagakure.
As the main logistics base for the entire Sunagakure army, if the Village were wiped out by these guys, what would happen next was self-evident.
"If this continues…"
Chiyo sat in place, deep in thought for a long time, realizing that she alone might not be able to bear the responsibility if a decision went wrong.
In desperation, she had no choice but to summon all the remaining Sunagakure high-ranking officials in the Village.
"What do you all think?"
After the remaining high-ranking officials took their seats and read through the messages from various places sent by the intelligence department, everyone's expressions were inevitably tense.
Ebizo's brows were deeply furrowed, wrinkles layering on his forehead: "According to the estimated travel speed in the intelligence, it will probably only take one or two days for the Konoha Ninja to reach our Sunagakure."
"Why weren't the front-line legions notified earlier?"
To Chiyo's right, a young man with red hair frowned, asking in confusion, "Such a small number of people to hold them back, surely the front-line legions can spare some?"
"Izawa!"
Chiyo's brow furrowed, and she reprimanded him with a cold face: "It's not your turn to speak yet."
The surrounding high-ranking officials said nothing more, all acting as if they hadn't heard.
The red-haired young man, called Izawa, looked at his mother with some confusion and dissatisfaction, but dared not speak further, intimidated by the authority she had established since his childhood.
Seeing this scene, and then looking at the expressions of the surrounding high-ranking officials, Chiyo couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
If it weren't for the fact that her son and daughter-in-law were two of the few remaining Jonin in the Village and had this relationship with her, Chiyo truly would not have wanted her foolish son, who only knew how to research puppets, to participate in such discussions.
In this situation, still wanting the front-line army to spare forces for the rear?
That unit led by Hatake Sakumo was not small in number, yet it easily bypassed the front-line army's blockade and charged straight into the Land of Wind. Do you think it was a coincidence or a tacit understanding between the two sides?
The Sunagakure army could only hold out on the front line for so long. To reduce such a large group of effective resistors without losing a single soldier, for the Third Kazekage, who had gambled everything, what was there to object to?
As for the losses inflicted on the Land of Wind and the Village?
If they won, it wouldn't be a big deal at all;
If they lost, that wouldn't be the biggest problem either, and this wouldn't make a difference.
But unfortunately, her foolish son completely lacked such political wisdom. He couldn't see through this point and instead remained fixated on the gains and losses of individual cities and territories.
"The problem now is how to resist the Konoha invasion."
"Please don't bring up things that are clearly impossible."
Pakura calmly dismissed the issue, continuing: "Now, the Konoha Ninja's target is clear: our Village's operating steel factory and armaments manufacturing plant."
"If these two places are completely destroyed, it will take at least two months to rebuild them."
"If skilled craftsmen and important machinery are also lost, then the time will be further extended, and by then…"
Her words trailed off.
By then, Sunagakure's defeat would be certain.
"How long will it take to transfer personnel and machinery?" Ebizo's face grew increasingly grim, but his gaze was solemn.
"I already began giving orders for it last night. It will take about half a day more to transport everything underground," Pakura said, her tone subtly easing a bit here.
"…"
Hearing this, no one present was still bothered by Pakura bypassing the high-level meeting and giving direct orders. Instead, they all collectively sighed in relief.
As long as the most important personnel and machinery were not damaged, Sunagakure still had a chance.
"In that case…" Chiyo straightened her back, sweeping her fierce gaze over everyone present, stating emphatically, "We will use these two points as fulcrums and give these reckless Konoha Ninja a harsh blow!"
"No matter the final outcome, we must let those bastards know that we, Sunagakure, are not to be trifled with!"
"Yes!"
Everyone present nodded in unison.
However, their expressions remained worried.
Although Advisor Chiyo did not deliberately mention it, all the Sunagakure high-ranking officials present were well aware of the remaining number of Ninja in the Village.
Relying solely on these four thousand old, weak, sick, and disabled, even if they fought with their lives, to what extent could they truly succeed?
Still, they had to fight with their lives, no matter what.
Night fell, The Land of Wind's desert rapidly cooled.
The Ninja, who had complained about the dry, hot sand during the day, immediately felt the cold invading their bodies.
However, among the Konoha Ninja currently ambushed outside Sunagakure, not a single one spoke, all quietly waiting.
After Hatake Sakumo issued the remaining orders, he automatically relinquished his position as overall commander and became the captain of this two-hundred-person assault team, charging at the very front in the upcoming battle.
At this moment, he, like his comrades around him, was quietly lying on the sand, waiting.
Until a certain moment, a point of red light, like a flame, suddenly lit up in the distant sky, streaking across the sky at high speed.
"Snap—!"
The sound was like a snapping string.
The entire gigantic barrier that surrounded Sunagakure suddenly emitted a terrifying, unbearable sound under this attack, abruptly startling all the Ninja in Sunagakure awake.
Almost at the same instant this sound rang out, the Konoha Ninja, who had been ambushed in various places, immediately began to charge towards their targets according to their original plan.
"Kill!"
Hatake Sakumo drew the White Fang from behind his waist, unsheathed it, and charged at the very front of the entire team, ascending the walls of Sunagakure one step ahead of everyone else with lightning speed.
The Sunagakure Ninja, suddenly attacked, were noticeably sluggish for a moment amid the shouts of battle rising from below the city walls, but then, under the angry shouts of the older Ninja, they all met Konoha's first wave of assault.
The Sunagakure Ninja, who had not undergone joint training, only knew how to fight individually at this time.
While this wouldn't be a major problem on an ordinary day, what they had to face now were the blades unique to Konoha, sharpened to their brightest and keenest edge through countless hardships across the Land of Wind.
Almost instantly, Hatake Sakumo's figure plunged into the ranks of people arrayed on the city wall.
"Wind Release: White Fang!"
The Wind Release Chakra, honed for decades as if it were a single day, was fully imbued into this seemingly unremarkable short sword in its most unadorned form.
While extending the attack range of this short sword, it also endowed it with the sharpest edge in this world.
Looking down from the night, the incredibly pure Wind Release Chakra looked almost like a thin layer of glass attached to the blade's surface, showing none of the usual flowing traces of Wind Release, appearing entirely translucent.
However, no matter who stood before him, they could not withstand a single blow.
The sharp sound of wind tearing through the night, amidst countless agonizing screams, pierced through the front of the crowd to the very back at a speed too fast for ordinary people to react.
Behind him, a blood-soaked path paved with countless limbs and lives was left.
His silver-grey short hair and cold face, when seen by other Sand Ninja, were terrifying, like a demon that had crawled out of the abyss.
However, his subordinates, who followed him, regarded him as a hero unmatched in the world.
After Hatake Sakumo almost single-handedly broke through a path, the Konoha Ninja behind him entered the not-so-tight Sunagakure military formation with ease, expending almost no effort, continuously casting Ninjutsu and swinging their blades, slaughtering the Sand Ninja who, in their fear, were as submissive and weak as sheep.
The speed of their advance was astonishing.
At the same time, Hatake Sakumo did not lose his composure due to the slaughter; on the contrary, every swing of his blade was incredibly calm and rational.
While constantly moving through the Sand Ninja, he was also quickly searching for the pre-set objective of this mission.
The steel factory.
According to the intelligence they had received, the steel factory in Sunagakure was a semi-buried structure, so it was not obvious from the outside.
However, as one of the most important buildings in the entire Sunagakure, the number of Ninja guarding it would certainly not be small.
Therefore, Hatake Sakumo had arranged for several sensory-type Ninja to follow him even before launching the surprise attack.
"Sakumo-sama!"
A Ninja from the Inuzuka clan, with a Ninja dog closely following him, and a trace of blood remaining on his sharp claws, spoke with urgency and excitement: "Oguro-maru says there's a strong scent of many Ninja gathered in the southeast direction, the smell is very distinct, and there's also a metallic smell and a burnt chimney smell! This roughly matches the direction of the steel factory we observed from the mountain!"
"Break through!" Hatake Sakumo's command was without the slightest hesitation.
"Yes!"
The Ninja following behind immediately responded in unison.
However, before they could rush into the vicinity of the steel factory, several figures were already seen quickly landing in front of their group from the rooftops, blocking the entrance tightly, their voices sharp:
"Konoha White Fang!"
"How dare you be so presumptuous in Sunagakure? Your lives will be the compensation!"
"Heh."
Hatake Sakumo looked at the gloomy-faced, short middle-aged man, his gaze solemn:
"Sand Advisor, Ebizo."
"And are those Izawa and Chie of the 'Red Machine Twin Demons'?"
Evidently, this was Sunagakure's last trump card.
However.
Hatake Sakumo looked at the three of them, slowly walking forward amidst the eerie silence.
With each step, the aura of this outwardly easygoing and detached man, who usually appeared so reserved, would rise a notch, and his surging Chakra, like gushing spring water or a volcanic eruption, roared out from his body like a storm.
His greyish-white short hair swayed slightly in the constantly surging Chakra, and his Wind Release Chakra, compressed to the extreme, wrapped around his feet and blade, giving off an indescribably terrifying oppressive force.
Hatake Sakumo's voice carried an unprecedented arrogance:
"What makes you arrogant enough to think that just a few of you are qualified to stop..."
"Me?!"
Almost the instant his voice fell.
His figure seemed to be suddenly caught in the center of a whirlwind, transforming into a blurry mist at a speed completely imperceptible to the naked eye, and abruptly rushed towards the three individuals in front of him.
Ebizo and his group's hearts suddenly leaped, and they instinctively pulled out their twin blades, blocking in front of them, while their puppet unfolded into a semi-circular shield amidst the whirring of gears.
"Clang—!"
The moment Ebizo unfolded the shield, he saw an incredibly sharp blade, accompanied by an impossibly sharp Wind Release, pierce through the special metal composite steel plate. The Wind Release Chakra almost scraped an inch in front of his pupil, brushing past his fluttering, split eyebrows, and cut a horizontal arc to the side.
The sound of metal tearing in his ears seemed to pierce his eardrums.
The sparks from the ultra-high-speed friction further illuminated the night.
Ebizo's movements dared not pause for a moment; while single-handedly manipulating the other two puppets to block at his sides, the short blade in his hand also thrust forward sharply.
"Swordplay?"
Hatake Sakumo's voice seemed to carry a hint of sarcastic mockery; he shifted his body to avoid the blade tip, and at the same time, swung his White Fang short blade upwards, easily cutting it in half.
The next moment, two puppets, spinning down from the air, converged towards him with large flying wheels.
"Clang! Clang!"
Two consecutive slashes easily tore through the sturdy flying wheel puppets. Hatake Sakumo suddenly turned his head, his gaze sweeping towards the red-haired young man behind him.
Izawa's heart couldn't help but chill, and he subconsciously formed hand signs.
"Secret Technique: Puppet Substitution!"
Almost the instant the hand signs were completed, a chilling blade light suddenly pierced through the night, drawing a meteor-like arc in mid-air.
"Crack—!"
The special substitute, as a puppet, was instantly cut into several pieces.
However, before Izawa could even adjust his posture, Hatake Sakumo had already rushed in front of him at an even faster speed, suddenly delivering a slash.
"Whoosh!"
Before the White Fang's blade could land on him, another puppet had already blocked in front of him.
But before Izawa could feel relieved, Hatake Sakumo had already taken a step forward, his thigh sweeping out horizontally, striking him squarely in the abdomen.
Izawa was kicked, flipping over a dozen times in mid-air, but his wife, Chie, had already taken his previous position, controlling the other two puppets to block in front of him, her expression incredibly serious.
'Sasori is still waiting for them to come home.'
Ebizo and the Red Machine Twin Demons formed a triangular encirclement around Hatake Sakumo.
The Sand Ninja they led, relying on their numerical superiority, clashed with the Konoha Ninja.
However, perhaps because most of them were old, weak, and infirm, long past their prime, these Sand Ninja were barely able to hold on for long under the assault of the elite Konoha Ninja squad before their entire defense line was breached.
"Go destroy the machinery in the steel factory first!"
Seeing Hatake Sakumo focused on fighting, another deputy commander immediately shouted the mission objective.
The Konoha Ninja no longer lingered and immediately streamed towards the steel factory area.
"Heh."
Suddenly, a cold sneer slowly appeared on Ebizo's aged face.
Hatake Sakumo noticed this and a sudden sense of unease rose in his heart; he immediately turned his head to look towards the direction of the rear forces.
Damn it.
"Boom—!!!"
On the other end, Sawara Kiri and his group, who were rushing towards the armory, were relying on his Six Eyes vision to sweep across the rooftops at the fastest speed, avoiding the constantly pursuing Sand forces.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion was heard in the distance.
The soaring flames lit up the night, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble faintly, with continuous aftershocks.
"What's going on?!"
Namikaze Minato suddenly turned his head towards the direction of the explosion.
With their current material reserves, they had no explosive tag resources capable of causing such a large-scale explosion.
If that's the case...
"Is it an ambush by Sunagakure?"
Just as he was thinking this, he saw Sawara Kiri, who was rushing at the very front, suddenly stop and raise his hand to the Ninja following behind him.
"Stop."
The blood-soaked Konoha Ninja who had fought their way out immediately halted.
Sawara Kiri looked forward, and his azure Six Eyes reflected the scene inside the armory.
Countless explosive tags, like stickers, covered every corner of the entire armory complex. A rough count revealed at least hundreds, or even millions, of them—enough to blow them and the entire factory complex sky-high.
Clearly, even what couldn't be moved couldn't be left for Konoha.
I wonder how Sakumo-sensei is doing now.
Besides that...
"Minato!"
Sawara Kiri's voice suddenly became very urgent, and he shouted loudly: "Where is your closest Flying Thunder God Technique marker?"
"The Sunagakure gate!"
Although he didn't know why Kiri was shouting like this, Namikaze Minato still answered without hesitation.
Almost the instant he shouted, Sawara Kiri suddenly grabbed his arm, swung his entire body into the air, and with unprecedented strength, flung him towards the gate of the factory complex ahead.
A sudden burst of violent speed, such as Namikaze Minato had never experienced in his life, erupted.
"Boom!"
"Send him away!"
Heavy sonic booms encircled him, and even sound seemed unable to keep up with his body, but Namikaze Minato understood his meaning in an instant.
As his figure passed through the darkness, and his vision shifted between light and shadow, he finally saw the only old man in the empty factory complex.
Namikaze Minato reached out his hand without hesitation.
Almost at the same instant, a thin layer of Tailed Beast Chakra cloak had already appeared on the surface of the old monk, who had a compassionate expression on his face.
He maintained a posture of clasped hands, his expression one of indescribable sorrow and pity.
"Konoha Ninja..."
"Whoosh!"
The larger the volume of what is teleported and the stronger the Chakra interference, the greater the total amount of Chakra consumed by the Flying Thunder God Technique.
This single use of the Flying Thunder God Technique completely exhausted Namikaze Minato's full power.
But even so, he could only barely send him a few kilometers away—and that was already quite remarkable.
"Boom—!!!"
The next moment, terrifying Chakra, like the collapse of heaven and earth, continuously surged upwards from the Sunagakure gate towards the sky, as if to illuminate everything in everyone's vision.
Like a fiercely burning torch.
At this moment, all the Konoha Ninja present felt a chill in their hearts.
A Jinchuriki...?
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter