Pawn against soldier, soldier against general.
A strong individual must act with the consciousness of their power.
Whether in small skirmishes or large-scale wars, a true warrior seeks an opponent of equal caliber.
Bullying the weak? That's nothing but a waste of time and has no impact on the overall battle.
Thus, Orochimaru's objective was clear from the start: defeat the Third Raikage.
The plan was simple, use the Second Tsuchikage to locate the Third Raikage, then launch a surprise attack.
Once the Third Raikage was eliminated, the Kumo Ninja forces would naturally lose morale and retreat.
This strategy, capturing the leader to dismantle the army, had proven effective from ancient times to the present.
In modern warfare, it was called a "decapitation operation."
But regardless of the time period or world, this tactic was notoriously difficult to execute.
Take the ninja world, for instance.
All ninjas possess stealth abilities to some degree, and many have strong sensory capabilities. The chances of successfully infiltrating and eliminating a Kage were slim.
Moreover, the Kage-level opponents themselves were immensely powerful.
If too few attackers were sent, they'd stand no chance against the Kage. If too many were sent, the large group would easily be detected, ruining the element of surprise.
It was a delicate balance, and the odds were rarely favorable.
However, Orochimaru's combination of the Second Tsuchikage's Dustless Bewildering Cover and his own unique summoning techniques bridged those gaps perfectly.
The plan was flawless.
With Mū's unmatched stealth and Orochimaru's reanimated forces, infiltration was simple, and reinforcements were always at the ready.
Still, Orochimaru left nothing to chance. He placed Flying Thunder God kunai on four key reanimated soldiers he had summoned.
This allowed him to provide immediate support if the Third Raikage proved difficult to defeat quickly.
The four kunai created a near-straight line across the battlefield, ensuring Orochimaru could reach the Land of Lightning in a matter of moments.
---
By the time Orochimaru began heading toward the Land of Lightning, the battle between the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was nearing its conclusion.
Water Release: Great Exploding Water Wave!
Magnet Release: Gold Dust Burial!
Boom!
In the desert terrain, a massive wave of water surged forward, colliding head-on with a tidal wave of gold-infused sand. The impact created a deafening roar as steam hissed into the air, shrouding the battlefield in a thick mist.
The scale of their ninjutsu was nothing short of catastrophic, evoking awe from everyone watching.
As the water receded, the gold dust absorbed it, becoming heavy and sluggish.
Whoosh!
Out of the mist, Tobirama's figure shot forward at blinding speed, closing the distance between himself and Rasa in an instant.
A swift kick targeted Rasa, who responded by waving his hand, summoning the gold dust to form a shield.
But the waterlogged gold dust was far heavier than before, significantly slowing its movements.
Boom!
Unable to react in time, Rasa crossed his arms in a defensive stance, but the force of Tobirama's kick sent him flying.
Tobirama wasted no time, capitalizing on his momentum. Before Rasa could even hit the ground, Tobirama threw a kunai and vanished.
Flying Thunder God Technique!
Reappearing beside the airborne Kazekage, Tobirama unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks.
Rasa tried to block, but Tobirama's superior speed and precision overwhelmed him.
Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!
After landing several decisive strikes, Tobirama seamlessly transitioned into ninjutsu.
A barrage of water bullets, reminiscent of the Phoenix Flower Jutsu but larger and denser, rained down on Rasa.
The gold dust, while potent, was still primarily composed of sand. Soaked through, it became sluggish and ineffective.
"There's no escaping this," Tobirama declared coldly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The water bullets struck Rasa repeatedly, hitting his chest, abdomen, and arms.
"Lord Kazekage!"
"Master Rasa!"
The Sand Ninjas cried out in alarm, but before they could intervene, Tobirama appeared directly in front of Rasa.
A kunai was pressed against Rasa's neck.
The surrounding Sand Ninjas froze, not daring to move.
"You've lost," Tobirama stated in a voice devoid of emotion.
---
The battle had ended almost as quickly as it began.
Rasa's Magnet Release was powerful, and Tobirama's Water Release techniques were equally devastating.
In terms of raw abilities, it was difficult to say who had the upper hand.
The battlefield located in the desert at the border of the Land of Wind favored Rasa, providing him with an abundance of gold dust to manipulate.
However, Tobirama's mastery of Water Release was extraordinary. Even in the desert, he could summon vast quantities of water, turning the terrain to his advantage.
It was this unparalleled skill that ultimately led to Rasa's defeat.
"You truly are the fastest ninja of your time," Rasa gasped, clutching his chest as he struggled to catch his breath. "Your speed is overwhelming… and your Water Release… to use it so powerfully in a desert…"
Tobirama didn't respond to the compliment. Instead, he sheathed his kunai and turned to leave.
"As agreed, retreat," he said curtly.
Rasa grimaced but didn't argue. He knew continuing the fight would be pointless and only result in more casualties.
With a resigned sigh, he raised his hand and issued the order.
"All units, retreat!"
The Sand Ninjas hesitated but ultimately obeyed.
They had witnessed the fight firsthand.
Rasa was the strongest among them, capable of wielding massive-scale jutsu with ease. If even he couldn't stand against the Second Hokage, what hope did the rest of them have?
Continuing the battle would be nothing short of suicide.
As the Sand Ninjas began their retreat, Rasa cast one last look at the battlefield. The once-dry sands were now waterlogged for miles around, glinting with traces of gold dust.
"Although I'm reluctant," Rasa muttered to himself, "I'll honor the agreement."
---
Meanwhile, Tobirama returned to where his elder brother, the First Hokage, was waiting.
"Although you're strong," Tobirama said, glancing back at the retreating Sand Ninjas, "my abilities counter yours. Continuing to fight would have been a waste of life."
Hashirama nodded in agreement, his usual warmth evident. "You did well, Tobirama. Let's move to the next point and try to prevent further casualties."
Together, the two Hokages prepared to move to other hotspots along the defensive line, aiming to assist Konoha's forces where needed.
Their actions hadn't gone unnoticed.
By now, word of the First and Second Hokages' resurrection was spreading among the Konoha forces.
On the battlefield, ninjas from both sides stared in shock at the two legendary figures.
"You… you're the First Hokage?"
"And the Second Hokage?"
The sheer presence of the two men left everyone stunned, their disbelief etched onto their faces.