Chapter 169: Konoha's White Fang

During the war, the contributions of the Sannin to Konoha were nothing short of monumental.

With their immense strength and powerful summons, they'd annihilated countless enemies and saved the lives of countless comrades. Ordinary ninjas couldn't compare to their impact, and even the elite clans of Konoha couldn't match the Sannin's battlefield prowess.

But each of the Sannin had their own distinct strategic role.

Tsunade served as the cornerstone of the medical corps, using her advanced healing abilities to mend the wounded and keep Konoha's forces fighting. She was the lifeline of the battlefield.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya, on the other hand, were combat specialists. They protected their comrades by eliminating the enemy. Their contributions came through their high mission completion rates and kill counts, striking fear into their enemies and boosting the morale of Konoha's forces.

Now, deep in the forests, the battle between Iwa's stone-hearted soldiers and Konoha's forces raged on.

The Konoha forces, outnumbered, were gradually being pushed back.

Whoosh!

Two kunai flew towards a Konoha ninja from an unseen angle.

"Damn it!" he muttered, turning just in time to see the kunai whistling through the air toward him. His eyes widened, and he braced himself for the end.

But suddenly, a shadow flashed by.

Clang! The kunai were deflected, knocked away by something.

The Konoha ninja's eyes widened in shock. "Is that… a snake?"

Sure enough, a sleek black snake had flicked its tail and sent the kunai flying.

Before he could fully process what was happening, figures leaped out from the trees, closing in on the Iwa ninjas. The Konoha ninja breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the familiar headbands.

But the Iwa ninjas' expressions darkened. They tried to fight back, but the Konoha reinforcements were relentless, cutting them down one by one.

Orochimaru walked calmly across the battlefield, his expression cold and unbothered. He seemed almost indifferent to the chaos around him.

Realizing they were outmatched, the remaining Iwa ninjas turned and fled.

"Don't even think about running!" Nawaki shouted, charging forward to chase them down.

"Nawaki, hold!" Orochimaru called out sharply.

"Why, sensei?"

"Don't chase a fleeing enemy," Orochimaru instructed. "Focus on dealing with the ones still engaged."

At his command, the black snake slithered back to him, coiling itself on his shoulder with its head resting comfortably.

"Good work," he murmured to the snake, before nodding to his squad. "Let's move to the next target."

"Yes, sir," Nawaki replied reluctantly, though he was clearly itching for a pursuit.

Beside him, Hizashi was watching the black snake with a mix of awe and curiosity.

All along the route they'd traveled, this snake had led the way, guiding them into strategic positions on the battlefield. It was fast, powerful, and, surprisingly, adept at combat. Hizashi had even seen it wrap itself around an Iwa ninja and crush him to death, a feat unheard of for a snake of that size. It had deflected shuriken, blocked kunai, and taken down enemies with ruthless efficiency.

Is there anything this snake can't do? Hizashi wondered as he moved to follow Orochimaru, setting aside his questions for the time being.

---

In the world of ninjas, war wasn't just about strength; it was about strategy, morale, and resources. Factors like troop numbers, quality, and the confidence of the soldiers could all sway the outcome of a battle.

But perhaps the most crucial factor of all was the presence of high-ranking shinobi, cutting-edge combatants who could turn the tide single-handedly.

In every village, these "cutting-edge" fighters usually consisted of the Kage and, in rare cases, the Jinchuuriki of tailed beasts. However, at this point in time, even Konoha hadn't fully mastered control over its own tailed beast, and the same could be said for the other villages.

As soon as Orochimaru joined the Iwa front, the effect was undeniable. Every encounter between Iwa ninjas and his team ended in a resounding defeat for Iwa. With Hizashi's Byakugan for reconnaissance, Orochimaru's black snake for swift assaults, and his own devastating jutsu, Konoha had gained a powerful edge.

Whenever a group of Iwa ninjas saw Orochimaru and his squad approaching, their morale plummeted. His presence was enough to send ripples of fear through the enemy ranks.

Orochimaru's reputation began to spread among the Iwa forces. They all knew of the young Konoha shinobi who commanded snakes and had fought against the legendary Hanzo of the Salamander. In Iwa, orders were clear: if they encountered Orochimaru, they were to abandon the mission and retreat immediately.

This treatment was almost identical to that afforded to Hatake Sakumo, the "White Fang" of Konoha, who was making waves on the Sand Ninja front.

Hatake Sakumo's name was spreading even faster than Orochimaru's. Known for wielding a short sword imbued with chakra, the White Fang was unstoppable in combat. Wherever his white chakra blade appeared, enemies fell.

The Sand Ninja feared him immensely, and even the Iwa ninjas held deep respect for his skill, owing to clashes in previous conflicts.

Although Sakumo's reputation spread faster than Orochimaru's, it wasn't necessarily because he was stronger. Rather, it was due to a particular achievement on the battlefield, he had killed two significant figures from the Sand village.

Those figures were none other than the son and daughter-in-law of Chiyo, a high-ranking elder in the Sand village and one of its strongest fighters. These two were the parents of Sasori of the Red Sand.

Chiyo's family was highly esteemed, and her son and daughter-in-law were formidable ninjas in their own right. Yet, even together, they couldn't withstand the power of Konoha's White Fang.

This victory alone had earned Sakumo a fearsome reputation, one that spread across the battlefield faster than Orochimaru's.

In times of war, strength brought fame.

The names of "Konoha's White Fang" on the Sand front and "Orochimaru of the Sannin" on the Iwa front quickly became known across the ninja world due to their prowess and achievements in combat.

However, Tsunade's name was less prominent outside Konoha due to her role in the medical corps. To the enemy, she was less visible, but within Konoha, she was revered as the "Medical Saint." Her contributions hadn't gone unnoticed by the people she saved.

Back in Konoha, villagers celebrated their village's remarkable strength, knowing they were protected by such powerful ninja.

But in Sand and Iwa, the situation was different. Their leaders couldn't ignore the looming threat Konoha posed.

Despite outnumbering Konoha's forces, they were struggling to make significant progress into the Fire Country. This failure put the strength of their nations into question.

Unwilling to allow Konoha to maintain the upper hand, the Tsuchikage and Kazekage exchanged letters, strategizing their next move. And soon, a new battle plan began to take shape.

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