Facts prove Kirigakure aren't fools; faced with a Ninja legion, no one dares linger as a straggler.
Those who smelled trouble earlier have long since vanished without a trace.
Who'd stay behind to die? If the higher-ups demand accountability, we'll just become Rogue Ninja—us Kirigakure Ninja have always been this 'honorable'.
After clearing the battlefield, the Seventh Assault Force continued its thrust eastward.
They were the spearhead of this counter-offensive: unless nearby allies signalled for help, their orders were advance, advance, and keep advancing.
So far the flanking units were progressing smoothly, meeting no stubborn resistance that required assistance.
Intelligence said the Mist had set up at least four defensive lines along this route.
Yet as Higashino Shin chased with the unit, he sensed only freshly-laid traps; the last two lines were deserted—everyone had bolted.
Whether Kirigakure planned to mass its forces for a final showdown with Konoha or was simply running for it, no one knew.
Traps are pointless against the Byakugan; even Explosive Tag arrays hidden inside trees or stones are exposed by those all-seeing eyes.
After dismantling every trap en route, the Seventh Assault Force, guided by Higashino Shin's perception, arrived outside a major strongpoint.
They had passed a similar fort before, but like the defence lines it had been unmanned.
This strongpoint was different: it sat atop a jutting hill whose reverse side was a near-vertical cliff.
Within the forest outside the fort lurked numerous enemies. They masked their Aura well, but they couldn't elude the detection of Higashino Shin and the Hyuga and Aburame clans.
The Inuzuka wept in the latrine; for Ninja, scent is the easiest thing to erase, and if that fails, a stronger stench can confuse an animal's keen nose.
Too sharp a nose isn't always a blessing—poor Inuzuka Kiba was once left reeling by a single fart from Naruto.
Tiny, all-pervading insects are far harder to guard against.
A cliff is no obstacle to Ninja, but assaulting from there means enduring strikes from above—too costly.
Only a head-on charge up the slope would work.
If they had experts like Hashirama or Madara, they could simply stroll up in a Wood Golem or Susanoo; even the Third's five-element combo would suffice to level the place.
Or have Orochimaru summon Manda for a stroll.
Unfortunately, none of that was available.
That snake-obsessed madman was buried in experiments and forever sailing off somewhere.
Uchiha Sosuke asked, 'How many enemies in the forest on the slope?'
Higashino Shin: 'Fewer than us—about 150 Kirigakure Ninja hidden there.'
To drive the invading Mist back in one blow, Konoha had mustered roughly a thousand Ninja. After garrisoning essential defences at the Land of Waves and the Command Center, this was every soldier they could spare.
They split into a dozen-plus units. The Seventh Assault Force was the largest, fielding around 200 Ninja; after two breaching actions and light casualties, about 180 remained—remarkably light losses.
The Village was stretched thin: forces were needed at home, Sunagakure had to be watched on the western front, Kumogakure and Iwagakure were grinding them down in the north—no reserves left for the Eastern Front.
Higashino Shin's group was the final reinforcement; push any harder and they'd be graduating academy kids—sending them to die.
Jonin like Gekko Yun Jian suggested, 'Let's wait for the other columns; with overwhelming odds we might talk them into surrender.'
Uchiha Sosuke knew it was the smart play—but he refused to wait.
This was the Uchiha's chance to shine, to prove themselves and earn merit for their Clan Chief.
He had packed the assault force with clansmen precisely for this moment.
He swept his arm: 'No waiting. Our job is to obliterate every obstacle. Uchiha Ninja will lead the charge and, if need be, the dying. Time to show why we are the strongest clan in the Ninja World.'
What could anyone say? The commander had spoken, and he was putting his own kin in the vanguard.
Higashino Shin shook his head: were the Uchiha reliable? Brave? Willing to fight?
Absolutely—no one doubted that.
But Lord Sosuke, even if you win, no one will owe your clan gratitude.
When news reaches the families of those who die storming the slope, who do you think they'll blame?
And they will find out—believe me, they will; the Village's rumour mill isn't run by the Uchiha.
---
A fierce battle erupted.
Leaving a detachment to circle the cliff and cut off escape, the rest—led by the Uchiha—charged the slope.
Once both sides reached throwing range, Kunai, shuriken and fuma shuriken clashed in a metallic din.
Amid the hail of blades flew countless Explosive Tags, blasting a bare corridor through the forest between the armies.
Konoha Ninja pressed forward under fire; at closer range the jutsu duel began.
From uphill the Kirigakure Ninja, exploiting their height, launched combined Water Release: Water Trumpet, Wild Water Wave, Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
A torrent surged downward through the giant trees, formidable and roaring.
On Konoha's front line Uchiha answered with Great Fireball or Majestic Fire Demolition, while other clans added their own techniques.
The two mass jutsu collided with a thunderous boom; dense mist erupted along the battlefront and soon blanketed the field.
Though Konoha fought uphill, they held the line; next came brutal close-quarters combat.
'Rumble—!'
An even greater roar shook the slope: elite Kirigakure Ninja, burning every drop of Chakra, combined to unleash Water Release: Super Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
Higashino Shin didn't yet know how spectacular Kisame Hoshigaki would later make this technique with Samehada, but he guessed it would look much like this.
An immense flood merged with earlier water, carrying trees and boulders down the slope with the unstoppable force of a tsunami.
Facing an attack like a natural disaster, everyone froze—how could they stop it? The Uchiha were never famed for defence.
Ninja vary; most have Chakra for only a handful of Earth Walls.
But dozens of Earth Walls were useless against a gravity-aided, cataclysmic Water Release.
Higashino Shin sighed—he'd known this would happen.
Defenders on high only needed to pour water downward; attackers had to dodge projectiles, counter jutsu, then somehow reach the foe.
No choice—he had to go all-out; he couldn't watch his allies be scattered by a water jutsu.
For the first time since the campaign began, Higashino Shin formed hand-seals. He entered Sage Mode in an instant, absorbing a vast surge of White Senjutsu Energy, blended it with his Chakra, crouched and slammed his palms to the ground.
Sage Art: Earth Release: Super Earth Wall
Two huge earthen walls joined at an obtuse angle shot up before the Konoha Ninja, shielding everyone.
The walls were broad and thick, their height overtopping the surging Super Exploding Water Colliding Wave. When the two forces met, a sky-rending crash rang out.
Yet the Super Earth Wall held firm, channelling the tsunami-like torrent to either side and down into the forest below.
Now it was Kirigakure's turn to stare in shock.
Drained Kirigakure elites lay on the slope, gazing at the towering rampart below—and a sick sense of dread crept in.
Damn—if their ace combination jutsu had failed, were they about to meet the same fate as the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and run into yet another Immortal of Konoha?