Chapter 143

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The most dangerous tasks, Kyōmu still took upon himself.

Kakashi, Obito, Might Guy, Rin, and later, the likes of Genma and Ebisu from the First Shinobi Squadron, were all entrusted by Kyōmu to Tsunade for care.

This was the responsibility of an elder brother, and also a reflection of Kyōmu's ruthless side.

From the beginning to the end, he understood that he couldn't take care of everyone. He was very clear about who was close and who was not.

Thus, choosing some to accompany him in death was a foregone conclusion.

To stand guard alone, where is there a man who does not die? But what Kyōmu could guarantee was that he would do his utmost to keep these people alive.

[Passive Skill: Cornered Beast]

[Skill Description: During the skill enhancement period, an aura that is only visible to the owner will be generated. Within the aura's coverage, the user and companions will have the Cornered Beast effect.

Cornered Beast: Combat power increased by 100%, willpower increased by 100%, recovery properties enhanced by 100%, and the enhancement effect will continue to accumulate as casualties increase.

10% casualties, Cornered Beast enhancement effect increases to 150%; 30% casualties, enhancement effect increases to 200%; 50% casualties, enhancement effect increases to 250%; 70% casualties, enhancement effect increases to 300%; more than 90% casualties, enhancement effect increases to 350%, and the aura owner will receive an additional Overlord buff.

Overlord buff: The longer the battle, the stronger the combat power becomes, up to 20 times, and the damage reduction rate increases up to 30%]

[Skill Duration: 30 days]

[Message: Becoming an Overlord is one of a man's ultimate dreams, but looking back, the ground is covered with corpses. If it were you, would you choose to cross the river?]

Looking at this month's passive skill, Kyōmu was silent.

Lifting his head, he looked at the 500 Leaf Shinobi standing below the stage, and a pain struck Kyōmu's heart.

"Gentlemen, I will ensure that most of you survive," Kyōmu said firmly. "Believe in me!"

"Lord Kyōmu, victory is ours!"

"Lord Kyōmu, victory is ours!"

"Lord Kyōmu, victory is ours!"

Even with only 500 people, their morale was not weak at all. They knew that some would die after this battle, but following Kyōmu, they felt it was worth it.

Some things, someone has to do them. At the very least, Kyōmu would always be at the forefront, and that was enough.

Listening to the calls, Kyōmu murmured in his heart, "Overlord?, it's alright not to be!"

With a gesture, silence was commanded below the stage.

"Gentlemen, go and prepare. With me here in this battle, victory is assured!"

"Victory is assured!"

With another shout, the formation dispersed, and the Leaf Shinobi went about their own business.

Watching them leave, Kyōmu still held some confidence in his heart.

With the aura's enhancement, his strength and other aspects affecting combat power doubled, and so did his teammates'.

A doubling of power might not seem much, but it also depends on the base level.

A Genin doubling in strength is still a Genin; a Chūnin doubling in strength barely touches the threshold of a Special Jōnin.

But if you go higher, a double increase is not as simple as one plus one equals two, especially for Kyōmu.

"How it turns out, we'll know after a try." Kyōmu looked in the direction of the Sand Shinobi camp. "Such a good opportunity has come, aren't you tempted?

If you're not tempted, me leading 500 people to hold off your 6,000 or 7,000, do you still want face? There's no reason not to be tempted, you know?"

In the Sand Shinobi camp.

Rasa, after more than two months of recuperation, had his overdrawn body fully recovered.

"Kazekage-sama, our intelligence ninja have brought news that Tsunade is leading the main force to aid the Rock Shinobi battlefield, leaving only Aragami Kyōmu with just over 500 people to defend Kikyō Mountain."

"Is the information accurate?!" Rasa became spirited, immediately sitting upright.

"After repeated confirmations, the information is accurate."

"Has Konoha lost its mind!" Rasa laughed heartily, clapping his hands. "Or do they really think Kyōmu is invincible? Heh, they're asking for it." Rasa sneered and waved his hand, "Go and call Elder Chiyo here."

Soon, Chiyo entered the tent.

"Elder Chiyo, Konoha is in a predicament of being engaged on four fronts, the village's military strength is stretched thin, Tsunade's forces have left only just over 500 people to defend, the rest have gone to aid the Rock Shinobi battlefield."

"Rasa, I think this is a conspiracy," Chiyo didn't see this as a good thing. "Or rather, this is an open conspiracy."

Rasa also thought of this, "But in my opinion, this is Konoha's wishful thinking. Kyōmu is not a god!"

Chiyo looked at the strategic map, drawing an imaginary line with her hand, "If Tsunade's forces directly cut through the Land of Rain into the Land of Rivers, then our rear will be cut off, falling into a symbolic encirclement."

"Chiyo-sama, as you said, it's just symbolic," Rasa laughed and shook his head. "The front has just over 500 people, and the rear has over 2,000 people, surrounding our army of 7,000 Shinobi?

I admit that since the war began, our casualties are more than three times that of Konoha's, but it's not something their kind of encirclement can annihilate."

Chiyo nodded but then shook her head again, "After several times, I have learned not to underestimate Kyōmu. He is Konoha's miracle ninja; he always manages to survive in desperate situations, always wins against the odds, always makes us look like the backdrop."

"Chiyo-sama, aren't you..." Rasa was a bit displeased. It's not something a high-ranking official should do to boost the morale of others by diminishing their own.

"Fourth Kazekage, listen to me," Chiyo was very calm. "I already have a way to deal with Kyōmu. If I kill him, you naturally have to lead the army to attack with all your strength.

But if I fail, you must not act rashly. Just station in the territory of the Land of Rivers, wait for the remaining three fronts of Konoha to deteriorate before taking action."

Rasa suddenly realized something, "Chiyo-sama, are you planning to..."

"This is the only thing I can do now," Chiyo smiled resignedly. "Besides the village, I have nothing else I care about, and Kyōmu is the biggest threat to the village. I must remove him!"

"Chiyo-sama, we can take our time, there's no need..."

"If we could take our time, Kyōmu wouldn't still be alive and getting stronger." Chiyo obviously learned her lesson. "We made a mistake. For a genius like Kyōmu, we must use thunderous means!"

Rasa opened his mouth to speak but thought about it and realized it was indeed the case.

If they had used a Tailed Beast or if he had personally acted earlier to suppress Kyōmu, there wouldn't have been subsequent issues.

"But do we have to..."

"This is just the worst-case scenario," Chiyo took a deep breath. "I am not much stronger than Kyōmu, but his speed greatly counters me. If he wants to retreat, I can't keep him.

Although this time, because it's a defensive battle, Kyōmu can't retreat, I might be able to slowly drag it out and then kill him.

But no one can guarantee when an accident will happen, so..."

Chiyo paused for a moment, then reiterated to Rasa, "Fourth Kazekage must remember, if I can't kill Kyōmu, you must not act rashly, and even more, do not seek revenge for me.

Otherwise, our Sand Shinobi army will fall into a predicament. This is not an alarmist talk!"

Chiyo had clear thoughts, but what Rasa would choose at that time, only he knew.

---

The Sand Shinobi were not cautious, especially when Chiyo led the army with a mentality of trading one for one, Kyōmu knew the Sand Shinobi had taken the bait.

Actually, no matter who it is, facing such a disparity in military strength, even if they know there's poison ahead, they still have to come and take a bite.

No other reason, just always feel that their body is strong, a bit of poison, they can completely withstand.

"Aragami Kyōmu, come to battle!" Chiyo stood at the forefront, "Here's your chance to make a name for yourself."

"Chiyo-baasama, if you have the guts, come here." Kyōmu stood on the top of a building in Kikyō Castle, "Stop with these useless tactics, let's talk about duels after you manage to attack down here."

Kyōmu was known for his imperturbability; he would never take the initiative to attack. Defending and then luring in a bigger fish was his real intention.

"Attack!" Chiyo no longer wasted words, waving her hand forward vigorously.

When her arm fell, 3,000 Sand Shinobi, six times the number of Kyōmu's forces, charged forward.

When they reached a sufficient distance, large-scale battlefield compound Ninjutsu began to bombard wildly.

In a siege battle against an enemy's fortifications, Ninjutsu artillery bombardment is definitely the first choice.

First, bombard them, then choose close combat as the safest and most effective method.

"Defense!"

This time, Kyōmu did not use the strategy of 'offense is the best defense'; he rarely organized a defense.

Earth Release: Earth-Style Rampart!

A tall, extensive wall of two kilometers was erected, firmly blocking the first wave of Ninjutsu attacks from the Sand Shinobi.

But this was just the first wave, and the Sand Shinobi's subsequent attacks followed one after another.

Boom, boom, boom.

One after another, compound Ninjutsu were thrown over, and the wall supported by Earth Release Ninjutsu was shaking and about to collapse.

"Lord Kyōmu, they have deployed Shukaku!"

Hiding behind the wall, a Hyūga branch family ninja reported the battlefield situation, his voice orderly and not chaotic at all.

Tailed Beasts might have been frightening before, but with Aragami Kyōmu by their side, the weight of Tailed Beasts naturally became insufficient.

"Continue to defend, leave the Tailed Beast to me."

Kyōmu patted his shoulder, stood up, jumped onto the wall, and without looking, casually slashed out with his sword.

Blue Flame: Skyline!

Swoosh.

The incoming compound Ninjutsu were instantly cut in two by the sword light, splitting to both sides around the sword light's center, and exploded upon hitting the ground.

The blast wind made Kyōmu's clothes flutter, but he, with a determined gaze, looked at Shukaku not far away.

He was waiting for Shukaku's Tailed Beast Ball.

But Shukaku, contrary to expectations, began to form hand seals with both hands.

This was a skill not possessed by other Tailed Beasts, and also one of the reasons Shukaku was mocked by Kurama.

A Tailed Beast should properly use its massive body and Tailed Beast Ball as means of attack, why learn human Ninjutsu?

This is too un-Tailed Beast-like, simply a disgrace among Tailed Beasts.

But Shukaku just did what he wanted, and combined with the vast Tailed Beast chakra inside him, the human Ninjutsu he used was not weak at all.

"Damn, I forgot Shukaku is a freak!"

Actually, Shukaku doing this was also helpless; this was specifically instructed by his Jinchūriki.

Kyōmu cutting the Tailed Beast Ball was not within the Jinchūriki's caution range. His use of the Five Elements Seal to change the Tailed Beast Ball's direction and then rebound it was what the Jinchūriki was most worried about.

Originally an advantage, if the Tailed Beast Ball was rebounded back, then there's no need to continue the battle.

Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!

Boom!

Shukaku opened its mouth, and a massive and concentrated air shockwave violently moved forward, with fast and fierce speed, and quite terrifying power.

No doubt, if this attack hit the Earth-Style Rampart, it would surely disintegrate it completely.

Shukaku put too much chakra into the attack.

Summoning Technique: Ichikishimahime!

Dingling.

The smoke dissipated, accompanied by a light sound, Ichikishimahime's small horns jingled gently.

Just about to repeat the complaint about the horns on her head, but faced with the rapidly approaching attack, she suddenly shut her mouth.

Her loli form instantly dissolved, Ichikishimahime transformed into a graceful white dragon, her size only larger than Shukaku's and not smaller.

These days, she had grown a lot.

Roar!

With a fierce roar, an air tsunami was expelled from her mouth, its power slightly stronger than Shukaku's Vacuum Sphere.

Boom!

The two collided, and the point of impact exploded into a large circle of waves, the resulting shockwave blew the Sand Shinobi below into disarray.

"It's you!"

Shukaku's sharp voice carried some hatred, "Ichikishimahime, long time no see."

"Ha, it's just Shukaku with only one tail." Ichikishimahime specialized in exposing others' shortcomings, "No wonder Kurama always looks down on you, even me with only one tail, still looks down on you."

"Ichikishimahime, you're seeking death!"

Ichikishimahime turned back to glance at Kyōmu, "This is the second time, next time, prepare a tribute."

With those words, Ichikishimahime's dragon body rolled in the air, seemingly with a shadow of riding the clouds and driving the mist, directly charging towards Shukaku.

Shukaku, a hundred years ago, or perhaps even longer, must have suffered a loss at Ichikishimahime's hands.

Meeting an enemy was especially irritating, he quickly abandoned his battlefield mission, entangled with Ichikishimahime, completely ignoring the life and death of the Sand Shinobi below.

But Shukaku's Jinchūriki would remind him, considering their good relationship, Shukaku also listened to the advice, fighting with Ichikishimahime and then moving away from the center of the battlefield.

In the sky, two huge beings fought happily, and without the Tailed Beast as a siege weapon, the Sand Shinobi's offensive methods naturally returned to their original state.

Kyōmu, the least afraid of this.

One slash after another, for Wind Release compound Ninjutsu, Kyōmu used Skyline, with the assistance of the Sand Shinobi, the blue flames often turned purple, each slash bringing massive casualties.

If Wind and Fire compound Ninjutsu came together, Kyōmu would temporarily avoid the edge and conveniently use chakra to reinforce the Earth-Style Rampart's defenses.

As for other Earth Release Ninjutsu, Kyōmu countered them with wind chakra condensed into sword lights, leaving ravines cut by the sharp edges on the earth outside the defenses.

This land was thoroughly ruined.

But the Sand Shinobi could not break through, and Kyōmu standing on the wall was like a god of war.

The doubling of strength now allowed Aragami Kyōmu to be so domineering, an invincible form gradually emerged.

"I, with a single sword, have pressed you to not advance a step, Sand Shinobi, speak!" Kyōmu proudly stood between heaven and earth, "Chiyo-baasama, speak!"

The wind on the battlefield suddenly paused for a second, and a cheer from the Leaf Shinobi erupted behind Kyōmu.

The sound, when it reached the Sand Shinobi's ears, was so harsh, but they could only endure.

One man, one sword defending a city, truly a case of one man guarding a pass and ten thousand unable to get through.

Aragami Kyōmu's name, once again echoed across this land.

"Continue the attack!"

Chiyo was unaffected, "I want to see how much chakra Kyōmu can consume."

Since a quick victory was not possible, then exhaust him to death!

Chiyo did not believe Kyōmu could keep up this appearance forever.

(End of Chapter)