Land of Fire border, eastern battlefield.
The morning mist had not yet dispersed when Hyūga Sakusei's Byakugan already captured movement on the horizon.
"Clan Head! Kumogakure's Lightning Style units are assembling! It seems they're about to launch another attack!"
A Hyūga branch family ninja also quickly arrived before him.
Kneeling on one knee, his voice tense.
"Kumogakure's ninja... They've joined forces with the elite led by Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"
Hyūga Sakusei's fingers tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.
"Pass the order, entire army on alert!"
Before any action could be taken.
"Boom!!!"
Massive explosion sounds rang out in succession.
Lightning Style jutsu tore through Konoha's defense line.
Violent electric currents exploded on the ground, ninja dogs from the Inuzuka Clan howled as they charged out.
The Shimura Clan's ninja also charged forward bravely.
"Rotation!"
Hyūga Sakusei appeared in a body flicker.
A chakra whirlwind shredded three ambushing Kumo-nin, but more enemies surged forward like a tide.
"Clan Head! Third squad completely wiped out!"
"Fifth defense line collapsed!"
"The Medical Corps... The Medical Corps has been cut off by Kirigakure's assassination unit!"
In Hyūga Sakusei's Byakugan vision, his clansmen's chakra extinguished one by one, like candle flames blown out by the wind.
"Gentle Fist, Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Hyūga Sakusei's palm strikes poured down like a rainstorm, consecutively killing over ten ninja.
The heavy consumption caused Hyūga Sakusei's movements to slow down.
The chakra-infused Gentle Fist struck a Kumo-nin jonin again.
But the opponent grinned savagely.
He actually used his body strength to forcibly grab Hyūga Sakusei's palm.
A ninja appeared from behind, slashing a blade toward Hyūga Sakusei's throat.
"Clan Head, watch out!"
Hyūga Tokuma suddenly pushed him away, but was himself pierced through the chest by a lightning blade.
"Tokuma!!!"
Fresh blood splattered on Hyūga Sakusei's face, warm and sweet with the scent of blood.
Tokuma's Byakugan gradually lost focus, but the corner of his mouth pulled into a miserable smile.
"Clan Head... Did I... not bring shame to the Hyūga..."
Hyūga Sakusei's whole body trembled, a beast-like growl squeezing from his throat.
"Kumogakure scum... I'll make you pay with your lives!"
Hyūga Sakusei charged out like a madman.
His Gentle Fist became increasingly vicious.
And in the distance, several oddly dressed swordsmen appeared.
Looking this way, mockery on their faces.
"Tsk tsk, this is Konoha's Hyūga Clan? Nothing special!"
Biwa Jūzō shouldered the Executioner's Blade, blood from a Shimura Clan ninja still dripping from its edge.
Suikazan Fuguki licked the bits of flesh on Samehada, laughing sinisterly.
"Who knows what Konoha did to offend Kumogakure, for them to suddenly send over so many elite reinforcements, truly rare!"
"Why care about that, as long as the killing is satisfying!"
Munashi Jinpachi shouldered the Blast Sword, rushing toward the battlefield at high speed.
Biwa Jūzō's face showed a savage grin, completely unconcerned with Munashi Jinpachi's behavior.
"Don't rush, take it slow, their Byakugan... are quite valuable."
"Water Style, Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Lightning Style, Ground Walk!"
The coordination between Kirigakure and Kumogakure was seamless, the water-conducting electricity property left Konoha ninja without even a chance to defend, instantly turned into charcoal.
"Bastards!"
Inuzuka Tsume's Kuromaru three-headed wolf was hit by Lightning Style, collapsing with a wail.
Her eyes were splitting with rage.
"Those from the Shimura Clan! Anyone who can still move, follow me!"
But what responded to her was a short blade radiating Lightning Style chakra.
Blood flashed, she fell.
Left behind were only scattered limbs and blood everywhere.
Hyūga Sakusei half-knelt on the ground, his main family robes long soaked with blood.
In his Byakugan vision, Konoha's defense line was already torn to pieces.
"Clan Head... We... can't hold it anymore..."
A Hyūga branch family ninja guarded in front of Hyūga Sakusei.
Breathing heavily, his right arm burned black by Lightning Style.
Hyūga Sakusei clenched his fists tightly, his nails piercing into his palms.
"Request reinforcements from the village..."
His voice was hoarse, unlike himself.
"Request reinforcements... from all battlefields..."
Just as the request for aid was sent out, seven figures appeared before him.
"We should properly experience the abilities of Konoha's Hyūga Clan!"
Biwa Jūzō swung the Executioner's Blade down from his shoulder.
Pointing directly at him.
"Konoha is nothing special."
A mocking voice rang out.
Hyūga Sakusei looked at the seven people before him.
He immediately recognized their identities.
"Kirigakure's ace, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"
Hearing his low murmur.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist (First Generation).
Suikazan Fuguki actually laughed mockingly twice.
"Never thought that as part of Konoha's Hyūga Clan, you'd actually have heard of our reputation."
"Hahaha!"
"..."
The rest laughed loudly.
Looking at Hyūga Sakusei and the other Hyūga Clan ninja.
Their eyes full of pride and mockery.
Before them, they seemed like lambs awaiting slaughter.
"Stop wasting words, just kill them."
Munashi Jinpachi was getting impatient.
He raised the Blast Sword in his hand and slashed toward Hyūga Sakusei.
...
Namikaze Minato, escorting supplies from the village, was on his way to the eastern battlefield.
An ANBU ninja holding intelligence and a ninja hawk rushed quickly before the squad leader, Namikaze Minato.
"Minato-sama! The eastern battlefield requests reinforcements!"
Namikaze Minato's gaze sharpened.
The eastern battlefield was where many elite including the Hyūga Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Shimura Clan and others were stationed.
Hadn't they been showing overwhelming advantage before?
How did they suddenly send a request for reinforcements?!
"...They actually can't hold it anymore?"
He unrolled the scroll, his pupils contracting sharply.
Kumogakure's elite joined in.
Kirigakure's high-end force, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, all deployed.
The Hyūga Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Shimura Clan and others suffered over half casualties, defense line collapsed!
"Immediately assemble troops, support the east!"
Minato said seriously.
But the next second.
"Northwestern battlefield in crisis! Iwagakure's demolition unit broke through!"
"Southwestern battlefield requests aid! Sunagakure's puppet unit coordinating with Iwagakure for a surprise attack!"
Two ANBU ninja in succession reported the intelligence they received to Namikaze Minato.
Minato's azure eyes were filled with gravity.
"Three fronts collapsing simultaneously... How could..."
Uzumaki Sango beside him, a flash of shock in her eyes.
They launched attacks at almost the same time.
Isn't this timing a bit too coincidental?
Could it be they reached some kind of cooperation?
If that's the case, Konoha Village would face a joint attack from four countries!
Does Konoha Village really have hope of winning a war of this scale?
He closed his eyes, Chiya's voice flashing through his mind.
"War has never been won through defense."
When he opened his eyes again, he suddenly drew out his Flying Thunder God kunai.
And the summoning scroll that Chiya left for him.
"Combat units support the eastern battlefield, supplies support the southwestern and northwestern battlefields!"
As his words fell, Namikaze Minato turned to leave.
"Minato-sama, where are you going?!"
"To find... the one who can end this war."
Hearing this, everyone showed shocked and puzzled expressions.
But standing in place, Uzumaki Sango's eyes flashed with a knowing look.
"Alright, everyone move out!"
Uzumaki Sango's gaze swept over everyone, taking the lead in escorting supplies toward the southwestern battlefield.
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