Inside the command house, Mabui stepped forward and said, "Lord Raikage, Lady Hokage, the preparations for the Heavenly Transfer Technique are complete!"
Raikage A looked at Tsunade and asked, "Tsunade, are you really going to use this jutsu? You know I can endure it because of my strong physique. If your body can't withstand the rapid transmission, it could break apart... and—"
Before he could finish, Shikaku, Konoha's top strategist, interjected, "Lady Hokage, perhaps you should reconsider—"
Tsunade scoffed, cutting him off. She pointed at the Strength of a Hundred Seal glowing on her forehead and declared, "As one of the Legendary Sannin, I'm not some fragile kunoichi."
Shikaku sighed. "This really is a gamble..."
Inwardly, he regretted agreeing with Jiraiya's proposal for Naruto. Perhaps it would've been better if Jiraiya stayed with Tsunade, so someone could keep her actions in check.
Tsunade leapt up, standing atop the Heavenly Transfer platform, and shouted, "Mabui, send me now!"
Mabui glanced at Raikage, who nodded in reluctant approval. She had already tried multiple times to dissuade Tsunade but to no avail.
Mabui activated the jutsu: Heavenly Transfer Technique!
At that moment, Tsunade activated her Strength of a Hundred Technique, chakra markings covering her body. The pedestal glowed with intense light as lightning-style chakra crackled around her form.
Tsunade clenched her teeth and with a loud boom—vanished!
Shikaku rushed out and shouted, "Channel all sensing resources to locate Lady Hokage immediately!"
Yamanaka Inoichi responded, "Leave it to me!"
A few seconds later, Inoichi confirmed, "Shikaku, Lady Hokage has successfully arrived at Captain Darui's battlefield. Her chakra is stable. No issues so far!"
Shikaku wiped the sweat from his brow. Tsunade had always had terrible luck with gambling, but for once, things went smoothly.
"Alright, continue as planned. Notify all divisions to begin support for Darui's unit."
"Understood," Inoichi replied.
Inoichi transmitted the updated orders from headquarters to all the sensory and intel ninjas in each division, ensuring their captains received the instructions immediately.
Raikage A returned to the central battlefield map and sat down, his gaze fixed on one zone—Gaara's battlefield. He couldn't take his eyes off it.
Dad... To be honest, I really want to see you one more time, he thought, clenching his fists. But just like Shikaku said, as the Supreme Commander, he couldn't afford to move recklessly.
At Gaara's Front
Shikamaru received the updated command from the intel ninja and frowned. "Understood."
Temari, standing beside him, asked, "Did something change?"
Shikamaru nodded. "Yes, I've been ordered to take half the unit and reinforce the First Division under Captain Darui."
Temari's eyes widened. "You're kidding, right? Half of our forces? What is headquarters thinking? What if we're ambushed here?"
Shikamaru sighed. "That's the plan, and I agree with it. If we follow the strategy, we'll be fine. But there's one big problem."
He turned toward the battlefield and added grimly, "There may be only four enemies, but they're all former Kage. The Second Tsuchikage, the Second Mizukage, the Third Raikage, and..."
He paused and glanced at Temari.
"The Fourth Kazekage."
"What?!" Temari's expression froze. She looked toward Gaara, standing solemnly on a sand dune. "So that's why Gaara has looked so off!"
Chōjōji nervously wiped his brow. "Th-this is bad... they're all Kage!"
Shikamaru nodded. "The most dangerous is the Second Tsuchikage. He possesses the Kekkei Tōtō—Dust Release."
"What?!" Temari hadn't even recovered from learning her father was revived, now another bombshell dropped.
"Isn't Lord Ōnoki the only Dust Release user alive?"
"Yes," Shikamaru replied. "But the Second Tsuchikage—Mu—was his master. They both wield Dust Release. Only someone like Lord Ōnoki can effectively counter him."
At that moment, they saw someone flying toward them—Ōnoki himself.
He landed beside Gaara.
Without even looking at him, Gaara said, "So you came."
Ōnoki smirked. "Don't underestimate the old man who brought me here."
Gaara gave a rare smile. Ōnoki's face, weathered with age, still bore a warrior's resolve.
"I was young once too," Ōnoki said. "Now, let me prove I still have some fight in me!"
Gaara nodded. "Headquarters has ordered a tactical retreat, but Shikaku wants us to probe first. What do you make of that?"
Ōnoki snorted. "I don't know what he's planning, but I trust there's a deeper strategy behind it."
Back at HQ, Shikaku turned to Inoichi and said, "Issue the order: Gaara's unit will split in half—one group to assist Darui, the other will engage the enemy here. Let's see if Naruto steps in."
Back on the Field
Ōnoki turned to Gaara. "Well?"
Gaara nodded. "Let's move."
Ōnoki grinned. "That's the spirit. Let's start with a long-range barrage."
He flew into the sky.
In the distance, the four reanimated Kage advanced slowly.
Mu, the Second Tsuchikage, said, "Looks like they're preparing for battle."
Third Raikage grunted. "Tch. I don't like fighting youngsters."
The Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki, added sarcastically, "Same here. Especially when it's against our own villages' shinobi."
Mu nodded. "For once, I agree with you."
Suddenly, the Fourth Kazekage—Rasa—came to a halt.
Mu sensed incoming chakra. "We've got two signatures approaching—wait, that's..."
Massive waves of sand surged toward them—Shukaku's sand. Rasa immediately recognized it.
"That's the power of the One-Tail..."
Gengetsu whistled. "That's one hell of a sand tsunami."
Rasa quickly formed a seal and summoned vast quantities of gold dust.
Third Raikage reached out, catching a glimmering flake. "So that's it—you control gold dust using Magnet Release."
Rasa said coldly, "Gold dust is denser than sand. It'll stop it."
The golden sandstorm clashed violently with Gaara's advancing sand, the impact resounding through the battlefield. After a loud roar, the two forces collided and sank under the sheer pressure.
The battle of generations had begun.
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