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[NTU] [ARC-20] Chapter : 262
🕑 Added 2025-02-21 17:24:27 +0000 UTCThe unmistakable sound of a blade slicing through flesh echoed across the battlefield. Zabuza barely flinched, swiftly retreating to create distance between himself and his opponent.
"Damn it... This guy's chakra nature—it's Wind Release?"
His sharp gaze darted around, taking in the devastation. Fallen trees lay scattered like broken twigs, and deep gouges marred the ground. It was clear—the enemy had harnessed the power of the wind to amplify his attack.
Meanwhile, as soon as Toshiro arrived at the battlefield and noticed the dissipating mist clinging to the ground, he wasted no time.
Without hesitation, he commanded Yamawashi to stir up a powerful gust of wind, completely dispersing the Hidden Mist jutsu that had shrouded his vision.
Still perched atop Yamawashi, Toshiro remained airborne, never once touching the ground as he began forming hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
From his mouth, a roaring inferno erupted—a blazing torrent that surged downward, consuming the densely packed Kiri Ninja forces below.
But Toshiro wasn’t finished.
Yamawashi, as if perfectly synchronized, suddenly flapped its massive wings, generating a violent whirlwind. The flames, now caught in the swirling vortex, morphed into a raging firestorm, twisting and expanding as it hurtled toward the battlefield in an unstoppable blaze.
Boom!
The battlefield trembled as Toshiro unleashed his jutsu. With his current strength, the fire release technique he executed after forming the necessary seals was nearly on par with the legendary Madara Uchiha.
With Yama aiding him, a fiery tornado—30 to 40 meters wide and nearly 100 meters tall—erupted in the heart of the battlefield, scorching everything in its path.
"…It’s the Godaime Hokage—Uchiha Toshiro!"
From the Kiri's Command Center below, Ao, clad in his black and gray Kirigakure uniform, peered through his Byakugan. His sharp gaze confirmed what others had only begun to suspect.
"Toshiro Uchiha!"
Hearing Ao’s report, Mei Terumi, the commander of the Kiri forces, furrowed her brows as she fixed her gaze on the inferno raging across the battlefield.
"A troublesome and strong opponent has arrived…"
She hadn’t expected to cross paths with him again, let alone under these circumstances. To her surprise, he had risen to become Konoha’s Fifth Hokage—and judging by the sheer scale of his jutsu, his strength had grown significantly since their last encounter.
---
"It seems today will be the day you die!"
With the mist completely dispelled, Raizou no longer had to fight blindly. Now, with his enemy fully exposed, he tightened his grip on his sword, confident that victory was within his grasp.
"Hmph!" Zabuza snorted coldly, his tone laced with menace. "It’s far too soon to decide who will kill whom!"
Just as he was about to steel himself for an all-out battle with the Konoha ninja before him, an irritatingly familiar voice rang out from nearby.
"Zabuza, for someone as ruthless as you, getting humiliated like this is quite the spectacle. I must say—it’s truly satisfying!"
From the murky waters of a nearby pond, a figure emerged, his presence both unexpected and unwelcome.
"Mangetsu? What the hell are you doing here?"
Zabuza shot a glare at the newcomer, his expression darkening as Mangetsu lifted himself partially out of the water.
"I don’t recall asking for your help!"
"Tch. Who said I was here to save your sorry hide?" Mangetsu scoffed, rolling his eyes before shifting his gaze skyward. The massive summoned beast circling above the battlefield was impossible to miss. His demeanor turned serious.
"Konoha's reinforcements have arrived. If you don’t want to die here, you’d better retreat while you still can."
His words carried a sharp warning, but he knew Zabuza well—stubborn to a fault.
After delivering his message, Mangetsu turned his attention to the Konoha ninja standing firm in the distance, ready for a potential ambush. A warrior who remained vigilant even in a moment of distraction…
Interesting.
"What a shame," Zabuza muttered, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. "That guy looked like a decent opponent. I wouldn't have minded slicing him up a few times with my blade. But alas... orders are orders."
If only he had been closer to a water source and not in such a hurry—things might have played out differently.
"Tch. I'll retreat… Hmph. Consider yourself lucky!"
With a final scowl, Zabuza ran a hand over his still-throbbing wound before turning away from the battlefield, frustration evident in his every step.
As a shinobi of Kirigakure, he understood all too well—the battlefield orders of the Village of the Bloody Mist were ruthless. Even someone as defiant as he wouldn’t dare disregard a direct command from the higher-ups.
Meanwhile, at the Konoha command post, Hamagaki was in the midst of coordinating reinforcements when his gaze landed on a familiar figure. His breath caught in his throat, and for a brief moment, he questioned whether his eyes were deceiving him.
"Sandaime-sama!"
At the sound of his title, Hiruzen turned toward the voice, a warm, knowing smile spreading across his face.
"Ah, Mimura… It seems you’ve been working hard on the battlefield. I appreciate your efforts."
The casual greeting, spoken in the same familiar tone as always, left Mimura momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected to see the former Hokage here, much less dressed like this.
His eyes traced over the old man's attire—a simple green jonin vest, worn like that of an ordinary soldier.
For a moment, Mimura barely recognized him.
The sight was almost surreal. Hamagaki had grown accustomed to seeing the Third Hokage adorned in his regal robes of office. But now, clad in a simple green combat uniform, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed almost unrecognizable. It completely shattered Mimura’s previous perception of the man.
“…I am just an ordinary Konoha ninja now.”
Sarutobi glanced down at the standard-issue jonin vest he wore, a faint, self-deprecating smile flickering across his face. There was a hint of melancholy in his expression, but it quickly faded as he straightened his posture.
"Even in old age, as long as I can still fight for the village, I consider it a blessing."
He made no mention of the fact that the Fifth Hokage had all but forced him onto the battlefield. Instead, he shifted the conversation.
“Mimura, what’s the situation?”
Mimura snapped back to attention. "The Godaime arrived just in time. As soon as the Kiri Ninjas saw our reinforcements, they immediately withdrew!"
With that quick report, he wasted no time excusing himself. "Forgive me, Sandaime, but I must return to my duties."
And with that, he hurried off, leaving the former Hokage standing amidst the remnants of the battlefield, his expression unreadable.
After all, the Third Hokage had already stepped down, and the Fifth Hokage had shown him kindness during his promotion. It was best not to involve himself too much with the former leader.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Hamagaki’s retreating figure, a flicker of loneliness passing through his aged eyes.
It wasn’t just Mimura. Ever since his retirement, the lower-ranked and ordinary ninjas still greeted him with respect, still calling him "Sandaime-sama" whenever they saw him. Yet, the higher-ranking shinobi—the very ones who had once surrounded him—now kept their distance. The once constant presence of advisors, subordinates, and comrades had dwindled, leaving him with an unfamiliar sense of isolation.
That night, in the central command tent.
Toshiro stood with his arms crossed, observing the camp. Konoha’s shinobi moved with renewed vigor, their morale rekindled after the successful defense. As his gaze swept over the recovering troops, he gave a small nod of approval.
"Mimura, have all the wounded been taken care of?" His tone was calm but authoritative. "If the enemy attacks again, how many of them will still be fit for battle?"
Toshiro had no intention of handling everything on his own.
With his current strength, storming the entire Kiri Ninja camp single-handedly wouldn’t be difficult—but that was not his way.
His ancestor, Indra, had shouldered everything alone, only to lose in the grand scheme of fate.
He would not repeat their mistakes.
His role was not to fight every battle himself, but to make the decisive calls when it mattered most. A leader who carries everything alone leaves no room for those beneath him to grow. And besides—how else would his subordinates rise in rank and earn their share of glory?
"Godaime-sama, the medical ninjas brought by you are sufficient. Aside from a few critically injured, the rest of the wounded should regain combat readiness by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
Mimura hesitated. "However…
Comments
Jose Miranda
Thanks for the chapter
