Konoha, Just Like Kizaru

A fierce battle was unfolding on the border of the Land of Fire.

The ten-day conflict between the smaller nations had finally spilled over into the territory of the Fire Country. Both sides responded by reinforcing their troops.

The ninja forces from the Land of Wind had reached to 5,000, while Konoha's numbers rose to 4,000.

In the Konoha camp, Akamichi Torifu stood over a map, studying it carefully. Around him were twenty or so Jōnin who had joined the battle.

Among them, one figure stood out—a white-haired Jōnin. It was none other than Kato Dan, Tsunade's boyfriend.

"Is Sunagakure out of their minds? Sending 5,000 ninjas at once—are they ignoring their other borders?" 

It was Jōnin of the Inuzuka clan who spoke. 

The Jōnin who spoke was Inuzuka Tsume.

At her feet stood a black-and-white wolfhound with striking blue eyes, resembling a Siberian husky.

Kato Dan thought for a moment and said, "The Land of Wind's forces are still coming in. They're infiltrating through the Land of Tea, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Rain."

"With our current defensive line, it might be hard to stop them completely."

Namikaze Minato nodded, adding, "Their weapons are good, and their iron ore reserves far exceed ours. If this continues, other major nations might..."

The Land of Fire was unmatched in one-on-one confrontations. But being the dominant force in the ninja world, its vast and fertile lands made it a target.

Other countries wouldn't stand by and let the Land of Fire crush the Land of Wind without interference.

This confidence fueled the Land of Wind's boldness. Positioned in a desert, they knew no other nation wanted the burden of attacking them.

A large number of troops could be mobilized for battle, but Konoha was in a difficult position.

If the garrison forces on other borders were reduced, the other three great nations wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of the Land of Fire's vulnerability.

Akamichi Torifu tapped the map with his finger and said, "That's why we must strike decisively. We need to use the force of thunder to annihilate the main forces of the Land of Wind here and deliver a crushing blow!"

Torifu looked at the Jōnin gathered in the tent and declared, "Konoha's supplies have arrived. Everyone, prepare for battle tonight!"

The Jōnin nodded and left quickly to make their preparations.

As they exited the tent, Torifu stopped Minato.

"Minato, you stay," Akamichi Torifu said firmly.

After the other Jōnin left, Torifu turned to Minato and continued, "Your speed is fast. I need you to infiltrate the enemy's rear and cut off their supply lines."

He handed over a letter, adding, "This is intel that the Anbu obtained at great risk."

Minato accepted the letter, scanning the detailed logistics routes of the Land of Wind.

"I understand," Minato replied calmly, without hesitation.

"Please," Torifu said with a serious tone, placing his trust in Minato.

While Konoha's ninjas individually outclassed the Sand Shinobi, their skill couldn't fully counter the overwhelming numbers of the enemy.

If Minato succeeded in disrupting the logistics of the Land of Wind, it would destabilize their forces and give Konoha the edge they needed.

Without logistics, the enemy might find themselves stranded even within the Land of Fire. However, cutting off their supply lines, especially when guarded by ninja, requires more than just courage—it demands exceptional skill and precision.

If not for Minato's remarkable performance throughout the war, Akamichi Torifu wouldn't have dared to assign him such a critical mission.

Early the next morning, the armies of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind clashed in their first intense battle.

Konoha's Shinobi and Sand Shinobi engaged fiercely, but a troubling issue quickly became apparent—Konoha's weapons.

The kunai wielded by Konoha's Shinobi began breaking after just a few strikes, and the same went for their ninja swords.

This unexpected disadvantage shifted the tide of the battle. Sand Shinobi grew more confident and fought with greater intensity, while Konoha's forces faltered due to their failing weapons.

Those who fought with fear began to retreat steadily.

In the end, Konoha's forces could only execute a strategic retreat.

Nearly 10,000 ninjas from both sides clashed in the forest, battling for an entire day and night.

The casualties were countless. 

Crows gathered in the surrounding sky, circling endlessly as if drawn by the overwhelming death.

That night, Akamichi Torifu sat grimly in his tent, staring at the casualty reports before him. His expression was heavy with anger and frustration.

"Today's battle resulted in 653 deaths and 102 severely injured ninjas," he muttered.

"Nine Jōnin were killed."

In just one day, Konoha had lost nearly half of its combat power.

And the reason for this wasn't a lack of strength or effort from the ninjas.

It was the fault of the faulty weapons supplied from Konoha.

Furious, Akamichi Torifu slammed his fist on the table, shattering it into pieces.

"Send a report on the battle to Konoha immediately! I want answers now!"

Akamichi Torifu's voice thundered with frustration and anger.

In his mind, a figure emerged—Mitokado Homura.

As one of the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's teammates, Mitokado Homura was responsible for overseeing Konoha's weapon supplies.

Akamichi Torifu, once an Admiral and now a border guard, knew there was more to Konoha's inner workings.

Danzo had established his own shadowy organization, Root, deeper and darker than Anbu itself.

It made sense to suspect Mitokado Homura, an old companion now handling critical supplies.

But this wasn't the time to dwell on suspicions.

Right now, his top priority was ensuring the survival of the ninjas under his command.

They could not afford to be annihilated here.

Akamichi Torifu's gaze hardened

"Send an order for Kato Dan to lead the 5th, 7th, and 8th squadrons to retreat toward Mount Kikyo," Akamichi Torifu commanded firmly. "The 2nd and 3rd teams will stay with me to block the enemy and ensure their safe evacuation!"

The secretary hesitated, startled. "But... the 2nd and 3rd teams are made up of ninjas from various clans. If you do this..."

It was no secret that these teams included ninjas from prominent clans, including the Akimichi clan. Among them were even rising stars like Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi.

Akamichi Torifu shot the secretary a cold glance. "Konoha is in trouble. Are you saying the children of these great clans shouldn't step up? Or are you implying that my life is expendable, but theirs isn't?"

Seeing Akamichi Torifu sharp and angry tone

The secretary didn't even dare to say anything, and hurried down to arrange the next task.

Akamichi Torifu picked up his fork, his gaze fixed on the distant flames of war. His expression was cold and resolute.

Under his commands, the entire camp sprang into action, moving with urgency and precision.

Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted on the camp's left flank.

"What's going on?" Torifu asked sharply, his voice steady but commanding.

A Hyuga clan ninja standing nearby immediately activated his Byakugan to survey the situation.

After a few moments, his face turned pale. "Torifu-sama, the enemy is launching an attack!"

Without hesitation, Akamichi Torifu grabbed his weapon, ready to face the oncoming threat.

Just as Akamichi Torifu was about to charge into battle, the Hyuga ninja beside him spoke urgently:

"Commander, it's Kumo Shinobi!"

"Kumo Shinobi?" Torifu repeated, frowning deeply.

He quickly picked up the map, his sharp eyes tracing the direction of the disturbance. The commotion was coming from Mount Kikyo.

This realization hit hard—Kumo Shinobi had crossed the border, and now, together with Sand Shinobi, they were launching a coordinated attack!

Torifu's grip tightened around his heavy iron fork, the creaking sound echoing in the tense air.

The Hyuga ninja surveyed the battlefield with his Byakugan, his voice steady but serious:

"Commander, the Sand Shinobi we fought earlier today are also here."

As he finished speaking, a loud explosion erupted in the distance.

Kumo Shinobi and Sand Shinobi were attacking simultaneously.

Without missing a beat, Akamichi Torifu shouts his orders quick

"Everyone, fight! Kill as many as you can!"

 "Yes!"

The Konoha camp was filled with an overwhelming sense of despair and determination. 

Surrounded by enemies on all sides, there was no way to escape. Running would only lead to a quicker death. All they could do now was fight hard and try to survive.

The most anxious were the rookies, those fighting on the battlefield for the first time—like Uchiha Mikoto and Hyuga Lindy. 

They happened to be in the same small team.

This wasn't the usual mission team. This combat team consisted of six members, but only three remained in Lindy and Mikoto's group. 

The cruelty of war can be seen. 

Konoha's forces were already half-destroyed. Yet, they now had to face twice as many enemies, with no guarantee of even having proper weapons.

Hyuga Lindy looked toward the direction where the Sand Shinobi were attacking.

"Mr. Simu, are you coming?"

Uchiha Mikoto gripped her kunai. In this battle, as her teammates' blood stained the ground, she finally awakened her Sharingan. Three-tomoe.

"Lindy, cover me."

"Okay."

Hyuga Lindy nodded firmly.

Just as she spoke, a loud siren echoed in the distance.

"Enemy attack! Let's fight!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Massive flames erupted in the woods. Amid the chaos and flying artillery, a figure grew larger, standing like a titan on the battlefield, drawing all eyes.

Akamichi Torifu, towering over the scene, raised his iron fork, covered in sharp protrusions. He pointed it in the direction where the Kumo Shinobi were coming from and shouted,

"Kumo Shinobi, since you dare to attack Konoha, be ready to pay the price!"

"Hahaha, Akamichi Torifu, you still have the nerve to say such things. I admire your courage," came a voice in response.

Leading the Kumo Shinobi's attack was the legendary Jōnin from Kumo. 

Dodai.

The situation was tense, and Akamichi Torifu recognized the voice of an old rival.

"Heh, you old man still dare to join the battlefield? I'll send you to the afterlife!"

"Nikudan Sensha!"

Akamichi Torifu, determined to fight to the end, transformed into a huge human bullet tank and charged straight into the Kumo Shinobi ranks. 

The giant human bullet tank rolled forward like an unstoppable tank, crushing everything in its path.

The forest ahead was easily flattened beneath the weight of the chariot.

"Get out of the way!"

Dodai, not wanting to see the young Kumo Shinobi slaughtered, shouted in warning. However, some ninjas who couldn't dodge were crushed into the ground.

Earth Platform quickly stepped forward, forming hand signs.

"Lava Style: Lava Wall!"

A large stream of viscous, magma-like liquid shot from his mouth, forming a massive wall to block the oncoming human bullet tank.

The human bullet tank crashed into the lava wall with tremendous force.

Torifu quickly shifted back into his human form, raising the iron fork in his hand and smashing it down on the lava wall. The force of the blow split the lava wall in half.

Dodai, with his remaining eye fixed on Akamichi, called out coldly, "Everyone from Sand Shinobi, it's time to act!"

Akamichi suddenly looked down, noticing that the ground beneath his feet was now covered with pitch-black iron sand.

"Magnet Style: Iron Sand Burial!"

A chilling voice echoed through the air.

Akamichi Torifu's expression changed in an instant. "Magnet Style... Sand Shinobi is coming…."

The iron sand surged upward rapidly, taking the form of a giant hand that clamped around Akamichi's calf with an unrelenting grip.

The intense force from the iron sand nearly crushed Akamichi's calf.

Above the rising black iron sand, a figure in a white robe appeared. He wore a large bamboo hat with the character "Wind" written on it.

It was the Third Kazekage.

"You didn't expect the Third Kazekage to intervene personally. It seems your country of wind is truly committed to fighting Konoha forever," Akamichi said, his voice cold.

The moment he saw the Kazekage, Akamichi made a quick decision. His body shrank rapidly, and with a powerful swing of his iron fork, he cut off his own calf cleanly.

Crimson blood gushed out.

Reaching up, he grabbed his thigh and used his Akamichi clan techniques to seal the veins, halting the bleeding temporarily.

"You are still so decisive, Torifu."

The Third Kazekage watched Akamichi Torifu with a cold, condescending gaze, taking in the entire Konoha army.

Kumo Shinobi and Sand Shinobi had launched a full-scale attack, steadily overwhelming the Konoha forces.

Lindy and Mikoto's team was in a desperate situation.

They were surrounded by six Sand Shinobi puppets, with their only remaining teammate already fallen in battle.

Despite Lindy and Mikoto's strong teamwork, having already taken down three Sand Shinobi, the gap in numbers between the two sides was overwhelming.

The gap in strength had already been large, but with the arrival of Kumo Shinobi, the situation was now completely hopeless.

"Run, Lindy!" Uchiha Mikoto shouted, struggling to pull the kunai out of her shoulder, blood pouring from the wound.

Lindy's face was pale, and she shook her head. "There's no escape."

Her byakugan eyes scanned the area, and all she saw were enemies. There was no way out.

Mikoto gave a wry smile. "Since that's the case, it seems we'll die here together today."

Hyuga Lindy returned a small, bittersweet smile.

A figure flashed in Lindy's mind.

"Mr. Simu..."

"Go to hell, Konoha ninja!" shouted a Sand Shinobi hidden in the woods.

The six puppets attack forward, their weapons raised, ready to strike at the two of them. In the Sand Shinobi's minds, victory was already certain.

But then, the ground trembled.

Akamichi Torifu's huge body crashed down in front of Lindy and Mikoto. Blood soaked his body, his appearance terrifying and bloodied.

The soil platform and the Third Kazekage advanced slowly, their steps heavy and threatening.

"Be obedient and die, Torifu"

Kazekage raised his hand, and iron sand surged up like dark clouds, falling toward Akamichi Torifu with terrifying force. Lindy and Mikoto, who were behind him, braced for impact.

"It's really scary... Third Kazekage," Lindy muttered.

Just then, a lighthearted and reassuring voice reached her ears.

"Yasakani no Magatama!"

The sky suddenly lit up with blinding brilliance.

.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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