"Everyone, this is our last chance. As long as we drive out Pakura and her group, the Hidden Sand Village will still belong to us. Our predecessors built the Hidden Sand Village to the state it is today and handed it to us.
Therefore, I swear in the name of the Fourth Generation Kazekage, I will never let the Hidden Sand Village fall into the hands of outsiders!"
Rasa spoke to everyone with a tone of determination. Those who came here at this critical time were the ones worthy of the Hidden Sand Village's trust and were also the last hope for protecting the village.
"The Daimyo's Mansion also said that if we protect the Hidden Sand Village, future funding will be quadrupled to aid military construction. With this money, even if tonight's cost is significant, as long as we safeguard the Hidden Sand Village, we will recover."
This is the promise given by the Daimyo's Mansion of the Land of Wind. Even the most foolish daimyo knows that the Hidden Sand Village cannot disappear.
The envoy sent to the Land of Fire Daimyo didn't even meet anyone and was driven back. When the Land of Wind Daimyo received this news, he broke out in a cold sweat.
If our country's Ninja Village is lost, it means the Land of Wind has no military strength left. The remaining guards in the Daimyo's Mansion wouldn't withstand even a wave from the Konoha Ninja Village.
The Land of Fire is headed toward eliminating the Land of Wind, and so the Land of Wind Daimyo dared not indulge in luxury anymore. While making promises to the Hidden Sand Village, he sent three waves of envoys to seek help from the Land of Earth, the Land of Water, and the Land of Lightning.
But the prerequisite is that the Hidden Sand Village must endure and not be annihilated quickly.
"Just follow Elder Chiyo's plan: Once we drive out Pakura and her group and fully occupy the eastern entrance, we should appear determined to defend it. Konoha may not choose a desperate fight against us, so the future of the Hidden Sand Village rests on tonight."
Rasa said to boost morale, and everyone in the room resolved to fight desperately.
For tonight, Rasa and his team distributed all the Explosive Tag Kunais and Shurikens. Even Chiyo divided all her poisons among the Puppet Masters.
Moreover, Hidden Sand scouts have found traces of Konoha Ninjas; the First Generation Hokage and the Second Generation Hokage should be in the camp outside the Hidden Sand Village, and Pakura and others often leave the village.
"Action!"
With the command, the Sand Ninja inside quickly left to prepare for action.
Tonight happened to be a night with no moon in the sky. In the Hidden Sand Village, apart from streetlights, there was hardly any light. Additionally, the village's infrastructure was poor, even though it had high-voltage electricity and streetlights.
But there were very few streetlights, making nighttime the ultimate test of the vision of patrolling ninjas.
Squads of Sand Ninja rapidly gathered, but they did not dare to approach, fearing being spotted by Konoha's Byakugan. Furthermore, Rasa was afraid of harming civilians, so he chose locations that were already known to be vacant.
While eager to drive Pakura and Konoha ninjas out of the Hidden Sand Village, Rasa was not crazed enough to target his own people. If he did, his ninja would likely speak out against it.
Once they stealthily moved to the planned positions, Rasa saw from afar that there were quite a few Sand Ninja from Pakura's side on patrol.
"Magnet Release: Golden Sand Burial!"
After concentrating his Chakra, Rasa clasped his hands and rapidly unleashed his most adept Magnet Release Ninjutsu.
A massive wave of golden sand surged from underground like a tidal wave, rushing forward instantly. In that region, there were either ninjas from Pakura's side or ordinary people aligned with them.
Rasa could not attack his own people, but he had no mercy for enemies betraying the Hidden Sand Village.
Bang!
Bang!
The golden sand waves destroyed everything as they rushed forward. Even sturdy brick houses could not withstand more than a few seconds before being demolished by the immense wave of sand. The area quickly transformed into a battlefield.
However, suddenly, a voice echoed from ahead, shocking Rasa.
"Wood Release: Wood Block Wall."
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three massive wooden walls rose from the ground, directly blocking the golden sand waves. Then the earth rumbled as if a dragon was flipping. Massive tree branches grew from underground, swiftly covering the golden sand wave.
According to common sense, the same Kekkeigenkai cannot overcome each other, eventually turning into a contest of Chakra Amount. However, Senju Hashirama's Wood Release was superior, capable of destroying the opponent's Bloodline Ninjutsu even with the same Chakra Amount.
As the sea of trees approached, Rasa could not afford to spare time on anything else and hastily used Ninjutsu. Following him, the Sand Ninja also used their most skilled techniques to destroy the sea of trees.
"Magnet Release: Golden Sand Blade."
"Wind Release: Wind Cut Jutsu."
"Black Puppet - Red Flame."
Apart from various Ninjutsu and Secret Techniques, Explosive Tag Kunais continuously destroyed the advancing trees. Yet, after blowing up two or three trees, five or six new massive branches would quickly grow.
"Damn! They're endless!"
"Help, help me!"
"Ah!!"
Hundreds of Sand Ninja kept using Ninjutsu Secret Techniques, throwing out thousands of Explosive Tags in an instant. The explosions were incessant, waking everyone in the village. Many were terrified, fearing a war within the village.
Such a powerful offensive merely managed to hold back the assault of the Sea of Trees, but several dozen Hidden Sand Ninja had already been swallowed by it because they couldn't dodge in time.
Rasa said in shock, "First Generation Hokage... how is this possible? Our Ninja Eagle clearly confirmed you were outside the Hidden Sand Village..."
At this moment, two figures jumped onto the trees in front of Rasa; one was Senju Hashirama, who made Rasa's heart tremble in fear, and the other was Pakura, whom Rasa hated so much that he gritted his teeth.
"Rasa, you foolishly rushed here; this is the trap left for you by the Second Generation Hokage, I never expected this...."
Pakura said gleefully inside, the more despair appeared on Rasa's face, the happier she was; moreover, seeing Rasa's stupidity, Pakura felt even more convinced that her choice was right. If she truly let go of her hatred and acknowledged Rasa's seal, she would sooner or later be harmed by his stupidity.
"Pakura, it was the Hidden Sand Village that nurtured you until now...."
"Shut up, you waste, if you hadn't sold me out to Hidden Mist, I'd still be the 'Scorch Release Master of the Hidden Sand'; now you have no choice but to surrender!"
After Pakura spoke, many Hidden Sand Ninja and Konoha Ninja appeared behind her and Senju Hashirama. Just now, Hashirama's Deep Forest Emergence had created the most suitable battlefield for Konoha Ninja.
Many ninja stood behind the massive trees, ready to launch an attack directly against the Hidden Sand Ninja at any command.
"Give up, Fourth Generation Kazekage, continuing this is just a pointless sacrifice."
Senju Hashirama couldn't help but say, he didn't want to launch a war within the village; whether it's Woodman Jutsu or Sage Art Wood Release, the destructive power is too great. A single uncontrolled move could flatten the entire Hidden Sand Village.
Back then, he and Uchiha Madara even changed a large swath of land and ultimately destroyed a small island across the sea.
"There's no fear in the Hidden Sand Ninja!"
Rasa resolutely denied, he would never allow himself to be captured by Konoha.
"There's no other choice, Wood Release: Wood Clone Jutsu!"
Senju Hashirama clapped his hands, instantly creating ten wood clones from his body. Since the opponent was stubborn, he could only opt to minimize harm to civilians.
Seeing this, Pakura asked, "First Generation Hokage, what is this...."
"I'm going to set up a Barrier, otherwise the aftermath of the Ninjutsu will greatly harm the civilians."
Senju Hashirama smiled and said, "Don't worry, no need to worry about my Chakra."
As long as those two Sage Art Wood Release techniques weren't used, his Chakra could sustain intense battles for a long time, and these Hidden Sand Ninja... Hashirama wasn't belittling them, but today's ninja couldn't compare with those of the Warring States Period.
During the Warring States Period, even seeing a five or six-year-old child, one could never let down their guard.
Pakura, seeing this, no longer concerned herself with Senju Hashirama. She only wanted to use this rare opportunity to settle scores with Rasa.
Sage Curse Seal.
Vast amounts of Natural Energy surged into Pakura's body through the Curse Seal, her skin instantly turned white, a single horn grew on her forehead, and her whole body was filled with powerful Sage Art Chakra.
"Sage Mode? Is it the Immortal Technique of Ryuchi Cave..."
Perceiving the change in Pakura, Senju Hashirama thought in slight surprise, the inheritance of Immortal Techniques had three types, and the Sage Mode on Pakura's body had a heavy serpentine aura.
"Scorch Release: Extreme Yang Strike!"
After entering Sage Mode, Pakura quickly sealed with both hands and raised her right hand high. Many Scorch Release Fireballs appeared around her, then quickly flew into her raised right palm, merging into a larger Scorch Release Fireball.
In just a few seconds, countless smaller Scorch Release Fireballs appeared around Pakura, continuously integrating into the larger one.
At this moment, under the night sky, it was like the sun.
Senju Hashirama's face showed some surprise; this Ninjutsu had characteristics of the Tailed Beast Ball, it wasn't simply fusing Scorch Release Fireballs together but continuously compressing them to become this form.
"Die, Rasa!"
Pakura threw the Extreme Yang Strike she held, certain that Rasa would block it, because behind him were Hidden Sand Ninja who couldn't withstand this Ninjutsu.
Senju Hashirama saw this and put his hands together, controlling the Wood Release to produce a Wood Block Wall in front of the allied Hidden Sand and Konoha Ninja, reminding them, "Be careful!"
Rasa had no other choice; he also gathered substantial Chakra and raised three Shields of Golden Sand in front of him, protecting not only himself but also other Hidden Sand Ninja.
Bang!
A fierce flash appeared, followed by a thunderous explosion, terrifying shockwaves and sounds, like a heavy blow, knocking on the hearts of everyone in the Hidden Sand Village.
Combat was happening elsewhere too, but hearing this commotion, it involuntarily paused.
Both sides of the ninja simultaneously looked toward the towering flames on the other battlefield, and Elder Chiyo and Ebizo shared a mutual sense of looming dread.
"My brother is over there, if he gets angry, even I'm a little afraid; you better not hold too much hope."
Senju Tobirama finished coldly, sneering, continued speaking with a Kunai appearing in his hand, "And I don't think your situation is any better than over there!"