Weakness and Helplessness

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Kakashi added another piece of bad news. "Iwagakure's main force has already gathered near the border of the Land of Grass. That means we need to end the conflict with Kumogakure as quickly as possible. If Iwagakure senses an opening, they can intervene at any time."

Conflicts between the Five Great Shinobi Villages were never isolated events.

Once Kumogakure launched its raid against Konoha, Iwagakure, after receiving the news, would naturally respond. As the news spread farther, Sunagakure and Kirigakure might also make moves of their own.

But none of that was something Team Eleven could afford to consider right now.

Shisui asked solemnly, "So our mission is tied to the village's safety?"

Kakashi nodded. "If we fail, the village may fall into an extremely unfavorable position. The tragedy of the Third Shinobi World War could happen all over again."

Guy showed no fear and no trace of gloom. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Kakashi folded the map as he spoke in a calm voice. "I will carry out the final raid. The three of you only need to cover me."

Inside the Land of Fire, on the battlefield.

In his partially transformed state, Killer B easily blocked Choza Akimichi's Multi-Size Technique. With one sweep of his eight tails, he sent Choza crashing hard to the side.

Then Killer B spoke in his strange sing-song rhythm. "Yo, yo, why'd Konoha send only folks like you?"

Across from him, Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka both looked helpless.

In their eyes, Killer B, who could cooperate perfectly with the Eight-Tails, was nothing short of a monster. Even with the three members of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation working together, they could only barely hold him back.

Shikaku glanced at the other battlefields from the corner of his eye. Seeing that Konoha's side was losing ground everywhere, he could not keep the urgency from his voice. "Why hasn't Lord Jiraiya arrived yet? A monster like this isn't something ordinary shinobi can stop."

Not far away.

Hizashi Hyuga panted heavily, eyes locked on the black-haired Kumogakure shinobi in front of him.

The man facing him was none other than Aida, the Storm Release user and deputy commander of Kumogakure's invasion force.

Before Hizashi arrived, two Konoha squads had already died at Aida's hands. If Hizashi had not managed to hold him back, the nearby Konoha shinobi would likely have been wiped out as well.

Aida grinned viciously. "You are no match for me."

Hizashi did not argue. He silently considered his options.

Storm Release was formed from the combination of Lightning Release and Water Release. It possessed Lightning Release's destructive force while retaining Water Release's free, flexible control and constant variation. Coupled with Aida's experience as an elite jonin, his Storm Release attacks were almost impossible to guard against.

For a taijutsu-type shinobi like Hizashi, it was a terrible matchup.

Aida's gaze flicked over the Caged Bird Seal faintly visible on Hizashi's forehead, and his mouth twisted. "Pity you're from the branch family. Otherwise, I could add a pair of Byakugan to my collection."

Hizashi's expression tightened. He immediately adjusted his forehead protector, covering the seal completely.

Aida's words had struck the deepest sore spot in his heart, almost by accident.

On another battlefield farther away.

Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails jinchuriki, was fully transformed, and almost no one could restrain her. The entire battlefield had become a stage for her to release chakra without restraint.

Eight Konoha shinobi shouted at the same time, "Earth Release: Earth Dome Prison!"

Massive walls of earth rose from every direction, then slammed together, trapping Yugito's Tailed Beast form inside the earthen prison.

Roar...

Before the Konoha shinobi around her could even breathe in relief, Yugito shattered the prison with ease and swiped one massive claw toward them.

That single strike killed six or seven Konoha shinobi on the spot. Those who managed to escape were all wounded.

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"

"Earth Release: Rising Stone Spears!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!"

The remaining Konoha shinobi no longer dared to save chakra. They immediately unleashed a chain of ninjutsu.

Boom...

Countless techniques slammed into Yugito's Tailed Beast form, yet failed to injure her in the slightest.

She opened her mouth and spat several huge fireballs. Within seconds, the surrounding forest was swallowed by flame, and every Konoha shinobi nearby was trapped inside a sea of fire.

Cough, cough...

The only Konoha shinobi left alive, gravely wounded and coughing blood, spoke with bitter unwillingness. "If the Fourth and the Nine-Tails jinchuriki were still here, you people..."

Before he could finish, Yugito crushed him beneath her claw and snorted coldly. "Too bad they're dead."

The consequences of Tsunade leaving the village, Orochimaru's defection, and the accidental deaths of the Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails jinchuriki erupted completely inside the Land of Fire at that moment.

Facing Kumogakure's two perfect jinchuriki, Konoha showed a weakness and helplessness it had never displayed before.

Meanwhile, on Team Eleven's side.

After several days of travel, the four of them finally crossed the Land of Hot Water and entered the Land of the Moon.

The Land of the Moon bordered the Land of Lightning and served as an important buffer between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. Konoha and Kumogakure had fought several large-scale battles there over the years.

Because of that, Konoha possessed a very clear understanding of the local terrain. Relying on the high-precision map drawn by the Intelligence Division, the four members of Team Eleven crossed the Land of the Moon without serious danger and reached the border of the Land of Lightning.

At the border, Kakashi stood on the top of a large tree and looked toward the distant valley. "That should be it."

Naoki focused his gaze in that direction. A moment later, he shook his head. "There are a large number of sealing formulas arranged inside the valley. They're interfering with my Byakugan's scouting. I can't determine how many Kumogakure shinobi are inside."

Kumogakure had years of experience fighting Konoha. When setting up defenses around key facilities, they naturally took the reconnaissance abilities of Konoha's dojutsu kekkei genkai shinobi into account and arranged corresponding countermeasures.

Kakashi was not too disappointed. He said calmly, "Then we proceed according to plan. The three of you draw away the outer guards. I will carry out the final strike."

Guy quickly said, "But..."

Kakashi cut him off. "I am the captain. This is an order. Carry it out."

Shisui looked at Kakashi, then turned to Naoki, seeking his opinion.

Guy also turned toward Naoki. In his mind, if anyone in Team Eleven could persuade Kakashi, it would be Naoki.

Naoki planted one hand on his waist, the other resting on the hilt of Kusanagi-maru. In a flat voice, he asked, "Kakashi, I only have one question. Are you confident?"

Kakashi answered without hesitation, "Of course. Don't worry. I'll meet you at the retreat point."

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