As mentioned before, no matter how strong an individual ninja is, one person alone cannot decide the outcome of a war. Yet there was no denying the importance of high-level combatants. For both Konoha and Sunagakure, powerhouses like Orochimaru, Sakumo Hatake, and Uchiha Hayashi were indispensable forces on the battlefield. They might not win a war single-handedly, but they could tilt the balance of victory.
Right now, amid the chaos of Sand ninja swarming everywhere, Hayashi spun and leapt, eyes sharp and focused. From time to time, one could hear snippets like, "Your sword is my sword," or, "Suna Kunai, can't you aim better?" Yet through this clash of a thousand men, Hayashi remained utterly composed.
He darted into enemy ranks, vanished among their numbers, and reappeared near Konoha lines. No matter the opponent, his strikes were precise—most of the time ending a foe with a single blow. The art of killing had become second nature to him; for one so young, his efficiency rivaled that of a death god wielding a scythe.
His first claim to fame had been on the Land of Rain battlefield, where he used Lightning Release: Qilin to defeat Shukaku. Though opportunistic in that moment, and supportive in the later siege of the Third Kazekage, it had begun establishing his reputation. Elite ninjas from every village had acknowledged him as a rising force, though not yet equal to the Sannin or White Fang.
But now, like a predator through shoals of prey, Hayashi moved with terrifying efficiency. Under his crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan, even a casual glance could paralyze opponents with genjutsu, halting attacks mid-action and leaving enemies vulnerable. Some would even unwittingly act against themselves. The battlefield quickly became surreal; Suna ninja fled wherever Hayashi went.
"Out of my way—I'll handle him!"
A sudden roar cut through the chaos, followed by the whistle of a jutsu in flight. Hayashi felt it immediately—an attack was coming. Ghost-like, he darted backward, his feet barely touching the ground as his right hand struck the throat of a nearby foe. Moments later, a heavy boom reverberated behind him.
Hayashi turned to see the source—Rasa.
A faint smile crossed his face; they had shared a meal only days earlier. The sight of that smile enraged Rasa, who erupted in fury, whipping up a torrent of sand for a massive assault. True to his lineage, he combined raw power with finesse—already manipulating Gold Dust in addition to the Third Kazekage's Iron Sand techniques.
Hayashi shook his head, his tone almost casual. "If I were you, I'd be organizing a retreat right now. Courage is admirable, but reading the situation—that's what a true ninja, a true commander, needs."
Was he being kind? Not in the slightest. A retreat would have led Rasa straight into Minato's forces, and the Suna troops would have been annihilated. Hayashi's remark was meant to unnerve, to disrupt his enemy's judgment.
But Rasa ignored it, roaring defiantly, "Suna ninja never run from a fight!"
"Then don't run—surrender. Your village has done it twice already; it's practically a specialty," Hayashi replied, sneering.
In an instant, chakra-infused Gold Sand erupted, dragging desert sand like a tawny dragon across the battlefield. Rasa had restrained the jutsu to avoid collateral damage, but now, as Hayashi's killing efficiency forced the Suna ninja to scatter, Rasa unleashed his full power.
Hayashi didn't flinch. The current Rasa was far weaker than the Third Kazekage he had once faced. He needn't fear.
"If I were you, I'd send a suicide squad to stall Konoha while calling reinforcements," Hayashi said, shattering sand with a Lightning Release strike, while subtly observing his opponent. Thanks to his Sharingan, he could distinguish real threats from decoys—the Rasa before him was only a sand clone, bait meant to draw him into traps.
Smiling, Hayashi concealed himself in an explosion, sending a Shadow Clone hurtling at Rasa while his real body slipped underground using Earth Release.
The clone coiled, uncoiled, and sprang into the air, diving toward its target. Rasa, enraged, struggled to intercept with sand, unable to fully anticipate the clone's movement. When it landed behind him, Hayashi's grin was visible even through the clone: "Got you!"
The clone's ankle sank into the sand, a brief moment of confusion, then scorching heat erupted.
"Scorch Release: Blazing River!"
A ten-meter arc of flame engulfed the clone's position.
"Did it work?" Pakura frowned from a distance, sensing something off and narrowly avoiding the attack.
"Nice reflexes," Hayashi said, appearing behind her and delivering a precise kick.
Pakura barely avoided the strike, and her Scorch Release flared behind her, forcing her to leap aside again.
Hayashi didn't pursue. Arms folded, he chuckled. "Rasa, Pakura… and someone sneaking genjutsu at me—Karura, was it? All my old enemies in one place."
Years ago, he, Orochimaru, and others had hunted the Third Kazekage. Now the roles were reversed—the Suna trio was hunting him.
"I just hope you're strong enough," Hayashi added, producing a black scroll embossed with the character "Sage" from his pouch.
In that instant, he seemed possessed by a legendary swordsman of old, pointing at Pakura and declaring, "All three of you—come at me together! I, Hayashi, fear nothing!"