The battlefield was a place of death, kill or be killed.
Such was the simplest and most brutal truth of war.
With nothing more than a single trap, over half the invading Sand shinobi force was eliminated the moment they set foot on Konoha territory. It had been a flawless defense.
As for Dōzan's cries of grief and protest, Hizashi paid them no mind.
The moment one sets foot on the battlefield, they must be prepared to die.
"All forces, attack!"
At Hizashi's command, the ambushed Konoha shinobi emerged from hiding, swiftly forming coordinated assault squads. Together, they launched a barrage of ninjutsu toward the remaining Sand shinobi.
Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Jutsu.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
Earth Release: Earth Flow River.
Water Release: Exploding Water Shock Wave.
Multiple Konoha shinobi unleashed a tactical combination of Wind and Fire, Earth and Water. Elemental torrents surged forward in a deadly cascade, hammering into the Sand forces.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the battlefield, reserve units of Konoha shinobi stood ready. Their targets were the fleeing Sand shinobi who had broken formation.
Far off, on a small hill along the Land of Rivers border—
"Captain Masaka, our vanguard has already engaged the Konoha forces."
"Shall we begin our operation?"
A Sand shinobi carrying a puppet strapped to his back asked with fiery determination in his eyes.
Masaka gave a firm nod.
"We move. Flank them and launch a surprise assault on the Konoha ranks."
"Kill them all."
At his command, the Sand shinobi unit under Masaka surged down the hill and entered the Land of Fire.
They needed only five minutes to reach the front lines and complete the pincer maneuver with the main Sand forces, cutting off Konoha's defenses from both sides.
But just two minutes into the advance, they were forced to halt.
"Shikuro-sama, the enemy is headed our way."
Shinji, activating his Byakugan, easily detected the incoming Sand shinobi under Masaka's command.
Shikuro's face hardened.
"Prepare to engage the enemy according to the battle plan."
At Shikuro's order, the Konoha shinobi behind him immediately scattered and formed into organized squads, each three to five strong, preparing to intercept the attackers.
Watching his unit move swiftly and efficiently, Shikuro allowed himself the smallest sigh of relief.
Everything that could be done, had been done. Now, it was a matter of whether they could hold the line.
How many of us will still be standing once this is over…?
Shikuro turned to look at his fellow Konoha shinobi, silently pondering the price of war.
"Shikuro-senpai, allow me to offer our guests from Sunagakure a little welcome gift before we go to blades."
It was then that Veigar stepped forward, a glint of confidence in his eye. With practiced ease, he formed a seal, Shadow Clone Jutsu. Two clones appeared at his side.
"Veigar, what are you…?"
Shikuro watched the small shinobi take the front of the formation, puzzled.
"Don't worry, senpai."
Veigar reassured him calmly as he pulled a scroll from his pouch and broke its seal.
Fūma Shuriken.
From within the scroll, Veigar produced a giant shuriken and raised it high above his head. Only then did the other shinobi understand his intent.
But just as they expected him to throw it, Veigar did something unexpected.
Wind Release: Fūma Shuriken.
A powerful surge of chakra enveloped the shuriken, transforming it into an advanced elemental weapon, its edge glowing with wind-natured energy.
Simultaneously, Veigar's clones began weaving their own hand seals in tandem.
"Shinji, I'll need you to give me a range read on the Sand shinobi. Leave the calculations to you."
For a brief second, Shinji was stunned by the sight of Veigar wielding such a weapon. But upon being called, he snapped back into focus.
"Leave it to me."
He stepped a few paces behind Veigar, activating his Byakugan.
"Three hundred meters… two hundred… one hundred…"
His voice grew more tense with each callout.
"Fifty meters!"
At that precise moment, Veigar launched his enhanced shuriken with all his strength.
The Wind Release: Fūma Shuriken screamed through the air toward Masaka's unit.
His clones released their own jutsu—
Wind Release: Multi-Shadow Clone Fūma Shuriken Technique.
The original split into four colossal spinning blades of wind chakra. Their speed and lethality remained undiminished.
"Danger! Evade, now!"
Masaka, leading the charge, saw the incoming threat just in time. He performed an emergency sidestep and yelled a warning to his comrades.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
But those massive shuriken weren't easily avoided, especially by soldiers moving in tight formation.
"AAAHHH!"
"AHH—!!"
In an instant, the four wind-forged shuriken tore through the advancing Sand shinobi, felling fifty or sixty in a heartbeat.
Masaka turned back, veins bulging on his forehead as he took in the carnage Veigar had just wrought.
"This can't be…"
"What are Konoha shinobi doing here?!"
And then he saw him, just thirty meters away. A small figure at the front of the Konoha unit.
"The Special Jōnin from Konoha… Veigar Koshima?"
In that moment, Masaka recognized him.
Ten days ago, news had spread across the shinobi world, a prodigy had risen in Konoha. At just ten years old, he'd been promoted to Special Jōnin. His name: Veigar Koshima.
Now, standing tall at the frontlines, Veigar made sure he was seen.
"Prepare for combat! Kill them all!"
Masaka's fury boiled over. Because he knew, Veigar had earned his title by climbing over the corpse of his friend, Tanjiro.
"No matter the cost, we kill that Konoha ninja at the front!"
Two back-to-back orders rang out, both aimed squarely at Veigar.
"KILL!"
Over two hundred Sand shinobi roared as they charged toward Veigar's position.
Though the ambush had rattled them briefly, their ranks quickly recovered.
"KILL!"
"Kill them all!"
Seeing the incoming tide, Shikuro raised his hand and shouted:
"Prepare to engage!"
"Slaughter the Sand shinobi!"
The Konoha shinobi behind him roared in unison.
"Yes, sir!"
"Kill them all!"
Closer… closer…
The entire Sand unit charged toward the Konoha lines, where shinobi stood, ready.
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