Fugaku was on the verge of exploding from Kazuyama's antics.
As far as he was concerned, every time he ran into Kazuyama, it ended with him losing his temper.
"Alright, Kazuyama, enough fooling around."
"Shirakumo, what's the situation?"
Orochimaru cut in, stopping his disciple and turning his attention to the battlefield.
Shirakumo let out a heavy sigh, his tone grim.
"Not good..."
"You know the power of the Tailed Beasts. We can't hold our own against them at all."
"Even when Jiraiya was here, we couldn't stop them effectively."
"We've already been pushed back to the foot of Kikyō Pass. We can't retreat any further."
His last words carried a deep weight. Orochimaru nodded, fully aware of how dire things had become.
If Kikyō Pass fell, it would mean that Konoha had suffered a complete defeat in its battle against Sunagakure in the Land of Rivers.
The consequences would be unimaginable.
"Kazuyama, go scout the enemy's movements."
"Got it, I'm on it."
Kazuyama didn't hesitate—this wasn't a situation where he had the luxury of choice.
Konoha's crisis had already far exceeded what was supposed to happen in the original timeline. After all, in the Third Shinobi World War, Sunagakure hadn't deployed a Tailed Beast.
Leaving behind a marking, Kazuyama activated his Transparent Escape and soared into the sky.
From above, he surveyed Sunagakure's forces.
He had to admit—they were in far better shape than Konoha.
And now, they were already making their move.
Through his insect-like vision, his eyes immediately locked onto the key figures.
Rasa. Chiyo. Kankichi...
And an old monk.
"Shukaku, huh..."
"So they really sent the old monk onto the battlefield? That's a bit much."
"Not afraid of getting struck by lightning?"
Kazuyama had nothing but disdain for the idea of sending a monk to war.
"So this old man is Shukaku's Jinchūriki?"
"Kazuyama, let's go mess with them a little."
"My Scale Powder is itching for some action."
Chōmei was always eager to fight whenever he saw another Tailed Beast.
After all, as a Jinchūriki and Tailed Beast duo, it didn't matter if he was a little weaker—because Kazuyama definitely wasn't.
And when it came to sneaky tactics, Kazuyama had them down to an art.
"You're the one being sneaky. I call this strategy!"
"Chōmei, I've noticed you're pretty fired up lately."
"But your idea isn't bad. The only question is whether it'll work."
Messing with the enemy Jinchūriki was exactly the kind of thing Kazuyama enjoyed.
Without hesitation, he descended toward the enemy ranks.
Thanks to the Transparent Escape Technique, his movements remained undetected.
"Chōmei, which Scale Powder would make their Jinchūriki go berserk?"
"How about a hallucinogenic one?"
As he neared his attack range, a sly grin crept onto his face.
"Hallucinogenic it is—just like with Gyūki back then."
"Hehe, it's ready!"
Chōmei had already prepared the powder mid-conversation.
Feeling the Scale Powder surging within him, Kazuyama suddenly accelerated, diving toward his target.
But just as he was about to make his move, a sense of unease crept over him.
Something was off.
His descent had been interrupted—by something solid.
Sand?
"Damn!"
A chilling chakra surged through the Sunagakure forces, sending a jolt of alarm through him.
"Hmph!"
"Konoha's vermin—die!"
"Gold Dust Rain!"
From the ground, a massive wave of gold dust rose, swirling together with sand.
The airborne debris traced Kazuyama's figure, exposing his presence.
"Chiyo! Take him down with me!"
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Barrier!"
"Everyone, charge toward Kikyō Pass!"
The Gold Dust condensed into thousands of senbon, shooting toward him at high speed.
"Manipulating Attack Blades!"
Chiyo followed up immediately, controlling dozens of kunai with her chakra threads, sending them flying toward him.
"Shit! Sand?! I got careless!"
"Rasa, if you think you can keep me here, you're dreaming!"
"See you on the battlefield!"
Just as the attacks closed in, Kazuyama activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished.
Kunai clashed against Gold Dust midair.
Rasa and Chiyo's expressions darkened.
"It seems Konoha has sent reinforcements."
"The Flying Thunder God Technique, paired with that strange stealth ability... Konoha's Ghost, Kazuyama Gekkō..."
Chiyo muttered, her gaze fixed on Kikyō Pass.
At her words, Rasa's eyes flashed with killing intent, his aura growing dangerously cold.
Kazuyama Gekkō...
After the battle in the Land of Fire, Chiyo's intelligence gathering had confirmed that their opponent had been Kazuyama.
And on the battlefield, his Flying Thunder God Technique had already cost them dearly.
"Advance. Don't give Konoha a chance to breathe!"
"I'll bury that bastard myself!"
With that, Rasa took off toward the main force.
...
Having escaped with the Flying Thunder God Technique, Kazuyama still felt the lingering tension.
"Damn, I didn't expect that bastard Rasa to be this cautious."
Muttering to himself, he picked up speed, heading straight for camp.
As soon as he landed, he sprinted toward the command tent.
"Sensei, get ready—Sunagakure is charging in fast."
The discussion inside came to an abrupt halt as everyone's expressions darkened.
"This soon...?"
"Shirakumo, get the medical corps to evacuate the wounded."
"Everyone else, grab your weapons and prepare for battle."
Since the enemy was already at their doorstep, there was no reason for Orochimaru to retreat.
But he remained level-headed, quickly formulating a strategy.
"Abandon the defensive line. Everyone moves into Kikyō Pass—do not engage them on the plains."
"Fighting out in the open puts us at a disadvantage."
He was well aware that the One-Tail's strength lay in sand and wind. Engaging in a direct battle on the plains would be a mistake.
"Kazuyama, you and Fugaku take a squad of Uchiha elites. See if there's an opportunity to strike at their high command."
"If possible, eliminate their Jinchūriki."
Kazuyama sighed.
Might as well come clean.
"I just tried. Rasa has his Jinchūriki under tight protection."
"I got in using the Transparent Escape Technique and was immediately detected. His sand counters me too well."
"If I can't even get close, a sneak attack is out of the question."
"The only way is a frontal assault. But if we do that, the One-Tail is definitely coming out."
The tent fell into stunned silence.
This guy... not only scouted the enemy alone, he even tried to take down their Jinchūriki?
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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