Watching his companions filled with righteous anger, the young Sunagakure shinobi who had just spoken flickered his gaze and fell silent.
The roar of Sunagakure's refusal to surrender reached the Konoha position.
Orochimaru's smile widened as he listened to the unified cry of fury.
However, the smile never reached his eyes. They remained icy cold.
"They have spirit."
"They refuse the toast and choose the punishment," Uchiha Fugaku snorted coldly, turning his gaze toward Minato. "Since they want to die, we will grant their wish. Hokage-sama, give the order."
Minato nodded.
"Then let it begin. All forces, heed my command."
He raised his hand, then brought it down sharply, his motion decisive and filled with killing intent.
"Attack."
"Crush Sunagakure."
With that single command, four thousand Konoha shinobi surged forward.
Green clad figures merged into a raging tide, charging straight toward Sunagakure.
The shrill cries of shuriken cutting through the air and the continuous explosions of explosive tags echoed across heaven and earth.
Sunagakure's already fragile defenses appeared utterly inadequate.
Yet the shinobi who had lived in the desert for years resisted with relentless will.
The battle to defend Sunagakure officially began.
As Konoha's forces closed in, determination and hope filled the eyes of every Sunagakure shinobi.
Kazekage-sama, when will you return?
If you do not return soon, Sunagakure will fall.
On the walls of the village, Sunagakure fought desperately.
"Earth Release, Earth Flow Wall."
"Wind Release, Great Breakthrough."
"Puppet Technique."
One ninjutsu after another was unleashed.
But Konoha's numbers were overwhelming. Wave after wave pressed forward without end.
"Damn it," a Sunagakure jōnin growled through clenched teeth. "This cannot go on. We cannot hold them."
After barely ten minutes, Sunagakure's defensive line was already on the verge of collapse.
Just then, an enraged roar echoed from the distance.
"Konoha. I want your lives."
Everyone turned.
A figure was rapidly approaching from afar.
It was Rasa.
He had finally returned.
"Kazekage-sama."
The surrounded Sunagakure shinobi were instantly filled with joy.
"Rasa-sama is back."
"We are saved."
Rasa led his reinforcements, charging into Sunagakure from another direction, his killing intent surging like a storm.
Watching Rasa appear atop the village wall, Orochimaru sneered.
"At least he was not blinded by rage. He knew to take a detour."
On the wall, Rasa roared furiously.
"Konoha. All of you, die."
"Magnet Release, Gold Dust Imperial Funeral."
Golden sand filled the sky, descending like a tidal wave as it surged toward the Konoha army.
Konoha shinobi retreated one after another.
"Scatter," Minato shouted. "Do not get caught in it."
"He is using that technique," Orochimaru sneered.
In an instant, he flashed to the front and bit both thumbs, slamming his palms onto the ground.
"Triple Rashomon."
Boom.
With a deafening crash, three massive gates over a hundred meters tall rose from the ground, completely blocking the gold dust.
"Summoning Technique."
Jiraiya's voice rang out immediately after.
He stood atop the head of a gigantic toad.
"Here we go."
Gamabunta roared in response.
"Orah."
Together, man and toad shouted.
"Fire Release, Toad Oil Bullet."
A towering sea of flames surged forward, sweeping straight toward Sunagakure.
Rasa's expression changed sharply.
"Magnet Release, Gold Dust Tsunami."
A massive wave of golden sand rushed forward to meet the fire.
With a thunderous explosion, both the flames and the sand dissipated.
"Rasa," Orochimaru stared at him from below, cold light flashing in his eyes. "You finally made it back."
Standing atop the wall, Rasa waved his arms furiously.
"Magnet Release, Gold Dust Shigure."
"Magnet Release, Gold Dust Spear."
"Magnet Release, Gold Dust Dragon."
Technique after technique was unleashed in rapid succession.
Sunagakure stood on the brink of destruction. He could no longer hold back.
Golden sand danced through the air, forming countless shapes as it battered the Konoha army, temporarily suppressing their advance.
Seeing Konoha forced back, Sunagakure's morale surged.
"Kazekage-sama is incredible."
"We can hold them."
"As long as Kazekage-sama is here, Sunagakure will not fall."
Listening to the cheers around him, Rasa felt bitter inside.
He knew this was only temporary.
Even with the seven hundred shinobi he brought back, their total number was still under twelve hundred.
Worse still, every one of those seven hundred was already exhausted.
"I have to find a way," Rasa clenched his teeth, glancing back at the village behind him. "If I cannot repel Konoha, Sunagakure is finished."
At that moment, three figures flew out from the Konoha formation.
They were Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato.
Uchiha Fugaku remained behind, overseeing command.
"Rasa-kun," Orochimaru chuckled softly. "Long time no see."
"Orochimaru."
Rasa's eyes burned with fury as he roared.
"You despicable bastard."
"You were plotting against us from the very beginning."
"That is called strategy," Orochimaru shrugged. "Rasa-kun, you were too naive. You really thought we needed your escort."
Rasa was completely enraged.
"I will kill you. I swear it."
"Magnet Release, Gold Dust Imperial Funeral."
Without another word, he unleashed a killing move, golden sand surging toward the three of them.
The three split apart instinctively.
"Kazekage," Minato said calmly. "It is still not too late to surrender."
"If you do, I can guarantee Sunagakure will not be harmed."
"Hokage? Surrender?" Rasa sneered.
"You betrayed us and slaughtered hundreds of my subordinates."
"And now you ask me to surrender?"
"Keep dreaming."
"In that case," Minato sighed softly, "I apologize."
As his words fell, Minato vanished.
"Flying Thunder God Technique."
In the next instant, he appeared behind Rasa, thrusting a kunai toward his lower back.
"A petty trick," Rasa snorted coldly.
Golden sand instantly formed a wall, blocking the strike, followed by a swift counterattack.
"Magnet Release, Gold Dust Chain."
Chains of golden sand shot toward Minato, but he evaded them with Flying Thunder God.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."
Orochimaru attacked at the same time.
Countless venomous snakes burst from his sleeves, lunging at Rasa.
Rasa manipulated the golden sand, crushing every snake.
At that moment, Jiraiya struck from the side.
"Rasengan."
Rasa twisted to evade, but his shoulder was still grazed.
He let out a muffled grunt as several deep wounds tore open across his shoulder.
"Rasa-sama," Sunagakure shinobi shouted anxiously.
Rasa felt a surge of bitterness.
One against three.
He had no chance of victory.
Especially with Minato present, whose speed was terrifying.
"I have to find an opening," Rasa calculated rapidly. "If I can kill even one of them, I might turn this around."
His gaze locked onto Orochimaru.
"You."
He formed hand seals.
"Magnet Release, Gold Dust Downpour."
Countless grains of golden sand transformed into sharp arrows, shooting straight toward Orochimaru.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)