After improving his Adamantine Sealing Chains, Sarutobi Asuma immediately emerged from seclusion. Leaving behind a Lightning Style Shadow Clone, he bid farewell to Yūhi Kurenai, Shizune, Kakashi, and the others. He then departed the medical camp and proceeded to the front-line main headquarters to meet with Orochimaru.
"It seems you're ready!"
Orochimaru smiled.
Sarutobi Asuma nodded and asked, "Lord Orochimaru, what's the situation on the battlefield?"
"Although Senior Sakumo and Minato can cut off the Sand Ninja's supply lines, there are no difficult terrain features from the Land of Rivers to the Land of Wind. The cutting of the supply lines is only temporary."
"Most importantly, the Sand Ninja have effectively occupied the Land of Rivers. With that country, they can acquire a lot of their supplies from both nations."
"Therefore, we are currently on the defensive and are at a disadvantage."
"The Sand Ninja's total forces have already reached 5,000. Although we have held the border line, a large number of Sand Ninja squads have actually infiltrated the Land of Fire."
Upon hearing this, Sarutobi Asuma's expression grew solemn.
Currently, there were fewer than 3,000 Konoha ninja on the battlefield; the gap was not small.
"Furthermore, the Stone Ninja have completely occupied the Land of Grass and have invaded the border of the Land of Fire."
"Moreover, the Stone Ninja are also making frequent moves in the Land of Rain, intending to ally with Amegakure and attack the Land of Fire from the Land of Rain."
"The Mist Ninja have been heavily raiding the coastline, tying up a significant portion of our forces."
"Although the Cloud Ninja have not yet made a move, they have been continuously mobilizing forces southward, and it's only a matter of time before they deploy."
In just a few sentences, Orochimaru outlined the current situation Konoha was facing.
It was a situation where they were surrounded by enemies on all sides.
If it weren't for the fact that the Four Great Shinobi Villages were not united, Konoha's situation would be even more dire.
Sarutobi Asuma looked at the ninja world map on the table and asked, "Lord Orochimaru, what do you think of Lord Jiraiya's swift victory plan from before?"
"A bit too wishful thinking!"
Orochimaru said sinisterly, "To make the Sand Ninja surrender, merely capturing the One-Tails Jinchuriki and cutting off their supply lines is far from enough."
"We must inflict heavy casualties on their fighting forces, or even invade the Land of Wind, to force their surrender or reach a peace treaty with them."
Sarutobi Asuma slammed his fist on the map. "Then let's first deal with the strongest combat power on the Sand Ninja's front line."
"Then I will hunt down the Sand Ninja's strong shinobi!"
"Once we kill until the Sand Ninja are terrified, we can then propose peace talks, end the war as quickly as possible, and concentrate our forces to deal with the other three Great Shinobi Villages!"
Orochimaru nodded, then asked, "Are you sure you can handle the One-Tails Jinchuriki alone? Do you need me to summon a squad to cooperate with you?"
"No, I just need an environment where I can fight the One-Tails Jinchuriki one-on-one!"
Orochimaru nodded, completely trusting Sarutobi Asuma.
He immediately summoned various Jonin to discuss the specific actions to be taken next.
August 20th, Konoha Year 44, 7:00 AM.
Sarutobi Asuma, operating as a one-man squad, left the front-line main headquarters and traversed through the dense forest, heading straight for the Sand Ninja.
Purple lightning continuously flashed through the forest.
Sarutobi Asuma, at level 10 in Lightning Style Chakra Nature Transformation, had spent the past half-month researching his own bio-electricity system. Coupled with his nerve signal transmission, he had completely adapted and integrated it into his Lightning Style Chakra Mode.
In just this past half-month, his Constitution and Agility stats, which had been improving at a snail's pace, had felt like they had returned to when he first came to this world.
Especially his Agility, which had increased by a full 1.3 points under the stimulation of Lightning Style Chakra.
As for the speed increase in Lightning Style Chakra Mode, Sarutobi Asuma had not yet tested it.
However, even a rough estimate suggested it was thousands of times stronger than before, approaching the movement speed of natural lightning.
Yet, this still did not fully unleash the potential of Lightning Style Chakra Mode.
Sarutobi Asuma needed more time to tap into its potential.
Passing through Konoha's multiple defensive lines, he soon entered the combat zone.
Here, Konoha and Sand Ninja forces were intertwined, constantly fighting and attritioning.
Faint rumbling sounds could be heard from all around from time to time.
Sarutobi Asuma immediately used the Ink Dyeing Sky Dizziness Technique, spreading out his sensory perception, and quickly locked onto a battlefield.
Three seconds later.
He charged into a battlefield where a squad of Konoha ninja and a squad of Sand Ninja were clashing, descending like heavenly soldiers and standing on a branch.
Both enemy and ally forces were startled and simultaneously stopped fighting, looking at Sarutobi Asuma.
The Konoha ninja immediately rejoiced.
The Sand Ninja, however, saw their complexions change drastically.
"Sarutobi Asuma!"
"Quick, retreat!"
Without the slightest hesitation, the four Sand Ninja immediately chose to retreat.
After the significant loss they suffered earlier, Sarutobi Asuma's image had spread throughout the entire Sand Ninja forces.
The orders received by all Sand Ninja were clear: if they encountered Sarutobi Asuma, they were to retreat immediately!
As the Sand Ninja retreated, the four Konoha ninja hadn't even moved when Sarutobi Asuma had already vanished from the branch.
By the time those four Konoha ninja set off, three corpses already lay on the ground.
Sarutobi Asuma reappeared, stopping the four Konoha ninja who were about to pursue. "No need to chase further!"
The four exchanged glances and nodded in unison. "Understood!"
"I'm heading off, you guys be careful!"
With that, Sarutobi Asuma disappeared.
"He's truly amazing!"
"He took down three people and a Jonin in the blink of an eye!"
"I feel like he's even more terrifying than Lord Sakumo. With this speed, perhaps only Minato can compare!"
The four Konoha ninja exclaimed in admiration.
One of them couldn't help but ask curiously, "His Lightning Style Chakra Mode was a pale blue before, but now it's turned purple. Does it feel like he's gotten stronger?"
The three Chunin all looked towards the Jonin leading them, Inoue.
Inoue nodded, affirming with absolute certainty, "He is stronger than when I sensed him last."
"Moreover, it feels like this purple lightning chakra is even a bit stronger than Lord Sakumo's."
Upon hearing this, the three Chunin were once again shocked.
Sarutobi Asuma was not even 11 years old yet, and he had already surpassed a renowned powerhouse like Hatake Sakumo.
...
Sarutobi Asuma weaved through the battlefield, like the Grim Reaper, or perhaps a ghost.
He decimated Sand Ninja squads until only one person remained.
Soon, the Sand Ninja realized that Sarutobi Asuma, who had been missing for over half a month, had reappeared.
Following this, the Sand Ninja began a full-scale retreat.
Sarutobi Asuma continued to advance towards the Sand Ninja.
Behind him, Orochimaru led the main army forward.
He had to provide rear guard support for Sarutobi Asuma, preventing him from being surrounded and overwhelmed by the Sand Ninja's massive forces.
The Third Raikage was a lesson from the past.
Even someone as powerful as the Third Raikage was eventually worn down and killed by sheer numbers!
Suddenly.
Sarutobi Asuma stopped.
Ahead, his vision opened up to a vast, open plain covered in lush grass.
And at the other end of this plain, before a forest, stood another figure.
It was an aged, hunched-over figure.
The First Jinchuriki of the Sand Ninja, Bunpuku!
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