Anbu Tent Area.
Yellow Dog stood at the front, facing all the Anbu.
"The war in the Land of Rivers has lasted for half a year.
Sunagakure is the weakest of the Five Great Hidden Villages. In six months, Sunagakure has suffered over 1000 ninja casualties.
After Kirigakure declared war on us, Konoha has been fighting on three fronts.
Both sides have reached their limit.
The brutal war has lasted half a year; both sides want a conclusion as soon as possible.
Sunagakure has decided to end the war with one gambit-like decisive battle.
In this final battle, there are no behind-enemy-lines missions, no assassinations, no diversions. Both sides will commit all their forces.
Hippo Squad, Yak Squad, come with me to the frontal battlefield to assist the main force.
Fox Squad, proceed to the Shirano River battlefield to assist Deputy Commander Hatake Sakumo's flanking force.
The Anbu has two tasks in the decisive battle.
The first task is to faithfully record the battlefield situation for the Hokage, not missing a single detail.
The second task is to enter the fray and fight on behalf of the Hokage at the most critical moment.
The Anbu is the Hokage's direct subordinate force. We are not only the Hokage's sharpest blade, not only the Hokage's eyes, but also the embodiment of the Hokage's influence.
Squad Leaders, go collect sufficient Explosive Tags. Distribute all kunai and Explosive Tags from the inventory."
Yōkō noticed that Yellow Dog kept emphasizing the Hokage, deliberately omitting the Anbu Director, Danzō.
This Yellow Dog has some ambition.
Purple Cat's squad collected a large quantity of ninja tools and Explosive Tags.
Yōkō led his squad away from the Anbu tent area, hurrying towards the flank assembly point.
The camp area was full of assembling troops, appearing exceptionally chaotic.
Yōkō saw some ninja whispering and asked Purple Cat, "Purple Cat, have there been any changes in the main camp recently? Why are some people distracted before the battle?"
Purple Cat said quietly, "Captain, Commander Rokaku abolished the Ninjutsu Assessment System last night. Some civilian-born ninja's morale has been affected; they are worried they won't be able to obtain ninjutsu suitable for them."
Yōkō felt something was off.
Right before the decisive battle, Nara Rokaku openly broke with Hatake Sakumo, abolishing Hatake Sakumo's most important policy, the Ninjutsu Assessment System.
After the Land of Rivers war, Nara Rokaku not only didn't become an ally but had developed a significant conflict with him.
Was it because of the rumors in the main camp about being wary of the Nara clan's shadow techniques controlling their own people?
Nara Rokaku wasn't afraid that Hatake Sakumo might do something... probably not afraid. Hatake Sakumo wasn't that kind of person; Hatake Sakumo would definitely prioritize the overall situation.
Outside the main camp, the main force completed their pre-battle mobilization.
The troops split into two groups: one was the frontal force commanded by Nara Rokaku and Tsunade, the other was the flanking force commanded by Hatake Sakumo.
Even Tsunade had changed into a flak jacket.
Her gaze was weary as she adjusted her shoulders, seeming uncomfortable in the metal-reinforced vest.
She looked towards several Senju ninja.
Most Senju ninja were in the medical corps; a few remained in combat units, shedding blood and exerting strength for Konoha. She hoped these few could survive.
Tsunade would recommend them for promotion to Jonin.
Yōkō bypassed the frontal force and saw the flanking force.
Hatake Sakumo stood at the very front, his expression resolute, seemingly unaffected by the abolition of the Ninjutsu Assessment System.
He waved his hand, and the flanking force left the main camp, heading for the predetermined battlefield.
Yōkō quickly followed.
He wasn't under Hatake Sakumo's command; Fox Squad made independent judgments and acted independently.
Below the Shirano River, the water rushed torrentially.
On both banks of the Shirano River, large numbers of Sand ninja ran northward, attempting to flank the rear of the Konoha forces.
The two sides collided violently in the middle section of the Shirano River.
Yōkō found a high point west of the Shirano River, stood on a rock, and watched the battlefield through binoculars.
The Sand ninja commanders were the son and daughter-in-law of Sunagakure Elder Chiyo, the Elite Jonin Toci and his wife.
Toci was a puppet technique genius from Sunagakure. He finished learning all puppet theory by age 5, created a puppet praised by the Second Kazekage at age 6, graduated early from the Ninja Academy at age 7, and became a Sunagakure Jonin at age 11.
Hatake Sakumo was also a genius, a genius praised by the Second Hokage.
When two geniuses meet on the battlefield, it's the time to test their true quality.
Only the genius of the highest quality survives.
A dead genius, no matter how dazzling or glorious they were before, becomes a joke, a stepping stone for the surviving genius.
Toci and his wife joined forces, charging towards Hatake Sakumo.
Toci swung his arms forcefully, and ten puppets flew out from behind him, soaring towards Hatake Sakumo like kites.
Toci had long mastered the top-tier puppet technique of controlling one puppet per finger.
Around him, the ten puppets varied in form: some for defense, some wielding giant hammers, some small, agile speed-type puppets.
Toci's wife also possessed highly skilled puppet techniques, controlling six puppets with her two hands.
Yōkō looked carefully; Toci's puppets weren't the Chikamatsu's Ten Puppets from the comics, but those ten puppets looked imposing.
A white light flashed on the banks of the Shirano River.
Here it comes!
Hatake Sakumo's secret technique, Secret Technique: Chakra Crystallization Refinement!
Vast amounts of Lightning Release chakra were compressed and refined by Hatake Sakumo until the Lightning Release chakra crystallized, reaching a materialized state.
Swinging his chakra short sword, the refined Lightning Release chakra appeared as a dazzling white light, carrying a blade aura several meters long, instantly slicing through two puppets.
Amidst a clattering sound as they hit the ground, the Yellow Hardwood shells of the puppets broke, and the internal steel frames were severed cleanly.
The cross-sections of the steel even showed a bright red, molten-iron color.
It's too one-sided. Hatake Sakumo's blade aura was too brilliant. The puppets' strength had an upper limit; before the White Fang, they were like toys.
Toci had some estimation of Hatake Sakumo's strength, but seeing the state of his puppets, his eyelids still trembled.
However, he didn't panic.
Two chakra control threads shot from one finger; the puppets split in half could still be controlled, and controlled separately.
Even if a puppet were dismembered into pieces, Toci could make the weapons on the fragments attack at the opportune moment.
Hatake Sakumo, fighting alone against Toci and his wife, was momentarily caught in the encirclement of the puppets.
The puppets were being shattered more and more, but severed legs and arms could still launch attacks.
Mechanisms inside the shattered chest cavities of the puppets activated unexpectedly, forcing Hatake Sakumo to remain constantly vigilant and handle them carefully.
Yōkō shifted his gaze to other parts of the battlefield.
Beside the Shirano River, Konoha had committed around 600 people, 10 battalions.
Around 500 Sand ninja had arrived, including as many as 300 puppet masters.
The combat power of one puppet master was equivalent to three ordinary Sand ninja.
The puppet masters hid in the gorge of the Shirano River, while the puppets leaped onto the riverbank, fiercely battling the Konoha ninja.
Purple Cat was nearby, holding a scroll, recording the performance of the Konoha side by battalion.
This record would be cross-referenced with the post-battle reports submitted by each battalion to determine mission rewards.
There would also be special records for certain standout performers within the battalions.
The battle reached a stalemate, and casualties quickly appeared on both sides.
Yōkō thought, Can't let Hatake Sakumo suffer a major setback here. The Ninjutsu Assessment System has already been abolished. If this turns into a Pyrrhic victory here, even if he kills Toci and his wife, Hatake Sakumo's prestige will be severely damaged.
He put down his binoculars and said, "White Goat, Flower Deer, you stay here and protect Purple Cat while she records the battlefield situation. I'm going to do something to break the deadlock."
***
Dive deeper into the story with 50+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!
(Chapter End)