Chapter 229: Frenzied Battle

"Shisui..." Hiruzen took a dry puff from his pipe, his gaze distant as he looked toward the hidden Kirigakure in the darkness.

"Do you think I'll ever get to enjoy my retirement?"

The short-haired boy scratched his head. "Maybe... if nothing unexpected happens. Once we win this war, we should be able to go back."

"You're an honest one, knowing how to use the word 'maybe.'" The old man chuckled.

"If it were Orochimaru, he'd probably make a bunch of empty promises. Don't be fooled by his cold demeanor; he is actually quite devious."

Shisui, hearing his former superior speak ill of his current one, could only stand there and smile bitterly.

"But indeed, the other side is running out of options." Hiruzen exhaled a puff of white smoke. "It's a pity... I never thought the first great shinobi village to be destroyed would be Kirigakure..."

---

Meanwhile, less than a mile from the Konoha frontline command center, Sae Hyuga was staring into the distant darkness.

Like Konoha, Kirigakure had a sensory barrier, but unlike Konoha's, Kirigakure's barrier produced a vast amount of mist, concealing the village in a dense fog like a giant, cloud-swallowing monster.

However, both Konoha and Kirigakure shinobi knew that it wouldn't be long before the village, which had stood for fifty-seven years, would be breached by Konoha's army and become history.

Once Shigeru Mountain was broken, the road to Kirigakure would be clear, with no obstacles remaining. There might be brutal street battles within the village, but compared to the glory of destroying Kirigakure, those sacrifices would be worth it.

"Captain."

At that moment, a female voice sounded behind Sae. "The Commander has called for a strategy meeting. All Chunin captains are required to attend."

"Understood." Sae nodded lightly, gave a few instructions, and then headed to the command center.

After verifying his identity, he stood in a corner of the room. There were quite a few people inside, including nearly fifty Uchiha with black hair and black eyes. This was an elite meeting only for Chunin captains, highlighting the significant combat power the Sharingan added to the battle.

Konoha's impressive advance during the "Water-Fire War," all the way to Kirigakure's doorstep, was largely thanks to the Uchiha clan.

In the center of the room sat Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Supreme Commander, with Shisui Uchiha, the Head of the Anbu, standing beside him. On the other side were [Red Bone] Ruri Mochizuki and the Vice Commander Muta Aburame, as well as Itachi Uchiha, who was only a year older than Sae. Beyond them were several other high-ranking Jonin. Konoha's forces gathered at Shigeru Mountain were more than enough to flatten Kirigakure, capable of dealing with threats from high to low levels.

As Sae entered, many shinobi subtly glanced at him. As the first Byakugan orphan to rise to fame after the fall of the Hyuga clan, he had become accustomed to the scrutinizing and curious gazes he often received at just nine years old.

"Ahem." Hiruzen cleared his throat twice, silencing the murmurs in the room. He spoke calmly, "We will attack Shigeru Mountain in five hours. By dawn tomorrow, the vanguard must set foot in Kirigakure."

A simple sentence, yet it was a death sentence for Kirigakure.

The room fell silent, a heavy killing intent filling the air. Through his pure white eyes, Sae could see the blood flow of many shinobi quicken slightly.

The boy's muscles tensed instinctively, influenced by the atmosphere.

"Shisui, go over the tactics."

The short-haired boy responded to Hiruzen's order and then unrolled a scroll, articulating the pre-prepared march routes.

The strategy meeting lasted less than ten minutes. Each squad was assigned the most suitable position. Sae left with the crowd and gathered his team.

Besides Sae, the team consisted of Genin Hisakazu Sarutobi and Natsuki Uchiha, both slightly older than Sae, having just graduated from the Shinobi Academy this year.

The team's composition made it clear that Sae's squad was somewhat of a "gold-plated" unit. All members were from shinobi clans, and the team was formed on the eve of the decisive battle at Kirigakure. As long as they survived, they would gain a prestigious mark on their records.

"Captain Sae." Hisakazu Sarutobi and Natsuki Uchiha were quite respectful, knowing Sae's reputation for challenging older students during his time at the Shinobi Academy.

"Rest here for four hours." Sae handed his two subordinates a hand-drawn map. "This is the attack route. Memorize it and burn it afterward. We're part of the second front, under Captain Ruri's command. Her combat style is very... direct. Make sure to prepare your medical kits and keep your soldier pills in your mouth."

"Yes, Captain!" The two Genin took the map and memorized it silently in front of Sae.

Time passed slowly. Four hours later, Sae led his two subordinates toward the assembly point. After another ten minutes, all the shinobi of the second front had gathered.

It was now past midnight, the full moon high in the sky. A white-haired girl clad in green armor stood at the front of the group, leaning lazily against a tree with her arms crossed and eyes closed.

For shinobi, the so-called "frontline troops" didn't require too many complex tactics. It could be summarized in one sentence: follow the leader and charge forward.

In the silence, a rustling sound echoed through the forest as the assault troops, led by Shisui Uchiha, moved out. Next were the long-range attack units, special tactics squads, and the first frontline combat troops...

Boom!

Suddenly, Shigeru Mountain erupted in dazzling flames, with smoke thick with the scent of blood rising into the sky. Even from several kilometers away, the Konoha camp could see it clearly.

"Charge!"

Ruri coldly ordered, swiftly following the vanguard. All her subordinates, including Sae, launched their own attacks.

The boy formed a single hand seal, veins bulging at the corners of his eyes as his 360-degree vision expanded, leaving no blind spots, seeing everything clearly.

—After the Hyuga clan's downfall, none of the remaining children had the Caged Bird Seal, except for a few pregnant women.

One kilometer, five hundred meters, three hundred meters, one hundred meters... Sae silently counted the distance as he and his comrades rushed into the battlefield.

As soon as the battle at Shigeru Mountain began, it quickly became a fierce clash. The shinobi of Konoha and Kirigakure mingled like two liquids, dividing into squads.

"Die!"

Ruri shouted, her white hair dancing like flames as she placed a hand on the ground. Hundreds of bone spikes pierced the earth, skewering all enemies within fifty meters. Blood poured down, instantly dyeing the white bones crimson.

[Red Bone], as she was now known, was a fitting title in the shinobi world, where nicknames were always accurate. Ruri's ferocious combat style lived up to the name.

"Damn it, it's Ruri Mochizuki!"

"Our Kekkai Genkai from Kirigakure... Damn Konoha..."

"Kill her! These thieves all deserve to go to hell!"

Facing Kirigakure, Ruri seemed to have cast an aggro spell, drawing countless jutsu toward her, greatly easing the pressure on the other Konoha shinobi.

"Hahaha... You want to kill me? After today, I'll be the last person with Shikotsumyaku in the world!" The white-haired girl laughed wildly.

(End of Chapter)