Not long after the battle began, heavy casualties had already appeared on the battlefield where Konoha and Sunagakure (Sand Village) forces clashed. The number of deaths on both sides rose rapidly, while the number of wounded quickly exceeded one hundred.
All kinds of ninja tools were constantly launched in surprise attacks, and Wind Release and Fire Release techniques frequently erupted across the battlefield, unleashing tremendous destructive power.
On Konoha's side, the reason for the casualties was their repeated attempts to launch assaults against the Sand Village's defensive line, trying to break through the encirclement.
What they did not expect was that the Sand interception force did not simply hold their position as anticipated. After repelling Konoha's attacks—with the help of elite ninja such as puppet masters—they suddenly went all-out and launched a counterattack against Konoha's position, displaying a fierce determination to fight to the death.
Under such ferocious attacks, although the Sand Village suffered heavy losses, they also achieved certain results. Not only did they disrupt several of Konoha's breakout attempts, but they even began showing signs of splitting Konoha's defensive line into several sections.
The situation was now extremely clear:
If Konoha continued to spend time entangled in battle with these three Sand Village legions, it would not take long before Sand reinforcements from the other three directions arrived. Once those forces joined the three legions already fighting here, Konoha's troops would be completely surrounded.
Given that Konoha already had a numerical disadvantage, being surrounded would almost certainly mean that this 1,400-man army would be wiped out here.
The Sand Village commander understood this.
And the Konoha commander understood it even more clearly:
They absolutely could not remain trapped here. They had to break through.
...
Meanwhile…
Shimizu's four-man squad was moving rapidly through the forest.
Suddenly, Satomi spoke up:
"Behind us, at the 8 o'clock direction, about 1.5 kilometers away, a large number of Sand ninja have appeared—over a hundred people… and the number is still increasing. It's likely a full Sand legion."
"What direction are they heading?" Minato asked.
"…If they continue in that direction, they'll probably reach Rakuyō City," Satomi replied after quickly analyzing the situation.
"Maybe they're the vanguard sent to launch a surprise attack on Rakuyō City," Yoshimaru speculated.
"If that's true… then we're in serious trouble," Minato said with a frown.
Konoha's forces along the southwestern border were indeed limited. Even including the garrison at Rakuyō City, they had only four fully organized ninja legions. And now, in order to retake the Southwest Canyon, the forces from Rakuyō City had likely mobilized completely.
That meant the city's defenses were now extremely weak.
"What's their speed? And their exact numbers?"
"They're now 1.3 kilometers away. Estimated contact in two and a half minutes. As for numbers—yes, it's a complete legion, ten battalions in total," Satomi reported while continuing to monitor the enemy with her Byakugan.
"We can't let them succeed," Minato said sternly.
"We must hold them here—maybe even wipe them out."
The Southwest Canyon had already been lost.
But if Rakuyō City were lost as well, then Konoha's entire military presence along the southwestern frontier would collapse.
And if that happened, it would mean the southwestern border of the Land of Fire would be completely exposed. Konoha's leadership could not possibly spare enough forces to defend such an immensely long border line.
Once the enemy penetrated deep into the Land of Fire's interior, a series of troublesome situations would inevitably follow.
However, there were only four elite jōnin here, yet they were planning to hold back an entire legion—360 enemies, perhaps even destroy them?
If anyone else had said such a thing, the others wouldn't even dare to imagine it.
But the person standing before them was the prized disciple of one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, the grand-disciple of the Third Hokage, and the man known as the "Yellow Flash," Minato Namikaze.
At this moment, he was like a rising morning star. His great strength and calm judgment always gave people the strong confidence that they would win.
"I'll do whatever you say. I trust you," Yoshimaru said briefly.
Minato immediately unfolded the map. He pointed to a location marked with a river, a bridge, and a cliff.
"We'll act here. This is the closest route to Rakuyō City. If we confirm that Konoha's forces have already crossed the river, we'll destroy the bridge!"
"Using explosive tags?" Yoshimaru asked.
"That probably won't be enough. We'll need Shimizu's Water Release technique to help," Minato replied.
Shimizu knew exactly which technique Minato meant—Water Release: Water Severing Wave, an S-rank offensive Water Style jutsu.
As long as he continuously supplied chakra, the bridge would definitely collapse under the devastating destructive power of that technique.
"That's fine. But what if Konoha's ninja haven't crossed the bridge yet?" Shimizu asked.
Minato paused for a moment, then slowly said:
"…Then even if we destroy the bridge, just the few of us wouldn't be able to defend Rakuyō City. If the situation really is that bad, then our mission changes—to help Konoha's army retreat safely to Kikyo Castle as much as possible."
If that happened, it would mean Konoha's main force had been pinned down, perhaps even completely surrounded.
And what awaited them would be a brutal battle.
With heavy thoughts in their hearts, the group accelerated toward the planned location.
But often, the things people fear the most are exactly what end up happening.
Several hours later, in the afternoon, the four finally arrived at the cliff marked on the map. From this high vantage point overlooking the distant battlefield, they discovered that Konoha's army had already been beaten into disarray.
At that moment, the Konoha ninja were surrounded by enemies at least twice their number and had been divided into several separate battle zones. It was clear that the Sand Village forces were constantly concentrating superior numbers, slowly devouring the smaller, isolated Konoha units one by one.
Now Konoha's situation had become extremely critical.
What should they do?
"Minato… this…" Yoshimaru opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
He indeed possessed the courage to charge forward without hesitation, but facing the visible army of more than 2,000 Sand ninja in the distance—what could just four of them possibly do?
This was a massive battle involving thousands of ninja. In such a war, the power of a few jōnin was extremely limited.
It could be said that they wouldn't be able to make any significant difference.
Perhaps the four of them could retreat safely right now.
But as members of Konoha, could they really stand by and watch 1,400 comrades die here?
Would that be worthy of Naoko's sacrifice?
And besides, would someone like Minato simply give up on the mission so easily?
"The Sand legion behind us is still closing in," Satomi reported, her Byakugan still wide open.
Minato clenched his fists. Facing this desperate situation—wolves in front and tigers behind—even he couldn't make a decision immediately.
Only after Satomi reminded him did he finally say slowly: "We'll enter from the flank—"
"I need bait," Shimizu said softly.
"Shimizu, what did you say?"
"I need you to speak with the commander of that unit below. Send a squad to act as bait and draw as many enemies as possible toward the bridge…"
Shimizu felt the chakra within his body nearing full capacity.
With the amount of chakra he now had, he should be able to release that ultimate Water Style technique created by the Second Hokage—
A terrifying jutsu that required 102 hand seals to perform.
It should work...
...
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