After learning that Sunagakure and Iwagakure had withdrawn from the war due to issues within their own territories, Konoha once again reinforced the Rain Country front with two thousand additional troops.
Now, Konoha's total forces on the Rain battlefield had reached nearly eight thousand.
As for the Rain Village, after suffering heavy losses from Yoru's assaults and the continuous attrition of recent days, their remaining forces had dropped to around seven thousand.
Left with no choice, Hanzo began conscripting again. Any "shinobi" over the age of six was sent onto the battlefield.
Only then did the Rain Village barely restore its forces to eight thousand.
But the gap between the two sides was enormous.
First, in terms of high-level combat power above jōnin, Konoha's forces outnumbered the Rain Village nearly five to one.
As for mid-tier strength, Konoha's army consisted entirely of chūnin and above, while the Rain forces had a massive number of genin.
It could be said—
This decisive battle had already been decided before it even began.
Rain's commander-in-chief, Harada Eiji, looked at the overwhelming presence of Konoha's army ahead and smiled bitterly.
Compared to them, his own side looked like a ragtag force.
Some didn't even have enough explosive tags.
Some didn't even have proper shinobi gear—just wearing their own clothes as they went into battle.
Even knowing they would lose, Harada Eiji, as the commander, had to step forward.
"Today! The Konoha invaders will launch their most brutal assault upon us!"
Let this war become my funeral, he thought silently.
He raised his voice and shouted across the battlefield.
"Behind us lies our homeland! Our families! Our comrades! Our brothers! We have no path of retreat!"
The Rain shinobi's breathing grew heavy.
"We will use our flesh and blood to become the final wall protecting our home!"
Their eyes turned red.
Even the children were filled with bloodlust.
"Rain shinobi! Follow me—kill!"
With that, Harada Eiji charged forward at the head of his army.
The Rain forces followed, surging toward Konoha's formation like ants trying to shake a towering tree.
Tragic—
Yet resolute.
At the front of Konoha's army, Yoru listened to Harada Eiji's speech, feeling a moment of solemnity.
But—
Victory always belonged to the strong.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Konoha's launchers began firing massive numbers of kunai wrapped in explosive tags toward the Rain forces.
The Rain shinobi, lacking sufficient weapons, could only use their bodies to block the barrage.
And those at the very front—
Were the genin.
The weakest among them.
Their only purpose—
To consume Konoha's weapons.
Explosions erupted across the battlefield.
Bodies were torn apart.
Severed limbs and organs flew through the air.
Blood—
Was the cheapest thing on the battlefield.
"Kill!"
As the Rain forces pushed through the barrage and reached close combat, Konoha shinobi drew their blades and charged.
At that moment—
Magma surged across Yoru's body, flowing endlessly from the ground beneath him.
Boom!
Countless magma hands burst forth from the earth, clawing their way into the world.
"Magma… Infernal Demons!"
Endless magma creatures rose onto the battlefield.
They began slaughtering the Rain shinobi without restraint.
Under normal circumstances, the Rain shinobi would have already collapsed in terror.
But this time—
They charged forward like moths to a flame.
They had no way back.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
The jōnin from both sides clashed, engaging each other in deadly combat.
High-level ninjutsu ravaged the battlefield.
Any low-level shinobi caught within were instantly annihilated.
Clang! Clash!
Harada Eiji and Senju Senra—the commanders of both armies—engaged in battle.
They first exchanged probing attacks with kunai, searching for openings to deliver a fatal blow.
Suddenly!
Harada Eiji retreated, his chakra surging as he formed hand seals.
A powerful bolt of lightning shot toward Senra.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
Senju Senra responded immediately, unleashing a torrent of lightning in return.
Both were powerful lightning-style users—
But in this clash, Senra clearly had the upper hand.
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted, lightning tearing through the battlefield.
Several nearby shinobi were caught in the aftermath and killed instantly.
As Harada Eiji narrowed his eyes against the blinding explosion—
A violent surge of lightning burst forth from within it.
Senju Senra emerged, his entire body crackling with electricity, closing the distance in an instant.
"Lightning Release… Lightning Thrust!"
Thrust!
His right hand, wrapped in violent lightning chakra, pierced directly into Harada Eiji's chest—
Straight through his heart.
Harada Eiji looked down in disbelief at the hand embedded in his chest.
Moments later—
His life faded away.
Rain's commander-in-chief—
Harada Eiji—
Dead.
On the other side of the battlefield, Yoru wielded the Chixiao Sword, its blade dancing in crimson arcs as he controlled the Infernal Demons, harvesting lives without mercy.
He had already lost count of how many Rain shinobi had died by his hand.
Their fear of him grew to madness.
Wave after wave charged at him—
Only to be cut down.
As the slaughter continued and their commander fell—
The frenzy faded.
In its place came overwhelming terror.
The Rain army—
Collapsed.
Far from the main battlefield—
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru stood, breathing heavily as they faced a man who seemed like a god.
Hanzo stood atop his giant salamander, gazing at them calmly.
After a moment, he spoke.
"I will not kill you."
"This war… is Konoha's victory."
"Your strength has earned my admiration."
"I hereby grant you the title—'The Three Ninja of Konoha.'"
Only the heavens knew how much unwillingness lay beneath Hanzo's calm expression.
But he had no choice.
He needed to display his strength—
And at the same time, show goodwill to Konoha.
Only then could the defeated Rain Village reduce its losses.
Two days before the final battle, Tsunade and the others had received a secret mission to destroy an important Rain stronghold.
But what awaited them—
Was Hanzo himself.
The three exchanged glances, their expressions complex.
Was the war… really over?
Orochimaru's eyes flickered with thought.
Sensei…
What are you planning?
The war between Konoha and the Rain Village—
Came to an end.
Konoha emerged victorious.
And the Rain Village—
Could only bow their heads and beg for mercy.
Even though—
They had been the ones invaded.
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