Pakura stared intently at the thickest part of the smoke and dust, trying to catch a glimpse of that damned figure. However, the smoke and dust were so thick that they completely obscured her vision.
The damned kid seemed to have blended into the smog, and she couldn't see him at all!
"Lady Pakura!"
Behind her, a series of hurried footsteps sounded.
The dozens of Jonin finally arrived, followed closely by the three panting Hinokawa Clansmen.
"Hurry!"
Pakura shouted urgently without turning his head, "You three! Find him quickly! Where is that kid!?"
The three Hinokawa Clansmen simultaneously activated their Visual Jutsus, and a strange red light flickered within the dust as they scanned the devastated camp with all their strength.
"Lady Pakura…"
The leader, Maru Hinokawa, slowly opened his eyes; his expression was extremely complex, even showing a hint of bewilderment.
"He disappeared."
Pakura suddenly turned around and stared intently at him.
"Disappeared? What do you mean by disappeared?!"
Maru shook his head with a wry smile.
"He has simply disappeared, Lady Pakura."
"My Red Eyes… cannot detect his chakra at all, it's as if… he never existed."
Pakura froze and stood there while looking at the still-smoking ruins and the flag that represented the Village Hidden in the Sand, now nowhere to be seen.
At the same time, at another hidden corner.
Shinichi took the Village Hidden in the Sand banner from Isshin's hand, and a smile appeared on his lips as he looked at the blackened marks and torn edges on the banner.
Another achievement in battle.
Ninjas have existed for countless years, yet they still retain many ancient military tactics in their campaigns.
Flags are one of them.
Although in this era flags no longer serve a practical command function, and ninjas have more advanced means of communication, such as ninja hawks, communication Ninjutsu, and portable wireless devices, they still retain irreplaceable symbolic significance.
It is the foundation of the army's morale.
It is the fighting spirit of the people that is entrusted to it.
It represents the face of a faction on the battlefield.
For example, during the Five Kage Summit, each Kage and their representative had a flag representing the symbol of their respective ninja village standing behind them.
The great banner of the Village Hidden in the Sand originally flew high above the command post, symbolizing the Village Hidden in the Sand's command center in this war, symbolizing Rasa's authority as the fourth Kazekage, and the morale of the Village Hidden in the Sand army.
And now, it's in Shinichi's hands.
Although it was practically useless, it would not cause the Village Hidden in the Sand's ninjas to immediately lose combat ability, would not instantly paralyze Rasa's command, nor cause the Village Hidden in the Sand to collapse without a fight; it was a symbol.
A symbol worthy of being written into battle reports, spread to the rear, and talked about endlessly by everyone.
But it is a symbol.
In other words, Shinichi has now also achieved the merit of capturing the flag.
Shinichi carefully rolled up the flag and put it into his storage scroll.
Once it's handed over after the war, he can brag about it for years.
As for the expressions on the faces of those from the Village Hidden in the Sand, what are they like now?
Shinichi smiled and didn't think about it.
He turned and sped off towards Kikyo Pass.
The battle over there is almost over.
...
Meanwhile, just as Pakura's squad was chasing Shinichi Higashino all the way and was ultimately lured toward the main camp, the battle at the Kikyo Pass was the largest and most intense frontal battle on the southwestern front since the outbreak of the war.
After a day of frenzied fighting and heavy losses, the battle finally came to an end.
Eight thousand ninjas attacked the mountain, while more than six thousand ninjas defended it.
The Village Hidden in the Sand launched a fierce offensive, wave after wave, as if tireless. Puppet troops, large summoned animals, Poison Ninjutsu, Wind Style Ninjutsu, Earth Style Ninjutsu... All sorts of forces took turns trying to tear apart Konoha's defenses.
But Konoha held it firmly.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties.
At the foot of Kikyo Pass, corpses lay piled upon piles, blood soaking every inch of the ground. Broken swords, shattered puppets, and charred limbs were scattered everywhere.
The Village Hidden in the Sand was never able to break through Konoha's defenses.
"Order! All units at the front provide alternating cover, gradually disengage... And retreat."
As evening fell, Rasa finally ordered a retreat.
The Village Hidden in the Sand's offensive gradually subsided like the receding tide. The surviving Sunagakure ninjas began to cover each other, carrying the wounded, and like a pack of injured wolves, slowly withdrew from the battlefield that had devoured countless lives.
Eight thousand elite Sunagakure ninjas, who had stormed the mountain with great momentum, were reduced to less than five thousand when they retreated. More than three thousand lives were lost at the foot of Kikyo Pass, and the number of wounded was countless.
....
Back at the main camp of the Village Hidden in the Sand.
When Rasa, covered in the smell of blood, led the remnants of his defeated troops back to the main camp, what came into his sight was not an orderly camp and welcoming troops, but a shocking ruin.
He froze, his steps halting at the camp entrance, almost thinking he had gone to the wrong place.
Pakura took a deep breath, stepped forward, knelt on one knee, lowered her head, and said: "Fourth Kazekage, it is my incompetence that has caused the failure of the mission to hunt down Shinichi Higashino. Not only did I fail to complete the mission, but he also broke into our camp and caused such damage. Please punish me, Kazekage."
Punish Pakura? Now?
Rasa stood there, gazing at the ruins, then at Pakura kneeling before him.
He wanted to get angry.
He wants to question Pakura: Three hundred elites chasing a ten-year-old boy, how could they let him escape? How could they let him turn around and smash the main camp? How could they let him seize the main camp's banner?
But he knew even better that now was not the time to lose his temper.
"What exactly happened? Explain yourself from beginning to end!"
Rasa said while trying to keep his expression calm.
Upon hearing this, Pakura began to give a concise and clear report on the pursuit.
After listening to Pakura's account, Rasa fell silent.
"How did he disappear? Was it Konoha's Flying Thunder God Technique? Or...?"
Rasa glanced at Pakura, who was still kneeling on one knee, and didn't think about it any further.
Unity! Unity! Unity!
Rasa silently repeated it to himself three times, although he really wanted to punish Pakura and make her pay the price for this failure.
But he was even more aware of Pakura's current importance to the village.
In the battle at the Kikyo Pass, the Village Hidden in the Sand suffered heavy losses, and its morale plummeted.
If at this time he punished Pakura, this top-tier combat force in the village, this genius Jonin with extremely high prestige among the village's ninjas, internal conflicts would intensify further.
Morale will be further demoralized.
The battles that follow will be even more difficult.
Thinking of this, Rasa slowly spoke.
"This incident is not entirely your responsibility."
"That kid, Shinichi Higashino, has indeed exceeded our expectations."
Rasa's gaze swept over the surrounding ruins, over his exhausted subordinates, and finally landed on Pakura.