“Kazekage-sama!”
When the once vibrant and restless Suna shinobi saw Rasa’s body, they were instantly drenched in a bucket of cold water and became chilled entirely.
“What happened?”
One pair of eyes after another involuntarily turned to the Kazekage. Some shinobi, unable to hold back, asked in trembling voices.
The once robust and muscular body had shriveled. His previously dark and lustrous hair had turned white, wrinkles covered his face, and it was evident that his vitality had waned to the extreme.
It was like an invisible force extinguished all life within Rasa’s body.
Is it poison?
Just as the Suna shinobi had this thought, they dismissed it.
The crumbling body and falling ashes were clear evidence.
It had to be a unique, terrifying jutsu capable of annihilating all life.
This incomprehensible and unheard-of jutsu immediately plunged all the Suna shinobi into panic.
Moreover, Naoki was still in the dunes, devoid of barriers and defenses.
The one who, in just three days, had killed countless Suna shinobi, including Lady Pakura!
Whoosh!
Many Suna shinobi immediately stepped back, only to sigh in relief when they realized it was just the sand that had collapsed around Naoki.
So, it wasn’t him.
“Hey!”
A tense but bloodthirsty Suna shinobi mustered his strength.
As he spoke, he gradually regained his resolve and steadiness, infusing his voice with a contagious determination.
“Suna shinobi, let’s take this chance and kill him together, avenging the Kazekage.”
As the voice grew firm and decisive, the Suna shinobi regained their confidence, finding a new pillar of strength.
“Kill him and avenge the Kazekage-sama.”
No sooner had these words been spoken than a pure white bone shot out from where the barrier and sand had disappeared, slicing through the air towards the advancing Suna shinobi, piercing necks and drawing blood, quashing the newfound resolve and courage.
The world fell silent once more.
Thud!
Another bone, another corpse.
With the fall of these two bones, thick white mist, the signature of Kirigakure, engulfed the battlefield.
The Suna shinobi immediately stopped their hesitant steps, beginning to tremble and brace themselves for defense.
They didn’t notice the shadow slipping away from the cover of the sand.
Minato watched the thick mist, silently raising his guard.
Because of the faint presence of his Flying Thunder, the mist did not remove God’s marks in the sand nearby.
This meant that Naoki might still have the strength to try and kill them.
“Everyone.”
Minato struggled, intending to rally the Suna shinobi for a final assault.
But as soon as he spoke, the Suna shinobi’s eyes turned to him, a mix of vigilance and fear.
How pitiful.
Minato abandoned the idea of persuasion.
These shinobi, beaten down by various villages since the start of the ninja war, had lost their spirit. With Rasa now possibly dead or disabled, they were left without a capable leader and would likely fall into insignificance.
In contrast, there was Kirigakure.
A similarly declining village that produced an influential figure like Naoki showing signs of resurgence.
The Hokage must be thinking the same.
One domineering Kumogakure was enough. Adding a bloodthirsty Kirigakure under Kaguya’s rule would bring endless trouble to Konoha.
If I could become Hokage…
A surge of pain from his abdomen interrupted his thoughts.
Minato looked down, seeing a faint grey mark around his wound, spreading outward.
No.
My life force is depleting as well.
Minato quickly sensed a further anomaly within his body.
He glanced at the fallen Rasa instantly, his expression growing serious.
It’s the same injury.
With no time to waste, Minato gripped a kunai and headed toward the sand, ignoring the mist.
I can’t last long; I must finish him quickly.
The village’s situation will worsen if the resurgent Kirigakure falls into Kaguya’s hands.
I must kill him!
At that moment, an elderly voice rang out.
“Let this end here, Konoha and Kirigakure.”
“Lady Chiyo!”
In the mist, numerous Suna shinobi recognized and respected the emerging figure. These hesitant, dogged shinobi finally found a new leader.
Chiyo didn’t look at them. Instead, she sternly faced Minato.
“Sorry, but Sunagakure has made its choice.”
“Please leave.”
Minato gripped his kunai tighter, looking deeply at Chiyo before using the Flying Thunder God technique to leave the battlefield.
“Heh heh.”
In the mist, Naoki’s laughter echoed.
“Since Lady Chiyo is here, I’ll withdraw for now.”
“Lady Chiyo, should we really let that Kirigakure shinobi go?”
“You can definitely.”
“No.”
Chiyo’s expression turned strange, continuing.
“No need to say more. I have my plans.”
Once Naoki had quietly slipped away and the mist had entirely dissipated, Chiyo spoke again.
“All of you, kill yourselves.”
The Suna shinobi looked confused but quickly realized what was happening. As they drew their weapons, “Chiyo” continued to mock them.
“You Suna shinobi are truly worthless!”
With that, a pile of bones fell to the ground. The Suna shinobi, who had raised their weapons, had to reluctantly sheath them.
Realizing they had been completely fooled, they felt anger and despair.
Facing Naoki’s elusive and unknown power, they were helpless, only able to carry the ailing Kazekage Rasa back to the village.
…
“Die, you bastards!”
Kushina’s chakra chains flew, piercing any Kirigakure shinobi who dared approach, creating a temporary safe zone.
Seizing the moment, she leaped to Shikaku’s side.
“How’s the situation, Shikaku?”
Shikaku’s face was grim as he shook his head.
“Orochimaru-sama was easily defeated, and Minato-sama is delayed. The blow to our morale is too great.”
He threw a kunai, which tangled in branches, broke, and caused a Kirigakure shinobi to fall into a trap.
Listening to the cries, Shikaku sighed.
“Some clans are already preserving their strength.”
“Maintaining the front line from completely collapsing is a blessing.”
“If Minato-sama returns victorious, the battle might turn.”
Minato.
Kushina bit her lip, her heart clenching.
Minato, you must come back.
Just as this thought formed, a bloody figure with blond hair fell beside her, making her gasp.
“Minato.”
Minato weakly nodded, his last bit of chakra spent, leaving him unable to do anything more.
“Get a medic quickly.”
Seeing Minato’s condition, Kushina almost cried.
Shikaku remained calm.
“Kushina-sama, I’ve prepared for this. Medics have been protected by me.”
Before he finished speaking, medics approached and began treating Minato with Mystical Palm Technique.
“Choza, Inoichi, cover us!”
Shikaku watched the Kirigakure shinobi rallying and attacking, his face stern as he joined the fight.
Ino–Shika–Cho, combining forces, began a brutal onslaught.
“Kushina-sama.”
“Shikaku-sama!”
The medic, unable to wipe away the sweat, spoke tremblingly.
“Minato-sama’s injuries, I can’t heal them.”
“What do you mean?”
Kushina’s face turned grim, urgently asking.
The medic continued treatment, shaking with fear.
“It seems a chaotic chakra is draining Minato-sama’s life force.”
“How is that possible?”
Kushina’s red hair flew, while Minato’s face grew darker, suspecting the truth.
“Return to Konoha; there must be a doctor who can save him.”
Kushina’s trembling voice hinted at pleading, but the medic shook his head.
“This is something we’ve never seen before; there’s no solution.”
“Maybe only Lady Tsunade can…”
The medic’s voice trailed off, uncertain.
“How could this be?”
Kushina’s eyes filled with despair as Shikaku spoke.
“Kushina-sama, use the power of the Nine-Tails to help us get Minato back to Konoha.”
“Only if Minato recovers can we win this war.”
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