Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter Twelve: The Battle of Defense and Attack

Under Uchiha Kagami's orders, the Konoha war machine bared its fangs. Elite teams of shinobi swiftly assembled into battle formations; weapons, explosive tags, and rations were distributed en masse; medics and the injured were quickly evacuated; and a large protective barrier sprang up to shield the main encampment.

It was clear that Konoha's long-standing dominance in the ninja world wasn't without reason.

Orochimaru, sensing the rising killing intent in the air, shivered slightly—not with fear, but with excitement. Having come from a civilian background, he had developed a taste for the chaos of battle. The monotonous peace of village life often bored him; only here, amidst the turmoil of war, could he truly indulge his nature.

"Orochimaru, you shaking because you're scared? Don't worry, just stick close to me," Jiraiya teased, giving his teammate a firm slap on the shoulder before leaning in to speak loudly near his ear.

Orochimaru calmly brushed off Jiraiya's hand and shot back, "Stick close to you so I can die too? No thanks, dead last."

"You bastard! You know what? I could take you out with just one finger!" Jiraiya snapped, puffing out his chest.

Before the argument could escalate further, Tsunade silenced them both with a well-placed smack on the head. The resulting quiet was a welcome relief.

As darkness fell, the stage was set for a brutal clash.

...

Meanwhile, **Hayama** and his team had stopped short of the Konoha encampment, just over an hour's run away. What had halted them in their tracks were the bodies of fallen shinobi scattered under a large tree.

Among the dead was Duf, the captain of the First Battle Unit's Tenth Squad. **Hayama** recognized the others as fellow shinobi he had seen around the camp—men he had exchanged greetings with and considered comrades. Duf, a veteran known for his easygoing nature and supposed training under the First Hokage, had always looked out for **Hayama**.

**Hayama** knelt beside Duf's lifeless form, his expression blank. Gently, he closed the man's still-open eyes, concealing the fear and regret frozen within. He carefully gathered the scattered organs, placed them back into the body, and then covered it with a spare rain cloak. With a length of ninja wire, he tied the makeshift shroud securely and sealed the body in a scroll for transport.

The first rule of the ninja code was never to cry. **Hayama**, who had grown accustomed to death after years on the battlefield, prided himself on his emotional resilience. But on that cold autumn day in Year 38 of the Konoha calendar, he found himself unable to contain his grief. He knelt there, letting out muffled, animal-like sobs—not just for Duf, who had shown him a rare glimpse of fatherly care, but for the bleak and uncertain life he faced. In that moment, all he wanted was to escape this hellish war and return to his bedridden mother, to find solace in what little warmth remained.

Unbeknownst to **Hayama**, his teammate Tatsu had been watching from a nearby tree. He saw **Hayama** meticulously tend to Duf's body, then watched as the usually composed leader's shoulders shook with silent sobs. It was only then that Tatsu truly understood the depth of **Hayama's** loss. He wanted to say something, to offer comfort, but no words came. He knew too well the feeling of losing a father on the battlefield. Perhaps, he thought bitterly, only death could offer true relief from such pain.

When **Hayama** finally stood and rejoined the group, his face was as stoic as ever, but his eyes had grown colder. Without a word, the three resumed their journey toward the camp, each lost in their own thoughts.

...

By the time they arrived at the outskirts of the Konoha camp, it was unrecognizable. Sand ninja poured into the area, launching barrages of jutsu that tore apart the landscape.

Uchiha Kagami, the supreme commander, did not immediately engage. The Sand ninja, though numerous and aggressive, did not yet pose a critical threat. Konoha's skilled shinobi were holding the line well. Kagami's real concern lay with the higher-level threats: the Third Kazekage, hailed as the strongest Wind Shadow, and the Sand's ultimate weapon, Shukaku the One-Tail. These were the factors that could truly decide the battle's outcome. And so, Kagami waited, conserving his strength.

As the Konoha forces rallied and launched a counterattack, the Sand ninja's advance stalled. Konoha's deep reserves of power began to tell, grinding down the Sand's ambitions.

In the distance, the Third Kazekage observed the situation calmly. He knew that Sand alone wasn't enough to overwhelm Konoha. But what if they had another ally?

With a silent signal, one of his ANBU operatives fired a bright flare into the sky.

From their elevated positions, **Hayama's** team saw the flare's ominous glow through the rain. Their hearts sank as they realized the implications. The game had changed.

Two airborne shinobi—powerhouses from the Rock village—descended onto the battlefield. Without hesitation, they unleashed devastating jutsu.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Giant Spear!"

Kagami's instincts screamed danger. He activated his Susano'o in an instant, using it to shield himself as he darted away from the incoming attacks.

"Boom!"

The massive explosion caused both sides to pause, but the fighting quickly resumed.

Kagami, spitting blood from the internal damage he'd sustained, knew he had to act fast. Konoha's command structure had been obliterated in a single strike. If he didn't rally the troops quickly, they would be routed, just as the Rock village had been.

Ignoring the pain, Kagami used his Susano'o to signal a retreat. Though the base had been lost, he could still orchestrate a tactical withdrawal and reorganize the forces for a counterattack.

Elsewhere, Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with fascination as he watched Kagami's Susano'o. This was no mere ninjutsu—it was a godlike power. The sight only fueled his curiosity and ambition.

Even in the chaos, Orochimaru moved with a calm, predatory grace. His superior skills kept him unscathed, and each strike he delivered was lethal. The legendary cold-blooded demeanor that would one day define him was already evident.

Tsunade, on the other hand, was enraged. As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, each fallen Konoha ninja felt like a personal wound. Upon learning of the Sand and Rock alliance, she silently cursed the intelligence division's incompetence. She quickly regrouped with Jiraiya and Orochimaru, proposing they act as the vanguard to carve an escape route for the remaining Konoha forces.

Despite his usual disdain for teamwork, Orochimaru didn't argue. The three of them exchanged a glance and simultaneously performed the summoning jutsu.

"Summoning Technique!"

Three colossal creatures materialized, smashing into the Sand ninja lines. The sheer size and power of the summoned beasts shattered the Sand's formation, creating a path through which many Konoha ninja escaped. However, many more remained trapped behind enemy lines.

...

**Hayama's** team, feeling the ground tremble with the distant explosions, quickly climbed to the treetops. From their vantage point, they saw Kagami's Susano'o standing tall against the chaos. The three of them exchanged somber looks, their hearts sinking as they recognized the gravity of the situation. With the camp lost, the Sand and Rock villages had thrown everything into the battle. The situation was dire.

As they descended back to the forest floor, **Hayama** unrolled his map. After studying it briefly, he traced a curving route with his finger. He glanced up at his teammates, and they nodded in silent agreement.

This was no time to charge blindly into the fray. The only chance of survival lay in patience and careful planning.

**Hayama** calmly sat down and began to eat a ration bar. His teammates stared at him in disbelief.

"What are you doing?" their expressions seemed to say. "There's chaos all around us, and you're having a snack?"

After finishing his bite and washing it down with water, **Hayama** finally spoke. "The breakout hasn't fully started yet. The enemy's net is just beginning to tighten. If we move now, we'll be caught like fish in a trap. What we need to do is wait until the net breaks."

His teammates' initial frustration gave way to understanding. They nodded again and began eating their own rations.

**Hayama's** steady, calculated approach had once again shown its worth. In this chaotic, unpredictable war, his method was simple: wait until the big fish break free, then slip out unnoticed.