When the elites of Sunagakure and Iwagakure were locked in fierce one-on-one battles, the rest of the ninjas weren't just idly cheering or spectating. They too were wielding their weapons, unleashing their jutsu, and fighting with all their might.
Sunagakure's main force of 8,000 faced off against Iwagakure's 7,000-plus ninjas. The numbers were roughly even, and each side leveraged their respective strengths—Wind Release for Sunagakure and Earth Release for Iwagakure. Their tactical approaches also had distinct characteristics. However, keen observers would notice that Sunagakure's forces were gradually gaining the upper hand on the battlefield.
This advantage was largely due to Jinghang's unwavering commitment to Sunagakure's military reforms. The benefits of the four-person combat team structure were becoming increasingly evident on the battlefield.
Although this was a chance encounter, neither side could fully deploy their forces all at once. The fiercest clashes occurred along the "frontline," where the two armies directly engaged each other.
Sunagakure's combat formations were meticulously organized. Three combat-oriented ninjas always took the front, with one medical ninja positioned at the rear. If anyone was injured, the team would immediately withdraw from the fight temporarily, allowing a fresh combat team to replace them. The medical ninja would then provide emergency treatment just behind the frontlines, while the uninjured combat ninjas remained on guard.
Lightly injured ninjas could return to the fight after treatment, while severely injured ones were escorted to the rear by the medical ninja. The combat ninjas would then quickly regroup and rotate back into battle, maintaining a steady offensive.
This strategy had been repeatedly practiced during previous military operations and daily drills. Though it seemed complex, the execution was second nature by now. Moreover, Jinghang had entrusted battlefield command to the experienced Baki, who was more than capable of managing the overall situation.
In contrast, Iwagakure still adhered to the traditional three-person team structure. While they also had medical ninjas, most were stationed far behind the frontlines. Injured ninjas couldn't retreat quickly, leaving lightly injured ones to endure the pain and severely injured ones with little hope of survival.
As time went on, Sunagakure's frontline commander Baki could clearly sense that Iwagakure's casualties far exceeded their own. Coupled with Sunagakure's numerical advantage, it became evident that if this attritional battle continued, victory would undoubtedly belong to Sunagakure. Inwardly, Baki couldn't help but admire Jinghang's foresight. Without these reforms, even a victory would have been a pyrrhic one.
Suddenly, a small firework lit up in the sky. Baki immediately grew alert—it was surely a signal for Iwagakure's next move. As expected, Iwagakure's forces abruptly began to retreat, with their left flank quickly opening up a massive gap. Seeing this, Baki swiftly waved his command flag, halting Sunagakure's frontline ninjas from recklessly pursuing.
Just then, a thunderous sound of galloping hooves echoed from Iwagakure's ranks, like a drumbeat growing ever more rapid. In mere moments, the source of the noise had reached the battlefield.
"That's… a Tailed Beast!"
Baki squinted and saw it clearly—it was none other than Iwagakure's Five-Tails, Kokuō!
"Iwagakure, you really have no sense of honor. We're barely into this fight, and you're already bringing out a Tailed Beast?"
Seeing Kokuō's massive figure, Jinghang couldn't help but mock.
"Young man, on the battlefield, only victory matters. Honor? What nonsense!"
Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, replied with a steely expression, one hand resting on his lower back.
"Hmph! Did you think I wouldn't be prepared for this? You're not the only ones with a Tailed Beast. Look over there!"
With a confident smirk, Jinghang pointed toward Sunagakure's rear lines.
A sharp, piercing howl suddenly rang out from Sunagakure's side. The sound was so shrill it hurt the ears, yet it drew cheers from Sunagakure's forces. A massive, yellow-furred "tanuki" appeared on the battlefield. Sunagakure's ninjas quickly and orderly cleared a path, making room for the two Tailed Beasts to clash.
"Hahaha! Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over! Behold the might of your Uncle Shukaku! Let me hear those cheers!"
Shukaku, clearly in high spirits, raised its long claws like a boxer about to step into the ring. Its flamboyant behavior was almost comical. Sunagakure's forces erupted in cheers and applause, their morale soaring. To an outsider, it might have looked more like a pop concert than a battlefield.
Before anyone could react, Kokuō had already charged forward. Seeing this, Shukaku dropped its theatrics and took large strides to meet its opponent head-on. In an instant, the two collided. Shukaku's claws latched tightly onto Kokuō's horns, but the sheer force of Kokuō's charge pushed Shukaku back several steps. However, Shukaku quickly regained its footing, planting its legs firmly and turning the clash into a test of strength.
At this point, it's worth discussing the relative strength of Tailed Beasts. Ever since the Sage of Six Paths split the Ten-Tails into nine separate Tailed Beasts, their power levels have been a topic of debate. While there have been redistributions over the years—thanks to Hashirama Senju's efforts to maintain peace—the general balance of power among the villages has remained stable.
In terms of raw strength, the Tailed Beasts do vary, but not as dramatically as one might think. The Nine-Tails, Kurama, is undoubtedly the strongest, but it's not so powerful that it could single-handedly defeat all the others combined. Similarly, the One-Tail, Shukaku, may have the fewest tails, but that doesn't make it weak enough to be easily overpowered by any other Tailed Beast. The notion of judging strength by the number of tails is largely a bias propagated by Kurama itself, creating a misleading perception.
For example, in the early stages of the original manga, Naruto defeating Shukaku involved significant mitigating factors. Gaara had only partially released Shukaku through the Feigning Sleep Technique, resulting in an incomplete form. This was more akin to a chakra manifestation than a full Tailed Beast. Moreover, Naruto only managed to subdue Gaara with the help of Gamabunta, and even then, the fight ended with Shukaku being sealed back into Gaara.
Back to the current battlefield: while it might appear that Kokuō had the upper hand, the reality was quite the opposite. Kokuō's apparent ferocity was driven more by raw instinct than strategy. Its jinchūriki, Han, was still young and relatively inexperienced, having only recently bonded with the Five-Tails. Without mastery over Kokuō's unique Tailed Beast techniques, Han couldn't fully unleash its potential.
In contrast, Shukaku was in a completely different league. Its jinchūriki, Monk Bunpuku, had been bonded with Shukaku since the era of the First Kazekage, Reto. Over the years, Bunpuku's profound Buddhist teachings and personal charisma had tempered much of Shukaku's volatile nature, bringing them close to achieving the status of a perfect jinchūriki. Furthermore, under Jinghang's leadership, Sunagakure's perception of Shukaku had shifted dramatically. Once feared as a calamity, Shukaku was now revered as the village's guardian deity—a change that Shukaku itself had come to embrace.
Adding fuel to the fire, Iwagakure's earlier attack on a Sunagakure construction team had resulted in the brutal deaths of 24 workers right in front of Bunpuku. This barbaric act had deeply enraged the normally pacifist monk. With Jinghang's encouragement, Bunpuku agreed to unleash Shukaku on the battlefield. After all, Buddhist teachings aren't limited to compassion; they also include righteous fury.
Sure enough, Shukaku twisted its body and used a clever maneuver to throw Kokuō down by its horns. What followed was a relentless barrage of Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullets, pummeling Kokuō into the ground. The Five-Tails let out agonized howls, utterly overwhelmed.
"How about that?"
Jinghang turned to Ōnoki with a mocking smile.
Ōnoki's face darkened, but he quickly regained his composure. With a cold smirk, he reached into his robes and pulled out another firework.
"Don't get cocky, boy. Does your village have a second Tailed Beast?"
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