Chapter 618: The War Begins in Earnest
Darui ordered C to take the wounded, women, and children to Konoha immediately. He and the remaining Kumo shinobi would establish a defensive line right where they stood to hold back the Zetsu army.
Asuma stayed to fight alongside him, instructing his sensory-nin to relay the full report on Kumogakure back to Konoha.
With Ino off fighting the final boss in Kumo, Inoichi, though retired, had come to the Sensory Unit to take command.
Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Kakashi, and Shikaku were all gathered in the Sensory Unit, anxiously processing the reports flooding in from every village.
Inoichi summarized the intelligence as it arrived.
"Iwagakure reports they are under attack by the reanimated Second Tsuchikage and numerous other Edo Tensei shinobi. The Third Tsuchikage is still leading the resistance, but casualties are severe."
"The Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure reports they have abandoned their village. The reanimated Second and Fourth Mizukages, along with several of the Seven Swordsmen, were too strong. Mei Terumi is leading the survivors toward Konoha. During the retreat, Zabuza Momochi stayed behind to cover their escape and was killed in action. Haku risked his life to retrieve the body."
Kakashi's expression darkened at the news. He and Zabuza had shared a mutual respect. The news hit him hard.
"Asuma reports Kumogakure has been completely evacuated. The... the losses are catastrophic. Killer B is among the many shinobi killed in action. The total dead, shinobi and civilians, certainly exceeds ten thousand... The Fourth Raikage has resigned, and Darui has assumed the title of Fifth. Their wounded and children will reach Konoha within half a day. Kumo also warns that the white enemies possess an infiltration ability, which is how they bypassed the village's sensory barrier to launch the surprise attack."
"Sunagakure had only one enemy: the reanimated Nagato. Their losses are also heavy. At the critical moment, Gaara intercepted Nagato. Suna's main forces are now retreating toward Konoha."
"Amegakure is under attack by the reanimated Hanzo of the Salamander."
"Takigakure is facing a large-scale assault from unknown shinobi."
"Lady Tsunade found survivors in Kusagakure and is asking for instructions on how to settle them. Separately, Sasuke has led his team into Hōzuki Castle. Kazuma has transformed into a terrifying monster. Their first assault failed due to interference from the Box of Ultimate Bliss. They are regrouping for a second attempt."
"Ino's situation is also dire. According to her, the Gedo Statue has absorbed the Eight-Tails and the rest of the Two-Tails, becoming immensely powerful. She's calling it the 'Ten-Tails.' She is barely maintaining the stalemate and stresses that we must protect our remaining Jinchūriki at all costs. She can hold it for now, but if the Ten-Tails absorbs one more beast, she won't be able to suppress it."
The Sensory Unit was at maximum capacity. Inoichi lacked Ino's innate gift for sensing targets hundreds of miles away with a thought. He was wearing a sensory-enhancement device, visibly straining as he acted as the central hub for all incoming reports.
Without a doubt, the enemy had launched a full-scale assault, and every major village was in disarray.
It seemed Konoha was the only village left unscathed. But was that really true?
The leaders conferred in low tones.
Should they accept the refugees and wounded? The two Elders were hesitant, but Minato and Jiraiya were insistent, so they did not object.
The White Zetsu problem required Tsunade's expertise back in the village. They decided to send Kakashi to the front lines immediately to take command of the allied forces and to coordinate with Sasuke to resolve the Hōzuki Castle situation.
As for Ino's situation, it was equally troubling. To the Sensory Unit, the battlefield at Kumo looked like several massive, swirling typhoons of chakra colliding. Caught between them was a single, pea-sized chakra signature. That, they presumed, was the poor, weak, and helpless Fourth Raikage.
Measured by chakra levels, it was a battle of gods. The Fourth Raikage's presence was utterly insignificant. This fight was far beyond the comprehension of ordinary shinobi. It was impossible to tell who was winning.
But they couldn't ignore her.
Minato prepared to go reinforce Ino himself, but Jiraiya stopped him. "Minato, you're the better strategist. Stay here and command the village. This old man will go help little Ino."
The two Elders agreed. Minato hesitated; he was a speed-focused, assassin-type shinobi. When it came to a head-on brawl, he truly wasn't as strong as Jiraiya in Sage Mode.
"Sensei, has your Sage Mode improved again?"
"Oh? ...Ah, yes. Yes, it has. Ahem. A little progress."
Kakashi left to relieve Tsunade, and Jiraiya left to reinforce Ino. Both departed immediately.
Koharu and Homura took charge of receiving the refugees. Minato led his personal Anbu guard on patrol, searching for any disguised White Zetsu infiltrators. The Konoha war machine was now fully operational.
In less than an hour, Tsunade, running at full speed, stormed back from Kusagakure. The moment she arrived, she took over from Shizune.
Master and apprentice joined forces, working to unlock the secrets of the White Zetsu.
Less than half a day had passed since Mabui teleported the Zetsu corpse. Shizune had already completed most of the preliminary analysis by the time Tsunade returned.
She reported quickly: "It appears to be a perfect chakra-based disguise, but at its root, the subject isn't viral or bacterial. It's fungal."
Tsunade's expression was grim. "Yes. It's a manifestation of Wood Release."
Shizune continued, "I ran tests against ergot, psilocybin, cordyceps, and aspergillus samples. I found the internal fungi wither under specific environmental conditions. Furthermore, they require a constant, steady intake of nutrients to maintain their disguised form."
Shizune didn't understand Wood Release. Frankly, neither did Hashirama or Ino—they just clapped their hands and it happened. Tsunade had done extensive research on it years ago, but after she mastered the Kekkei Genkai herself, she'd stopped analyzing and returned to drinking and gambling. Shizune, on the other hand, had never stopped trying to scientifically deconstruct it.
Tsunade reviewed the data. "The nutrient intake is hard to weaponize. But the fungal properties... they absolutely cannot tolerate high heat."
Having reached a conclusion, Tsunade immediately used her authority to issue a village-wide order.
"Start cutting trees. I want the Forest of Death cleared. The Akimichi clan is on firewood duty. Light bonfires throughout the village. Burn them! Raise the ambient temperature of the entire village!"
"Natural fire isn't ninjutsu; even Wood Release can't absorb it. If we raise the village's ambient temperature by just ten degrees, it might not kill the disguised Zetsu, but it will absolutely force them to reveal themselves."
"Where the leaves dance, fire burns. The time has come for the Will of Fire to truly illuminate this village!"
"We don't need the enemy to destroy Konoha. This time, we'll burn it ourselves!"
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