Three gigantic psychic beasts, along with the Sannin, battled fiercely against the fully transformed form of the One-Tail.
The combined strength of the Sannin could undoubtedly defeat the Tailed Beast. Sealing it would not be difficult either. However, on a chaotic battlefield, defeating the One-Tail wasn't their only concern. They had to consider minimizing the potential losses to Konoha's forces. The fearsome reputation of Tailed Beasts as "living war machines" wasn't undeserved. A single release of the Tailed Beast Bomb into a concentrated area of ninjas would result in catastrophic losses.
---
This was a true decisive battle. All ninjas on both sides had been fully committed to the battlefield.
At this point, there was no such thing as cannon fodder by choice.
Every ninja, regardless of status, was thrown into the fray.
Yet, there was a difference. The most brutal, casualty-heavy battles occurred at the central junction of both armies — a real meat grinder where only true talents survived. This, in a way, became a form of harsh selection. Meanwhile, battles also raged on the battlefield's peripheries. Compared to the center, the peripheries still allowed for some tactical maneuvers, with the wider spaces offering room for ninjas to showcase their skills.
Nonetheless, whether it was the central battlefield or the peripheries, enemies seemed endless. Danger was everywhere. Even in the outer regions, survival was no less demanding. Traps littered the periphery. A single misstep could spell death, even before an enemy's attack.
The Seventh Squad, under Namikaze Minato's arrangement, was deployed to the battlefield's edges. This was the best Minato could do for Kakashi, Obito, and Rin. Everyone had to fight. But Kakashi's exceptional combat IQ offered them a better chance of surviving on the edges.
It wasn't an act of favoritism. Assigning them there allowed Kakashi's abilities to maximize their survival.
"Obito!"
Kakashi's sharp voice rang out as Obito was about to trigger a trap. Before Obito could react, Rin swiftly pulled him back.
Ma Jia, hidden in the shadows with the task of secretly protecting Rin, watched the scene with a mixture of helplessness and speechlessness.
"With Obito here... is Rin really safer?"
Obito's recklessness was reminiscent of Nawaki Senju. Despite Hui's repeated warnings back then, even with Orochimaru's special training tailored to curb Nawaki's impulsiveness, Nawaki had ultimately fallen victim to a simple explosive tag trap. Recklessness, it seemed, was deeply ingrained and hard to fix.
Now Obito, bearing the same personality traits, was repeating history. In the original timeline, it likely took repeated interventions from Kakashi and Rin to ensure Obito's survival.
But now... everything had changed. The ninja world was shifting visibly, and Hui couldn't help but worry if Rin would end up suffering because of Obito.
"I just have to be more careful."
"Obito! Be careful! This is the most dangerous moment — no room for carelessness!" Rin lectured him seriously.
Obito scratched his head awkwardly, realizing he had nearly dragged everyone into danger. Rin's presence made the guilt worse. He silently vowed to stay alert and cautious to ensure everyone's safety.
Perhaps it was Rin's words that struck home — Obito immediately became much more cautious, detecting traps swiftly before triggering them.
It became clear that Obito had a solid foundation but was simply too reckless in attitude.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The Sand Shinobi hidden nearby, seeing their trap detected, finally made a move.
A violent gust erupted from his mouth, and something strange was mixed into the wind, swirling toward Team 7.
"Be careful, it's poisoned!"
Kakashi sensed something wrong but couldn't immediately pinpoint it. It was Rin, as a medical ninja, who quickly detected the poison infused within the storm.
Though the poison's potency wasn't strong, exposure would weaken the ninjas over time — a tactical move rather than an outright kill.
"The toxin's weak — more of a formulaic irritant. I have an antidote for it," Rin calmly judged. She quickly distributed the antidote to Kakashi and Obito.
While they dodged the attack and neutralized the poison, the lone Sand Shinobi didn't act rashly.
One against three — he was at an absolute disadvantage. Delaying and waiting for reinforcements was the smartest move.
"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!"
But Kakashi, having anticipated the enemy's plan, acted.
While detoxifying, Kakashi had secretly prepared his jutsu. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, he executed the Headhunter Jutsu, pulling the Sand Shinobi underground up to the neck.
A kunai flicked swiftly, plunging into the enemy's exposed heart.
Confirming the death, Kakashi retrieved the kunai, saving precious ninja tools. In a battlefield like this, conserving every resource — chakra, tools, stamina — was vital.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Just as Kakashi eliminated one enemy, two more Sand Shinobi appeared, unleashing coordinated Fire and Wind Release techniques.
The two jutsus complemented each other, forming an even stronger assault. Though dangerous, it wasn't insurmountable for Kakashi, Obito, and Rin. What mattered was neutralizing the threat at minimal cost.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
Kakashi's hand seals were quick and precise. A wall of earth rose, shielding the team.
At the same time, a kunai slipped silently from Kakashi's hand, shooting through the air.
The flaming jutsu collided against the Earth Wall. Hidden in the fiery light, Kakashi's kunai was meant to strike the enemy by surprise.
Unfortunately, the experienced Sand Shinobi noticed it at the last moment, managing to dodge with a quick sidestep.
Kakashi's throw had been nearly flawless, but still slightly too straightforward and lacking deception.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Obito, watching closely, had already been preparing another jutsu. The moment the enemies moved to dodge the kunai, Obito's fireball was ready.
A massive torrent of flames burst from his mouth, engulfing the two Sand Shinobi.
"Huff! Huff!"
Two sharp sounds followed — kunai slicing through the smoke, dealing the final blow to the severely injured Sand Shinobi.
Though they had used one B-rank and one C-rank ninjutsu, their chakra management, honed through Hui's harsh training, minimized consumption. Their control was near perfect. In a true battle for survival, mastering how to economize chakra usage was crucial.
For instance, Kakashi's Earth Wall wasn't the fully perfected version. Instead, it simply relocated existing rocks to shield them, foregoing chakra-intensive transformations.
Efficiency over style.
---
For the next hour, the Seventh Squad roamed the battlefield's edges, continuously engaging and defeating small groups of Sand Shinobi.
Several times they faced grave danger, yet Ma Jia remained hidden and never intervened.
Because... during one clash, Ma Jia sensed a familiar presence — White Fang.
Since his revival and departure, Uchiha Kiyo's clones hadn't seen him again. Now, Ma Jia clearly felt his presence.
White Fang was secretly watching over Kakashi.
Given the brutality of this war, White Fang's choice was obvious. It made sense that he would silently guard his son from the shadows.
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