"Charge to the other side!"
Under the shroud of night, chaos engulfed the battlefield of Kikyo Mountain. Uchiha Shirou, wielding the power of Susano'o, roared fiercely as the three-headed, six-armed Susano'o slashed its long sword, shaking the earth with every swing.
As signal flares illuminated the night sky, the First Allied Shinobi Forces began retreating for the first time in the years-long war at Kikyo Mountain. This brought a burst of excitement among the Konoha forces, who erupted in triumphant shouts.
"We've crushed the Allied Shinobi Forces!"
"I can feel my chakra recovering—it's Lady Katsuyu!"
"Lord Shirou is leading us to victory! Long live Lord Shirou!"
"Long live Lady Tsunade!"
The Konoha shinobi, who had been exhausted moments ago, now brimmed with renewed fighting spirit as they watched the enemy retreat.
At the center of it all, Senju Tsunade couldn't help but smile as she observed the scene unfold.
"We really could push straight through if we keep this momentum. But they'll still need me."
Yin Seal: Release!
With a powerful shout, the diamond-shaped blue-purple mark on Tsunade's forehead unleashed an overwhelming surge of chakra.
Using her Summoning Jutsu, she called forth Katsuyu, the giant slug, and employed her large-scale healing technique, replenishing chakra and treating injuries en masse.
This technique also allowed Tsunade to share vision through Katsuyu, transfer chakra, and relay intelligence, making her the ideal Kage-level force to command and coordinate a shinobi battalion.
"My chakra is recovering fast! Charge!"
"Follow Lord Shirou forward!"
The Konoha shinobi roared with fervor. Suppressed and overwhelmed by the Allied Shinobi Forces for so long, they finally had a chance to unleash their pent-up energy.
At the forefront, Susano'o continued its devastating assault, employing large-scale attacks that seemed excessive and wasteful. But in reality, these attacks systematically destroyed every trap along the way. The crimson giant advanced relentlessly with thunderous steps.
Meanwhile, the Allied Shinobi Forces were retreating in frustration.
"Retreat!"
Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, gave the command with a calm but grim shout. The shinobi from the three great villages, who had been so aggressive in attacking Konoha, now faltered in the face of defeat.
They were bold when the battle was in their favor, but once on the losing side, each village began prioritizing its survival.
"Damn it! What the Konoha shinobi said earlier and tonight's counterattack… Konoha isn't just targeting our supplies at the rear. They must have plans against the other villages as well."
Despite his anger, Onoki's years of experience made him realize the gravity of the situation. A chill ran down his spine.
This was no time to worry about his allies—it was time to preserve the strength of his forces.
"Send the order! Iwagakure's forces are to retreat with full strength!"
No sooner had Onoki issued his command than the Suna and Kumo forces began moving as well.
"Tsuchikage-sama, our Suna elders say that if Konoha pursues Iwagakure's forces, we Suna shinobi will join forces with Kumo to cut off Konoha's retreat."
When a Suna shinobi delivered this message, Onoki's face turned red with anger as he glared at the so-called Allied Shinobi Forces.
Just as he expected!
They had all been allies moments ago, but now their retreat had fractured into three separate factions.
Their coalition had never been built on true trust, so it was inevitable that, in retreat, each village would prioritize its path.
The Kumo forces would retreat toward the Land of Frost. Suna would undoubtedly head for the Land of Rain. They wouldn't risk following any other faction for fear of losing their escape route. Without a clear retreat, they'd become cannon fodder in the next clash with Konoha.
It was only natural—they didn't see shinobi from other villages as their people. Given this mentality, cooperation in retreat was impossible.
"Retreat at once!"
Compared to Suna's Ebizō, who at least made a show of diplomacy by sending a message, the Kumo faction's Fourth Raikage candidate, A, simply shouted orders and led his forces away without hesitation.
"The Kumo forces will retreat through the Land of Frost. The Suna forces will use the Land of Rain. As for Iwagakure, their retreat via Kannabi Bridge has already been intercepted by Konoha's elite squads. Now is the time for us to reclaim our land!"
"Charge! Follow Lord Orochimaru and pursue the Kumo forces!"
"Lord Jiraiya is leading us to pursue the Suna forces!"
On the chaotic battlefield, Konoha's forces erupted with unstoppable morale. With their aggressive counteroffensive and a clear strategy to cut off the enemy's retreat, the Jonin of the three great villages turned pale. Panic flashed in their eyes.
A single defeat at Kikyo Mountain wasn't a big deal. But if their retreat was compromised, they'd be stranded and isolated.
This was the danger of overextending the front lines. Most large-scale shinobi armies were heavily reliant on supplies. Without kunai, shuriken, or explosive tags, even high-level shinobi could be rendered ineffective. For Chunin, the backbone of any force, their chakra reserves were limited, meaning they could only perform a finite number of jutsu.
A disruption in logistics could spell disaster for an entire army.
This was why, in the original series, the destruction of Kannabi Bridge immediately turned the tide of the war. Iwagakure's forces collapsed, losing the will to continue fighting.
A prolonged conflict without proper supplies only leads to greater losses.
"Kill them!"
Countless Konoha shinobi shouted excitedly, unleashing terrifying combat power.
Signal flares continuously lit up the night sky, making the entire Kikyo Mountain range boil with activity.
Within the damp forest, numerous Konoha squads saw the flares and grew ecstatic.
"It's the counterattack signal! We've won!"
"Hahaha! Quickly—everyone, head to the frontlines! The enemy is retreating!"
"Kill them! Suna scum, your lives are mine!"
In the dense, interwoven terrain of the Kikyo Mountain range, small squads from both sides that had been infiltrating each other's lines now reacted differently upon seeing the signal flares.
"Not good! That's the retreat signal—the battlefield has turned against us!"
"Retreat! That's Iwagakure's retreat signal—fall back immediately!"
"Forget the Konoha shinobi. Retreat now!"
The outcome of the main battlefield directly influenced the broader movements of the war.
Thousands of shinobi had been deployed in the Kikyo Mountain range. When the Iwa, Kumo, and Suna squads saw the retreat signals, they wasted no time disappearing into the forest.
Meanwhile, Konoha's forces, seeing the counterattack signals, launched an enthusiastic pursuit.
"Kill them!"
The enormous crimson Susano'o crossed a small river as Mikoto unleashed devastating Fire Release and genjutsu techniques, amplifying the destruction caused by the Susano'o.
At the same time, Kushina fought with the terrifying might of the Five-Tails. Her massive Wind Release jutsu caused devastation on a scale that surpassed even Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
Unlike Orochimaru and Jiraiya, who had to conserve chakra for prolonged battles, Kushina had no such concerns. Her chakra reserves were essentially limitless.
The battle continued until the rising sun of the second day. Around Kikyo Mountain, the surroundings were left in ruins after the fierce fighting.
On Kikyo Mountain, once a strong fortress, the stone-built houses, and lookout towers now stood desolate, with only a few injured Konoha ninjas nervously watching the surroundings.
"Lord Shirou's Mangekyō Sharingan power last night was terrifying, especially when combined with Lady Kushina's Nine-Tails."
"Yeah, even from Kikyo Mountain, we could see it. The Nine-Tails clad in armor was a complete disaster..."
"But thankfully, that disaster was for the enemy."
Amidst their discussion, a wave of excited laughter suddenly erupted.
...
"Emergency report! Lord Shirou, leading our army of ninjas, has successfully reclaimed the border defenses! The Iwa, Kumo, and Suna ninjas have all been driven out of the Land of Fire..."
"Now, Lord Orochimaru and Lord Jiraiya are re-establishing defensive lines along the borders of the Land of Frost and the Land of Rain..."
At noon, with the autumn wind howling, the emergency report triggered an overwhelming cheer that erupted from Kikyo Mountain like a tidal wave.
"Long live Lord Shirou!"
"Haha, we've finally driven the enemy out!"
"Victory!"
Following the cheers, messenger hawks began soaring and circling over the Kikyo Mountain range.
"Begin cleanup operations immediately! Eliminate any remaining enemies..."
"Team Ota, head to the border for support immediately..."
"Team Nakashima, proceed at once..."
One emergency order after another was issued. Despite their exhaustion, the Konoha ninjas shouted excitedly.
This was because these orders signaled the advancement of the front lines, sending them to support the borders.
While the Konoha ninjas launched their counteroffensive, another battle broke out near the Kannabi Bridge, which served as the Iwa Village's retreat route.
...
Near the Kannabi Bridge.
"Obito!"
Kakashi Hatake shouted in fury, looking at Uchiha Obito, who was pinned under a massive boulder. Obito coughed up blood and weakly gazed at Kakashi, his hoarse voice saying:
"Cough, cough. Kakashi... Forget it. I'm done for. My right side is almost completely crushed... Even though I hated you, I haven't had the chance to congratulate you on becoming a jōnin..."
"Take this..."
In the pit, Kakashi's injured eye was bleeding profusely. As he slowly opened his eyelid, a two-tomoe Sharingan replaced it.
"Obito!"
Outside the pit, Shisui roared furiously. Wielding a short sword, he decapitated an Iwa ninja in one swift motion.
"Youth! A Konoha ninja will not betray the youth of any comrade!"
Might Guy shout in anger as tears streamed down his face during the fast-paced combat.
"Kakashi! Protect Rin for me!"
Amid the life-and-death farewell in the pit, Kakashi finally climbed out of the rubble with Rin. Behind them, the collapsing debris completely buried the pit.
"Captain Kakashi, Iwa reinforcements are arriving. We must break through quickly!"
Although Uchiha Shisui was the youngest, his calm and strategic mindset in battle was no less sharp than Kakashi's, although only in combat tactics.
"Obito!"
With blood and wounds marking his face, Kakashi turned back to glance at the pit now buried under the rubble. At that moment, an unprecedented determination ignited in his eyes.
"Everyone, we must honor Obito's sacrifice. Remember, our mission is to draw the enemy's attention. Break through now, and hold out until Minato-sensei completes his mission!"
"Yes!"
With loud shouts, the team began their breakout under the lightning of Kakashi's Chidori.
The bright flashes of lightning illuminated Kakashi's eyes—one black eye, and the other a blood-red Sharingan with scars.
"So this is the Sharingan! I can see! Obito! I'll use your eye to continue protecting the Konoha! To protect Rin!"
Kakashi screamed with unwavering resolve in his heart. Empowered by the Sharingan, his Chidori became faster, pushing him to break through his limits. His vision was now clear and precise.
"There are too many enemies..."
During the battle, both Shisui and Might Guy were drenched in sweat, their exhaustion evident as they looked at the overwhelming number of Iwa ninjas.
"Damn it! Has the mission been completed yet? We need to hold on a little longer..."
As the team leader, Kakashi panted heavily. In the damp forest, his vision was filled with over fifty Iwa ninjas closing in on them.
"My chakra is almost depleted. Is this the end?"
Surrounded by a massive number of Iwa ninjas, their grim expressions turned ferocious as they stared at the Leaf ninjas who had infiltrated deep into the Land of Grass.
"These Konoha brats are too audacious!"
"Capture them alive!"
As the Iwa ninjas roared and charged toward the Konoha team, ready to fight to the death, a figure suddenly appeared.
"Impossible..."
In the stunned eyes of Kakashi and the others, a white-cloaked figure appeared in an instant. Lightning flickered in the next moment.
The forest was filled with screams in an instant.
"It's the Mangekyou Sharingan! Uchiha Shirou! Impossible!"
"You shouldn't be here at Kikyo Mountain! How can you be here..."
On a massive tree trunk, Shirou landed. His Mangekyō Sharingan coldly scanned the remaining, terrified Iwa ninjas.
"I'm here because we've already defeated your forces. Your alliance army has collapsed, and now it's your turn..."
"Run! Spread the word..."
"Quickly..."
Facing the Mangekyō, the terrified Iwa ninjas screamed and scattered in all directions, abandoning any thoughts of resistance.
"Lord Shirou!"
"Shirou-sensei!"
Kakashi and the others exclaimed in excitement at the sight of Shirou's back.
But the next moment, they noticed Shirou panting heavily, and their excitement turned to concern.
"Shirou-sensei, are you alright?"
Facing their concern, Shirou responded with a weary smile.
"You're really lucky, you know. I just led the Konoha ninja forces to the border of the Land of Grass and happened to sense your position. If not for that, my squad of disciples might not have made it to tomorrow."
Despite the teasing tone, Shirou's exhaustion was unmistakable. This sight left Kakashi and Shisui, both observant by nature, utterly stunned.
They had never seen their Shirou-sensei, in such a fatigued state. A close look revealed the sweat covering his entire body and the marks on his clothes.
It was clear he had just fought a fierce battle!
After all, their Shirou-sensei was renowned for his terrifying chakra reserves, often referred to as a human-tailed beast.
"You sensed us!?"
At that moment, Kakashi suddenly thought of something. Shocked, he immediately turned to the specialized kunai in Shisui's hand.
Shisui, looking a bit embarrassed, explained, "Earlier, my blade broke during the fight, so I've been using the chakra-infused kunai that Sensei gave me."
The trident-shaped kunai bore the Flying Thunder God mark and was crafted from chakra metal, making it incredibly rare and valuable.
"Flying Thunder God!"
Kakashi exclaimed though it wasn't the Flying Thunder God technique itself that shocked him. What truly surprised him was what Uchiha YShirou had just said—he had sensed them!
Even Shisui, at this moment, seemed to realize something and became visibly excited.
"Shirou-sensei, did we win?"
Facing the two of them, Shirou gave a tired smile.
"Of course. My personal Flying Thunder God mark can only be sensed within a specific range. As a frontline commander, how could I recklessly put myself in danger?"
"We reclaimed the territories we had lost and pushed the enemy back beyond the borders!"
As Shirou's calm voice echoed, Kakashi, Shisui, Might Guy, and Rin Nohara all froze for a moment. Then, their faces lit up with a mix of excitement and complex emotions.
They had won!
But as they thought of Obito's sacrifice and everything they had endured, their expressions became slightly dazed. For a moment, they questioned the purpose of their desperate mission.
Just then, a yellow figure appeared. At the same time, Shirou's Mangekyo Sharingan began to spin rapidly, and the Kusanagi sword, crackling with lightning, was unsheathed in an instant.