Moonlight filtered through the dense forest at the border of the Land of Rivers, scattering pale silver across the ground.
The night was quiet—
Broken only by insects and the faint rush of distant water.
Shadows moved swiftly through the trees.
At the front—
Orochimaru.
Behind him, Konoha's forces, after a long forced march, had finally linked up with Jiraiya and the border troops stationed here.
Nearly four thousand shinobi gathered in the clearing.
An ANBU operative knelt, carving a rough map into the ground with a kunai.
"Sunagakure's forward camp is ten li ahead, positioned along the river valley."
"Divided into front and rear wings."
"Estimated strength… no fewer than three thousand."
His voice was low and fast.
Jiraiya folded his arms, brows furrowed.
His gaze swept over the exhausted reinforcements behind Orochimaru—
Then to the local commander.
The man looked worn down.
Under constant harassment, his forces had dwindled from two thousand to less than eighteen hundred.
Forced into defense.
"We have roughly thirty-eight hundred in total," Jiraiya said quietly.
"In numbers, we match them."
"Sensei's order is clear—quick victory. Crush them."
His eyes shifted to Orochimaru.
"Your men just arrived. Can they fight tonight?"
Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed coldly.
"They'll manage."
"A short rest is enough."
"Good."
Jiraiya's decision was immediate.
"Then we strike tonight."
"Before they realize reinforcements have arrived."
"Hit fast. Hit hard."
The Sarutobi clan commander remained silent.
A flicker of dissatisfaction passed through him—
But it was quickly replaced by relief.
Let them lead.
Victory would still bring him merit.
Failure wouldn't be his burden.
—
Orders spread.
The Konoha army dispersed into formation.
Ten li—
For shinobi, nothing.
But stealth at this scale was impossible.
Sunagakure's scouts were everywhere.
Yet—
With Byakugan reconnaissance and elite assassins led by Orochimaru and Jiraiya—
One by one—
The outer sentries fell.
Silently.
Konoha gained the initiative.
—
When the army reached the valley—
The alarm sounded.
"Enemy attack—!"
The warning had barely begun—
Before it was drowned out.
"Throw!"
Thousands of kunai and shuriken rose into the sky—
Then descended like a storm.
A rain of steel.
Explosions erupted across the camp.
Tents tore apart.
Barricades shattered.
Blood sprayed into the air.
—
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Combination Ninjutsu—Scorching Inferno!"
Wind fanned flame.
Flame roared into dragons.
Dozens of blazing infernos surged into the camp.
The eastern half of the valley ignited—
Turning the night crimson.
Screams filled the air.
—
But Sunagakure was no weak foe.
After the initial chaos—
They regrouped.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Walls rose, blocking the flames.
"Wind Release!"
Blades of wind clashed against incoming weapons.
Puppet masters emerged—
Their constructs darting forward with poisoned blades and hidden senbon.
Like demons in the firelight.
—
Konoha pressed on.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A massive dragon surged from the river—
Crashing into Sunagakure's defenses.
"Lightning Release: Ground Current!"
Electricity spread through water and soil—
Shinobi convulsed and fell.
The battlefield erupted.
Light.
Fire.
Thunder.
Every explosion shook the earth.
Every second claimed lives.
—
Then—
A new presence emerged.
Heavy.
Overwhelming.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Imperial Funeral!"
Golden sand surged skyward like a tidal wave.
It solidified—
Forming a massive barrier across the battlefield.
Flames.
Water.
Stopped.
—
"It's Lord Rasa!"
Cheers erupted from Sunagakure.
Rasa stood atop a cloud of golden sand.
Short brown hair.
Eyes sharp with killing intent.
Gold dust swirled around him like a living storm.
"Konoha shinobi…"
"Die."
His hands formed seals.
The ground trembled.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust World Method!"
Endless golden spikes erupted from the earth—
Raining down across Konoha's ranks.
The attack was indiscriminate.
Devastating.
Shinobi were forced back—
Or pierced through, pinned to the ground.
—
The battlefield shifted.
Konoha's momentum stalled.
—
"…Finally."
A voice, low and amused.
Orochimaru stepped forward, eyes gleaming.
"Someone worth killing."
Beside him, Jiraiya cracked his knuckles.
The two exchanged a glance.
Then—
One moved in the open.
The other vanished into shadow.
Together—
They advanced toward Rasa.
The real battle—
It was just the beginning.
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