Although Jiraiya had heard of Hanzo's fearsome reputation, he was the type to thrive on challenges. Facing off against a powerful opponent wasn't something that scared him, it excited him. For Jiraiya, this was the kind of glorious task that a true ninja should embrace. Knowing how important it was to stop Hanzo, his fighting spirit burned even brighter.
Nara Hakushu, meanwhile, was focused on the strategy at hand. After laying out the offensive plan, he continued discussing the finer details.
"The general attack is scheduled for tomorrow morning," Hakushu explained. "I'll make sure to inform everyone of the exact time when it's confirmed."
"One more thing—make sure you bring Tsunade-sama's antidote potions with you. There are several types depending on the poison, and the supply is limited. Be careful not to mix them up."
"Got it. If anyone has additional questions, speak now," Hakushu concluded.
"I have one," Inuzuka Zen said, raising his hand.
"Do we really need to bring antidotes to deal with the Iwa Ninja? They're not known for using poison."
"Good question," Nara Hakushu nodded. "But yes, it's better to be safe than sorry. Intelligence suggests that the ninja of Amegakure also use poison, and they're unpredictable. Even if we're facing Iwa Ninja, make sure to have some antidotes ready."
The meeting continued for several hours. Everyone knew that this was a war that could decide the fate of nations, so no detail could be overlooked. Every strategy had to be perfect.
Once the meeting finally wrapped up, all the teams rushed to their respective positions on the battlefield, ready for the imminent conflict.
In truth, this war was primarily a showdown between the three major nations—Konoha, Iwa, and Suna. Amegakure, led by Hanzo, had only joined the fray to assert its presence, as their land was the battleground. Hanzo had no real stake in the outcome of the conflict, but as the leader of Amegakure, he couldn't afford to sit back and watch his country be trampled. His pride as the "demigod" of the ninja world wouldn't allow it.
For Konoha, Hanzo's involvement was a serious concern. His strength alone was enough to disrupt their entire war strategy. If Hanzo were allowed to rampage freely, it would open up an opportunity for Iwa or Suna to strike a decisive blow against Konoha's forces.
That's why Konoha needed its strongest warriors to confront Hanzo and buy time for the rest of the army. Only Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade had the power to hold off a ninja of Hanzo's caliber.
By nightfall, Konoha's ninja forces had moved into position, and the Third Hokage's reinforcements had arrived at their base. Nearly all of Konoha's combat-ready ninja, except for genin, were present, signaling their intent to end the war in one fell swoop.
The next morning, under Nara Hakushu's command, Konoha launched its full-scale assault.
Hatake Sakumo led the charge against the Iwa Ninja, accompanied by the Inuzuka, Aburame, Hyuga, and Uchiha clans. Meanwhile, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio spearheaded the resistance against the Sand Ninja.
Faced with Konoha's sudden and coordinated attack, both Iwa and Suna scrambled to respond.
"Iwa Ninja, prepare to defend!"
"Let's go! We won't let them beat us so easily!"
*Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!*
*Water Style: Water Colliding Wave!*
*Earth Style: Earth Wall!*
Shuriken, kunai, explosive tags, and jutsu filled the air as the three armies clashed on the battlefield. It was chaos, with every inch of the terrain becoming a warzone.
At the forefront of the battle, Hatake Sakumo wielded his signature white chakra blade. The silver light from his blade flashed as it cut through Iwa Ninja one after another. His strikes were too fast for them to react. Even if they tried to defend with ninjutsu, it was often too late, the White Fang's sword would have already claimed their lives.
His movements were so swift and deadly that even traditional battlefield tactics were useless against him. The only hope for the Iwa Ninja was to avoid him entirely.
Konoha's forces, which had started with a slight disadvantage, quickly gained the upper hand. With each passing moment, they grew more confident, and their morale surged. 𝔯ἁΝöꞖËṣ
On the other hand, both Suna and Iwa had suffered several defeats in a row, and their morale had hit rock bottom. In war, morale was everything, and without it, even skilled fighters struggled to maintain their effectiveness.
While the Sand Ninja were being held back by the Ino-Shika-Cho formation, the Iwa Ninja were forced into a retreat by Konoha's relentless assault.
*Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!*
In the jungle, a single shuriken multiplied into countless black streaks, flying toward the enemy like a deadly rainstorm. A group of Rain Ninja, caught off guard, were struck down almost instantly.
Without missing a beat, Orochimaru retrieved a grenade from his pouch and hurled it toward the remaining enemies.
The explosion tore through the rain-drenched battlefield, silencing the remaining Rain Ninja.
"You guys don't hold back, do you?" Jiraiya commented with a smirk. "Even the Rain Ninja aren't spared."
"If they declare war, they should be prepared for the consequences," Orochimaru replied coldly. "There's no room for hesitation on the battlefield."
"Fair enough," Tsunade added, her eyes scanning the terrain ahead. "We're getting close."
The three of them—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade—were making their way toward the location where Hanzo was reported to be. As they moved, Orochimaru couldn't help but analyze his comrades' strengths in his mind.
Tsunade, for one, had significantly increased her chakra reserves since their early days. Jiraiya, on the other hand, seemed to have developed something more—Senjutsu, the power of Sage Mode.
Orochimaru speculated that during their original encounter with Hanzo, Jiraiya hadn't yet mastered Senjutsu. Otherwise, it seemed impossible that the three of them together could only fight Hanzo to a draw.
But now? With Jiraiya's added strength and Tsunade's improved chakra, not to mention his own enhanced abilities, Orochimaru felt confident.
The three of them together could take down Hanzo this time.