At the Western battlefront, After Suna announced its surrender, Konoha, feeling tremendous pressure, began to switch from defense to offense. Especially after Namikaze Minato took over as the new chief commander, the Stone ninjas were driven out of the Land of Rain in a short period of just a few months.
Moreover, the Stone ninja army was completely suppressed outside the border of the Land of Rain. Just like this, the armies of both sides built a new base camp across the borderline.
At this time, Kikyo Mountain, the Land of Fire’s last line of defense, wasn’t of much use. It had completely turned into a large transfer point for war supplies and a station for logistical and medicinal personnel. The ninjas who were injured in the front line were also transported to Kikyo Mountain for treatment.
In addition, the captives were also imprisoned here. But just last night, Iwa’s ninja troops crossed the Kannabi Bridge on the border of the Land of Grass and carried out a sneak attack on Kikyo Mountain from behind.
There were no traps and adequate combat personnel in Kikyo Mountain. As a result, the Leaf ninjas on the Mountain had little to no ability to resist Iwa’s attack. A large number of Leaf ninjas died in this battle. Only a small number of them chose to surrender and most fought to their death.
Moreover, the Iwa captives who were imprisoned in Kikyo Mountain were also released and became an additional fighting force for the village. When the news that Iwa captured Kikyo Mountain spread to the border of the Land of Rain, Minato immediately led a large number of ninjas to attack the mountain, leaving behind Hyuga Hizhasi and Nara Shikaku in charge to defend the border.
Late at night, in front of Kikyo Mountain, the ninjas of both sides fought fiercely. But the terrain of Kikyo Mountain was favorable for the defenders, and the ninja troops led back by Minato slowly fell into a disadvantageous position.
“Fire Style – Grand Fireball Technique.”
Uchiha Obito, who had awakened the two tomoe Sharingan, was no longer the bottom-ranked ninja that he was before. It could be said that his fire-style jutsu originally was hard to release but was at his fingertips now, and he made a Stone chunin flee like a rat.
At this moment, a Stone jonin took advantage of the interval when Obito had released his ninjutsu and quietly rushed over from the forest on his side. He then raised his taichi high and slashed it down toward Obito.
Crackle, crackle, crackle… “Raikiri!”
Obito hadn’t even realized what was going on before he saw a flash of lightning, which instantly pierced through the Stone jonin’s abdomen. Then the lightning light disappeared suddenly and Hatake Kakashi appeared in front of him.
Bang! The Stone jonin’s corpse fell heavily to the ground. Obito was so frightened that he subconsciously took a few steps back, and while protecting Nohara Rin behind him, he said, “Rin, be a bit more careful, and stay behind me.”
Rin knew that she was weak, so she hastily nodded her head. Kakashi just glanced sideways at the two and then reached out his hand to pull out White Fang from his back, and charged towards the crowd to kill.
Far away, deep within the dark forest, a pitcher plant slowly emerged from the ground, revealing a half-black, half-white face. This was none other than Zetsu. Zetsu watched Obito on the edge of the battlefield and grinned.
“Ah… the growth of this little fellow’s strength is pretty good. He has already awakened two tomoe.”
“This kid’s nature is indeed suitable for the plan. Let’s look for a chance to bring him in front of Madara-sama.”
“Wow, his grand fireball is so big.”
……
Whoosh… It was unknown if a natural wind had blown or if a ninja on the battlefield had used a wind-style jutsu. The branches and leaves of the trees in the forest swayed a little. Dozens of meters behind Zetsu, a leaf was bent deeply by the blowing wind, letting in the moonlight it was blocking.
A beam of light shone into the forest through the thick leaves. And a human silhouette appeared. The silhouette remained motionless and was pitch black as if it had merged with the surrounding darkness. It was quite like this…
Looking at the battlefield not far away, Zetsu was still commenting about Obito.
“I hope he didn’t die in this war. Speaking of war, I can’t help thinking about that fellow. When can we go to see how he is doing? Can you stop blocking me and let me satisfy my curiosity?”
“That kind of person is cruel and selfish. He can’t be obedient. Besides, he is too strong. Once we get close to him, there is a danger of being exposed.”
“Yes… Now that I think about him, I feel like he is standing behind me, staring at me like I was prey. Eh… I’m so scared…”
After Zetsu finished speaking, his body shivered on its own. Then slowly, slowly, he turned his head. His target was deep in the quiet and dark forest. A pale and dim moonlight flickered along with the rhythm of the wind. There, however, was nothing behind him.
Suddenly, the wind stopped. The leaf returned to its original position, blocking the only ray of moonlight again. Then, the entire forest was plunged into darkness again, and the silence was terrifying. After a long time, Zetsu turned his head back and continued to observe Obito on the battlefield with no change in his expression.
“Are you afraid of me?”
“No.”
“I think you are making excuses, otherwise, why would you look back?”
“I’m just being a bit vigilant.”
“Then, why did you look for such a long time?”
“I don’t have any reasons like that.”
……
On the bloody battlefield, the Leaf ninjas and Stone ninjas continuously fell one after another in battle. Hyuga Yuta was a Hyuga clan jonin. He just killed a Stone jonin using his gentle fist alone. But more than half of his physical strength was consumed in that battle.
He kept scanning the surrounding situation with his Byakugan to avoid any sneak attack while panting heavily with his hands on his knees, and roared angrily, “Damn Stone ninjas, if only Tonan-sama was still here…”
While speaking, Yuta’s eyes quickly scanned the entire battlefield. Suddenly, he was greatly surprised, and then looked up into the distance. In his Byakugan’s field of vision, he saw a figure standing above the forest in the distance.
What’s that? His eyes just locked onto that figure and he had no time to see his face clearly but in his eyes, the moon behind that figure instantly turned blood red. And strange lines began to appear on its surface.
In an instant, Yuta felt an explosion in his head. He immediately lost consciousness and fell to the ground.
Swish… A white light flashed and Yuta’s head was cut off by a Stone chunin using a kunai. The wind blew again, triggering a wave above the forest sea. Under the illumination of the bleak moonlight, it seemed to stir up pale waves.
Uchiha Tonan, who was wearing a black windbreaker, was standing stably on the tip of a branch, and his figure was rising up and down along with the waves. Several white pigeons had landed on his head and shoulders. And the other white pigeons were circling him while happily flying up and down.
“The joy of farming comes from the expectation of the harvest. Whenever this kind of critical moment comes, my mood can’t help but get excited.”
Tonan watched the ongoing fierce battle in the distance with indifferent eyes, and slowly raised his arm as if he wanted to grab something. A white pigeon flying around him noticed this, and it took the lead to land on the back of Tonan’s hand.
Tonan brought his arm in front of him, used the other hand to stroke this white pigeon’s feather, and leisurely said, “A creature like this who wallows in emotion and lacks reason doesn’t deserve to have such a powerful strength. Don’t you think so…”
The white pigeon humanely nodded its head. It then squinted its eyes, enjoying Tonan’s gentle caresses. After a long time, Tonan narrowed his eyes slightly. He saw Minato gathering Kakashi, Obito, and others around him.
Seeing this, a sinister smile appeared on his indifferent face, and he muttered, “Is it finally going to start… I already… cannot wait any longer…”
After speaking, he suddenly disappeared from this place. The white pigeons also flew up in all directions filling the place with cooing sounds.
