“I understand.”
“Send a guide to wait by the shoreline.”
“And, have the squad leaders in the camp come to see me.”
Naoki Kaguya spoke coldly, immediately beginning to measure the distance between the shore and the nearest border of the Land of Fire.
It might work.
But he still needed to calculate.
Beside him, Mei Terumi lost her usual composure and grace, punching the wooden pillar looking furious.
“Those damned pests.”
“One day, I’ll kill them all!”
Mei Terumi’s face twisted in pain, seeing the early victory slip away.
“We could have transported most of our forces if we had just followed Naoki’s plan to split into smaller groups.”
“Why did they gather all the forces together, giving Minato Namikaze the perfect opportunity? Whoever is responsible must die!”
Mei Terumi’s brows furrowed, her body exuding a chilling killing intent. Watching Naoki Kaguya, who was entirely focused on salvaging the situation, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.
This dirty, corrupt, discriminatory, and bloody village doesn’t deserve Naoki Kaguya.
If he were in Konoha, he would have already made a name for himself on various battlefields, like the Yellow Flash Minato Namikaze, rather than being held back by the pests within his village.
The Third Hokage led both, yet there was such a difference.
Mei Terumi sighed internally, unable to think of any solutions herself.
Maybe it’s better to lose now, wait for Naoki to become Mizukage, cleanse the village of pests, and then fight for Kirigakure’s place again.
“I have an idea.”
“What?”
Mei Terumi initially questioned, then immediately asked seriously.
“Naoki, what do you need me to do?”
Warmth filled Naoki Kaguya’s heart.
“Mei Terumi, take the squad leaders and defend this place for me.”
“I’ll go and get them.”
Mei Terumi hesitated for a moment, glancing at the map.
How will you manage such a long distance?
She chose not to speak.
Every second was precious now; none could be wasted!
Mei Terumi nodded firmly.
“Naoki, don’t worry. I will hold this place.”
Naoki Kaguya was worried and still quietly spoke.
“If Orochimaru arrives before I return, you must run.”
Mei Terumi nodded, though somewhat reluctantly.
But Naoki, having transferred command to Mei Terumi, leaped out of the camp and headed for the shoreline.
There, a slightly peculiar yet young-looking ninja was waiting.
Seeing Naoki approach, he stepped forward respectfully.
“Lord Naoki, I am Kisame Hoshigaki.”
“I will guide you.”
“Good.”
“Let’s go.”
Kisame Hoshigaki hesitated, then spoke up despite himself.
“Lord Naoki, we only have a few boats.”
“No boats.”
Without looking back, Naoki Kaguya ran towards the shore, not bothering to explain.
Time was precious.
Kisame gritted his teeth, looking at Naoki’s back and the vast sea, feeling hopeless.
Everyone in Kirigakure knew they could advance unhindered once they landed in the Land of Fire.
But this vast ocean—no ninja could cross it without a boat.
Kirigakure was about to lose.
Then, he saw Naoki walk onto the water, icy white and light blue blocks forming at his feet, gradually building a three-person-wide bridge.
Kisame was stunned, watching Naoki’s figure. Hope rekindled within him.
There’s still a chance.
A chance for victory!
【Kisame Hoshigaki’s fate has shifted, verified as a Kirigakure ninja, gaining ten exchange fragments】
“It’s all over.”
On countless distant islands far from the Land of Fire, many Kirigakure ninjas stared blankly at the pale blue sky.
No ships, an uncrossable sea.
They were doomed to languish on this barren land, awaiting news of their frontline’s collapse.
Then, they would watch Konoha’s last batch of ninjas build a new defense line.
At that point, even if Kirigakure ninjas could advance due to their numbers, it would cost many lives against Konoha’s prepared defenses. What would be the point of such an advance?
Kirigakure didn’t have many people either.
“Someone must take responsibility.”
One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, holding the Twin Swords, Hiramekarei, spoke with a dark face.
Because he had mistrusted Naoki’s orders and changed them, leading to this disaster.
After the war, he would be the first to be held accountable.
“We must find a way to change this. Maybe if we take small boats to Konoha and gain some victories, it could offset our failure. Or we could unanimously blame Naoki for the defeat.”
The swordsman spoke, but the others stared at him coldly, causing him to lower his head.
“You delivered the orders, but the defeat is Naoki’s fault?” Zabuza Momochi sneered, his giant sword emitting a bloody aura.
“Exactly.”
Jinpachi Munashi laughed coldly, his giant sword swinging, not hiding his murderous intent.
Such pests had caused the village’s decline.
As six blood-red eyes swept over the swordsman’s neck, a shout grabbed their attention.
“Look!”
“What is that?”
The Seven Swordsmen turned to the vast ocean.
The setting sun casts a dim light over the sparkling sea.
Everyone knew the sea’s vastness, enormity, and terror.
But at the limits of their vision, where the light shone brightest, two figures walked calmly on the water.
“Is he walking on the sea?”
“There’s no island ahead.”
The ninjas stood, watching the distant figure.
How immense must his chakra be to walk across such a vast sea?
As the distance closed, many recognized the figure.
Naoki Kaguya.
Kirigakure’s commander.
Some sat back down.
Even if the commander reached them with immense chakra.
What then? Say some inspiring words and accept defeat.
Despair still loomed over Kirigakure, darkening the sky.
“Look!”
“Look!”
The voice trembled with excitement and disbelief.
Then.
“Look!”
The voice turned fervent, crazed.
The intense emotional shift made everyone shiver, standing like resilient pine trees after being blown down.
Then, they saw something unforgettable.
The sea.
At the sea’s edge, a shimmering ice path.
Or perhaps a bridge.
It didn’t matter.
Cheers erupted as more people realized what Naoki Kaguya was walking on and what it meant.
“Lord Naoki!”
“Lord Naoki!”
The genuine voices surged like waves on the sea, like muffled thunder.
Despair to hunger in an instant.
In an instant, thousands of hearts soared from the depths to the peak.
“A terrifying young man.”
Jinpachi Munashi tried to hide his trembling voice with nonsense.
“Indeed.” Zabuza Momochi gripped his sword, looking toward the distant Land of Fire.
The previously difficult battle now seemed more hopeful.
The excitement continued to spread.
Amidst this frenzy, a Kirigakure ninja asked.
“Do you think Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha could do this?”
The voice fell silent.
In an instant, silence.
They looked at the figure walking towards them, thinking of the two historical giants.
This was the second time those names had been used for comparison.
The first was for the demigod of the ninja world, Hanzō.
The second, for Kirigakure ninja Naoki Kaguya.
Soon, louder cheers erupted.
They saw new hope.
Naoki Kaguya approached, stepped onto the island, tossed away the chakra restoration pills he had emptied, suppressed his chaotic breath, and spoke calmly.
“Kirigakure ninjas, listen.”
The noise stopped, the previously overwhelming cheers halting in an instant.
“Attack.”
The words fell.
The Kirigakure ninjas charged out.
Like a rushing sea.
Like mountains crashing down.
Naoki Kaguya stood against the flow, watching the sun slowly sink into the sea, yet still shining brightly.
“Konoha, the war has begun.”
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