nucmednet Chapter 789 The Burden
Chapter 789 The Burden
At this moment, the burden on her shoulders felt heavier than ever before.
Tsunade gazed at the Third Hokage's resolute back, her anxiety threatening to burst from her chest. She took a sudden step forward, her voice trembling with a hint of accusation:
"Lord Hokage! Have you forgotten the example of Sunagakure? What happens to a village without a Kage to govern it?!"
The tragedy of Sunagakure was still vivid in her mind; the absence of the Kage had plunged that village into chaos and decline. Tsunade couldn't imagine what Konoha would face in such a fierce war if it also lost the protection of the Kage.
The Third Hokage stopped, but did not turn around. His voice carried a heavy, resolute strength, as if each word came from the depths of his soul:
“Tsunade, I have made my decision. I have inherited the Will of Fire of the First and Second Hokage, a power that firmly believes the will of fire can illuminate the entire village, allowing new life and new hope to sprout like new leaves.” He turned his head, his gaze deep and fervent, looking directly at Tsunade. “I believe that true power is revealed when ninjas want to protect those they cherish most. Therefore, I will not fail, and Konoha… will not fail!”
His words resonated deeply, carrying an undeniable conviction that struck Tsunade's heart instantly. It was the inheritance of the Will of Fire, the heavy mission that every Hokage bore.
Tsunade looked at him, her heart filled with mixed emotions. In the end, she simply nodded slightly, her throat tightening with emotion.
The Third Hokage smiled slightly at her, then resolutely turned around and left the medical tent with steady steps.
Tsunade stood there, gazing in the direction he had disappeared for a long time, until his figure was completely gone. She murmured to herself, her voice extremely low, as if addressing his departing figure, or perhaps to herself:
"You must come back alive...you..."
Eight days later.
Operation Hurricane was launched as scheduled, and the entire ninja world was shaken.
On the northern battlefield, Onoki, the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, led an army of ten thousand, launching a fierce attack on Konoha's northern stronghold like a black torrent. Explosions and battle cries echoed through the sky, turning the land into a living hell.
Meanwhile, on the southwestern border of Konoha, the "five thousand" Sand Village troops led by the Fourth Kazekage Rasa swept towards Konoha's border like a desert storm.
The great war broke out in full force, and the Third Shinobi World War officially entered its most intense and brutal phase.
Konoha Village, Hokage's office.
Tsunade sat upright in the Hokage's designated seat. Although she was not the actual Hokage, she had already assumed the responsibilities of the Hokage. Her usual nonchalance was gone, replaced by solemnity and decisiveness.
"Pass down the order! The village is on high alert! All ninjas, immediately take your positions at the designated locations!" Tsunade issued the order in a deep voice, her voice transmitted to every corner of the village through the walkie-talkie.
"Yes!" Countless responses rose and fell as the well-trained Konoha ninjas sprang into action.
On the village streets, Chunin quickly guided the villagers to evacuate. Although the villagers all looked tense, there was no panic or chaos. They orderly followed the ninjas' guidance and entered the protective caves deep within the village.
"Don't worry, with the Third Hokage here, we'll be fine!" a Chunin reassured loudly.
"Yes! The Third Hokage was known as a man of great ninja power!"
"And Lady Tsunade is here in the village to keep things in order!"
Thinking of the Third Hokage's glorious achievements and Konoha's strength, the villagers felt much more at ease. They believed that as long as the Hokage was there, Konoha would not fall.
Kikyo Mountain Battlefield.
Mount Kikyo is a strategic location situated at the border between Konoha and Sunagakure. Here, the peaks overlap and stretch endlessly, with dense forests and towering trees nearby, while in the distance they are vaguely lost in the clouds, forming a natural barrier.
At the foot of the mountain, the army of Sunagakure Village assembled.
Granny Chiyo gazed darkly at Mount Kikyo ahead, a complex light flickering in her weathered eyes. She slowly stepped forward, walking to Rasa's side, her hoarse voice carrying a distinctive dryness:
"Lord Kazekage, everything is ready."
Gazing intently at Mount Kikyo, so close yet so far, Rasa's eyes burned with fervor, his heart pounding. This was the first time since the start of the war between Sunagakure and Konoha that they had come so close to a village like Konoha. Along their journey, aside from a few initial probing encounters, they had encountered almost no significant resistance. This unprecedented success inflated Rasa's confidence to an unprecedented degree. He even began to believe that Konoha's weakness had exceeded their expectations.
"Very good!" A cold smile curled at the corner of Luo Sha's lips. He waved his hand, his eyes filled with a desire for conquest. "Attack!"
With his command, the Sand Village army roared with battle cries.
"boom--!"
A deafening roar erupted. The heavy iron gate of the Konoha stronghold, which had been tightly shut in front of Mount Kikyo, was completely shattered under the fierce attack of the Sunagakure forces, turning into countless flying fragments.
The billowing smoke and dust signaled the official start of the battle between Konoha and Sunagakure.
Surprisingly, the Sand Village has been at Mount Kikyo for three days now. In these three days, apart from the initial few probing attacks and the recent breach of the gate, Rasa has not launched a single large-scale, all-out attack.
Rasa stood on high ground, his gaze sweeping over Mount Kikyo with piercing intensity. The closer he got to Konoha, the stronger his vigilance became. He knew that even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit, let alone when facing the former overlord of Konoha.
"The terrain of Kikyo Mountain is surrounded on three sides, with many steep cliffs and dense forests." Rasa's voice was deep and powerful as he explained in detail to the attacking ninjas in front of him, "The defensive ninjas of Konoha are mainly divided into three tiers. The first tier consists of the Hyuga and Inuzuka clans. Their Byakugan and sense of smell are their advantages, and they are good at reconnaissance and close combat... The second tier consists of the Uchiha and Nara clans. Their Sharingan has amazing insight, and the Nara clan uses shadow techniques to restrain them... The third tier is mainly composed of the Akimichi and Yamanaka clans, who are good at taijutsu and mental infiltration..."
He recounted the characteristics of Konoha's various clans and their methods of countering them with remarkable familiarity. Sunagakure, having clashed with Konoha multiple times during the Second Shinobi World War, possessed an unparalleled understanding of the village. Rasa felt reassured. Even though Sunagakure's actual participating ninjas numbered only two thousand, far fewer than the publicly claimed five thousand, Konoha's forces were undoubtedly smaller. He was absolutely confident of victory.