With the massive invasions by Sunagakure and Iwagakure, the pressure on Konoha intensified, and the atmosphere at the front-line camps grew increasingly tense.
"Perhaps we should send Minato to the battlefield," Tsunade suggested, her brow furrowed with hesitation. "The number of wounded on the front lines is increasing rapidly. With Minato there, he could alleviate a significant portion of the pressure. He inherited my Medical Ninjutsu and possesses the Flying Thunder God Technique, so no one should be able to harm him."
"I agree with Tsunade's proposal," Jiraiya nodded. "If you're concerned about Minato's safety, I can accompany him."
Mitokado Homura ignored them, his gaze fixed on the battle map. Suddenly, he asked, "Minato's clones can also use the Flying Thunder God Technique, right?"
"They can, but clones are slower than the original and have a limited sensory range," Tsunade replied after a moment's thought. "However, for rescue operations, they should be sufficient."
"Lately, Sunagakure and Iwagakure seem to be deliberately using their numerical superiority to ambush our mission teams."
Mitokado Homura tapped his fingertips lightly on the table. "I suspect this is likely targeting Minato."
"Isn't that being a bit paranoid?" Jiraiya countered. "If they've chosen to form an alliance, they'd naturally want to leverage their numerical advantage."
Jiraiya hesitated. "Besides, such a massive investment—throwing lives around like that—it's just too much for Minato. He's still just a kid. Why would they go to such lengths?"
"Why wouldn't they?"
Mitokado Homura shook his head slightly. Even among the younger generation, like Tsunade, the First Hokage's granddaughter, few truly understood the deterrent power of Wood Release.
But their generation knew it all too well!
Did they really think the peace during the First Hokage's era was achieved through mere bowing and scraping?
Imagine hearing that one formidable figure had single-handedly captured nearly all the Tailed Beasts. Anyone would have to seriously weigh whether they wanted peace or annihilation!
After all, Kumogakure had once mobilized its entire village to capture the Nine-Tailed Beast and failed utterly.
Yet the First Hokage had captured Tailed Beasts as easily as catching chicks.
When such a ruthless person sincerely preaches peace and denounces war, it's best to be even more devoted to peace than he is.
If Minato hadn't shown such exceptional talent, it would have been easier to dismiss. After all, everyone knows that the strength of Ninjutsu depends on the user.
But given Minato's current display of talent, it's likely he'll become another Senju Hashirama in the future.
A Senju Hashirama who has mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique!
"Not good!"
As Mitokado Homura pondered, a Yamanaka Clan ninja responsible for sensory tasks suddenly changed expression. "A Sunagakure squad is rapidly transferring to the Northern Battlefield. They're moving fast and appear to be using flying Ninjutsu."
"Their target direction is the retreat route of the Northern forces."
"I'm going!"
Jiraiya stood up without hesitation.
"No, you stay here. Call Minato over."
Mitokado Homura shook his head. Soon, Minato arrived in the tent.
"Minato, immediately send a clone to the Northern Battlefield to support Hatake Sakumo. Your main body should remain hidden for now."
Mitokado Homura said gravely.
"Yes!"
Minato nodded and summoned a Wood Clone.
In the next instant, the Clone vanished.
Using the Flying Thunder God mark it had left behind while searching for Nagato, the Clone quickly materialized on the Northern Battlefield.
The battlefield was thick with smoke, littered with corpses and severed limbs.
The pungent stench of blood and the acrid smell of burnt Exploding Tags hung heavy in the air.
Hatake Sakumo, wielding the short blade of White Fang, moved through the enemy ranks like lightning. With each flash of his blade, a Sunagakure or Iwa ninja fell.
Yet as time wore on, his breathing grew ragged, and sweat dripped from his forehead.
The Third Kazekage stood suspended in the air, his feet resting on a bed of sand iron, with three members of the Shadow Guard behind him.
At the other end of the battlefield, Iwa ninja poured onto the field in an endless tide.
"This is trouble..."
Sakumo's expression turned grim as he saw the Third Kazekage blocking his retreat route.
If there was one opponent on this battlefield he least wanted to face, it was the Third Kazekage.
Sakumo was a master of the blade, while the Third Kazekage wielded Magnet Release!
This rendered his vaunted swordsmanship nearly useless.
"Konoha's White Fang..."
The Third Kazekage crossed his arms, iron sand gathering behind him. "You're partly responsible for the losses in the vanguard."
"I'm only an accomplice!"
Hatake Sakumo's expression turned serious. "If I apologize, will you let us pass?"
"You're quite the comedian," the Third Kazekage sneered. With a wave of his hand, iron sand shot towards the Konoha troops like a torrential downpour.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Several Earth Release ninjas on the Konoha side swiftly formed hand seals, raising a massive wall.
The iron sand struck the Earth Flow Wall like bullets, creating a dense, muffled clatter.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
From the Iwa troops' direction, earth dragons surged toward the Konoha ninjas.
Sakumo drew his short sword, its blade flashing as he decapitated one of the earth dragons in an instant.
He spun around, unleashing a scorching fireball at another.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Boom!
The earth dragon shattered under the impact, its fragments dissolving into dust mid-air.
However, due to the overwhelming numbers of the Iwagakure forces, Konoha's ninjutsu could only be described as a drop in the bucket, completely unable to withstand the onslaught.
Just as a Tsuchiryu was about to crash into the crowd, a three-pronged kunai suddenly shot through the air and embedded itself in the ground.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
The earth trembled violently as a hundred-meter-long Wood Dragon erupted from the ground. It opened its massive jaws, bit through the Tsuchiryu, and continued its momentum, blocking all of Iwa's ninjutsu!
"Wood Release!"
The Konoha ninja's faces lit up with joy as they spotted the small blond figure at the front of the crowd.
"It's Minato!"
News of Minato's complete annihilation of the Sunagakure front lines had already spread throughout the Shinobi World, and the front-line camp's ninja often spoke of it with pride.
Though Minato had come alone, his presence instilled a sense of security in the Konoha forces.
Seeing Minato's figure, Hatake Sakumo felt a slight easing of his tension.
He knew all too well how terrifyingly powerful this seemingly harmless youth truly was.
"Oh? Is that Namikaze Minato?"
On the other side of the battlefield, the Third Kazekage watched Minato's retreating figure with a complex expression. "Such a young genius... what a pity—"
He chuckled inwardly and glanced subtly in a particular direction.
In the next instant, a blinding white light suddenly erupted from the edge of the battlefield!
The light struck with such speed that the smiles of the Konoha ninjas hadn't even faded. As if premeditated, it instantly engulfed Minato!
Sizzle—
When the light vanished, a gaping, sharply defined chasm marked where Minato had stood. His figure was nowhere to be seen.
Seeing this, Hatake Sakumo's pupils constricted sharply.
"This is... Dust Release!"
"Correct. Dust Release: Primal World Stripping Technique—"
From the Iwa direction, a short figure slowly floated into the air.
Ōnoki, hands clasped behind his back, sighed with relief. "That chakra signature... there's no mistake. What a pity... such a genius couldn't escape the fate of an early death."
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