Third Hokage returned to the hilltop after the battle, gazing at Mount Hakuto—once lush and flourishing, now reduced to a bleak wasteland. A sense of unease welled up inside him. In this conflict, both sides had played all their trump cards. The next encounter would likely be the final showdown, with victory still uncertain.
"Hokage-sama, we should abandon this place," Anya suddenly suggested.
The suggestion surprised Third. Such a natural defensive barrier—how could Anya even consider abandoning it?
"Why?" Third asked curiously.
Anya explained, "Puppet masters have limited range over their puppets; they can't operate effectively over long distances. With so many enemy puppets currently deployed, the strain on our puppeteers is immense. This open battlefield gives them room for gradual advancement. If the battle shifts into urban warfare, however, the effectiveness of puppet masters drops significantly. Plus, the longer we extend the battlefield, the more advantageous it becomes for us, don't you agree?"
Third said gravely, "But have you considered what would happen if Sunagakure releases Shukaku within the village regardless of consequences? The entire village could be destroyed in the chaos of war."
"They won't," Anya replied meaningfully. "We have the Nine-Tails. And as fellow Jinchuriki, ours will certainly prove superior."
The Nine-Tails' power was unmatched—ten Shukakus combined couldn't rival it.
"You…" Third uttered a single word but found himself speechless, shocked by Anya's cold demeanor.
"Do you think the First Hokage reserved the Nine-Tails for no reason? He did it precisely for a moment like this—to tip the balance when it matters most. I believe if the Second Hokage were still alive today, he would make the same decision. In war, we must seize control. By retreating now, the initiative remains in our hands." The way Anya spoke now was vastly different from how he used to speak. Today, his schemes were well laid out, and the Organization was beginning to take shape. Without exaggeration, he alone had the potential to tip the scales in this ongoing Third Battle, whichever side he chose. His sharpness was unmistakable.
Looking at Anya now, Third felt a strange sense of familiarity. Everything—the tone of voice, expressions, thought process, even his combat style—reminded him of his former mentor, the Second Hokage.
"Perhaps… you're right."
Faced with the relentless attacks from Suna ninjas, Third began seriously considering Anya's proposal. Ultimately, he had to admit that it was indeed the best course of action for the current situation. Compared to staying here, defending Konoha itself would be far easier. Additionally, once the pressure eased on the Kumo and Iwagakure battlefield fronts, reinforcements could quickly return to the village, forming a pincer movement against Sunagakure. Of course, risks existed too—Konoha might end up needing complete reconstruction after this war.
Finally, after careful consideration, Third issued his final command: "All Konoha ninja, evacuate everyone inside Mount Hakuto back to the village immediately."
Boom. Boom. Boom...
The synchronized footsteps of countless puppets echoed across the land, each step forward bringing an overwhelming pressure and impact that grew stronger with every passing moment.
On the very night when the Third abandoned the Mount Hakuto stronghold, Suna's sensory ninja detected this move. Rasa naturally didn't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and crossed over the mountain that had once seemed unreachable.
The powerful Suna advanced rapidly toward Konoha's gates with a large number of puppets, arriving within three days.
At this moment, Rasa felt a surge of excitement—but also regret for not sending more Suna ninja. If he'd known Konoha had weakened so severely, he should've overwhelmed them completely and destroyed the village outright. Though perhaps it still wasn't too late. Thinking about the trump card Chiyo had previously suggested to him, Rasa regained full confidence. He immediately signaled forward with a grand gesture and launched the attack.
At this moment, the Konoha Defense War officially commenced.
No one on either side could have predicted this—the Hidden Sand Village, long considered the weakest among the Five Great Countries, now marched triumphantly to the gates of the legendary Hidden Leaf Village, universally regarded as the strongest of the five great nations.
The Konoha shinobi guarding the gate were forced backward under pressure from these overwhelming giants, their initial fighting spirit quickly reduced to near freezing point.
"What do we do?" One ninja muttered anxiously, his eyes flashing with fear.
"Don't waste your thoughts elsewhere. These puppets may look frightening, but they're nothing more than paper tigers." A deep, heavy voice suddenly spoke beside the ninja.
"Ahh, Lord Hyuga!" Startled, the ninja hurriedly dropped down onto his knees in nervousness.
The speaker was none other than Hiashi Hyuga, the current head of the Hyuga Clan who had just arrived—and Hinata Hyuga's future father.
After casting a brief glance at the young ninja, Hiashi Hyuga leapt up onto a tall building. Activating his Byakugan, he saw an endless stream of puppets approaching, stretching as far as the eye could see. Though inwardly alarmed, he remembered the elders' instructions earlier. Taking a deep breath, he shouted powerfully, "We are the noble Hyuga Clan—the clan that possesses the ultimate Kekkei Genkai. We are invincible! Don't let yourselves get intimidated by these useless puppets! This is our home! Konoha will prevail! Prevail!"
Hearing their clan leader's declaration, the elite members of the Hyuga Clan activated their Byakugans immediately, roaring with passion, "Konoha will win!"
"Konoha will win."
"Charge!"
"Good. That's the true spirit of the Hyuga men. Now, assemble the entire force and charge collectively. Destroy these puppets." Hiashi ordered.
"Yes sir."
A mass of Hyuga warriors rallied together, each one fully prepared for battle—even willing to die—standing ready and waiting.
Ninjas throughout the village rushed out as well. Tsunade and Anya stood atop a giant Katsuyu slug watching this unfold, their expressions deadly serious.
"This is strange. Where did Suna get so many puppets?" During the Second Shinobi World War, Tsunade had faced off against Suna. Compared to other fronts during that period, Suna had been relatively easier to defeat. Especially because Lady Chiyo's deadly poisons were utterly neutralized by her abilities, and she had pushed all the way to Suna's gates back then. Now, however, in this Third Great Ninja War, the situation had completely turned around.
Anya naturally knew the origin of these Puppets, even what Sasori had fitted inside them, so she spoke gently, "Don't worry. Since Hokage decided to set the battlefield in Konoha, he definitely has countermeasures. Believe in him."
Hearing this, Tsunade cast a puzzled glance at Anya and said somewhat oddly, "That doesn't sound like something you'd say."
Anya asked nervously, "Is there anything wrong with that?"
The war had already started, so Tsunade didn't dwell on it and responded with a serious tone, "Never mind. Later, you'll need to assist me in treating injured ninjas, working to restore them as soon as possible. Our ninja numbers are limited; each death weakens us significantly."
Anya nodded and said, "Hmm, I'll support you fully."
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