"We split into small teams and use guerrilla tactics. That is our best option."
Kakashi's voice remained calm, yet carried unquestionable authority as it spread through the communication network.
"Our chakra reserves are not significantly greater than theirs, and their numbers far exceed ours. Right now, this forest gives us the advantage."
He continued without pause, issuing orders with precision.
"The Deep Forest Emergence strengthens the barrier. Even Six Paths-level opponents will need at least half a day to break through it. Within that time, we must reduce their forces as much as possible."
"Let the forest absorb the corpses of the White Zetsu. That will sustain its chakra and prolong its existence."
"And for efficiency, we divide into multiple squads. Each unit must be led by at least five Kage-level shinobi to ensure survival against unexpected threats."
His tone turned sharper.
"This is the only way to maintain our advantage."
Orders were quickly relayed and executed.
The massive force fragmented into numerous smaller teams, disappearing into the vast forest.
Kakashi led one unit personally, while Hagane Seiji took command of another.
As Kakashi moved out, Seiji called after him.
"Kakashi-senpai, I won't let you down!"
Kakashi did not turn back, but a faint acknowledgment could be felt in his chakra.
The White Zetsu closest to the formation had already been crushed and devoured by the overwhelming power of the forest.
However, even more were scattered across the massive terrain as the forest expanded.
Within the dense, towering trees, the battlefield had completely transformed.
Many shinobi quickly consumed military ration pills to restore chakra.
These had been improved under Tsunade's supervision. They carried no harmful side effects, tasted surprisingly good, and came in various flavors.
The only drawback was mild digestive discomfort if consumed excessively.
But in war, that was a negligible concern.
The interior of the forest was incredibly complex.
The shinobi now moved through it like insects within a colossal organism, surrounded by towering trunks and endless branches.
The forest was vast enough to conceal millions.
Meanwhile, the Ōtsutsuki clan members found themselves trapped within this unfamiliar environment.
Furious, they launched continuous attacks against the forest.
But the results were minimal.
This forest was not ordinary.
It was born from the legacy of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, enhanced by Kakashi's Six Paths-level power and amplified by the combined chakra of the entire shinobi alliance.
Breaking it was not something they could accomplish quickly.
Moreover, when the forest first emerged, its spatial properties had disrupted the battlefield itself.
Large numbers of White Zetsu had been pushed outward, separated from one another.
Even several Six Paths-level Ōtsutsuki had been displaced.
Now, they were forced to regroup while bombarding the forest from different areas.
"Is this the power of a demigod?"
One Ōtsutsuki spoke with clear frustration.
"How can they possess something like this?"
Realizing that breaking the forest would take time, they immediately shifted their strategy.
Gather the scattered White Zetsu.
Regroup.
Rebuild their numbers.
The others quickly followed the same plan.
But the shinobi of the Ninja World had already begun moving.
Within the forest, they became silent hunters.
"Five hundred White Zetsu detected. We can eliminate them."
After being separated, the White Zetsu were far easier targets.
Against coordinated shinobi units, they were almost defenseless.
Many squads discovered that energy weapons were extremely effective in this environment.
They fired rapidly, capable of threatening even jōnin-level opponents.
More importantly, they produced minimal disturbance.
Combined with the forest's natural interference, enemy perception was heavily disrupted.
Even the White Zetsu's ability to merge and coordinate was weakened within the forest.
"Five thousand White Zetsu ahead. Reinforcements needed!"
Signals were quickly exchanged.
Moments later, multiple squads converged.
The moment they made contact, the forest erupted with flashes of lightning, fire, and surging water.
Combat was swift and ruthless.
"These damn shinobi!"
An Ōtsutsuki gritted his teeth in anger.
This environment suppressed their advantages.
For beings accustomed to overwhelming force and large-scale destruction, this fragmented battlefield was extremely unfavorable.
Meanwhile, White Zetsu continued to fall in large numbers.
At the same time, shinobi casualties also began to rise.
The war had entered its most brutal phase.
Elsewhere in the forest, Kakashi suddenly stopped.
A powerful presence had locked onto him.
In the next instant, space distorted.
Kakashi felt his surroundings shift.
The forest disappeared.
He found himself standing in a strange, empty space.
"This place…"
Before he could finish, a voice echoed.
"This is a space that is both illusion and reality."
"If you die here, your body will die as well."
A figure slowly emerged before him.
The pressure it emitted was unmistakable.
Six Paths level.
Within this space, the opponent's presence felt even more overwhelming.
Kakashi instantly understood.
This was a technique similar in nature to Tsukuyomi.
A domain existing between illusion and reality, where the battle took place on a spiritual level, yet its consequences extended to the physical world.
Here, the rules were absolute.
The opponent's strength was amplified.
Kakashi's strength was suppressed.
Even damage taken would be unevenly distributed.
This was a battlefield entirely controlled by the enemy.
The figure stepped forward.
"My name…"
His voice echoed across the distorted space.
"Ōtsutsuki Sōjitsu."
"As for your name, I have no interest in remembering a loser's name. Either defeat me, or die silently here."
Ōtsutsuki Sōjitsu spoke indifferently, his tone carrying absolute confidence. Among all the Ōtsutsuki present, he had always been the most concealed existence. Even now, his strength had only begun to reveal itself.
Kakashi and the shinobi alliance's methods had clearly surprised him, and at the same time, Kakashi himself had drawn his interest.
"My sword tells me that you are strong. The only ones I remember are the strong. The weak have no right to be remembered. So tell me, are you strong or weak? Pick up your blade and prove it."
A flash of sword light flickered.
A sharp blade appeared in Sōjitsu's hand, its edge radiating a cold, dangerous aura.
Kakashi remained silent for a moment. His hand slowly brushed across the blade of the White Fang, his gaze growing distant, as if recalling something from long ago. For an instant, it felt as though he could see his father standing before him.
"Father, I won't let you down."
His voice was low but firm.
Kakashi tightened his grip and raised the blade.
"This sword is called White Fang."
The moment his words fell, the atmosphere shifted. Invisible pressure spread outward as the two forces collided, their sword intent clashing violently and dividing the space into two opposing domains.
"One-Sword Style: Sky Breaker!"
Kakashi moved instantly, his figure turning into an afterimage as he slashed forward. The strike carried overwhelming force, as if the sky itself was pressing down. Three arcs of sword light split apart, converging from different directions to seal off Sōjitsu's path.
A low hum echoed.
Sōjitsu's blade trembled, and his sword light transformed, taking the shape of a blazing firebird that spread its wings and met Kakashi's attack head-on. The collision shook the entire space, sending ripples through the distorted domain.
"Sword Light Domain: Dust!"
In an instant, the battlefield changed.
Countless tiny strands of sword light filled the space like drifting dust, each one carrying a lethal edge. They surged toward Kakashi from every direction, forming a dense and unavoidable storm.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly as his blade moved in a continuous flow. His sword light turned into a flickering afterimage, weaving through the storm with precise control. The sound of clashing steel rang out repeatedly, sharp and rapid, as their attacks collided again and again.
After a brief exchange, the storm of sword light began to fade.
Kakashi stood in place, his breathing steady, but fine beads of blood slowly appeared across his body. Even within this mental domain, the damage manifested clearly, no different from reality.
He glanced at the blood for a brief moment, then stepped forward without hesitation.
In the next instant, he was already in front of Sōjitsu.
Their blades collided directly, sparks bursting outward as the impact echoed through the space. What followed was a series of rapid exchanges, their movements overlapping into afterimages as their speed pushed beyond normal limits.
Each strike was precise and deadly.
At the same time, thin lines of blood began to appear on both of them. However, Kakashi bore slightly more damage. His clothes gradually darkened as blood seeped through, yet his grip on the White Fang remained firm.
His expression did not change.
His resolve did not waver.
No matter the cost, this was a battle he had to win, because beyond this space, his fellow shinobi were still fighting and waiting for him.
(End of Chapter)
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