The collapse of the Sand ninja on the main battlefield marked the complete failure of this decisive battle.
On the two flanking battlefields, once they received news that the main battlefield had fallen and that the Fourth Kazekage Rasa had issued the order to retreat, their forces immediately disintegrated and fled.
The right flank in the south fared slightly better, the casualties were not too severe. But the left flank in the north suffered even more losses than the central battlefield!
The reason was simple.
Namikaze Minato was there!
That day, the Sand ninja once again experienced the terror of the Flying Thunder God Technique. Under Minato's solo rampage, more than twenty Jōnin and nearly a hundred Chūnin fell by his hand!
The last time the Sand ninja had encountered the Flying Thunder God was when the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, was still alive. Yet in terms of sheer mastery and adaptability to spatial techniques, Minato had surpassed even Tobirama!
…
"Huff… huff…"
Kakashi gripped a short sword, breathing heavily.
Blood dripped from the blade. His mask and the left side of his face were spattered with blood as well. His chakra reserves were nearly depleted, and his stamina was greatly drained.
Whoosh!
Minato's figure landed on Kakashi's right side. Without looking at Kakashi, he turned and shouted orders to the Konoha ninja who were still pursuing the fleeing Sand ninja.
"That's enough! Stop the pursuit!"
It wasn't just Kakashi, Minato's chakra was also nearly exhausted. The Konoha ninjas had all taken heavy losses in stamina and chakra. Continuing the pursuit would only mean trading injuries for injuries, pointless at this stage.
Although Minato had not originally commanded overwhelming authority as the overall commander of this front, his performance in this battle elevated his prestige to unprecedented levels. Once he gave the order, the Konoha ninja quickly ceased pursuit and began regrouping.
"...Is it over?"
Kakashi exhaled, trying to calm his breathing, and looked toward Minato.
Minato finally turned to Kakashi, took a breath, and nodded. "It's over. Looks like the main battlefield collapsed first. They have no reason to stop us anymore."
A gleam passed through Minato's eyes.
He had originally thought that the outcome of the flanks would determine the fate of the main battlefield, but unexpectedly, it was the main force of the Sand ninja that collapsed first.
What this implied was significant, he hadn't encountered any of the truly strong Sand ninja on this flank.
That meant the Sand ninja must have placed their elite forces in the central front, or perhaps the southern right flank. But now, it seemed they had focused their offense on the right flank, which led to the collapse of the central battlefield instead.
It made sense, in hindsight.
After all, the central battlefield had Jiraiya and Tsunade, as well as Kaede, an unusually powerful ninja. That the Sand ninja couldn't hold their ground was understandable. What Minato didn't know yet was how Kaede had performed in that battle.
While he continued directing Konoha's ninjas to clean up the battlefield, he ordered the communication team to contact the main battlefield. Before long, they had a detailed report.
…
"Reporting to Commander!"
"The casualties on the main battlefield are as follows: our side lost approximately seventy men. The Sand ninja lost over three hundred. Elder Chiyo of the Sunagakure has been confirmed killed in action. The Fourth Kazekage Rasa has fled with the remnants of his forces."
Minato's expression changed slightly in the report.
"Chiyo… is dead?"
Chiyo, the Sand Village elder, was a legendary figure in the ninja world and known as the greatest puppeteer, her reputation even preceded that of the Sannin. To think she had fallen on the front lines...
"Yes, sir," said the communication ninja. "She was defeated and killed in battle by Jōnin Kaede, who used a forbidden technique. He is currently being treated in the rear."
Minato was momentarily stunned. He had assumed Chiyo had fallen to Jiraiya or Tsunade, or perhaps in a joint attack. But to hear that Kaede defeated her alone?
He couldn't help but smile wryly.
In terms of kill count, especially on a battlefield like this, there was almost no one who could match Minato when he wielded the Flying Thunder God. But defeating a legendary ninja like Chiyo was something else entirely.
No matter how many enemies Minato had slain today, Kaede's achievement would eclipse him, because Chiyo's death would shake the entire ninja world.
…
"Chiyo…" Kakashi was also stunned.
The clash between White Fang and Chiyo had happened during the Second Great Ninja War, so Kakashi didn't know the details, but he still remembered who she was. As one of the Sand's top-tier ninjas, and a legendary puppeteer, Chiyo was a name found on every intelligence warning list.
To think someone like that was defeated by his own brother… It was clear that Kaede had already grown into a ninja capable of commanding the battlefield on his own.
Kakashi never doubted that Kaede could reach such heights, he just didn't expect him to rise this fast. He wasn't even eleven years old yet!
Still…
Kakashi didn't dwell on the shock for long. His expression quickly shifted as he looked sharply at the communication ninja.
"My brother used a forbidden technique and was sent for treatment? That means… it's serious?!"
The ninja nodded respectfully. "From what we've heard, yes. Lady Tsunade herself is overseeing his treatment, and they're escorting Jōnin Kaede back to camp."
Forbidden techniques always come with a price.
Kaede had chosen to bear that cost to slay Elder Chiyo of the Sand Village. No matter his age, such a ninja was worthy of respect.
…
Whoosh!
Upon hearing the report, Kakashi's face changed. He looked toward the camp, and then suddenly leapt up, dashing back in that direction.
Minato's figure blurred as he caught up and said:
"I'll take you."
He understood Kakashi's anxiety. Kaede was his older brother, after all.
Kakashi stopped and turned to Minato. "Thank you, Sensei."
Minato nodded calmly, sensed the coordinate seal he had placed in the camp, placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, and with a flash, used the Flying Thunder God to teleport them both.
…
Konoha Encampment.
Shizune was waiting alongside some of the medical ninjas assigned to the rear, preparing to receive incoming wounded.
As soon as she saw Tsunade returning with two medics carrying a stretcher, she immediately ran forward.
The stationed guards moved to confirm their identities, but Tsunade released her chakra in a flare so overwhelming that several of the guards' expressions immediately changed.
"Out of the way!"
Tsunade barked.
The guards quickly stepped aside.
There was no mistaking that massive chakra signature, it could only belong to the real Tsunade. Appearance could be faked, but not chakra.
As they cleared the way, many of them couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity.
Why had Tsunade personally escorted a wounded ninja back?
Just who was lying on that stretcher?
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