"Sensory team—move! Now!!"
At Yagami's command, Yūhi Shinku suddenly raised his voice, immediately ordering Konoha's perception ninja to confirm the situation.
The sensory ninja closed his eyes, concentrating deeply. A moment passed… then another.
Finally, he shook his head.
"There's no one in range."
"The enemies are forty kilometers away."
Yagami's calm voice followed.
The moment those words left his mouth, several people turned to look at him—faces filled with disbelief.
"…What?"
"Forty kilometers?"
Are you a monster?!
That thought roared simultaneously through everyone's mind.
How could someone perceive enemies from that far away?
After hearing Yagami's explanation, the expressions of everyone present froze on the spot.
Even elite sensory ninja only had a perception range of a dozen kilometers at most.
Forty kilometers… that was more than six or seven times beyond what they considered exceptional.
It completely overturned their understanding.
What they didn't know was that Yagami possessed the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, one of the most powerful perception techniques in the ninja world.
In terms of pure sensing range, the only technique that could rival it was Nagato's Rain Tiger at Will Technique.
"Prepare for battle."
"The enemy will arrive in about an hour."
Yagami spoke solemnly. At this moment, his expression was calm—almost relieved.
But for the others…
This situation was anything but reassuring.
A little over three hundred people against more than a thousand Sand Shinobi?
The ninjas present couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Shouldn't they evacuate the civilians from Kikyō Castle immediately?
Shinku gave a bitter smile and voiced the concern directly.
"You can evacuate the people first."
"But I will not retreat."
Yagami fell silent for a moment, then answered decisively.
The enemy numbers were indeed terrifying.
But he didn't want to give up this four-star mission.
After all—
Twenty thousand prestige points.
"I'll stay with you."
Before anyone else could react, Kushina stepped forward without hesitation and stood at Yagami's side.
"Uh…"
Are young people these days all this fearless?
Watching the two of them resolve to stay and defend Kikyō Castle, Shinku felt a headache coming on.
The rational choice was to avoid the fight for now and wait for reinforcements.
"How confident are you in holding the castle?"
Shinku asked helplessly when he saw that Yagami's expression didn't waver at all.
"About thirty percent."
Yagami looked up and answered honestly after a moment's thought.
If the system had issued this mission, it meant there was at least some chance of success.
Taking into account his current strength—and the Rasenshuriken he had just obtained—
This was his most accurate estimate.
"Thirty percent?"
Shinku stared at him in surprise.
He truly couldn't understand where that confidence came from.
They had barely over a hundred combatants here.
The enemy numbered over a thousand.
By any conventional standard, the odds were hopeless.
"Yes. Thirty percent."
Yagami nodded seriously.
As long as the Sand Shinobi didn't swarm all at once…
There was still a chance.
"…Alright."
Shinku took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and finally made his decision.
"Since you have thirty percent confidence, then we'll stay and defend Kikyō Castle together!"
Yagami nodded.
With these Konoha Shinobi willing to fight alongside him, his confidence increased even further.
Alone, he couldn't stop a full-scale invasion.
But with coordination—inside and outside the walls—they could block and counter the Sand Shinobi's advance.
After making up his mind, Shinku immediately went down from the watchtower to issue orders.
The bell rang.
All Konoha Shinobi were summoned.
Shinku split the team swiftly.
Some were sent to escort civilians away from the castle.
Others were dispatched to set traps outside the walls.
Inside and outside Kikyō Castle, everything became a flurry of activity.
Due to the urgency, the evacuated civilians traveled light.
Before long, the entire city stood empty.
"Captain Shinku, the traps are set!"
"We're done on our side as well!"
Reports came in one after another as the ninja returned.
Earlier, when they first heard they would be resisting a thousand-man Sand Shinobi force, many of them had gone pale, legs trembling.
But once the order was given—
No one retreated.
No one ran.
Just yesterday, they had heard of Sunagakure's ruthless fighting style—battling until the very end.
If they backed down now…
Wouldn't that mean admitting they were inferior?
They refused to disgrace Konoha.
Many ninja took deep breaths, trying to steady their pounding hearts.
"All of you—focus!"
"Since Sunagakure dares to invade us, then we'll show them that Konoha is not to be trifled with!"
"They will pay dearly for this!"
"Whether Kikyō Castle stands or falls—depends on us!"
Standing on the steps of the city gate, Yūhi Shinku shouted with unwavering resolve.
His voice carried determination—and it spread.
The Konoha Shinobi below were gradually infected by his words.
Their fear hardened into fighting spirit.
If Sunagakure dared to start this war—
Then Konoha would show them its will.
"Guard Kikyō Castle! Repel Sunagakure!"
"Guard Kikyō Castle! Repel Sunagakure!"
No one knew who shouted first.
But in the next instant, voices erupted one after another.
Even Kakashi was swept up in the momentum, shouting along.
"Good!"
"Everyone—take your positions!"
"Let Sand Shinobi see what Konoha is made of!"
Seeing the revived morale, Shinku nodded in satisfaction.
With a broad wave of his hand, the Konoha Shinobi quickly spread out to their assigned positions.
Yagami had already discussed the plan with Shinku beforehand.
They would guard the tower.
Everything else would be left to him.
"Kushina."
Before moving, Yagami turned to her seriously.
"When I rush down later—don't follow me."
Otherwise, once her blood ran hot and she charged in alongside him…
Things could get troublesome.
"I know. I won't drag you down."
Kushina replied helplessly.
"Don't worry."
Yagami looked at her, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
…Why does that not sound convincing at all?
He thought inwardly.
She agreed far too quickly.
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