Inside the command post of the Shakuka Town stronghold,
Yuu spread a map across the long table.
Kakashi and the others gathered around as they unfolded seven or eight intelligence slips brought back by the ninja crows. Each slip marked the movements of Kirigakure's forces.
"Looks like Kirigakure really intends to throw everything they have into this battle."
"So far, we've discovered four separate Kiri forces, totaling more than seven hundred ninja. The largest concentration is around the miasma valley. Three members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen have appeared, along with Yagura Karatachi.
"Their target probably isn't just Shakuka Town…"
Yuu used a charcoal pencil to draw several arrows across the map as he made his judgment.
"Seven hundred…"
Kakashi and the others looked solemn.
"That's almost three times our numbers."
Yuu pondered briefly.
"Alright. Shisui, write this down. I'm making the following deployment:
"Notify every Konoha unit along the southeastern front. Abandon the strongholds located on flat terrain and concentrate all available forces at Shakuka, Aoki, and Akaiwa.
"They must hold those three positions against Kirigakure for one full day and night.
"After that period, they may withdraw when an opportunity presents itself."
"Huh? Abandon them?"
"But… Konoha has spent years operating those strongholds. Are we really just giving them up?"
"If we preserve the land but lose the people, both will eventually be lost.
"If we preserve the people while temporarily losing the land, both can eventually be recovered."
Yuu spoke calmly.
"As long as we destroy Kirigakure's main force here, we can simply reclaim those positions afterward.
"Besides, the village reinforcements will arrive soon. Once they do, we'll be the side with the numerical advantage."
After a pause, he added,
"If the village objects to this decision, I'll take full responsibility for the consequences."
Hearing that,
no one had anything more to say.
Shisui stood nearby, deep in thought.
Uchiha Inabi, meanwhile, immediately pulled out his little notebook and excitedly began writing.
"'Preserve the people while losing the land, and both can eventually be recovered'…
"As expected of Captain Yuu! Every word is a pearl of wisdom!
"When the Clan Head—no, Deputy Commander Fugaku—wakes up, I'll definitely pass on your teachings to him!"
"…"
Yuu opened his mouth, then thought better of it.
Recently, Uchiha Inabi was practically becoming his personal secretary.
The guy carried paper and a pen inside his clothes every day and would pull them out whenever Yuu said anything remotely memorable.
His notebook was already packed with dense writing.
It made Yuu want to deliberately say some useless nonsense like—
A ninja must know ninjutsu.
If you throw a shuriken, you have to make sure it can actually fly.
Just to see whether Inabi would write those down too.
Next,
Shisui recalled several ninja crows and sent the order to contract the defensive line toward the other strongholds.
Yuu, meanwhile, began reorganizing Shakuka Town's defenses.
He was already fairly experienced in this area.
From the Sunagakure front until now, Yuu had gone through quite a few defensive battles. He had also learned many of the ninja world's standard military tactics from people such as Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
At this point, he only needed to follow established patterns.
However…
"Yuu."
Kakashi caught a detail.
"You mean the defense of the stronghold will primarily be handled by me and Shisui?"
"What about you?"
"I'm going to take an elite squad outside."
Yuu drew another line on the map.
"We'll intercept this smaller force led by the Ninja Swordsmen, break them apart, then circle around and raid Yagura Karatachi's main force from behind."
As a ninja similar in combat style to Namikaze Minato, the battlefield where Yuu could best display his strength wasn't a frontal clash between armies.
It was mobile warfare and surprise attacks.
Once he activated the Instant Prison Shadow Killing Formation and combined it with wide-range Fire Release, he could wipe out dozens of Kiri ninja in minutes and rapidly reduce Kirigakure's effective fighting strength.
However…
the primary reason Yuu had chosen this approach was because he had his eyes on those remaining Ninja Swordsmen.
Especially Kushimaru Kuriarare and Jinin Akebino.
He intended to use them to push the final few affection points of Hatake Swordsmanship to the maximum and unlock its final trait.
Second…
there was also a bit of personal selfishness involved.
Yuu intended to bring Rin along with this squad.
That way, if someone targeted her, Yuu would be right beside her and could intervene immediately, preventing her from being captured and used to advance the Three-Tails Plan.
Of course, deliberately playing along with the enemy's scheme was also an option.
After all, getting a tailed beast for free sounded pretty appealing.
Konoha currently had Uzumaki Kushina, a master of sealing techniques, along with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Surely between them, they could bring the Three-Tails under control.
As for which of those two options Yuu would ultimately choose…
that would depend on the situation.
He would adapt when the time came.
…
"…A surprise attack on Kirigakure's main force? Me?"
Rin pointed at herself in confusion, then glanced toward the medical tents behind her.
"But what about the medical unit…"
"It's fine. There are other medical ninja here."
Yuu smiled.
"Besides, haven't you been secretly practicing Super Strength all this time?
"You didn't have many chances to show it during the last few battles.
"This is a good opportunity to demonstrate the results of your training."
"Then… alright."
Rin nodded.
For her, whether she could fight Kiri ninja head-on wasn't particularly important.
Compared with medicine, she had never been especially fond of fighting.
But if she was going together with Yuu…
that was different.
For the remaining two members of the squad, Yuu chose Uchiha Inabi and Tekka.
As members of the Uchiha clan's younger generation, they weren't as strong as Shisui or Kakashi, but they were still quite capable.
Yuu wouldn't need to worry too much about their ability to protect themselves.
"Hey, Yuu!"
Obito immediately jumped out again.
"Aren't we supposed to be on the same team? Why are you taking these two instead?!"
Yuu simply patted Obito on the shoulder.
"With great power comes great responsibility.
"Compared with going outside on a surprise attack, protecting this stronghold is much more important.
"I trust you and Kakashi. That's why I'm giving you the more important mission.
"You wouldn't disappoint me and Rin, would you?"
"Huh?"
Obito froze.
Then he scratched his head, realization appearing on his face.
"So that's how it is…
"I didn't know you thought so highly of me, Yuu."
He puffed up slightly.
"Well, fine! Since you're putting it that way, I'll reluctantly stay behind with that smug bastard and defend this stronghold properly.
"You and Rin better come back safely too!"
"Don't worry."
Yuu smiled.
He walked to the open area in the center of camp, bit his index finger, and performed the Summoning Technique.
Bang!
White smoke exploded outward.
Black Wing's enormous figure appeared.
Yuu patted the giant eagle's neck, jumped onto its back first, then waved toward Rin and the others.
"Come on.
"It's time to go."
"Alright!"
A few minutes later,
Black Wing beat its wings and slowly rose above the stronghold.
Then it turned toward the target Yuu had chosen beforehand and soared into the vast darkness.
Kakashi and Shisui stood atop the watchtower and watched them disappear into the distance.
Only then did they turn toward the Konoha ninja below.
"All personnel!"
Kakashi shouted.
"Level-One Battle Readiness!"
"One final inspection of the explosive-tag traps! Count your ninja tools! Barrier squad, take your positions!"
"Prepare for battle!"
Orders echoed throughout the stronghold.
Konoha ninja moved into position one after another.
The scraping of ninja tools mixed with quiet breathing as everyone made their final preparations for the coming battle.
…
The night was deep.
A Kirigakure force was moving through the forest.
At its head was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—
Kushimaru Kuriarare.
His body stood more than two meters tall, and the Longsword: Nuibari in his hands was nearly two meters long as well, making him tower over the surrounding Kiri ninja.
A few steps behind him was the heavily built Jinpachi Munashi, carrying the Explosive Blade: Shibuki on his back.
According to Yagura Karatachi's orders, they were to reach the area near Shakuka Town within half an hour.
Their role was to serve as the first wave of the assault—
tear open a gap in Konoha's defensive line and create an opportunity for the main force to launch its full-scale attack.
Suddenly,
Kushimaru stopped and slightly raised his head.
A bank of dark clouds had just covered the moon, plunging the surroundings into deeper darkness.
Yet at the exact moment the lighting changed, Kushimaru's eyelid twitched.
He caught sight of a vague black silhouette almost completely blended into the night sky—
diving toward them from an altitude of nearly a thousand meters at astonishing speed!
"What is…"
Kushimaru's eyes narrowed.
The next instant,
a striking flash of white appeared within the darkness.
It seemed to be a person.
A figure leapt from the back of an enormous eagle with a terrifying wingspan and swung the short blade in his hand.
Whoosh!
Blazing white flames wrapped around the blade.
The figure was illuminated like a meteor falling from the heavens—
aimed directly at the center of the Kirigakure formation!
"…Not good! Scatter!!!"
Kushimaru roared.
His body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
Together with Jinpachi, who reacted only half a beat slower, he charged toward the place where the "meteor" was about to land.
They intended to strike together with overwhelming force the instant their opponent touched the ground.
But…
before they could get close,
a cold and calm voice had already descended from above.
"Instant Prison Shadow Killing Formation…"
"Activate!!"
In an instant,
the air within a spherical area eighty meters around Yuu rippled like the surface of water.
Then white figures appeared from nowhere like ghosts—
each one materializing directly behind, beside, or inside the visual blind spot of a different Kiri ninja!
More than a dozen Yuus.
Every one held a White Fang short blade.
Brilliant white flames burned along the blades, illuminating the horrified faces of the surrounding Kiri ninja.
"So fast…"
Before the words had even finished—
the killing began.
One middle-aged Kiri ninja suddenly felt a chill across the back of his neck.
Scorching heat and agonizing pain arrived at the same time.
He didn't even have time to turn his head before his vision rapidly blurred and darkened.
Another reacted slightly faster.
The instant he felt a vicious gust of wind approaching, he twisted around and raised his kunai, narrowly blocking the slash coming from his side.
But before he could feel relieved,
his vision flickered.
It was like an image suffering from a bad signal.
Then the white-haired boy before him suddenly split into two.
The first afterimage had not even disappeared when a second figure appeared like a ghost on his other side—
and slit his throat with one slash.
Fast!
Far too fast!
Yuu's neural reaction speed had improved enormously compared with when he had first become a ninja.
He wasn't even using Overload Pulse right now.
Yet to ordinary mid- and high-level Kiri ninja, his speed was already horrifying.
Within the domain of the Instant Prison Shadow Killing Formation,
combined with the nearly maxed-out Hatake Swordsmanship, which theoretically surpassed even the White Fang of Konoha at his peak, along with Yuu's freely controlled flames—
he moved through the Kiri formation as though no one could stop him.
Wherever the white flames passed,
Kiri ninja fell like harvested wheat.
Even the few who managed to block the first slash would be overwhelmed by scorching pain and numbness—
and harvested by the second.
"Screech—!"
Black Wing dove low over the battlefield.
Its hook-like talons shot outward and seized two Kiri ninja, the sound of its claws sinking into their shoulder blades clearly audible.
Rin and the two Uchiha jumped from the eagle's back.
The moment Rin landed, she threw both hands outward.
Dozens of kunai and shuriken attached to nearly invisible steel wires flew into the air.
They collided, spun, and changed directions before shooting toward the wrists and knee joints of the surrounding Kiri ninja.
Uchiha Inabi formed seals and released the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.
Tekka drew his short blade and rushed toward the Kiri ninja ahead, immediately engaging them in close combat.
The sudden chain of attacks completely overwhelmed the Kirigakure force.
In only a few dozen seconds,
another ten or twenty Kiri ninja had fallen amid blood and flames.
The air became filled with the pungent mixture of scorched flesh and blood.
Finally,
a Kirigakure jōnin attempted to stabilize the formation.
"Don't panic! Form up first! Use Water Release against them!"
"Block their vision first!
"Ninja Art: Hiding in Mist Technique!"
These Kiri ninja were, after all, well-trained elites.
After the initial chaos, their survival instincts took over.
They began forming small triangular formations in groups of three, preparing to counterattack the dozen-plus shadow clones and Rin's group.
At the same time,
in the very center of the battle formation,
Kushimaru Kuriarare and Jinpachi Munashi broke through the interference of two shadow clones within only a few exchanges.
They rapidly closed in on Yuu's original body, which was calmly standing in place waiting for them.
"So you're the so-called 'White Reaper'?"
Kushimaru snorted.
"You're nothing but a brat who still smells of milk!"
As he spoke, Kushimaru attacked first.
With a flick of his wrist, the thin blade of Nuibari transformed into a dazzling curtain of silver light.
The extraordinarily resilient steel wire attached to the blade's end began whipping wildly through the air as well, spreading in every direction like a spider spinning its web.
Within only a few breaths,
a dense web of death had formed around them.
Moonlight reflected coldly from the countless strands of steel wire.
"Longsword Ninja Art: Ground Spider Stitching!"
On the other side,
Jinpachi Munashi violently swung the Explosive Blade: Shibuki.
Its thick blade unfurled like an iron scroll, revealing row after row of explosive tags attached across its surface.
"Die!
"Explosive Slash!"
Before his words had even ended,
the explosive tags detonated one after another!
Blinding firelight erupted alongside deafening explosions!
The shock waves surged forward in a fan shape.
Combined with Kushimaru's spiderweb of steel wire, they formed a three-dimensional killing formation that enclosed Yuu from multiple directions.
Yuu did not move.
Without any warning,
a circular wall of water surged from the ground and surrounded him, blocking the incoming explosion, shock wave, and flames.
Water Formation Wall.
And it was a Water Formation Wall that activated entirely on its own—
without Yuu needing to form a single hand seal.
Boom—!!
Flames crashed violently against the wall of water.
The piercing hiss of fire meeting water exploded through the battlefield.
Huge quantities of scorching white steam rose into the air and swallowed the entire area around Yuu.
"Careful!!"
Kushimaru shouted.
The next instant—
several brilliant white blades of sword energy suddenly tore through the dense steam!
They slashed straight ahead.
Like hot knives cutting through butter, they severed nearly half of the steel wires Kushimaru had created!
Immediately afterward,
Yuu's figure flickered into existence directly in front of the two Ninja Swordsmen.
His short blade—
came down!
~~~
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