Chapter 70 – Sunagakure's Ambush
After the Third Hokage issued the order to pursue Sunagakure, Konoha forces had been closely monitoring the enemy's movements.
For some time, Sunagakure's attacks remained the same—little more than harmless feints, giving the impression that they had no intention of continuing the war.
Finally, during one recent feint, Konoha's sensory ninjas detected a significant movement. A Sunagakure unit had deliberately harassed a Konoha camp, creating a huge commotion.
Konoha sent a large number of ninjas to respond, only to discover that this, too, was a ruse. While Konoha's attention was drawn to the decoy, Sunagakure quietly gathered their forces and began withdrawing all their supplies toward the rear.
However, Konoha had anticipated such a tactic. Upon noticing the retreat, the Wind Country battlefield commander, Orochimaru, gave the order, and Konoha forces poured out to pursue the Sunagakure units.
Caught off guard by Konoha's rapid response, Sunagakure had not fully prepared. When the two sides clashed, signs of disarray immediately appeared within their ranks.
Konoha, feeling the momentum of their pursuit, pressed forward with high morale. Conversely, the retreating Sunagakure forces lacked the will to fight. They left behind only elite units to slow Konoha's advance, while the bulk of their troops hastened toward the rear.
Even the units left to resist Konoha made little effort to engage offensively, maintaining a purely defensive stance. Once most of their main forces had retreated, these remaining troops also withdrew, creating some distance between the two armies.
Sunagakure troops still carried heavy supplies, while Konoha's pursuing forces moved lightly and swiftly. The distance between the two sides gradually narrowed.
In panic, the Sunagakure forces abandoned many of their heavier supplies to speed up their retreat. This only bolstered the confidence and momentum of the Konoha pursuers.
Nan was among those pursuing Sunagakure. Though it was wartime, most ninja still operated in small squads. This was his first time charging alongside such a large-scale force, having previously only participated in smaller skirmishes.
As the pursuit continued, Nan sensed something amiss—a faint trace of conspiracy in the air.
It wasn't that he had an extraordinary grasp of warfare. Rather, the advancing route was taking them closer and closer to Kikyo Mountain, the location of the climactic battle in the original history between Konoha and Sunagakure.
Nan knew little of the original battle's details, and events had already been altered significantly by his presence. For example, the previous Sunagakure poison attack against Konoha had failed due to him, preventing the heavy losses described in the original story.
Given this, Sunagakure's current retreat seemed natural, and Nan initially suspected nothing.
Yet, the closer they approached Kikyo Mountain, the stronger his unease grew. Something was being overlooked. Though Sunagakure had suffered heavy losses, most were lower- to mid-rank ninjas. Their elite forces remained largely intact. Could they truly surrender so easily?
Nan knew that he alone could not dictate the course of the war. Before the pursuit, he might have consulted with Orochimaru—but now it was too late. Even if there was a trap ahead, he could only charge forward.
Under Konoha's relentless pursuit, Sunagakure fought while retreating. Soon, both sides arrived at Kikyo Mountain, the same location as the historic climactic battle.
Sunagakure's troops, thoroughly demoralized, scattered like beaten dogs, on the verge of total collapse. Konoha, sensing imminent victory, pressed forward with even greater force to deliver the final blow.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. Konoha ninjas halted, unsure what had caused it, cautiously scanning their surroundings.
A voice rang out:
"Magnet Release: Great Sand Burial!"
As the words fell, the tremors intensified. Massive quantities of sand infused with chakra shot up from the ground, surging toward Konoha's forces like a colossal tidal wave.
Recognizing the technique, a Konoha ninja shouted in terror:
"Retreat! That's the Fourth Kazekage's Magnet Release! Fall back immediately!"
The ninjas attempted to retreat, but even at top speed, they could not outrun the devastating technique. The massive wave of sand threatened to engulf them entirely.
Yet Nan remained calm. Fully aware of the enemy ambush ahead, he had sensed several enormous chakra signatures—clearly not ordinary ninjas—and also detected the Kazekage himself.
Furthermore, within Konoha's ranks, Nan felt powerful chakra presences, indicating it was nearly time for them to act.
"Earth Shield: Multi-Layered Earth Wall!"
A Konoha voice rang out. Gigantic walls of earth erupted, connecting to form an impenetrable barrier that blocked the Fourth Kazekage's Magnet Release.
The sand wave collided with the walls, sending shockwaves and dust into the air. Yet the resilient earth barrier held, repelling wave after wave of attacks. Even after the chakra within the jutsu was exhausted, the walls remained unbroken.
Only someone with profound mastery over all elemental techniques—an expert ninja scholar—could achieve such a feat. It could only be the Third Hokage.
As the dust settled, the figure of the Third Hokage appeared, confirming Nan's suspicions.
He stood atop the earth walls he had summoned, locking eyes with the Fourth Kazekage, who hovered in the distance atop a wave of sand. They exchanged cold, mirthless smirks.
While Konoha forces pursued the retreating Sunagakure troops, the enemy had already prepared a concentrated ambush at Kikyo Mountain, deploying a large number of elite ninjas—and even the Fourth Kazekage himself had joined the fray.
The Sunagakure retreat had been intentional: the plan was to lure Konoha ninjas into this trap, allowing the Kazekage to strike first and eliminate a portion of them. Then, the regrouped Sunagakure forces would finish off the remaining Konoha ninjas, turning the battle in their favor.
What they had not anticipated was the sudden intervention of the Third Hokage, who blocked their attack. Normally, a Hokage-level ninja would remain a strategic deterrent, rarely leaving their village or crossing into another country.
For the Fourth Kazekage to personally enter the battle was already highly unusual. For the Third Hokage to pursue an enemy into foreign territory, however, was entirely unexpected. Rasa—the Kazekage—gritted his teeth in silent frustration. The meticulously planned ambush had failed, and the Third Hokage had proven himself a wily and cunning opponent.
In truth, the Third Hokage quietly breathed a sigh of relief. A cautious man by nature, he had hesitated even after ordering the pursuit of Sunagakure. To prevent potential counterattacks, he had already dispatched elite ninjas from other battlefields to the Wind Country front.
Although the Sunagakure counterattack had been weaker than expected, these reinforcements had not yet returned. Even so, the Third Hokage deemed it insufficient and ultimately decided to act personally. He had been secretly shadowing the Konoha pursuing forces, keeping his identity concealed.
Then, the Fourth Kazekage appeared. Thanks to his quick reflexes, the Third Hokage managed to block the attack—otherwise, the consequences could have been disastrous.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, spoke first:
"I never imagined that the esteemed Hokage himself would come to the Wind Country. It is quite the surprise, though forgive me if our welcome seems inadequate."
His words carried a thinly veiled sarcasm, mocking the Third Hokage for personally intervening.
The Third Hokage caught the insult immediately and responded without restraint:
"I am merely an ordinary ninja from Konoha, hardly worth the Kazekage's personal attention. No offense intended for your welcome."
The two men shared a knowing smile, each recognizing the other's shamelessness—and perhaps, in a strange way, respecting it.