The battle at the Valley of the End had raged for one day and one night.
Messenger ANBU returned pale and trembling, faces numb from witnessing two godlike Susanoo lay waste to creation itself.
Messenger hawks had already flown in countless waves from the valley, carrying news that darkened every brow in the Hokage Office.
Inside the Military Council Hall, Uchiha Shikata — clan head and Minister of Military Affairs — examined the latest intelligence.
For a fleeting moment, his stern features eased.
Then came the next report.
His expression hardened again.
"Hmph. The Three Great Nations have decided to pick our bones."
From the Earth, Wind, and Water borders, enemy troops surged against the Land of Fire like wolves scenting blood.
Shikata's gaze swept across his three senior staff officers.
"The Land of Whirlpools has the Uzumaki lord and Senju reinforcements — Mist will not take them."
"The Earth border is held by Uchiha Hono, Sarutobi Sasuke, and Hyūga Ashiwatari — I don't foresee Iwagakure breaking through."
"At the Wind border, Shimura Isshin, Inuzuka Jin, and Aburame Mushi are positioned — they can stop the weakest of the Five, Sunagakure."
The councilors' coordinated assessments steadied the room.
Shikata nodded once.
"When Lord Madara battled the First Hokage, the fight lasted three days and nights.
The duel between the Third Hokage and Minister Mito will not end quickly."
"During that time, the borders must not fall."
"Use every active troop and current intel.
Draft proactive strategies."
"Understood, Minister Shikata!"
The strategists hurried out.
Shikata's gaze grew colder.
If the Hokage and Mito emerged bloodied, barely alive—
If they drew only a pyrrhic victory—
Then the duty of defending Konoha's soul would fall upon him.
(The young Hokage still lacks caution.)
Decision made, Shikata delegated command to the border generals, gathered a small force of elite three-tomoe Uchiha, and sprinted toward the Valley of the End.
Southwest Front — The Sand Offensive Begins
Beyond the River Country, the Second Kazekage, Shamon, oversaw Sunagakure's assault forces.
Across the ravine stood Konoha's trio of heavyweights: Shimura Isshin, Inuzuka Jin, and Aburame Mushi.
Shamon raised his hand.
"Fire."
War machines thundered.
Giant iron sand-balls launched skyward
Barrage engines spat swarms of barbed arrows
Each arrow tipped with micro ignition seals
The sky became a storm of metal and flame.
"Incoming!"
Aburame Mushi's voice rang over the line.
"Water units — form up!"
"Water Style: Water Wall Formation!"
A colossal torrent rose to intercept the barrage—
Only for the ignition seals to detonate against the water curtain, blistering it with explosions.
Poisoned iron sand erupted on impact, turning clear water into green vapor.
Mushi's eyes narrowed.
(Poison… Sand is playing dirty.)
Shamon gave no pause.
"Continue firing!"
Volley after volley collided with Konoha's counterattacks.
After four crushing exchanges, Sand's first wave faltered.
A thin smile touched Mushi's lips.
"Sand trying to bully us so soon? Their nerves must be thinner than I expected."
"Mushi, let's go full charge!" Inuzuka Jin barked, fang-marked face fierce.
But Shimura Isshin raised a hand.
"Not yet.
Our heavy engines remain unused.
If casualties spike, the Military Council will bury us for recklessness."
Wisdom won over bloodlust.
Another volley came—
but Sunagakure answered with a massive wall of reinforced sand, absorbing most strikes, while wind users shredded the rest.
Konoha's veterans frowned.
"That scale of sand control…?"
"Feels more like research than a secret art."
Then a Byakugan sentinel reported:
"Those 'fallen corpses'—they're puppets.
Chakra-embedded puppet soldiers."
Aburame Mushi grimaced.
"A new puppet corps…"
Recon insects returned with numbers:
1,200 enemy units.
Nearly half puppets.
Mushi nodded.
"We grind them with engines.
Force them to retreat or risk close contact."
Under relentless artillery and shinobi cooperation, Sunagakure's commanders finally signaled withdrawal, refusing to throw precious engines into needless loss.
Other Fronts Hold — For Now
At the northeastern sea border, Mist forces were stalled by Uzumaki mastery and Senju reinforcement.
At the western plains, Wind patrols retreated after repeated failed probing.
But far worse news arrived from the northwest:
A messenger hawk slammed into the Hokage Office with a blood-red tag.
Uchiha Honoka has fallen.
Killed by Ōnoki of the Dust Release.
The Third Tsuchikage, with his fearsome Dust Release: Primal Severance, had erased the Uchiha commander in a single strike.
The Military Council reeled.
Orders flew instantly:
"Reroute Minister Shikata to the northwest!"
The spark that had smoldered since the First Great Ninja War—
now ignited fully.
The Second Great Ninja War had begun.
Great Nations moved.
Alliances churned.
The entire shinobi world teetered over blood and steel.
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