Despair

There are up to 8,000 individuals appearing on the left!

Is Kumogakure so desperate that they are forcing civilians to fight on the battlefield?

Impossible!

In the next moment, as if she were thinking of something, Tsunade said with concern:

"Are there really more than 8,000 ninjas?"

"Yes, I'm sure...!" The Jōnin swallowed, his voice trembling. "The more than 8,000 people are approaching the battlefield... and they're surrounding us."

His words fell like a bomb.

Everyone's heads buzzed. For a moment, everything seemed to spin out of control.

They weren't idiots.

If there were more than 8,000 people on the left, it meant only one thing: they were being surrounded!

Thinking of Kumogakure's sudden attack, the answer was obvious.

It was a conspiracy! A trap set for them!

"What the hell is going on?!"

"More than 8,000 ninjas? That's insane!"

"What do we do?! We're surrounded!"

In that moment, chaos took over Konoha's ranks.

More than 2,000 Kumogakure ninjas, along with another 8,000 in support... that was ten thousand in total! While they only had a little over 2,000.

Konoha's morale began to drop rapidly. Panic and fear spread uncontrollably.

Even Tsunade, Jiraiya, Minato, and Shikaku's expressions showed anguish and concern.

The situation was desperate.

"Damn it!" Jiraiya gritted his teeth.

"Where did they get more than 8,000 people from?! It's impossible!" Minato murmured.

"This doesn't make sense... How are we supposed to deal with this? Even I can't!" he said, closing his eyes briefly, trying to find calm, but the trembling in his hands betrayed him.

Soon, Konoha's army did not have to wait long. In less than five minutes, shadows began to appear on the horizon to the left.

A dark, dense, terrifying mass moving like a swarm of locusts towards them.

It's the Rock ninjas!!

"IT'S IWAGAKURE!!"

"Kumogakure and Iwagakure have joined forces!!"

Seeing them clearly, the faces of Konoha's shinobi turned pale. Their hearts sank as the reality settled into their minds.

So those two villages had been allied all along!

If they destroyed their army, all the advantage that Konoha had gained in this war would vanish.

"Iwagakure and Kumogakure together?!"

Fear and confusion filled the hearts of over 2,000 ninjas. They had never imagined that an alliance of enemies would be so devastating.

"Hahaha, Tsunade, you'd better surrender right now!!"

Swoooosh!

Under the glow of Lightning Release chakra, the Raikage appeared in the center of the battlefield in the blink of an eye.

"This time, Konoha will fall! Today is the day we will be the victors!" he shouted with overwhelming confidence, a defiant smile crossing his face.

"KILL THEM!!!"

"The Cloud ninjas will annihilate them all!!!"

"KILL!! KILL!!"

The Raikage's voice was like a spark that ignited the fury of his troops. More than 2,000 Kumogakure ninjas roared in unison, advancing with unstoppable force, eager to crush everything in their path.

"REVENGE!"

"We will avenge our fallen brothers!!"

"Konoha, prepare to die!! Our eight thousand will crush you!"

The left side of the battlefield also erupted in war cries. The more than 8,000 Iwagakure ninjas shouted with hatred. This day had been awaited for far too long!

Today they would settle the score! Konoha would pay in blood!

"What are we going to do?!"

"We can't win against them; they're overwhelming us!"

Konoha's army's morale had hit rock bottom. Everyone looked at each other, fear reflected on their faces.

If it were just Kumogakure, they might have had a chance. If it were 2,000 Iwagakure ninjas, they could fight. Even if it were 4,000, they could fight to the end!

But facing an army five times larger... it was impossible. They saw no way to emerge victorious.

"They're too confident."

Tsunade clenched her fists tightly, her gaze filled with determination. She took a deep breath and then ordered:

"Prepare to retreat! This is a trap, a conspiracy against us! Fall back with all your strength... while you still can survive."

"This...!" The Konoha ninjas looked at each other, opening their mouths to say something, but in the end, their shoulders slumped in defeat.

They knew Tsunade was right; it was no longer a fair fight.

"Minato, do everything you can..." Tsunade turned her head toward him with determined eyes. "Use all your power to move our ninjas out of here!"

Minato held his Flying Thunder God kunai. His bitter expression reflected the helplessness he felt.

"This is..." he murmured, looking at the ground. He knew that even with his extraordinary ability, this was beyond what he could handle.

"Ah, damn it!" Tsunade sighed in frustration. "If only Luo Lei were here, he could face those eight thousand from Iwagakure alone. Then, we could fight Kumogakure without worry."

Shikaku and the others nodded as well.

Luo Lei's strength could change the course of a battle like this.

Unfortunately, he was still in Kirigakure. Distant water couldn't extinguish the nearby fire.

"Want to retreat? That's not going to happen!" Ōnoki smiled coldly from the shadows. "We, the Rock ninjas, have prepared too much for this."

Hundreds of Rock ninjas were already moving underground, surrounding Konoha. The trap was about to be completed.

Crack!

The sound of the earth trembling and cracking filled the air.

Suddenly, in the area behind and to the right of Konoha's army, gigantic walls of earth began to rise, as tall as a Great Wall, blocking any possible retreat.

"..."

Tsunade watched this scene with a pale expression.

"They want to bury us here!"

"This can't be happening!" Everyone who saw the wall of earth, so tall that it blocked out the sun, lost the last trace of hope in their eyes, and a feeling of helplessness took hold of them.

"We're doomed... The escape route is blocked."

"Minato!"

Jiraiya looked at Minato with a spark of desperation in his eyes.

"Do your best to get our people out... If it doesn't work..."

Minato nodded without needing more words.

"I understand..." He knew what Jiraiya meant. If the situation was so desperate that there was no other choice, he had to save as many as he could, even if it meant leaving some behind.

"Minato, use your technique to save our people! I will protect you!" said Tsunade determinedly. "I'm not running from this disaster. It was my mistake, and I'll make amends."

"Tsunade-sama..." Minato tried to speak, but she interrupted him.

"Enough! Follow the order!"

Boom!

Tsunade's chakra erupted around her, creating an oppressive atmosphere that shook everyone present.

"We have no way out; we can only fight! Are you scared?!"

Her eyes shone with the intensity of a flame that could not be extinguished.

"Tsunade-sama!" the Konoha ninjas shouted. Her determination had given them courage.

Jiraiya looked at Minato, his eyes filled with sadness but also pride.

"Do what you have to do, Minato... It's up to you."

Swoosh!

Without saying anything else, Jiraiya stood beside Tsunade. If she was going to fight, he would too. She was his friend, his companion. And there was no fear that could stop him.

Minato nodded, gritting his teeth as he prepared to act.

Swish!

Minato began to use the Flying Thunder God Technique, moving with lightning speed, ready to start the evacuation.

BOOOOOM!

But just then, a deafening roar shook the battlefield.

A giant tortoise fell from the sky, crashing in the middle of them, leaving behind a huge cloud of dust and debris.

________

Time: If you're craving more (and I know you are!), I have just what you need. On my Patreon, you'll find exclusive chapters. Join our community and be the first to discover what happens next!

👉 [patreon.com/Athome790]

Your support fuels me. Thank you for the support! 💖