In this era, how significant was the role of a Kage-level powerhouse in a war?
The answer was simple:
Limitless.
If the opposing side didn't have a Kage-level fighter of equal strength, then a single Kage-level shinobi could lead their own troops and chase down enemies several times their number.
In ordinary combat, several elite jōnin squads might be enough to restrain a Kage-level fighter.
But on the battlefield, the situation was entirely different.
A Kage-level shinobi was equivalent to those ancient generals capable of defeating ten thousand enemies alone.
With such a warrior acting as the spearhead, supported by allied shinobi on the flanks and rear, their advance would be unstoppable unless the enemy possessed a comparable powerhouse.
Morale was a crucial factor in war.
That was why there were historical stories like a legendary warrior from ancient history, who once led twenty-eight riders against five thousand enemies, killed hundreds, and still managed to break out with twenty-six survivors.
If Xiang Yu had commanded two hundred eighty riders instead, his achievement might not have been merely escaping—it might have been outright victory.
For this reason, Shikaku Nara had chosen Obito Uchiha as the breakthrough point of this battle.
The Allied Shinobi Forces definitely had several Kage-level fighters, but they would certainly have made targeted deployments.
Just like how they had sent Kitsuchi and Rōshi to counter Uchiha Ren, Shikaku was certain they had also prepared forces specifically to deal with Kushina Uzumaki and Namikaze Minato.
After all, Minato—the legendary Yellow Flash of the Leaf—was feared throughout the shinobi world. There was no way the allied forces hadn't prepared for him.
As for Kushina, not only was she the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, she was also Minato's fiancée.
Targeting Kushina meant they could simultaneously restrain Minato.
Shikaku was almost certain that among the forces breaking through Fourth Hill's defensive line, there would be elite fighters heading straight for Kushina.
But Obito Uchiha was different.
To the outside world, he had been dead for years.
The allied forces likely hadn't even figured out who he was yet, let alone made specific plans against him.
Which meant the Third Hill defended by Obito most likely had no elite enemies assigned to it.
And that—
was Konoha's breakthrough point.
"Reserve force, alternate cover! Fall back to Kikyō Mountain Fortress!"
Shikaku stood up and issued another order.
If Obito's actions determined whether Konoha would win this war, then the five hundred shinobi here determined whether Konoha would lose it.
They absolutely could not allow the three thousand allied shinobi to pass beyond Kikyō Mountain.
They had to hold out until Orochimaru and his two thousand troops completely crushed the allied army's attacking force.
So they had to buy as much time as possible.
Otherwise—
everything would be lost.
With Shikaku's order given, the five hundred Konoha shinobi on the rear defensive line quickly adjusted their formation and began retreating toward Kikyō Mountain Fortress.
At the very same moment—
on Third Hill, Obito Uchiha erupted with overwhelming power.
He directly activated the third stage of Susanoo, controlling a colossal warrior dozens of meters tall.
The giant rampaged across the battlefield.
Each strike wiped out over a dozen allied shinobi, and under Obito's lead, the Konoha defenders on Third Hill drove the allied forces into complete chaos.
Nearly ten minutes later—
the three thousand–man allied strike force finally broke through the defenses of Fourth Hill and began advancing toward Kikyō Mountain Fortress.
At the Walls of Kikyō Mountain Fortress
"Kushina, how much of the Nine-Tails' power can you control now?"
Shikaku suddenly turned to her and asked.
Kushina answered proudly,
"I can stay fully conscious even with six tails released."
That was no small feat.
Kushina was not a perfect jinchūriki.
The power she used from the Nine-Tails was forcefully taken, not willingly granted.
And unlike the future Nine-Tails sealed within Naruto, which was only half of Kurama, the beast sealed inside Kushina was the complete Nine-Tails—Yin and Yang together.
Under such circumstances—when the Nine-Tails cooperated not at all—being able to enter a six-tailed state while maintaining sanity was extremely impressive.
To put it in perspective—
When Naruto reached six tails in his partial transformation, even Pain's Deva Path was forced into a desperate battle.
At this point, Kushina Uzumaki was undoubtedly a true Kage-level fighter.
Moreover, Kushina had secretly carried out numerous missions outside the village.
20 S-rank missions27 A-rank missions
She was far from an inexperienced fighter.
Her combat strength absolutely could not be underestimated.
Shikaku thought for a moment before asking another question.
"Can you use Tailed Beast Bombs now? And if you can… are you able to control their power?"
"Of course!"
Kushina answered confidently.
"Not only can I use them—I can fire multiple small Tailed Beast Bombs in succession."
"They won't accidentally hit our own shinobi."
"Good."
Shikaku pointed toward the direction the allied strike force was approaching from.
"Fire ten small Tailed Beast Bombs in that direction."
Although Shikaku was highly confident in his deduction, he still didn't want to make absolute conclusions before confirming it.
So he planned to blast the 'fish' out of hiding.
"No problem—leave it to me!"
Finally getting the chance to fight, Kushina was visibly excited.
Her chakra surged violently as she immediately entered a partial Tailed Beast transformation.
"Continuous Tailed Beast Bombs!"
Dropping onto all fours like a fox, Kushina's six tails whipped behind her as she opened her mouth wide.
There was almost no charging time.
Ten soccer-ball-sized Tailed Beast Bombs shot out like bullets.
"Watch out! Tailed Beast Bombs!"
Someone in the allied strike force immediately noticed them and shouted a warning.
At that moment—
three figures leapt out from the allied ranks.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Barrier Wall!"
"Puppet Technique: Three Treasures Suction Collapse!"
"Boil Release: Steam Kick!"
Some defended.
Some absorbed.
Some deflected.
The three figures effortlessly neutralized all ten incoming Tailed Beast Bombs, no longer hiding their presence.
Or rather—
there was no need to hide anymore.
Their target had always been Kushina Uzumaki.
Now that they had found her, concealment was pointless.
Shikaku's eyes gleamed sharply.
"Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure…"
"Chiyo, the elder advisor of the Sand…"
"And Han, the Five-Tails jinchūriki of Iwagakure…"
"Excellent."
"The big fish have finally surfaced."
For the first time, Shikaku allowed himself to relax slightly.
Just then—
a familiar voice sounded beside Kushina.
"Am I late?"
Namikaze Minato suddenly appeared at her side, smiling as he spoke.
"No," Shikaku replied calmly while watching the allied strike force rapidly approaching.
"You arrived exactly on time."
Within the allied strike force, Rasa, Chiyo, and Han pushed through the crowd and advanced to the very front.
Han shouted loudly:
"Leave five hundred men here to deal with the defenders!"
"The rest—do not get entangled with them! Proceed according to the original plan!"
"I'll open the path for you!"
"Kokuō!"
Han's body suddenly expanded.
He transformed into a massive white horse-like beast with five horns and five tails—the Five-Tails itself.
Lowering its head, the enormous creature charged straight toward Kikyō Mountain Fortress.
"Horn Break!!"
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