Chapter 17: The Defensive Crane Appears
"Ha! Young people really do have bad tempers!"
However, Rasa's inner thoughts were far less calm than those of a true Kage-level shinobi.
Battle experience wasn't something mysterious — fight in a few wars, and you'd gain plenty.
Even when facing the combined formation of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio,
Rasa and Yekura were both giving their all —
but even then, they couldn't end the battle quickly.
"Looks like Konoha has quite a few powerful shinobi!"
Aoyama Ryuun smiled lightly as he watched the divided battlefields.
Then his gaze turned toward the Third Kazekage not far away.
At this point, the situation was clearly in Konoha's favor.
The Third Kazekage snorted coldly and looked toward Bunpuku,
the monk-like man not far off.
Bunpuku sighed quietly, then stepped forward.
"Though I dislike war... for the sake of Sunagakure, this monk shall fight to the death!"
"Shukaku, huh?"
Aoyama Ryuun didn't seem surprised.
His dragon-like pupils narrowed as he stared at Bunpuku.
'I wonder how much my compatibility will increase after defeating a Tailed Beast…'
To be honest, Aoyama was a bit excited.
"Iron Sand!"
The Third Kazekage spoke confidently, looking at Aoyama Ryuun.
"With me here, where do you think you're going?"
Though tailed beasts were powerful, they weren't invincible.
That's precisely why Jinchūriki existed —
to control them.
Not wanting Aoyama to interfere with Shukaku's release,
the Third Kazekage decided to hold him off personally.
"Watch closely," he said with a smirk.
"See for yourself how Shukaku wipes out Konoha's shinobi!"
He waited, hoping to see anger or frustration on Aoyama's face...
but there was none.
Only a calm, almost mocking gaze —
as if looking at a clown.
That look alone made the Kazekage's anger boil over—
but before he could speak further,
a blinding flash of swordlight cut through the air!
"Hatake Sword Style — Instant Kill Slash!"
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out as the iron sand around the Kazekage's neck was sliced open.
The cut was faint — but it was there.
The wielder of the White Fang Short Blade, Sakumo Hatake,
appeared in a blink behind the Kazekage.
"Iron Sand really is tough... almost had you, though."
Sakumo didn't sound disappointed at all.
If the Kazekage had been killed instantly, it would've been too easy.
"Konoha's White Fang...!"
The Kazekage was shaken —
the flash of that blade just now had made his heart skip a beat.
For a moment, he truly thought he was dead.
Thankfully, his Iron Sand barrier held.
"Angry, are we?"
Sakumo chuckled, spinning his blade effortlessly and pointing it at the Kazekage.
The lightning around his short sword crackled as he launched forward once more.
Each swing carried the speed and precision of a storm.
Even the Iron Sand could be cleaved apart by his strikes.
"I've never assassinated a Kage before," he said with a grin.
"Maybe you'll be my first."
"You think a man bearing the title of Kage is so easy to kill?!"
The Kazekage roared in fury.
Mockery from someone like Sakumo only fanned his rage.
With Sakumo keeping the Kazekage fully occupied,
there was nothing the latter could do to stop Aoyama Ryuun now.
Sakumo's expression grew serious;
he raised his short blade, the White Fang, which glowed even brighter —
a flash of blinding light filled the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Aoyama Ryuun simply watched the motionless Bunpuku before him.
"Still not making your move?" he asked curiously.
"If you really wanted to, you could've started by now..."
Before the monk could respond, Aoyama stepped forward —
and kicked him hard.
"Damn it, you talk too much! For a second, I thought this wasn't even the ninja world anymore!"
In a world as cruel as this one,
trying to talk someone out of fighting?
What nonsense.
"Fwoooosh!"
A violent gale erupted across the battlefield.
The kicked Bunpuku landed deep in a crater —
and as he hit the ground, sand and wind began swirling around him violently.
Like a sandstorm rising from the desert,
a tremendous chakra was gathering toward his location.
"It's starting," Aoyama said with a smirk.
Everyone nearby turned to look —
because once a Tailed Beast appeared,
enemy or ally didn't matter anymore.