Chapter 110: Towards the Battlefield
On the battlefield of the Fourth Division.
The Allied Shinobi Forces were struggling against the resurrected Kage. Though the allies had an overwhelming numerical advantage, the strength of the former Kage was on another level entirely.
Fortunately, when the Kage launched their attacks, their powerful techniques also exposed their distinct weaknesses and elemental affinities. This allowed the Fourth Division to establish a more orderly response, and large-scale casualties were, for the moment, being avoided.
Shikamaru's eyes were narrowed, his keen mind operating at high speed as he guided the forces before him.
The voice of an intelligence ninja patched directly into his mind, relaying a new directive from headquarters.
Shikamaru stroked his chin, nodding slowly. "Mm, understood."
The mental link severed. He turned his gaze to the logistics and support ninja standing ready, his eyes finally landing on Temari.
"Listen up, everyone," Shikamaru said, his expression grave. "According to the directive we just received, we need to lead half of the ninja here to rendezvous with the First Division."
Temari's expression snapped. "Half?" she demanded. "What on earth is headquarters thinking?"
Everyone knew it. If they pulled half their forces now, their defensive line would become dangerously weak. If the enemy seized that opportunity to assault them, the consequences would be unimaginable.
And that was with one of the primary enemies still missing from the field.
Facing their doubts, Shikamaru remained preternaturally calm. He took a deep breath. "Everyone, stay focused. HQ wouldn't give this order without a reason. As long as we stick to the plan, we'll hold the line."
He paused, glancing at the worried faces. "Besides, after this mission is complete, we will eventually return here."
Shikamaru knew saying this might damage morale, but as the acting leader, concealing the truth was the worse move. Informing them now at least gave them time to mentally prepare for the challenges ahead.
"There's also another piece of news..."
"A ninja with a Bloodline Limit stronger than ordinary ones has appeared among the enemy ranks."
As his words fell, a single bead of sweat trickled down Temari's cheek. She parted her lips, but her throat felt tight.
A power that surpassed a ordinary Bloodline Limit. She knew of only one other person in the entire shinobi world who wielded such a power: Hasumi Maki!
And now, an opponent that terrifying had appeared on the enemy's side.
This was a disaster for the Allied Forces.
…
"Renji."
Shikamaru looked up, his gaze firm, meeting Renji's.
Renji's expression turned serious. "A mission for me?"
Shikamaru took a deep breath and nodded heavily. "The appearance of Hasumi Maki has caused immense losses to our forces. Headquarters has decided to send Lord Mizukage to assist, and they are reassigning you specifically to counter Hasumi Maki."
Renji nodded without hesitation. "Got it."
Their conversation had just ended when a figure streaked across the sky above them.
It was Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage. He floated down to hover beside Gaara. The two Kage stood together at the head of the army, a sight that sent a jolt through the allied ninja.
With Ōnoki's appearance, the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, who had been holding back, finally revealed himself in the air.
"Long time no see, Ōnoki," Mu said, looking down at his former disciple.
"Sensei," Ōnoki sighed.
He never thought that at his age, he would be forced to fight the man who had taught him.
...
Something's not right.
Too many things are not right.
Naruto collapsed to the ground, exhausted, his Nine-Tailed Chakra Mode receding like a tide. He had been pushing himself, training his Rasengan and Rasenshuriken in that mode, and now his chakra was bottoming out.
As he rested, his mind replayed the last few days.
A moment ago, he had clearly-sensed a powerful, familiar Nine-Tailed chakra. But the Nine-Tails was sealed inside him.
Also, why was this "mission" taking so long?
Why did Motoi suddenly disappear?
Why was Renji suddenly called away for another mission?
And how does a giant Turtle Island just... capsize? Did it really just hit a reef?
"I'm going to the restroom," Naruto said, forcing himself to stand.
Killer Bee, sitting nearby, just nodded. "OK!"
In Bee's mind, however, the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, was panicking.
"He knows something's wrong, Bee! He's not going to the restroom; he's going to find out what's happening!"
In their shared conscious space, Killer Bee shrugged. "What can we do? If he wants to go, let him go, yo!"
With that, Bee said no more, content to wait.
Gyūki roared in frustration. "Damn it... You have no plan at all? You're just going to let him rush in recklessly!"
Killer Bee replied nonchalantly, "Oh, I think you're better at this kind of thing, so you handle the worrying!"
Gyūki was rendered speechless by his irresponsible Jinchuriki.
Naruto moved like a gust of wind, sprinting out of the underground palace.
His footsteps suddenly halted. A group of people stood in front of him.
They were in a line, firmly blocking his path. Each wore the forehead protector of the Hidden Cloud Village, their expressions grim. It was clear they had been waiting for this.
An ominous premonition surged in Naruto's heart. After Renji left, he thought it was just him and Bee on the island. Now, it was heavily guarded.
What was going on?
One of the Cloud ninja spoke, his voice flat. "I'm sorry, Naruto, but you cannot pass. Please return to your room."
Naruto's suspicion boiled over. "Why are you monitoring me? What exactly happened?"
The Cloud guard remained silent for a beat, then repeated coldly, "Go back. We will tell you the reason when the time is right."
Naruto wasn't a genius, but even he could tell that "when the time is right" meant "never." If he foolishly waited, it would be too late.
The Cloud guards' eyes widened as Naruto, like a meteor burning with rage, lunged directly at them. The powerful impact sent them flying out of the underground palace, breaking through the curtain of the Waterfall of Truth.
Naruto himself burst out into the open air.
The moment he stepped outside, his body locked up, as if something invisible seized him.
In the distance, hundreds of miles away, a heart-pounding reality unfolded in his mind.
Renji, Sakura, Kakashi-sensei, Shikamaru, Ino, Gaara...
All of them. All the figures he knew were locked in a desperate battle.
He wasn't seeing it with his eyes. He was sensing it, thanks to the Nine-Tails' incredible chakra-sensing ability.
Naruto finally realized the truth.
The war had already begun.
And not a single person had told him.
Even Renji, who was closest to him, had concealed the truth. Renji's so-called mission was just a lie to get him to the battlefield. With Renji's strength, of course he wouldn't stay by Naruto's side. They had used an excuse to transfer him away.
"My comrades are struggling on the battlefield right now, and I'm hiding here like a coward! Why is this happening?" Naruto roared, his eyes bloodshot as he yelled at the pursuing Cloud guards.
Facing his fury, the guards knew they could no longer hide it.
One took a deep breath. "The ultimate purpose of this war, Naruto, is to protect you."
Naruto was stunned silent, but only for a moment.
The guard pressed on. "Uchiha Madara has mobilized his entire army for one reason: to capture you and Killer Bee. To take the Nine-Tails and the Eight-Tails."
Seeing Naruto frozen, the guard spoke quickly. "If Madara succeeds, his plan will be complete, and this world will fall into an eternal nightmare. Protecting you is protecting the world, Naruto! Everyone is risking their lives for you. We just need you to stay here!"
The Cloud guards stared intently at Naruto, sweat rolling down their foreheads. They had felt his power in that brief exchange. If this Jinchuriki insisted on leaving, their current strength was nowhere near enough to stop him.
If he escaped, this entire war, all the planning, would end in a disastrous defeat.
"Go back, Naruto," one of them urged, his voice tight with anxiety.
Silence enveloped them. Finally, Naruto slowly opened his eyes, his gaze now incredibly resolute, like a burning flame.
"This war... I will bring it to an end alone."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable determination.
Hiding while his comrades rushed to their deaths to protect him. Naruto could never accept that.
"Whether it's hatred or pain, I will bear it all alone. This is my mission!"
Before Nagato died, Naruto had made a promise. He intended to keep it.
The Cloud guards' hearts sank. "Haven't you understood what we're saying?" one shouted, his voice cracking. "This isn't just about your safety! It's about the entire war, Naruto!"
"The enemy has used every trick to capture you," another yelled. "How can you walk right into their trap?"
"Don't you know?" the first guard roared, his chest heaving. "If you go out there, then all of us, all the sacrifices everyone has made... they'll all be in vain!"
"I really don't want to see anyone else sacrifice themselves for me..." Naruto said, lowering his eyes. "This war is happening because of me. As a key figure in it, I can't hide while everyone else fights my battle. It's not right!"
Before he finished speaking, a dazzling golden light burst forth from his body.
With a whoosh, Naruto shot forward like an arrow, disappearing from the guards' sight in a flash.
The head guard closed his eyes in defeat. He took a deep breath, then turned to the others. "Quickly! Report what happened here to the Five Kage!"
At the same time, Killer Bee slipped out of the underground palace.
"Bee," Gyūki said with concern, "the Raikage is going to kill you."
Killer Bee just chuckled and flew off in the direction Naruto had gone. He wasn't going to stop him. He was going to fight alongside him.
Thinking of this, Bee shouted, "Yeah!"
"Guiding Naruto's training through actual combat is the most effective method, you fool!" he muttered, subconsciously deflecting the topic of his angry older brother.
Gyūki: "..."
...
Ninja Allied Forces Headquarters.
The atmosphere was tense.
"What now?" the Raikage roared, slamming his fist on the table. "That idiot Bee! His only job was to watch Uzumaki Naruto!"
The news from the rear had made an already critical situation even worse.
"To be honest," Tsunade said calmly, "I never expected anyone to successfully stop him."
She knew that the moment Naruto learned the truth, no one would be able to hold him back.
"In that case, we'll go ourselves and forcibly stop them!" The Raikage stood, exuding a chilling aura.
Tsunade shook her head, then also stood. "Alright. As you say."
She felt the trip would be in vain, but she knew the Raikage wouldn't give up unless he tried.
They walked side by side, their steps swift, heading toward Turtle Island. They would likely intercept Naruto and Bee midway.
The Raikage broke the silence. "Lady Hokage, don't you want to stop Uzumaki Naruto?" He had been puzzled by her calm demeanor ever since the report came in.
"No," Tsunade answered without hesitation.
She slowed her pace slightly. "From the beginning, my idea was to let Naruto participate in the war. I'm not panicking now because I understand Naruto. I know his personality, his abilities, and his belief. I know he is very likely to become the key figure in turning the tide of this war."
She smiled faintly. "As the Hokage, shouldn't I fully trust my ninjas? Especially one like Naruto."
The Raikage frowned. "But they are Jinchuriki, Lady Hokage. How can you be so careless?"
"Precisely because they are Jinchuriki," Tsunade said, "we should not underestimate their potential. Trust me, Raikage, they will not disappoint us."
She leveled her gaze at him. "Moreover, Raikage, have you still not been able to clearly see the current situation?"
Her bluntness made him furrow his brow. "What?"
"The nature of this war has long since changed," Tsunade sighed, looking up at the moon. "It is no longer just a simple battle to protect the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails, but a life-and-death struggle for the survival of the entire world."
She paused, her tone emphasizing the next words. "Therefore, both Naruto and Killer Bee will ultimately have to step onto the battlefield. Because at this moment, we urgently need every bit of strength we can rely on."
After she finished, she watched the Raikage quietly.
He was silent for a long time. Finally, he broke the silence. "I trust your judgment, Lady Hokage."
Tsunade's steps halted. An ominous premonition rose in her, and the corner of her mouth twitched.
Sure enough, the Raikage began to reminisce. "Back then, Lady Hokage, you were willing to cast aside the old grudges between our villages and extend a helping hand to my subordinates... From that moment on, I knew you were a truly admirable ninja!"
Tsunade: "..."
The memory surfaced easily. Of course, 'Tsunade' knew this story.
She looked ahead, her tone matching the Raikage's appreciation. "The Raikage was able to put aside his pride and stand in the rain for a day and a night. I had no reason to refuse a ninja who would humble himself for his subordinates."
She didn't mind letting the Raikage trust her more. It would make the eventual reveal all the more shocking.
When she finally tore off this skin, the look on his face would be priceless.
With his fiery temper, the Raikage was sure to contribute a massive amount of malice points.
-----
HAND OVER YOUR GODDAMN INFINITY STONES!!
Every 100 stones = +1 extra chapter!
If you want to read chapters early and show some support, check out my P4trƐon!
Just search "Demonic_Fiction" on "P4trƐon" (link in the synopsis)