At the gates of Konoha, Hoshiyomi was bidding farewell to Tsunade for the last time. Though she knew deep down that Hoshiyomi's strength was unfathomably great, as his wife Tsunade couldn't help but feel worried.
Hoshiyomi held Tsunade close, comforting her again and again with a helpless smile:
"Don't worry. It's only the Third Raikage. Besides, Rasa and Bunpuku will be there to help—I won't get into trouble.
I know, of course I'll put my own safety first. I'm not foolish enough to throw my life away for Sunagakure… Ah, look, even the two guards at the gate are laughing at us.
Alright, don't worry anymore. Just wait for me to come back."
After giving a quick kiss on Tsunade's soft lips, Hoshiyomi didn't linger any longer. He raised his left hand, forming a sword seal with two fingers and swinging it towards the sky. Behind him, the Grass Long Sword, Kusanagi Blade unsheathed itself.
The Grass Long Sword, Kusanagi Blade grew in size against the wind until it was large enough to support Hoshiyomi's weight. After giving Tsunade one last wave, Hoshiyomi stepped onto the Grass Long Sword, Kusanagi Blade and flew off in the direction of Kikyō Pass, under the astonished and envious gazes of the two gate guards.
Tsunade watched his figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance. Taking a deep breath to calm her emotions, she turned back, once again exuding the presence of the Fourth Hokage. She commanded the Anbu by her side:
"Add two more reconnaissance squads around Kikyo Pass. I must receive word about Hoshiyomi at the very first moment."
———
Kikyo Pass lay on the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. Though some distance from Konoha, it was still within Fire Country's territory. And since Hoshiyomi was flying, his speed was much faster than traveling on foot.
In just half a day, Hoshiyomi had arrived at Kikyo Pass.
His flight had clearly drawn attention. Many of Konoha's stationed troops noticed his presence, and as he descended slowly, they broke out into loud cheers.
The current commanders stationed at Kikyo Pass were familiar faces—Akimichi Chōza and Yamanaka Inoichi. With Shikaku having been promoted to the Hokage's advisory council, the political status of the two clans had risen as well. They had become the backbone of the village.
Upon hearing that Hoshiyomi had arrived, they hurried out to greet him. Their expressions had been filled with anxiety, but the moment they saw Hoshiyomi, their faces relaxed with relief:
"Lord Hoshiyomi, it's truly a blessing that you arrived at this time. We were just worrying about how to get word back to the village."
From their tone, Hoshiyomi immediately guessed that the Third Raikage had made his move. Without wasting time on pleasantries, he asked directly:
"Is there movement from Kumogakure?"
Yamanaka Inoichi nodded quickly:
"Exactly. We just received an urgent plea for help from Sunagakure. They say the Third Raikage suddenly launched an assault and is advancing at an alarming speed. At this rate, he'll break into the village soon.
The Sunagakure shinobi also warned that if we can't muster an effective support force immediately, they'll have no choice but to surrender by tomorrow."
Akimichi Chōza added:
"If Sunagakure surrenders, that will be a huge problem. Without them holding back Kumogakure, the Kumo and Iwa could quickly merge their forces. Once they unite, resisting them will be far more difficult."
Though annoyed by Sunagakure's cowardly stance, Hoshiyomi had no time to dwell on it. He spoke firmly:
"If that's the case, then I'll go ahead to provide support. I'll stall the Third Raikage first. You begin mobilizing troops immediately and take the longer route through the Land of Rain."
"When the fighting reaches its peak, you'll come from behind to flank them. This time, we'll show the shinobi of Kumogakure just how strong we are."
After arranging the battle plan, Hoshiyomi once again mounted the Grass Long Sword, Kusanagi Blade. It wasn't that he particularly cared about saving Sunagakure—he simply couldn't wait any longer to cross blades with the Third Raikage.
Grandmaster -level swordsmanship… was already beckoning him.
———
"Hold the line! Konoha's reinforcements will arrive any moment now!"
The explosions of exploding tags and the screams of the wounded mixed with the half-hearted shouts of encouragement from Sunagakure's overseer squads. To be honest, even they didn't believe their own words.
It wasn't that the Sunagakure shinobi didn't know the Third Raikage would lead an invasion. But none of them had expected him to be this terrifying!
After wave upon wave of assaults, the morale of Sunagakure was in shambles. Facing the ferocity of the Kumogakure shinobi, the crushing sense of helplessness weighed heavily on their hearts.
The enemy was simply too strong—especially that figure flashing with lightning in their ranks. Known as the strongest Raikage, he was nothing less than a human beast!
Wherever the Third Raikage passed, nothing survived. Even Sunagakure's elite forces couldn't withstand a single clash; in moments, their formations were torn to pieces.
Only Lord Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, was currently able to contend with him by utilizing the Great Gold Dust Formation he had set up in advance.
But it was only a stalemate. Against the Third Raikage's steel-like body, no amount of compressed gold dust could crush him.
And with the Raikage's body cloaked in the flashing lightning of the Lightning Release Armor, even the Kazekage's Magnet Release was greatly weakened. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before even Rasa himself fell.
Just as the overseers despaired, a sharp, clear voice rang out beside them:
"Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!"
The sound of blazing orbs rushing through the air was followed by the screams of Kumogakure shinobi as they burned.
Hearing the voice, the surrounding Sunagakure shinobi turned their heads. They saw a slim, beautiful kunoichi glance back at them and shout:
"Everyone, keep your spirits up! This war isn't over yet! Don't pin your hopes on Konoha's silent reinforcements—our home must be protected by our own hands!"
This kunoichi was unmistakable. Though her hair was a deep green, the tips of her two front bangs were a vivid orange-yellow. This distinctive hair made it easy for the Sunagakure shinobi to recognize her.
She was none other than their village's rising star in recent years—the genius kunoichi Pakura, who had singlehandedly created the terrifying kekkei genkai known as Scorch Release!
Even as she spoke, Pakura controlled three blazing orange-red spheres, which engulfed nearby Kumogakure shinobi and left only withered husks behind.
Forcing back her attackers, she turned once more to the others and shouted:
"What are you standing there for? Do you really need to wait until the enemy raises their blades against your families before you fight back?"
Her words jolted the Sunagakure shinobi awake, igniting a spark of fighting spirit in their hearts. Suddenly, the terrifying Kumogakure shinobi didn't seem so invincible after all.
Seeing her comrades finally awaken, Pakura smiled:
"Since you're ready to fight—then charge with me!"