During the forty - fourth year of the Konoha era.
Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure successively sent over ten thousand troops each, attacking Konoha from three different directions.
Konoha showed no fear. It divided its forces into three groups and boldly confronted the three enemy forces.
The Land of Rivers, a small country between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, unfortunately became the battlefield for the two countries' confrontation.
"This battle will be the day for me to make my mark," said a man with a bandage wrapped around his right cheek, coldly staring at the Sunagakure army across from him.
"Lord Tanzō, are you sure you want to lead the charge later? It's too dangerous!"
At this time, the man's deputy walked over and dissuaded him with a worried look on his face.
"Hehe, Shikaku, if I can't lead from the front, how can I deserve this position as the commander?"
Tanzō looked at the pineapple - haired man beside him, smiled faintly, and didn't intend to change his mind.
"Well..."
Shikaku's feelings were complicated.
Although rationally he didn't support it, he had to admit that he admired what Tanzō had done.
It was in sharp contrast to the Third Hokage, who stayed in Konoha and didn't come to the battlefield himself...
Suddenly, the formation of the Sunagakure army moved.
"Tanzō, hand over the Third Kazekage and the murderer of my son. Perhaps I'll consider withdrawing my troops and returning to our country," a middle - aged woman in a gray robe walked out, holding a megaphone and shouting towards the Konoha side.
"Absurd!"
Tanzō let out a cold snort, channeled his Wind Release chakra, and made his magnetic voice spread across the entire battlefield.
"There are no cowards in Konoha. We'll never betray our comrades. Furthermore -"
"Those who dare to invade our Konoha, do you think you can leave without leaving hundreds or thousands of corpses? Just ask our Konoha soldiers if they'll let you go?!"
Tanzō's words were firm and powerful. Everyone in Konoha cheered.
Sakumo, who was following Tanzō, was even moved to tears.
Although Tanzō's actions might seem like an attempt to win people over, Sakumo was willing to be swayed.
"Not a chance!"
"Not a chance!"
The soldiers roared loudly. Their shouts reached the sky, and the terrifying morale made Chiyo's face change slightly.
"Is Tanzō crazy? Where does Konoha get the nerve to fight us on three fronts?"
Chiyo's expression changed constantly, but soon she calmed down and said with a sneer.
"Since Konoha is so stubborn, don't blame us Sunagakure for being rude."
"Soldiers of Sunagakure, charge!" She waved her hand forcefully and shouted.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
At Chiyo's order, the dense Sunagakure soldiers moved. Like a dark - yellow sea of sand, they surged towards Konoha.
"Humph!"
Seeing this, Tanzō sneered, touched the bandage on his right cheek, and also gave an order.
"Soldiers of Konoha, follow me and charge forth!"
After saying that, he blurred into motion and charged forward, heading straight for the overwhelming flood.
From behind, Tanzō's figure seemed so frail as he charged alone towards a vast army.
This scene brought tears to the eyes and fired up the blood of many Konoha soldiers.
"Charge, brothers! I'll lead the way!"
"Protect the commander-in-chief! Bring glory to Konoha!"
After all, Konoha was an army of justice, and even the minor characters had more lines than those from Sunagakure.
After shouting their lines, everyone rushed out one by one, vying with each other to charge towards the enemy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The earth trembled, and dust filled the air.
The armies of Konoha and Sunagakure clashed violently like two huge surges of yellow and green waves.
Splat!
Amid the dull thuds, blood spattered and limbs flew, creating a spray of blood.
In just one charge, over a hundred lives were lost.
"First, take down the leader!"
"Kill the opposing commander first!"
Many Sunagakure ninjas brightened up at the sight of Tanzō and rushed towards him without hesitation.
"Wind Release: Air Bullets!"
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Tanzō smiled as he watched the Sunagakure ninjas swarming towards him, eager to achieve great feats.
He faced the incoming ninjutsu head-on and ignored the approaching blades.
In the confused looks of the opponents, Tanzō slowly raised a hand and silently chanted in his heart.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Hum!
A terrifying repulsive force suddenly erupted with Tanzō at the center, creating a visible shockwave in the air.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
The incoming ninjutsu and enemies were instantly sent flying by the repulsive force and crashed back into the Sunagakure formation. Their fates were unknown.
A vacuum area was cleared around Tanzō, making the nearby Sunagakure ninjas gasp in horror.
"This old guy is incredibly terrifying!"
Tanzō bit his finger and formed hand seals, unleashing the Summoning Jutsu.
"Come out, Baku!"
A huge monster that was neither a bear nor a normal beast, with an elephant's trunk and a leopard's body, appeared.
Its enormous body, dozens of meters tall, was comparable to that of a tailed beast, looking extremely intimidating.
Moo!
The Baku opened its huge mouth and frantically sucked in air like a whale gulping water, creating a huge cyclone in front of it.
Due to the strong difference in air pressure, a powerful suction force was created. Many Sand ninjas were lifted off their feet and directly sucked towards it.
Manual Universal Pull (Just joking!)
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
Tanzō opened his mouth and spat out a wind blade dozens of meters long. Then he flicked his head and sent the wind blade flying.
In the original plot, this smooth combo of his directly broke through Sasuke's Susanoo.
The wind blade whistled past, and the Sand ninjas were like paper dolls, shattering into pieces all over the ground.
"Tanzō!"
Chiyo, not far away, was enraged at the sight.
With that move just now, Tanzō had killed at least a hundred of her Sunagakure ninjas.
"All of you, stand aside! I'll take on Tanzō myself!"
Chiyo rushed out from the crowd, and the soldiers on both sides slowly retreated, making enough space for the two of them.
King against king, general against general. It has always been so since ancient times.
"Do you really think you, Chiyo, are qualified to face me?" Tanzō snorted disdainfully.
"I'm someone comparable to the previous Hokages!"
"Unless Retsu and Shamon were resurrected, who in your puny Sunagakure could stop me?"
Tanzō stood still without dodging or flinching, waiting for Chiyo to approach.
"Arrogant! Do you, Tanzō, really think you're comparable to the previous sages?"
Chiyo sneered. As she charged forward, she took out a scroll and forcefully flung it into the air.
As the wife of the First Kazekage, it was only natural for her to mock Tanzō with her status.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ten white puppets appeared. These were Chiyo's specialty, the White Secret Technique: The Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets.
As a master of the Puppet Technique, Chiyo could effortlessly control one puppet with just one finger.
These ten puppets could cooperate with each other, performing combined attacks and Ninjutsu. Chiyo once used this technique to capture a city.
She was hailed as a puppet master whose one puppet could hold off a thousand.
"You'll soon find out whether I'm qualified or not."
A slight smile played at the corner of Tanzō's mouth. He clasped his hands tightly and let out a low shout.
"Wood Release: Nativity of a Sea of Trees!"
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