Orochimaru looked at the chaotic scene before him with satisfaction: "Although the seals prevent the two Hokage from unleashing their full power from when they were alive, it's enough. After all, it's them ~"
Under the fierce offensive of the two Hokage, the formation protecting Naruto had to be forcibly broken up, with members intercepting the attacks of the First and Second Hokage separately. Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation barrier, the battlefield was instantly divided.
Senju Tobirama's figure was like an electric arc, moving at high speed within the confined space. He had no fixed trajectory; one moment he was behind Orochimaru, the next he appeared at the other end of the barrier wall, the kunai in his hand reflecting the barrier's purple light as he searched for a fatal attack angle.
"Boom! Boom!"
The fire suppression team, composed of two Karsten Squad members, reacted with astonishing speed. Their mortal-grade Bolters spat flames, each Bolter round precisely predicting Tobirama's next landing spot.
However, they were facing the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Tobirama's figure vanished abruptly 0.3 seconds before the Bolter rounds hit, only to reappear silently on the other side of the air current and smoke stirred up by the explosion.
This method of movement, which completely disregarded physical distance, thoroughly disrupted Karsten Squad's combat models, which were based on ballistics and logical deduction. Their tactical coordination was still flawless, but their enemy was dancing outside their logic, using a "magical" method.
On the other side, facing Senju Hashirama's catastrophic "Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence," the battle was also deadlocked.
"Buzz—slash!"
The Chainswords in the hands of the other two team members emitted an ear-splitting roar, their high-speed rotating teeth forcibly tearing apart giant, python-like vines, sending wood chips flying everywhere.
But this destruction was a drop in the bucket compared to the nearly infinite vitality of Wood Release.
The severed trees healed almost instantly, and then, at an even faster rate and on a larger scale, they pressed in from all directions. The defensive formation was constantly compressed, the ground beneath their feet shrinking, as if they were about to be completely swallowed by this living forest.
Just then, the battle took an unexpected turn.
During a brief lull between Bolter explosions, Senju Tobirama seized the fleeting opening. He chose not to engage in close combat, but instead completed the hand signs in mid-air instantly.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A stream of highly compressed water, like an incomparably sharp blade, shot from an extremely tricky angle, bypassing the frontal defense, and precisely struck one of the team member's shoulders.
"Pfft!"
The sturdy special alloy shoulder armor was instantly pierced like paper by the high-pressure water stream.
Blood mixed with shattered components splattered out.
The tall body of that team member jolted violently, the immense impact forcing him to his knees.
But he didn't scream, nor did he pause for even a moment. He simply endured the pain, re-raised his heavy Bolter, its muzzle still steadily locked on the front, and pulled the trigger.
"Boom!"
The scorching Bolter round was his only response to the attack.
He seemed to feel no pain; neither the wound nor the blood could shake his ingrained will to fight.
In a corner of the barrier, Orochimaru watched the battle with great interest, his golden snake-like eyes gleaming with a sickly light.
He let out a hoarse laugh, not loud, but clear enough to reach Naruto's ears.
"Political Commissar ~"
Orochimaru drew out the respectful title with immense mockery.
"Although your subordinates have commendable will, in the face of true power, it is ultimately just brute force."
A subtle ripple flickered in Naruto's ice-blue pupils.
His gaze fell on the soldier kneeling on one knee, on the blood gushing from the breach in his shoulder armor.
That blood, splattering on the familiar roof tiles of Konoha Village beneath his feet, was particularly jarring.
Holding off the two Hokage was already beyond Karsten Squad's capabilities. From an analytical perspective, if no new changes occurred, defeat was only a matter of time.
Should he cancel the Summoning Technique now, preserve the maximum living force, and let them return to their original world to continue serving the legion and fighting heresy?
This was Konoha.
Was it worth sacrificing these soldiers, who were absolutely loyal to him, on this land that he was supposed to protect?
This thought, like a chaotic whisper, surfaced in his mind for the first time.
In this moment of hesitation, Senju Hashirama on the opposite side suddenly clasped his hands together.
A surge of Chakra, far more immense and filled with the majesty of life than before, soared into the sky.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
"Roar—!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar, a ferocious Wood Dragon, composed of countless twisted trees, rose from the wildly growing forest.
It coiled its massive body, its Chakra-formed eyes gleaming with savage light.
Karsten Squad's attacks were completely unable to create an opening, and their defensive formation was about to collapse completely under the pressure of this Wood Dragon.
The squad leader, Karsten, while parrying another surprise attack from Tobirama with his alloy dagger, spoke to Naruto through the tactical helmet's built-in communication channel, his voice calm and devoid of emotion.
"Political Commissar, you are hesitating."
This blunt statement made Naruto's body tremble violently.
Karsten's voice continued, cold and mechanical, yet carrying a power capable of piercing the soul.
"Have you forgotten? In the Krieg 143rd Regiment, to cover the retreat of the child named Yulian and his orphanage, we lost half a company."
"But he survived."
A long-forgotten scene flashed through Naruto's mind.
Amidst endless war and ruins, a boy so thin that only his large eyes remained was rescued by him from the claws of an alien. The boy's gaze, initially fear, slowly transformed into an indescribable reverence and fanaticism.
Karsten's voice, like a cold carving knife, completely excised that nascent hesitation.
"Ten years later, Yulian passed all the modification surgeries and became a Space Marine, serving with the Ultramarines Chapter."
"In the name of the Emperor, he participated in the purification of an entire star system from heresy, saving hundreds of millions of human souls."
"Our sacrifices forge stronger guardians."
"This is our mission. And it is the Political Commissar's judgment, which you personally taught us."
The last trace of fluctuation in Naruto's eyes completely vanished.
In its place was an absolute, ice-cold clarity and ruthlessness.
He understood.
So-called sacrifice was never meaningless attrition.
It was selection, investment, to exchange the smallest price for a stronger, purer, and more worthy future to protect.
And he was the one responsible for calculating the cost and making the decision.
It wasn't that he shouldn't have summoned Karsten Squad; Karsten Squad had already completed their mission.
What was needed now were stronger soldiers to bring the mission to a perfect close.
He looked up, calmly staring directly at the roaring, ferocious Wood Dragon charging towards him, his voice not loud, but carrying an irresistible authority.
"I understand."
"Your mission is complete, soldiers."
He slowly raised his right hand, preparing to release the Summoning Technique.
"For the Emperor."
In the communication channel, the five members of Karsten Squad's voices rang out in unison.
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