Chapter 46: War (Part One)
War leaves no room for luck.
The facts unfolded exactly as the Third Raikage, A, had anticipated. Forget about launching a surprise attack—Kumogakure's unusual troop concentrations within the Land of Hot Water hadn't even come close to slipping past Konoha's sensory network.
Upon receiving a stream of fresh intelligence, Senju Morin reacted without hesitation.
He recalled most dispersed ninja squads, reorganizing them back into the original First and Second Combat Divisions, while assigning sensory-type ninja to form a layered surveillance and defense perimeter around the Konoha camp.
They were prepared—at all times—for a full-scale Kumogakure assault.
Kumogakure had committed roughly the same number of forces as Konoha for this battle: just over 1,300 ninja.
This represented nearly everything the Third Raikage could muster after a violent internal coup, while still keeping Kumogakure itself stable.
However, losses sustained during earlier squad-level skirmishes meant that Kumogakure now lagged slightly behind Konoha in terms of jōnin numbers.
Under the cover of night, the Kumogakure army completed its mobilization. At dawn, they crossed the border—and by early morning, the main force had appeared before Konoha's camp.
Despite having received detailed intelligence in advance, the Third Raikage still felt a powerful urge to curse the moment he saw the battlefield with his own eyes.
"So this is what became of the famed Senju of the Forest…
How did they produce someone this vile and treacherous?"
Setting aside the countless vicious traps encountered along the way, the Konoha camp itself was a nightmare.
It had been constructed beside a broad, fast-flowing river, its flank naturally shielded by the current.
Directly ahead stood layers of massive Earth Release–constructed fortifications, further reinforced with specialized sealing techniques—turning the camp into something resembling a colossal, multi-layered fortress.
Konoha's forces had long since detected Kumogakure's advance, yet showed no intention of forming ranks for a conventional engagement.
Instead, rows upon rows of Konoha ninja stood in absolute silence atop tiered rock walls, like stone statues poised for execution.
Kunai and ninja blades glinted coldly in the newborn sunlight.
The ground around the camp appeared deceptively flat and harmless—but A knew better.
At any moment, the earth beneath their feet could erupt with explosive tags… or collapse into lethal traps designed to butcher advancing troops.
Staring at this near-impenetrable stronghold, then glancing back at the Kumogakure army behind him, the Third Raikage forced two words through clenched teeth:
"Attack."
At the command, countless Kumogakure ninja surged forward.
Dozens of Earth Release specialists rushed to the front lines, launching a large-scale combined ninjutsu the moment they advanced.
"Earth Release: Mud Flow Technique!"
Vast stretches of ground instantly liquefied into rolling waves of mud, surging forward like a flood. Buried explosive tags outside Konoha's camp detonated one after another, triggering deafening explosions that shook the battlefield.
Through the choking smoke and debris, Kumogakure ninja burst forth, sprinting across scorched, broken earth as they charged relentlessly toward the Konoha defenses.
Unlike the traps hidden beneath the ground, Konoha's fortifications had been reinforced with sealing techniques. Earth Release alone couldn't breach them—only overwhelming, high-output attacks could break through.
And in that regard, Kumogakure excelled.
Most of its ninja specialized in Lightning Release.
Thunder roared across the battlefield as countless arcs of lightning howled forward, slamming violently into the outer rock wall of Konoha's defenses. Fine cracks spread rapidly across the stone like spiderwebs.
At the same time, Konoha launched its counterattack.
Uchiha fire-style specialists leapt atop the walls.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Massive spheres of blazing flame erupted forth, streaking downward like falling meteors. Kumogakure ninja caught mid-charge were instantly engulfed, their bodies reduced to charred remains as the stench of burned flesh filled the air.
Senju Morin had never harbored the illusion that static defenses alone could stop an army empowered by ninjutsu.
But the fortifications had achieved their true purpose.
They gave Konoha's ninja superior terrain, safer casting positions—and, most importantly, forced Kumogakure to burn through enormous amounts of chakra.
That was more than enough.
The deaths of their comrades did not break Kumogakure's resolve.
More ninja surged forward, dodging fireballs as best they could while unleashing a second storm of lightning.
BOOOOM—!
Under the relentless bombardment, the outermost rock wall finally collapsed.
But what appeared before them was not Konoha's camp—
It was a second, slightly lower defensive wall.
The Uchiha had already withdrawn.
Behind the second wall, Senju-led Earth Release units knelt in unison, palms slammed against the ground.
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Spear Technique!"
In an instant, countless razor-sharp stone lances erupted upward from beneath the ground.
Screams tore through the battlefield.
Unlike fireballs launched from afar, attacks bursting directly from beneath one's feet were lethal beyond comparison.
Kumogakure ninja were impaled through feet, legs—some pierced clean through the torso. Bodies were hoisted skyward on stone spikes, hanging grotesquely in the air.
Blood streamed down jagged stone edges, staining the earth a dark crimson.
It was a vision straight from hell.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
The roar exploded across the battlefield like thunder.
Even amid the chaos, every Kumogakure ninja heard it clearly.
A streak of golden lightning tore across the field—and within it stood their leader.
The Third Raikage, A.
He could no longer stand aside.
The mounting casualties had shattered his tolerance. He refused to let his forces be ground down layer by layer against endless fortifications.
How many more walls lay ahead?
He would not allow his ninja to die meaninglessly in this slaughter.
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode!"
Blinding golden lightning erupted from his body. A transformed into a living bolt, tearing through the air as he ignored all incoming attacks and slammed directly into the second wall.
BOOOOM—!
The rock barrier—strong enough to withstand a full assault—collapsed instantly. A massive breach opened at its center, sending Konoha ninja flying like broken puppets.
"OHHHH—!"
Kumogakure's morale exploded.
Thunderous cheers erupted as their Raikage's overwhelming might ignited their blood. Ninja flooded through the gap like a tidal wave.
A did not stop.
His leg muscles coiled, his massive right arm thrust forward—four fingers tightly pressed together.
"Hell Stab! Four-Finger Thrust!"
Like a rampaging beast, A smashed through the battlefield, blasting apart a section of the third rock wall.
Beyond it lay—
Konoha's camp, shrouded within a transparent barrier.
After tearing through two defensive layers in mere seconds, lightning crackling wildly around him, the Third Raikage threw his head back and roared:
"ADVANCE!!!"