Mito Menma agreed to Sakura's proposal.
Sakura would serve as bait, directly entering the battlefield to launch a full-scale assault.
In the blink of an eye, a day had passed, and Mito Menma wasted no time initiating the all-out attack.
A gentle breeze brushed past.
Lush greenery flourished.
The Land of Rivers boasted an exceptional ecosystem, easily the best among the smaller nations. Yet, bordered by both the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, it was inevitably destined to become a battlefield.
But…
This so-called war would end today.
Mito Menma stood on the makeshift command platform, gazing at the Sand shinobi arrayed against them. The lingering effects of the previous nanotoxin insect incident had caused significant losses for Konohagakure. Though the Sand also suffered, under Kakuzu's calculated control, their losses were far from crippling. The Sand's numbers exceeded Konoha's by at least fifteen hundred.
Sakura, clad in Konoha's standard ninja attire, her long pink hair tied back with a simple black band, stood resolute. She wore no Konoha headband. With her strength, reputation, and distinct presence, she no longer needed it to prove her identity. Her mere presence was enough for everyone to know.
She was a ninja of Konoha.
Sakura Haruno of the Hidden Leaf.
Just like Tsunade.
The breeze stirred her cherry-blossom hair, her emerald eyes calmly surveying the thousands of Sand shinobi across the battlefield. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Sakura showed not a trace of panic.
I come, I see, I conquer.
From the moment she set foot on this land, the scales of war had already tipped.
In today's ninja world, who could rival her if Pain himself did not emerge?
"Mito Menma!" A weathered yet powerful voice echoed from the distant Sand command platform. "It seems you've finally come to your senses. Tired of playing the shrinking turtle, are you ready to get serious?"
The voice of Chiyo, the Sand elder, amplified by chakra, resounded across the battlefield.
Mito Menma remained unmoved, glancing instead at Sakura beside him.
Sakura gave a knowing smile and spoke up. "So, you're Chiyo? The one who got thoroughly thrashed by my mentor, Tsunade, in the Second Shinobi World War?"
Her young, slightly playful voice rang out just as powerfully across the battlefield.
"Hmph, and you must be Sakura Haruno," Chiyo retorted. "The spark that ignited this war? Young, but with a wicked heart. Truly a vile little brat bred by Konoha!"
"Don't make excuses for your own incompetence," Sakura shot back. "The Sand broke the alliance agreement first, colluding with our village's traitor, Orochimaru, to assassinate the Hokage. And now you dare to twist the truth? Truly rats from a backwater burrow, no better than the Cloud!"
Sakura's words flowed effortlessly. The Sand's misdeeds were so blatant she didn't even need to dig for reasons. Their flaws were too numerous to count.
"Little girl, you've got a sharp tongue for someone so young," Chiyo sneered. "No surprise, being a disciple of that old fossil Sarutobi Hiruzen. Surrender now, and I might just spare your miserable life!"
Chiyo brushed off Sakura's accusations with indifference.
Sakura laughed coldly. "The Sand backstabs their allies and now tries to paint lies as truth. Not only do you feel no shame, but you flaunt your age like it's a badge of honor. You perfectly fit my image of your outdated, hypocritical ways. Truly a bunch of petty villains. Even the brutish Cloud shinobi at least bother to hide behind peace treaties. You don't even pretend—you've thrown all dignity to the wind. No wonder you're cozying up with the Cloud."
Sakura unleashed her verbal barrage without mercy, not a single curse word yet devastating enough to crush the Sand's morale with her wit alone.
Chiyo's face darkened as she glared at the pink-haired figure on Konoha's command platform. "So this is your justification for restricting grain exports and watching our people starve?"
Sakura scoffed. "What? My country's resources are none of your business."
She mocked Chiyo's lack of strategy and the Kazekage's shortsightedness, picking at their weakest points. "Since ancient times, the Land of Fire has exported endless grain to the great nations…"
"And since ancient times, that makes it right?" Sakura's voice suddenly rose, cutting Chiyo off. "During the First, Second, and Third Shinobi World Wars, the Land of Fire never stopped its grain exports. And what did we get in return? War! Bloodshed! Cruelty! Konoha shinobi had to fight Sand and Cloud ninja fed by our own grain! You don't even have the decency to be grateful. Instead, you raise your blades against the Land of Fire! Those grains would be better fed to dogs—at least they'd bark in thanks. But you? Ungrateful, treacherous vermin! What use is there in keeping you around?"
Her words ignited the Konoha shinobi's fury. They glared at the Sand ninja across the field.
"Ungrateful traitors!" they roared.
"Ungrateful traitors!"
"Ungrateful traitors!"
Their shouts, fueled by righteous anger, pierced the heavens.
"Damn that girl!" Chiyo gritted her teeth, glaring at the pink figure in the distance. She wanted to retort, to defend the Sand's honor, but her mouth opened and closed without words. Sakura's accusations were undeniable.
"Why hesitate?" Rasa, standing nearby, watched the scene impassively. The day Sakura arrived on the battlefield, he had received intelligence and rushed to the front with Gaara, determined to crush her. It was his original plan, born the moment he left Konoha after the failed attempt to assassinate the Hokage. He would grind this cherry blossom of Konoha into dust on the battlefield.
"I understand," Chiyo said, glancing at Rasa. Her lips tightened as she gave the order to attack.
The Sand shinobi, humiliated by Sakura's words, charged like ravenous wolves toward the Konoha forces. Meanwhile, Konoha's ninja, reminded of the Sand's betrayal—eating their grain while plotting against them—fought back with righteous fury.
The clash was immediate, brutal, and bloody.
"Elder Menma, take command of the battle. I'm going in," Sakura said without hesitation, leaping toward the battlefield.
Kakashi and Terumi Mei, who had been on standby, followed close behind.
For this battle, Sakura had no intention of scheming.
The truth was simple.
She wanted to kill Kakuzu. The Sand wanted to kill her.
So they'd settle it on the battlefield—where fists would decide whose will was stronger.
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