After the battle ended, the battlefield was cleaned up.
Those who were dead had their bodies collected. Those who were not dead—another blade was added. It did not matter whether they were Yu-nin or Kumo-nin.
This was not Konoha being cruel. This was simply how the ninja world worked.
Even corpses could be used to extract intelligence. In post-battle negotiations, the ninja corpses would be handed over to the other side. If you handed over a living prisoner, the other side would not dare accept them.
Ninjas who had once been taken prisoner could not hold their heads up after returning to their village. Not only would they be suspected by the higher-ups, they would also have to face the villagers' criticism. Life would be worse than death.
This was different from the Kannabi Bridge battle. Back then, that group of Iwagakure nin who surrendered had been spared because Ōnoki knelt in time, and Konoha needed them to clash with the Kumo-nin. With the Third Hokage's insistence, they were handed over not long after. They were not subjected to Konoha's interrogation, and there were no issues of loyalty.
Hiashi stood in the center of the battlefield, gripping the victory he had obtained, extremely satisfied. He glanced at the half-destroyed city wall lying across the valley not far away and asked, "Whose ninjutsu is that? Very imaginative."
The Hyūga jōnin who had led the eastern blocking force replied, "Clan Head, it was the ninjutsu of Higashino Makoto, the chūnin from the Kumomi team. Thanks to him coming up with this method and creating favorable terrain, our casualties were greatly reduced, and we managed to hold out until you arrived, Clan Head."
"Oh, is that the hero who defeated the Kiri-nin? As expected of Konoha's number-one genius of the new generation. Such enviable ninjutsu talent. I heard he has a good relationship with Tokuma, is that right?"
"Yes, Clan Head. He and Tokuma were classmates, and after graduating they've continued to interact quite frequently."
"Mm, that's a good thing. Remember to tell Tokuma to maintain this bond well."
At this moment, Hiashi was feeling quite pleased with himself: Hmph. What you, Uchiha Fugaku, can do, I, Hyūga Hiashi, can do as well.
"Let things take their natural course, Clan Head. I believe Tokuma himself will handle it well. The problem now is that the Kumo-nin here are only part of their forces. The main body has broken through toward the northeast. Should we pursue?"
"Of course. Leave the matters here to Yugakure to clean up. Just leave a portion of our people to keep an eye on them. We'll immediately reorganize the troops and give chase."
"Yes!"
...
On the other side, the husky Rocky stood in front of the earth wall, looking at the dog head carved on the wall with great satisfaction. He glanced at his own companion and asked, "Whose ninjutsu is this? Very imaginative."
Tokuma replied without hesitation, "It's definitely his ninjutsu. Only he has the ability to pull off something on this scale."
Inuzuka Meko pressed a hand to her forehead, speechless inside, and silently cursed Higashino Makoto for carving Rocky's head. Now when they went back, it would have yet another excuse to run around flirting with other female dogs.
It was certain that when today's battle made it into its mouth later, it would turn into a completely different story—absolutely because its majestic, imposing image had intimidated the enemy, and that was why Konoha had achieved victory.
Why couldn't her ninken be as steady and reliable as Kuromaru, Inuzuka Tsume's ninken?
Just then, Makoto walked over and said smugly, "Well? Husky, I did right by you, didn't I? Before long, all of Konoha will be singing your name."
"I already told you I'm not called Husky—forget it. Since you're being so considerate, Makoto, call me whatever you want. I'll let it slide."
"Mm, the ninjutsu is good. Use it more in the future. Remember—next time, you have to carve me to look more imposing: my mouth needs to open wider, my upper and lower canine teeth need to be longer, my gaze absolutely has to be sharp! My fur has to be bristling—"
This damn dog really had a lot of demands. Makoto seemed to sense malice coming from the client.
Mm—he had done graphic design in his previous life, and the client's demands had once driven him to the verge of collapse.
Just then, an adult ninja from the Hyūga branch family suddenly used the Body Flicker and appeared. "Chūnin Higashino Makoto, Hiashi-sama requests your presence."
"Oh, okay."
When he followed the man to Hiashi, Makoto saw Hinata's father.
At the same time, the other three members of the Kumomi team were also here.
Sure enough, he was carved from the same mold as Hizashi—no wonder they were twin brothers.
With gentle goodwill, Hiashi asked, "Higashino-kun, I heard your sensory ninjutsu is also outstanding. Then did you also notice the Kumo-nin dividing their forces into two groups?"
"Yes, Hiashi-sama. Before the battle began, a portion of the Kumo-nin broke through toward the northeast. The one leading them should have been the Magnet Release ninja Troy."
"Also, the Kumo-nin commander who attacked our side ran away midway through the battle. From the direction, he was going to rendezvous with Troy."
"Oh? Is he still within your sensory range?"
"He is."
"Very good. Relay my order: form a pursuit force with the Kumomi team as the core. We cannot let that bunch get away."
"Yes!"
In fact, given a ninja's movement speed, Teoshi, who ran off midway with several trusted subordinates, had already long since left Makoto's sensory range.
Then why could he still sense him?
That involved the difference between area sensing and specific-target sensing in sensory ninjutsu.
Area sensing was a precise search within a certain radius—shorter distance but wider coverage, with accurate positioning.
Specific-target sensing had a much longer range, but it came with limits: not only was the sensing vague, you also had to be familiar with the other party's chakra fluctuations. And the sensed person's chakra amount could not be too low.
The second time Senju Tobirama was summoned through Impure World Reincarnation, he was able to sense Uchiha Madara on the battlefield while remaining in Konoha—this was a case of specific-target sensing.
As for Tobirama, that old ghost was far too familiar with Madara's chakra. He had memorized it back in their youth, when he used to follow his own elder brother and thought he was witnessing a date—only to discover that the other party was an evil Uchiha.
Although Makoto was not yet as outrageous as the Second Hokage, Teoshi had not fled very far, and he himself was a jōnin. With that, Makoto was still able to sense him vaguely.
Just as the Hyūga clan only has the main family and a small number of branch family members capable of focusing their vision to see farther, specific-target sensing is not something every sensory ninja can use.
Unfortunately—or rather fortunately—Makoto could use it. One could only say that natural energy was far more useful than ordinary chakra.
With the Kumomi team at the core, a large number of Konoha ninjas moved swiftly through the forests of the Land of Hot Water, pursuing toward the northeast.
The other three members of the Kumomi team and several Hyūga jōnin guarded him closely.
Maintaining specific-target sensing weakened awareness of dangers in the immediate surroundings. To avoid stepping straight into an enemy's explosive-tag array trap midway, the Byakugan had to be deployed.
Hiashi did not dare let Makoto come to harm.
The boy had not only helped Uchiha Fugaku earn merit, but had also emerged lively and intact as a little hero. If something happened to him under Hiashi's command, how would he ever hold his head up when facing Fugaku again?
Partway along the route, Makoto suddenly changed direction, advancing toward the west-northwest instead.
Yūgao asked curiously, "Eh? Shouldn't they be fleeing toward the coast?"
Hayate understood after a brief thought. "The Kumo-nin aren't fools. Seeing us appear from the east, they must have realized their backup plan failed. Their objective now should be to withdraw toward the Kumo's main base in the northwest."
"But wouldn't that mean crashing straight into our main command's defensive line?"
"That's still better than being blocked at sea and fed to the fish."
Kumomi felt greatly reassured. "Hayate's analysis is correct."
A moment later, Makoto suddenly stopped and said to Hiashi, who had just caught up from behind, "Hiashi-sama, the enemy has run into Konoha's defensive line and is forcing a breakthrough at full strength."
"Is that so? Full speed ahead—go provide support!"
But by the time they arrived at the battlefield, it was already too late.
Not because the Konoha ninjas holding the line had been wiped out, but because someone had arrived faster than their reinforcements.
They saw Konoha ninjas who had already reached the scene scatter large numbers of uniquely shaped kunai across the battlefield. The Kumo-nin easily dodged them, yet none of them looked relieved. On the contrary, every face was filled with terror.
That kunai shape…?
Damn it. We're finished.
Sure enough, a yellow flash flared across the battlefield, and a young figure appeared right in the middle of the enemy.
What followed was a blur of dazzling movements that left the Kumo-nin's scalps tingling. Then came a faint chill at their necks—and that was the end.
This is what mowing down enemies single-handedly looks like. This is it, plain and simple.
Space–time ninjutsu paired with reaction speed unrivaled in the ninja world meant that, once he closed the distance, there was no need for flashy techniques. A light slash with a kunai was enough.
How does an ordinary ninja fight Namikaze Minato? You don't. You simply don't have that ability, understand? Just wait for death. There's no saving it.
The Konoha ninjas who arrived afterward were like a crowd of spectators, responsible only for shouting their amazement.
"It's Minato-sama."
"Those damn Kumo-nin are done for."
"As expected of Konoha's Yellow Flash."
The Third Shinobi World War had been unimaginably painful for Konoha, but it also gave birth to a superstar renowned throughout the ninja world.
Almost by his own strength alone, he struck such fear into Iwagakure and Kumogakure that Ōnoki issued an order allowing Iwa ninjas to abandon their missions without punishment if they encountered the Yellow Flash, and even the Fourth Raikage would remain unable to forget him more than a decade later.
He was—the Yellow Flash of Konoha, Namikaze Minato.
But not everyone accepted this defeat.
The Magnet Release ninja Troy raised his uniquely shaped square shuriken in both hands and began his tactical micro-adjustments.
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