Chapter 131: When Konoha Burns!
While the sky over the Land of Fire was shrouded in dark clouds with rain pouring down, the sky over the neighboring Land of Wind was clear and vast.
Countless stars hung low in the sky, so close they seemed to offer a moment's respite from the day's troubles.
The bright moon shone down, veiling the coarse sand, gravel, and wind-eroded rock pillars of the desert in a pale, silvery light.
The night wind blowing against his face was harsh and cold, making Tsukasa feel his skin dry and slightly uncomfortable.
The solemn and resolute gazes of Shin'ya and Shisui before him made him feel somewhat dazed.
Suddenly, Shin'ya's eyes narrowed, and he pulled a kunai from his pouch, gripping it tightly in his hand.
With a sharp, menacing gaze, he looked toward the Sunagakure camp not far behind the stone pillars and said in a deep voice:
"Tsukasa, remember this."
"The elite ANBU reconnaissance and infiltration squad is just ten miles to our west."
"In a moment, they will fire signal flares. There are four signals: red, yellow, green, and blue, each representing a different meaning."
"Green means they've begun their operation."
"Blue means the mission is complete, and both sides should retreat immediately."
"Yellow means the mission has encountered trouble, and we need to buy more time."
Tsukasa raised his head, his eyes flashing slightly.
"And what about red?"
Shin'ya let out a heavy sigh.
"You'd better hope we don't see that one."
A suffocating silence fell, and no one spoke again.
Not long after, a ninja suddenly stood up and shouted a warning from behind the three:
"Captain, to the west!"
The three Uchiha turned their heads and saw a plume of green smoke rising high at the western edge of the Land of Wind's border!
"Shin'ya-san, what should we do?" Shisui jumped to his feet, drew his tanto from behind, and activated his Sharingan, asking with a grave expression.
"Wait!" Shin'ya's breathing quickened as he gripped the handle of his kunai tightly.
"On the battlefield, Shikaku Nara is still somewhat trustworthy."
"The ninja who's supposed to give the order hasn't appeared yet. Let's wait a bit longer."
Before Shin'ya could finish speaking, a squad member behind him stood up, pointed toward the Sunagakure camp, and urgently called out:
"Captain, look over there—the Sunagakure camp!"
Everyone looked in that direction and saw that shortly after the green smoke rose, a dense swarm of ninja suddenly poured out—almost the entire garrison!
The Sunagakure forces charged forward at lightning speed, their feet kicking up rough pebbles from the desert, billowing sand more than five meters high in a wild, sweeping cloud.
Their formation charge was terrifying!
And they were headed straight for the assault team's location!
"Fifty, one hundred... two hundred, over three hundred!"
"There are eight ninja in jonin uniforms!"
"Shin'ya-san, something's wrong!" Shisui widened his Sharingan, staring intently at the opposing force, his gaze trembling slightly.
"This group didn't go to reinforce the Land of Wind's border."
"Their target—it's us!"
"Our tracks were exposed from the very beginning!"
Shin'ya gasped upon hearing this, his expression freezing instantly.
"This..."
Before he could react, the ninja keeping watch exclaimed in horror:
"Captain! Look behind us!"
Shin'ya suddenly turned his head, his pupils widening in shock.
Behind them, at the border of the Land of Wind, following the rise of green smoke—a red smoke suddenly rose!
The ceaseless sandstorm made the red smoke sway continuously, like the Grim Reaper's scythe being wielded!
Thinking about the meaning behind this scene, Shin'ya felt his lips go dry. He swallowed hard, his throat so tight he could barely manage it.
Faced with this terrifying situation, with extreme danger erupting from both sides simultaneously, the assembled ninja were stunned, their eyes filled with terror.
Unlike Tsukasa, they clearly understood the meaning of the smoke—it represented only one order:
Fight to the last moment!
Until death!
Tsukasa stared at the scene, his eyes widening slightly, his heart sinking.
Combining Shin'ya's words with the information he knew, the elite ANBU operative currently destroying supplies ten miles away must be his superior, Ryoma Aburame.
And Ryoma was an elite jonin who could even hold his own against powerful opponents like the future Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
What exactly had happened over there?
What did the red smoke represent?
Ryoma Aburame, the reserved yet passionate man who had saved his life—could he be in deadly danger?
A jumble of thoughts swirled within him, and Tsukasa's heart grew heavier.
But now, all he could do was...
Tsukasa took a deep breath, slightly bent his knees, and gripped the Kusanagi sword.
His gaze was fixed on the three hundred Sunagakure ninja opposite him, and in the blink of an eye, his crimson Sharingan blazed to life!
However, at that moment, a hand reached out and pressed against Tsukasa's wrist.
Shin'ya stared intently at Tsukasa with his three-tomoe Sharingan.
His breathing was rapid, and he looked extremely tense, yet his tone was as firm as tempered steel:
"Tsukasa!"
"Trust me!"
"Trust us!"
His eyes were slightly red, and his face trembled with emotion.
"Because of this war, I've already lost a clansman! A dear friend! And countless comrades!"
"I cannot lose the dream I'll fight for until my dying breath!"
"You should stay back, return to the village, grow stronger, and eventually become someone who can truly make a difference!"
"Do you understand?!"
With that, Shin'ya suddenly stood up, facing the eighty-nine members of the Konoha assault force behind him.
He raised his kunai high, his eyes blazing with fury, and shouted:
"Everyone!"
"The plan has changed! The ninja assigned by command hasn't shown up!"
"Our intelligence has been exposed, the mission has failed, and now we face only death!"
"I know you're all afraid—I'm afraid too!"
"But what I want to say is..."
"In this team, there are two children! One is twelve years old, and the other is seven years old!"
"Their lives should not end here!"
"To hell with this mission! From this moment on, forget it all!"
"I will lead the charge!"
"I will fight my way through for them!"
"Just like the Third Hokage says every year at the Ninja Academy—"
"Where the leaves dance, the fire will never die! The flames will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout!"
"Now is the time for me to burn completely!"
Shin'ya turned his back, his eyes wide, staring intently at the three hundred Sunagakure ninja opposite him. He strode forward and shouted without turning his head:
"Those who want to run, do it now!"
"I'll even cover for deserters!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the panicked assault force suddenly fell silent.
The ninja couldn't help but look up at the trembling man facing three hundred enemies alone—their captain, Shin'ya Uchiha!
Soon, a sneer rang out.
It was the captain of the second company, a civilian-born jonin named Ichiji.
"Shin'ya, stop trying to be a hero!"
"You've never beaten me at cards!"
"How could I let you win at a time like this!"
He stood up, trembling, behind Shin'ya, drew his sword, and his gaze steadied.
The next moment, Tsukasa looked up in surprise and saw that with Ichiji stepping forward, all thirty members of the second company stood up!
These men, with expressions of determination mixed with fear, stepped past him and stood firmly behind Shin'ya.
Then another man stepped forward, accompanied by his ninken.
He was taciturn and serious, yet decisive and efficient. He marched straight forward and shouted:
"Third Company Captain, Akiichi Inuzuka! Reporting!"
Again, thirty men stood up!
Shisui watched this scene in surprise and moved to stand up as well, since he was the captain of the First Company.
But at that moment, a young man stepped forward with a laugh:
"This kind of thing will be handled by me—Vice-Captain of the First Company, Touma Yamano!"
As soon as he finished speaking, twenty-nine people stood up!
A full eighty-nine people passed by Tsukasa and Shisui and stood in front of them, forming a thick human wall to their astonishment.
Tsukasa stared blankly at this scene, and for some reason, he suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
This group of people had nothing to do with him. They'd never even met before.
But they stood up simply because of the Will of Fire that Shin'ya had invoked—for two children from the same village whom they'd just met, for what seemed like such a simple reason and dream!
Hearing the commotion behind him, Shin'ya couldn't help but turn his head.
When he saw this group of people following closely behind him, his eyes widened in surprise, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
In a flash, Shin'ya turned his head forward, his eyes blazing!
His gaze was fixed on the three hundred Sunagakure forces charging menacingly toward him.
His bloodshot, three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, and kunai twirled in his hands, creating dazzling, eye-catching patterns!
Then Shin'ya gripped the kunai and roared furiously:
"Konoha Assault Force, assemble!"
"Fight for the Will of Fire!"
"CHARGE!"
End of Chapter 131
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