Yōkō and Hippo finished their conversation.
Nara Kyoichi and the two other Jōnin were very tense, unsure what Deputy Chief Fox would decide.
Of the 500 shinobi, only three Jōnin, including Nara Kyoichi, and just over 100 shinobi remained.
Of the 12 Guardian Ninja, only 4 were left.
Yōkō said to Nara Kyoichi: "By the authority of the Deputy ANBU Chief, I order you to stop fleeing.
Konoha will never accept defeat, much less accept having no courage to counterattack after a defeat.
Facing any enemy, we Konoha shinobi must have the courage to draw our kunai!
Turn around! Launch a counterattack against the Kumo-nin!
The Kumo-nin dared to ally with the Iwa-nin against Shinnosuke-sama, dared to drive the Guardian Ninja from the capital. The Kumo-nin must pay the price!
They must spill their blood before the corpses of our fallen Konoha shinobi!"
Nara Kyoichi's heart first swelled with excitement, but then immediately sank into worry.
Clan Head Rokaku had said that their Nara clan was thoughtful and deliberate, but often hesitated and lacked decisiveness.
Hearing Fox-sama's order, Nara Kyoichi began to doubt again.
Could they, with their current numbers, really handle the 500-plus Kumo-nin pursuing them?
However, Clan Head Rokaku had said they must maintain good relations with Fox-sama and obey his commands no matter what happened.
Yōkō asked: "Jōnin Kyoichi, how are the Kumo-nin forces currently distributed?"
Nara Kyoichi quickly replied:
"Fox-sama, the Kumo-nin just fought us at the capital.
We suffered another disastrous defeat there.
According to intelligence, Raikage Advisor Omoi has taken 100 Kumo-nin to assume the protection duty for the Daimyō of the Land of Hot Water and has taken control of the capital.
The Two-Tails Jinchūriki Ryūjin and Raikage Assistant Dodai are pursuing us in the rear."
"The Two-Tails? A beast with fewer tails than I have fingers, and it dares to swagger around here!" Yōkō said:
"Gather all squad leaders here. I will formulate a battle plan. We're going back to deal with her!"
Nara Kyoichi very much wanted to point out that it wasn't just the Two-Tails Jinchūriki Ryūjin; Dodai was there too.
But judging by Fox-sama's tone, Dodai seemed insignificant.
Over thirty squad leaders gathered before Yōkō.
Yōkō addressed the group:
"We have just suffered a major defeat. Due to ANBU confidentiality requirements, I cannot tell you where I went.
I regret that I could not fight alongside you.
We can fail, but we cannot run.
You must believe in Konoha. Konoha has the ability to defeat any enemy.
The failure at the front was just a momentary lapse. Who could have imagined that Kumogakure, to deal with Konoha, would actually lower itself to ally with Iwagakure?
Now the Iwa-nin have left the Land of Hot Water. Relying on Kumogakure alone, how could they possibly be a match for our Konoha?
In the first two Great Shinobi Wars, didn't we fight our way across the entire shinobi world?
One-on-one, Konoha absolutely fears no village.
Don't be disheartened. Follow me back! Counterattack! Avenge Shinnosuke-sama! Avenge our fallen Konoha shinobi!"
The Konoha squad leaders, having been pursued relentlessly by the Kumo-nin, all had pent-up frustration. Hearing that Fox-sama would lead them back to fight, they felt excitement, then quickly calmed down to think rationally.
Fox-sama mastered Wood Release. Others might fear Tailed Beasts, but Fox-sama did not. Wood Release was the secret technique most effective against Tailed Beasts.
If Fox-sama faced the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, victory seemed possible.
Yōkō said: "Send two squads to escort the severely wounded back to the Land of Fire. The remaining squads will return with me.
Nara Kyoichi, you will serve as strategist, coordinating the various squads."
"Yes, sir!" Nara Kyoichi said to the leaders:
"Everyone, return to your squads and immediately work on the morale of your squad members. We cannot run any further; the next step is into the Land of Fire itself."
With the temporary commander's resolute attitude, this fleeing force quickly unified its will. The ordinary shinobi prepared themselves with the determination to die stopping the pursuing Kumo-nin for Konoha's sake.
In the hills of the Land of Hot Water, over a hundred Konoha shinobi advanced rapidly.
Soon, a group of fast-moving black dots appeared on the horizon – Kumo-nin moving through the hills.
The Kumo-nin stopped.
They thought they were chasing a fleeing foe. Now, that foe had stopped running and was actually turning to charge at them, which left the Kumo-nin somewhat bewildered.
The Kumo-nin hesitated only briefly before continuing their advance.
Because their advantage was too great.
The Kumo-nin outnumbered the Konoha shinobi five to one, and the Kumo-nin side had a Jinchūriki, a major strategic weapon.
Perhaps these Konoha shinobi are afraid of being punished by their village, they thought.
The mission failed, and the Third Hokage's eldest son died. These Konoha shinobi won't have an easy time when they return.
Dying in a final charge could be called a sacrifice for the village. Returning to the village to live in disgrace, potentially targeted by the Sarutobi clan, would be a fate worse than death.
When the two sides closed in, they faced off atop several low hills.
The Konoha shinobi covered the slope of one low hill. Across a ravine, the Kumo-nin covered the slopes of four low hills.
Dodai quickly scanned the opposition and spotted Fox standing atop the Konoha hill.
So that's why the Konoha shinobi have the courage to return – they have a new Kage-level shinobi.
"Fox, I admit you have some skill," Dodai mocked, "but leading so many Konoha shinobi to their deaths... have you, like Sarutobi Shinnosuke, lost sight of your own limitations?
Overestimating yourself gets you killed. Gets you killed very badly."
Yōkō said: "Dodai, in war, there is winning and losing. My Konoha can accept a loss.
However, I will absolutely not allow you to slander Shinnosuke-sama!
Shinnosuke-sama was a hero of Konoha, a hero who died under your vile, joint assault!
Today, I will avenge Shinnosuke-sama!
You'd better write to the Tsuchikage Ōnoki for help right now, otherwise, you are doomed today!"
Dodai felt irritated. Why did this Fox have to be so insulting?
Weren't ANBU supposed to be stoic and unsmiling?
In Fox's words, their ability to defeat Konoha's forces in the Land of Hot Water seemed entirely due to Iwagakure's help.
It was too much.
Dodai turned to Ryūjin: "Ryūjin, this is the final battle of the Land of Hot Water conflict. Show them no mercy. I want them dead!"
Ryūjin nodded. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, Tailed Beast chakra surged around her, covering her in a Tailed Beast Cloak.
She dropped to all fours, like an agile wildcat.
Ryūjin raised her head, and Tailed Beast chakra condensed in front of it, forming a Tailed Beast Ball the size of a human head.
The Konoha shinobi watched the Tailed Beast Ball uneasily, then turned their expectant gazes towards Fox-sama atop the hill.
Fox-sama remained unmoved, his arms still crossed over his chest.
The Tailed Beast Ball gathered sufficient chakra. With a sharp flick of her head, Ryūjin sent the Tailed Beast Ball shooting towards Yōkō.
The air was violently pushed aside by the Tailed Beast Ball. All the Konoha shinobi felt their scalps prickle.
Fox-sama finally moved!
Fox brought his palms together with a clap! A giant wooden hand erupted from the ground!
To the astonishment of all the Konoha and Kumo shinobi, the terrifying Tailed Beast Ball, which had previously been unstoppable, was caught by a wooden hand.
The Tailed Beast Ball was only the size of a head, and the wooden hand wasn't particularly large either.
Yōkō even felt a little disappointed.
"Two-Tails, is this your Tailed Beast Ball? Your Tailed Beast Ball is as laughable as your tails."
Yōkō's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
What's going on? Why am I being sarcastic too?
Could it be that the Uchiha Kekkei Genkai is actually more suitable for me?
Manic laughter, mockery, madness... what if that actually suits Me?
***
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(Chapter End)