Coincidentally, both the Hokage and the Kazekage had deliberately concealed their whereabouts from the outside world, secretly arriving at the front lines under the cover of night.
Of course, as Kyosuke would describe it, both of these village leaders were equally treacherous old foxes.
Their objectives were simple: on one hand, to deter other ninja villages from making rash moves by appearing to be safe at home, and on the other, to catch the enemy completely off guard here. Both hoped to crush the opposition in the shortest possible time and rush back to their respective capitals.
With the supreme leaders of both sides physically present to make decisions, certain high-level discussions could finally take place.
"As expected of the Hokage. I truly didn't know you weren't sitting comfortably in Konoha until this very moment."
The Kazekage generously admitted to being deceived, offering a backhanded compliment, but his voice remained grim and saturated with hostility.
"Lord Kazekage, your Jinchūriki's strength also greatly surprised me," the Hokage replied, expressing his desire for peace while making aggressive demands. "Konoha does not wish to be enemies with the Sand. If you retreat your forces now, we can immediately achieve peace."
The Kazekage sneered coldly. "You tell me to retreat, and I just retreat? Anyone who didn't know better would think I, the dignified Kazekage, was one of your subordinates, Hokage!"
"Enough with the nonsense," the Kazekage challenged. "If we can win, we fight. If we can't, then we talk."
Seeing that diplomacy had failed, the Hokage ripped off his formal robes, revealing his black battle suit underneath.
"Summoning Jutsu: Monkey King Enma! Transform into the Adamantine Staff!" Hiruzen commanded. "The strongest Kazekage in history... I've long wanted to experience your Magnet Release for myself!"
Among the vast Konoha forces, Kyosuke watched the two legendary big shots converse, thinking to himself, 'I've truly learned something today.'
Is this how actual big shots talk?
If we can win, we fight. If we can't, then we talk.
Those words are the ultimate, shameless truth of this world! So incredibly cool!
While Kyosuke was busy admiring their swagger, Asuma and Shizune's palms were sweating profusely with tension beside him.
Asuma's gaze toward his father was especially complex, a mix of awe and lingering resentment.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!"
"Adamantine Prison Wall!"
A massive storm of lethal Iron Sand spun forward at supersonic speeds, crashing violently into the indestructible cage formed by the Adamantine Staff.
The deafening roar of their collision was the ultimate signal for war. With a unified battle cry, the Sand Ninja and the Konoha Ninja charged.
Chiyo immediately engaged Homura Mitokado. Pakura clashed with Orochimaru. Rasa intercepted the Ino-Shika-Chō trio and other Konoha elites. The battle instantly spiked to its absolute climax from the very first second.
"Kyosuke! Don't stray too far from me during the battle!"
As Kyosuke charged forward with the crowd, Minato Namikaze's voice suddenly called out from beside him.
"Got it!"
Kyosuke immediately agreed. Now was absolutely not the time to show off! Having the Yellow Flash watching over him was literally like having an extra life.
This was the beautiful result of all his hard work trying to curry favor with the man!
Kyosuke looked over at Minato's squad. "Hey, Kakashi, Obito, Rin! You guys be careful too!"
Kakashi just gave a curt nod. Rin nervously pursed her lips, but her voice trembled as she replied, "You be careful too, Kyosuke."
Obito fiercely suppressed his terror, stubbornly raising his chin. "I'm an elite of the Uchiha clan! I won't be scared by such a small scene!"
"Ahahaha! That's good to hear! Because if you die, I'll have a lot less free meat to eat in the future!"
Kyosuke laughed loudly. Without waiting for Obito to sputter a response, he brandished his new short sword and charged at an incoming Sand Ninja.
The two massive tides of shinobi crashed together fiercely, instantly scattering countless splashes of blood across the plains.
The armies shattered into hundreds of chaotic squad-level skirmishes.
As a newly minted Konoha Chūnin, Kyosuke "bravely" took on his responsibilities—by actively seeking out the weakest Sand Genin and Chūnin he could find, resolutely avoiding anyone who looked like a Jōnin.
After all, I have to leave opportunities for the Konoha Jōnin to earn their battlefield merits!
I'm just a humble Chūnin. If I were to fight the enemy's Jōnin and steal their glory, it would arouse terrible jealousy and disrupt Konoha's harmonious society.
Yes, exactly! I'm not afraid of death at all; rather, I am selflessly yielding the credit to others for the greater good of the village!
Kyosuke moved himself to near-tears with his own internal logic, his short sword cleanly dispatching another distracted enemy.
"I'll take the vanguard! Asuma, Shizune, support my flanks! Uncle Kosuke, defend our rear! Follow me and kill!"
"Water Release: Water Severing Wall!"
A wide, high-pressure wall of water erupted, perfectly blocking a volley of enemy shuriken. Kosuke's deep voice followed. "Leave our blind spots to me without worry, Captain!"
A Sand Ninja charged from their right. Asuma, channeling chakra into his trench knives, punched out fiercely. "Cyclone Fist! Hmph, they're all just Genin. What's there to worry about?"
Shizune didn't attack recklessly. Holding a kunai in a reverse grip, she stayed glued to Kyosuke's side to guard his openings, stating firmly, "I won't be a burden to you!"
No, you will absolutely be a burden to me!
Kyosuke replied internally, plunging his short sword into the chest of another unlucky Sand shinobi.
During a brief lull in the fighting, Kyosuke hastily scanned his surroundings.
In the distance, an apocalyptic storm of black Iron Sand and roaring flames clashed against the heavens, staining half the sky a bloody red. That had to be the Kazekage and Hokage.
The battlefield was far too chaotic. Thousands of ninja were moving, dying, and casting jutsu so quickly it gave Kyosuke a profound sense of disorientation.
He wondered where Pakura was currently fighting. If he accidentally wandered into her sector, that would be a cosmic joke.
If Pakura actually killed me, it wouldn't be a funny joke. It would be a laughable tragedy!
He also briefly wondered whose death—his or Pakura's—would make Chisuke sadder.
After observing the carnage for a few seconds, Kyosuke saw a brilliant flash of yellow light hundreds of meters away and breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Minato Namikaze was still relatively close by. His life insurance policy was still valid.
Following the survival philosophy Chisuke had shared in their dreams, Kyosuke skillfully filtered out the high-threat targets. He immediately found a skirmish where Sand Chūnin and Genin were concentrated, and "bravely" charged forward.
A short time later, after Kyosuke had cleanly dealt with a few more low-level Sand Ninja, he heard heavy gasping behind him. Turning around, he saw Asuma bent completely double, panting like a dying dog.
The rebellious Sarutobi heir had repeatedly overexerted himself, spamming high-level Ninjutsu during the battle to show off. Now, his chakra and stamina were practically running on fumes.
Only half an hour, and you're already done for?
You have zero endurance, kid! The battle is going to last all day!
In contrast, Shizune's overall physical strength was weaker than Asuma's, but because she fought cautiously—only moving to protect Kyosuke and strictly rationing her chakra—she was still fully combat-capable despite her fatigue.
Kids like Asuma are the absolute worst!
I explicitly told you to cooperate with me, but you just had to show off your flashy jutsu!
Kyosuke complained fiercely in his heart, but his outward tone was utterly righteous and dripping with concern.
"Asuma can't hold on much longer, and Shizune's stamina is also greatly depleted. Uncle Kosuke, you take them back to the reserve lines! I'll stay here and cover your retreat!"
Falling back to rest wasn't fleeing; it was standard tactical procedure to cycle out exhausted troops. As Genin, lasting half an hour in a high-intensity frontline meat grinder was already highly commendable.
"Damn it!"
Asuma was deeply indignant. He desperately wanted to stay and fight to prove himself, but the crushing weakness in his limbs couldn't be ignored. He had no choice but to follow closely behind Kosuke, running toward the safer edges of the battlefield.
"You Konoha brat! You've killed many of my subordinates! None of you are getting away! Die!"
By deliberately targeting weaker enemies to rack up easy kills, Kyosuke had inadvertently attracted the fury of a Sand Ninja Jōnin.
It's time to perform!
Actors, take your places!
Action!
"You guys go quickly! Leave him to me!" Kyosuke roared, resolutely turning his back on his squad to face the incoming Jōnin.
His voice contained an infinite, selfless love for his comrades. It projected a fearless spirit ready to embrace death, mixed perfectly with a hint of deep longing for a beautiful life he would never get to live.
His expression was fierce, yet strangely relieved. His eyes spoke of a final, tragic farewell.
To those watching, his back appeared utterly desolate, yet incredibly firm. Small, yet incredibly great!
This heart-wrenching scene deeply moved the many Konoha Ninja fighting nearby.
Kosuke desperately wanted to turn back and support his captain, but he was quickly entangled by a fresh squad of Sand Ninja, completely unable to free his hands to protect Asuma and Shizune while helping Kyosuke.
The Sand Ninja Jōnin, seeing this young Chūnin proactively throw his life away just to buy his comrades a few seconds, felt a genuine trace of warrior's respect.
"Konoha Ninja! Your bravery has earned you the right to die by my hand! State your name!"