Chapter 69: The Fall of the Border, Earth and Wind Alliance!
Led by a Jonin, a team of four squads was tasked with escorting.
Uchiha Takashi also brought along one squad.
Note that a group of three ninjas is called a squad.
A 'squad' led by a captain consists of a four-person team, which is why Uchiha Takashi and his team were referred to as the 'Third Squad' rather than the 'Third Team.'
Uchiha Takashi was responsible for the Honda squad.
Their teacher was also present, but he was lying injured in a carriage.
In this escort mission, the most important cargo wasn't supplies but rather dozens of injured ninjas.
These numbers had accumulated over time.
Even with two medical ninjas in the camp constantly using food pills, they couldn't treat everyone, so they had to be transferred.
Upon closer inspection, it was evident that most of the escort team consisted of civilian ninjas.
Those in the know would understand!
Never assume that Koharu Utatane was being reckless.
This was merely an 'unspoken rule.'
Dangerous and troublesome missions were typically assigned to civilian ninjas.
After all, the middle and upper echelons of the village were occupied by clan ninjas, so this was naturally expected.
In the same situation, two Genin, with clan ninjas easily overpowering civilian ninjas, it made sense for clan ninjas to be prioritized, right?
No wonder Minato Namikaze was destined to rise to power; it was the trend of the times.
Because he was from a civilian background.
To stabilize the civilian ninjas in the village, it was indeed appropriate for a Hokage from a civilian background to take the position.
Coupled with Minato Namikaze's own talent and personality, and his teacher being from the Hokage faction, he was undoubtedly the perfect choice for the Fourth Hokage.
No wonder Orochimaru lost to him (highlight: lacking the Will of Fire).
Some things aren't coincidences; they're destined.
While pondering these thoughts, Uchiha Takashi listened to the distribution orders from the leading Jonin, Kobayashi Hei.
"Squad One at the front of the convoy, Squads Two and Three spread out on the flanks, and I'll stay at the rear with Squad Four. We must ensure the convoy returns to Konoha safely!"
As the mission commander, Jonin Kobayashi Hei was certainly capable.
However, he understood that the Sand Ninja wouldn't let them off easily.
Especially with those injured, most of whom were immobilized due to poisoning, it was the perfect opportunity to eliminate them.
"Yes!" The four Chunin, including Uchiha Takashi, nodded in agreement, acknowledging the orders.
"Move out!"
Kobayashi Hei was the first to charge towards the already departing convoy.
About a dozen carriages made up the escort team.
But just as they left the camp, a violent explosion was heard from behind.
Boom! The terrifying explosion was clearly audible even from a distance.
If the enemy pursued, they could quickly catch up.
Fortunately, their primary target was the camp, not the convoy.
The attackers weren't the Sand Ninja army but a small group of ninja raiders.
Among these raiders, the most striking figure was a female ninja leading the charge, surrounded by fireballs the size of washbasins orbiting her like satellites.
Pakura!
Facing her assault, the camp could only use explosive tags, kunai, and other means to push her back.
A powerful presence on the battlefield was indeed troublesome.
Without a strong opponent of equal rank, the cost would be significant.
After several charges, Pakura managed to reach the camp walls, taking a few kunai hits and enduring the aftermath of explosive tags.
"Scorch Release: Over Steam Kill!"
With her Kekkei Genkai activated, the temperature around her soared, and one by one, Konoha ninjas fell, turning into desiccated corpses.
"Pakura, doesn't Sunagakure fear Konoha's retaliation?" Koharu Utatane shouted angrily as he charged in.
Even though they had long suspected Sunagakure's deceit, they never expected them to actually strike.
After all, in terms of strength, Konoha far surpassed Sunagakure.
Unfortunately, the Konoha leadership didn't understand the saying, "A cornered rabbit will bite."
Clang! Pakura blocked the attack with a kunai, her tone resolute, "What does Sunagakure have left to lose now?"
Chapter 69: The Fall of the Border, The Earth-Wind Pact!
These words echoed the sentiments of all the Sand Ninja. If death was inevitable, they might as well take a gamble.
Win, and they would achieve glory; lose, and they would be martyrs.
With this mindset, it's no wonder the Sand Ninja were brimming with morale.
"I won't let you succeed!"
Tatsumi Yaken, despite his personal motives, was determined to give everything for his village, and thus he fought desperately.
Unfortunately, the gap between an elite Jonin and a Kage-level powerhouse was like a chasm. Without unique secret techniques or forbidden jutsu, bridging that gap was nearly impossible.
Pakura not only had to deal with his desperate attacks but also fend off the Konoha ninjas rushing at her. Yet, even so, she firmly held the upper hand.
"Charge!"
"Follow Lady Pakura, kill these detestable Konoha ninjas!"
"All together!"
...
Following Pakura's surprise attack, over a hundred Sand Ninja charged the camp's high walls with heightened morale.
Fight to the death!
Even in death, they aimed to take down Konoha ninjas with them.
Despite Konoha having the advantage of terrain and numbers, they were now at a disadvantage.
This is the result when the top-tier combat strength is lacking.
In small-scale battles, the influence of top-tier fighters is undeniable.
"Damn it!"
Tatsumi Yaken watched as his subordinates around him died from dehydration, his eyes turning red.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the 'Otsutsuki' bloodline, and no amount of anger would let him cheat the system.
After barely holding on for over ten minutes.
Squelch!
Pakura stabbed a kunai through his neck.
By this time, there were hardly any Konoha ninjas left in the entire border camp, only Sand Ninja bathed in blood.
A flag representing the Sand Ninja rose high in the camp.
"Send a message to Iwagakure, it's their turn now!"
Pakura glanced at the remaining Sand Ninja, a trace of reluctance flashing in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it and loudly ordered the Sand Ninja beside her.
That's right!
Even if Sunagakure fought to the death, it didn't mean they would blindly charge forward.
Previously, the Third Kazekage and Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, had reached an agreement during the joint Chunin exams to invade the Land of Fire together.
However, the disappearance of the Third Kazekage delayed this agreement for a while.
From the time they sent a message questioning Konoha until now, Sunagakure had been preparing for war and secretly reaching an agreement with Iwagakure again.
Yes, this is the truth of the Third Shinobi World War.
The reason given in the anime, "Sunagakure attacked Konoha because of the Third Kazekage's disappearance," was just a story for children.
With the fall of the border camp, the scattered outposts and strongholds naturally couldn't withstand the Sand Ninja.
The southwestern border has fallen!
This news triggered a fierce reaction in Konoha.
First, the Uchiha clan stepped forward.
They declared that Sunagakure had betrayed the alliance between the two villages, and the Uchiha clan would help the village regain its honor.
In response to their request to fight, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, stated:
The Uchiha's intentions were good, and their actions were commendable, but compared to Sunagakure, Kirigakure was more dangerous, so the 'strongest' Uchiha had to be sent to guard against them.
Thus, the Uchiha clan did get to go to the battlefield, but they were sent to deal with the Mist Ninja instead.
Mist Ninja!
Compared to the Sand Ninja, the Mist Ninja were extremely effective against the Uchiha.
Because everyone knew that the Uchiha were best at Fire Release, and the mist countered the Sharingan, fighting the Mist Ninja was a disaster.
At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed Orochimaru as the commander to lead two thousand Konoha ninjas against the Sand Ninja.
However, there was no response regarding the escort team that escaped from the border camp.
Rescue wasn't impossible.
But with Sunagakure occupying the border, the cost of rescuing them was too high...
So, they could only let them sacrifice for the 'Will of Fire.'
But since sacrifice was inevitable, some believed that the value of their sacrifice should be maximized.
Thus, a dispute arose in the Hokage's office over this matter.
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