Time passed swiftly during focused cultivation.
Shadow clones continuously dispersed and were created again. A large amount of insights and experiences flowed into Sora's main consciousness like streams converging.
His understanding of the Four Symbols Seal gradually shifted from vague to clear. Although he was still far from truly performing it, he had at least grasped the fundamentals.
'The core of the Four Symbols Seal lies in "sealing" and "guiding". It constructs a stable energy circulation barrier to contain vast energy within and allows for limited guidance. This is indeed very suitable for handling chakra vein energy like the Dragon Vein.'
'Namikaze Minato could modify and use this technique. His talent is truly terrifying. However, I now have a direction. As long as I proceed step by step, I might be able to master it.'
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened. Sora rubbed his slightly throbbing temples and stopped today's cultivation.
Although tired, his eyes were exceptionally bright.
The cultivation of Super Strength was progressing, the study of the Four Symbols Seal was on track, and more importantly, he had found the key link connecting different abilities, extreme control.
...
The two days of rest passed in an instant.
Squad C Five received new mission orders as scheduled. They were to head to the border region adjacent to the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind to carry out a series of reconnaissance, infiltration, and even small-scale assault missions.
The shadow of war grew heavier. Friction between Konoha and the two major ninja villages became increasingly frequent. The area near the border had long become a dangerous whirlpool.
For the next few months, Sora and Squad C Five, like wound-up gears, continuously shuttled through the northwestern and southwestern border regions of the Land of Fire.
Fighting became commonplace, and death followed like a shadow.
However, because of Sora, a hidden minor Boss, not a single member of Squad C Five died.
Using only his openly known methods like the Eight Gates Released Formation and Super Strength, Sora repeatedly turned danger into safety in perilous situations. He even cooperated with the squad to complete several seemingly impossible missions.
His performance earned high praise from Sarutobi Hiruzen, who secretly felt even more fortunate that his decision to give Sora special permission back then was not wrong. In exchange for just two dispensable genin, he gained Sora's "spare no effort" in mission execution.
It was worth noting that Konoha's Anbu personnel had been replaced who knows how many times. Squad C Five was the only squad that had not changed members.
...
On this day, Squad C Five had just completed a harassment mission against Iwagakure's supply lines and were preparing to withdraw according to plan when Fox received an urgent command scroll delivered via summoning animal.
After reading the contents of the scroll, Fox's expression instantly turned extremely grave.
"Captain, what's wrong?" Night Owl, sensing something was amiss, quickly asked.
Fox took a deep breath and said in a low voice,
"Mission change. The Land of Wind... has formally declared war on Konoha. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, is personally leading the main force of Sunagakure, launching a surprise attack on the Kikyōyama area!"
Kikyōyama!
Sora's heart shook. What was coming had finally arrived!
He remembered the Battle of Kikyōyama was a crucial battle in the Third Great Ninja War, also the largest and most brutal battle between Konoha and Sunagakure.
Although this battle was only briefly mentioned, its impact was significant.
After the Battle of Kikyōyama, the Land of Wind completely withdrew from the stage of the Third War and subsequently signed an alliance treaty with Konoha. This was the reason why Suna-nin like Temari appeared during the later Chunin Exams attended by Naruto and others.
"The Hokage orders all Konoha squads active in the direction of the Land of Wind to immediately assemble towards Kikyōyama and follow the dispatches of the frontline commander in chief!" Fox said quickly, his gaze sweeping over Sora and the other two. "The frontline commander in chief is... Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru!
Hearing this name, Sora's eye twitched slightly. This was the name he least wanted to hear.
"Depart immediately! Full speed ahead!" Fox did not delay and immediately gave the order.
The four transformed into four black shadows, no longer concealing their movements, rushing towards the direction of Kikyōyama at top speed.
The closer they got to the Kikyōyama area, the thicker the aura of killing intent in the air became.
Signs of battle began to appear along the way. Occasionally, they could see unattended bodies lying on the ground, both Konoha's and Sunagakure's.
...
When Squad C Five finally reached the outskirts of the main battlefield at Kikyōyama, the scene before them made Sora secretly frown.
The originally lush green mountains were now scarred and devastated.
Huge craters, forests leveled by ninjutsu, and scorched earth were everywhere.
Shouts of killing, explosions, and the roars of clashing ninjutsu continuously came from the center of the battlefield, like a symphony of death.
Konoha's defense lines were set up layer by layer, relying on Kikyōyama's terrain. However, Sunagakure's assaults came wave after wave like tides. Especially the gold dust flying all over the sky brought immense casualties and pressure to the Konoha ninja.
Night Owl looked at the gold dust in the distant sky and said hoarsely,
"Is that... the Fourth Kazekage's Magnet Release?"
"It seems so." Grey Wolf's expression was also very grim. "A ninjutsu of this scale is too terrifying."
Sora also observed silently nearby.
Rasa's Magnet Release: Gold Dust World Method was both offensive and defensive, with a massive range. On the battlefield, it was simply a weapon of mass destruction.
Ordinary Konoha ninja seemed so powerless against such attacks.
'No wonder Sunagakure dares to initiate a major war. Rasa's strength indeed matches the name of Kazekage.'
'Even though he died too simply later on.'
...
Soon, Sora and the other three were led to the frontline command post, a temporary base established inside a mountain.
The atmosphere inside the base was extremely tense. Ninja constantly came in and out to report on the battle situation.
Deep within the command post, Sora saw Orochimaru again.
"Oh? It's Squad C Five."
Orochimaru's gaze swept over Fox, finally settling on Sora. His tongue subconsciously licked his lips.
"It seems you are all still alive. Good."
That gaze made Sora feel as if needles were pricking his back. He could only bow his head in salute. "Lord Orochimaru."
Fox quickly reported the squad's situation and observations along the way.
After listening, Orochimaru said indifferently,
"You came just in time. Sunagakure's assault is fierce. That fellow Rasa... is a bit troublesome. Your Squad C Five has decent strength. You are assigned to the assault sequence. Await further orders and be ready to be deployed for counterattacks at any time."
"Yes!" Fox accepted the order.
Leaving the command post, Squad C Five was assigned a rest area and guard duty.
With a major battle underway, no one could truly rest.
Sora leaned against a rock, recovering stamina while calmly analyzing the battle situation.
In his memory, Konoha ultimately won the Battle of Kikyōyama, but the victory was very costly, even affecting Sarutobi Hiruzen's position as Hokage.
It was worth noting that Kikyōyama was not far from Konoha itself. The fact that Sunagakure could fight here was tantamount to fighting at Konoha's doorstep. Such a failure of duty was no small matter.
As per situation, someone had to take the blame. In the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only take responsibility by resigning from his post. Finally, between Orochimaru and Namikaze Minato, he chose Namikaze Minato to become the Fourth Hokage.
And Orochimaru thereby firmly decided to leave Konoha.
However, the current Orochimaru, as the commander of the Kikyōyama battlefield, was undoubtedly ruthless. He would spare no cost for victory.
Squads like Sora's, assigned to the assault sequence, in a battle of this scale, were very likely to be used as the tip of the spear or as pawns in the most critical and dangerous places.
'It seems I need to be careful!' Sora frowned, raising his vigilance.
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