Chapter 107: Common Enemy
The tallest building in the Hidden Cloud Village soared into the clouds.
Below, on the vast plain, the eighty-thousand-strong Ninja Allied Forces resembled a vibrant, colorful ocean, neatly arranged into five massive division formations.
The ninja were all raising their arms, cheering wildly, their impassioned voices rising and falling like surging waves.
"Gaara is the captain of the Fourth Division, but he's also the commander of the entire Allied Forces," Temari said loudly to Shikamaru, who looked lazy beside her.
"Although you are acting as the real captain's brain, try to look alive."
Seeing Shikamaru's listless appearance, Temari patted his shoulder. "Do well."
Shikamaru only responded weakly, lazily raising his eyelids. "...I really don't want to be assigned to this troublesome team."
He let out a long sigh, his face full of bitterness.
Not long after he finished complaining, he felt a cold gaze directed straight at him.
Shikamaru's heart jolted. He turned his head, finding Temari staring at him expressionlessly.
"Hey, brat, what did you mean by that? Are you implying that I'm troublesome?" Temari put her hands on her hips, her tone full of dissatisfaction.
A large drop of cold sweat involuntarily trickled down Shikamaru's forehead.
"..."
'This is truly a misunderstanding. I didn't say anything; she's completely overthinking it.'
But facing the aggressive Temari, Shikamaru, finding it troublesome, didn't voice these thoughts.
"Don't look at me like that. If I could, I wouldn't want to be assigned with you either..." Temari turned her body, her gaze falling on a certain spot in the distance.
She subtly raised her delicate chin, her gaze piercing through the crowd, settling on Renji, who was surrounded by a group of girls in the close-combat division.
"As a woman," she sighed, "honestly, I wish I could be in the same team as Renji from your village."
Hearing this, Shikamaru's lazy gaze unconsciously followed.
In the bustling division, Renji was surrounded by numerous girls, his already handsome face and tall figure appearing particularly striking.
Recalling Renji's elusive movements, Tsunade, after careful consideration, had ultimately decided to arrange him as a free combat unit. This way, Renji could flexibly adjust his division according to the battlefield. As of now, this "unit" consisted only of Renji.
Shikamaru recalled his formidable strength and sighed softly. "To be honest, even as a man, I wish I could be on the same team as him..."
Renji wasn't just extraordinarily strong; he was also the most outstanding Medical Ninja in the entire world. If given the chance, anyone would opt to be in his group. As long as he was providing protection, their life safety was guaranteed.
"..."
Temari disdainfully glanced at Shikamaru, speechless at his lack of backbone. 'Then again, isn't this just who he is?'
She shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it. Her gaze swept over the crowd, noticing many eyes fixed on Renji.
Suddenly, a worry surfaced. "Will the Allied Forces confuse him with Hasumi Maki?"
No sooner had she spoken than Temari realized it was an obvious problem. If she were in their shoes, she would also find it difficult to distinguish between them.
"This battle is truly tricky," she sighed. They had to maintain vigilance at all times; a slight oversight, and Renji by their side might be unknowingly replaced.
In contrast, Shikamaru's expression appeared relaxed.
He casually slipped his hands into his pockets. "Don't worry. It's precisely because Lady Hokage anticipated this that she specifically dispatched Renji to tie down Hasumi Maki."
Shikamaru continued, "Hasumi Maki not only possesses the Flying Thunder God Technique but also a Bloodline Limit that can alter souls. If Renji wasn't there to hold him back, I don't know how this battle would continue. So, trust him."
Temari smiled helplessly and shrugged. "I've always trusted him." Ever since he saved Gaara's life.
...
"Alright, Gaara, you are now the captain. Once it's quiet, say a few words to boost morale," Kakashi, with a slight smile, spoke softly to Gaara beside him.
His seemingly casual, "dead fish" eyes held a hint of cunning, a kind of calculated ill intent that only Gaara could understand.
Among the Ninja Allied Forces below, Renji, as if suddenly sensing something, slowly raised his head and directed his gaze towards Gaara and Kakashi.
'Although these clones occasionally have small frictions, they know they can't delay the main body's important tasks.'
The moment Renji looked up, both Kakashi and Gaara's eyes flashed with a hint of guilt.
The originally noisy Allied Forces gradually became silent. The atmosphere was heavy and tense.
Everyone's gaze converged on the striking red figure high above.
Whispers began to spread.
"Is it really reliable to have such a kid as the captain?" a ninja from Iwagakure asked, his tone filled with doubt.
As soon as he finished, a voice immediately retorted, "Silence! You are not allowed to disrespect Lord Gaara!" The Sand ninja was indignant.
Another Sand ninja interjected, "Exactly, you don't understand anything, don't talk nonsense!"
The Iwa-nin did not back down. "Tch, I really don't understand! But I haven't forgotten that he was once our enemy!"
"Your Sand Village was the mastermind behind the Konoha Crush! If it weren't for him... Lord Hiruzen might not have..." a Konoha ninja angrily spoke up.
The Cloud ninja refused to be outdone. "You Konoha have no right to say that! That despicable Uchiha Sasuke, a Konoha rogue, dared to attack Lord Killer Bee and destroy the Five Kage Summit! How should that debt be settled?"
"That's right! Lord Raikage lost his left arm because of this! Do you Konoha just want to let this go?"
The Allied Forces, just barely quieted, began to erupt in small-scale skirmishes again.
Hearing these words, Renji slowly turned his head, coldly looking at the aggressive Cloud ninja.
Perhaps the pressure caused by Hasumi Maki earlier still lingered; when Renji turned back, his identical appearance made the Cloud ninja take a step back, their expressions wary.
"And you!" one shouted, regaining his nerve. "That rogue ninja from Akatsuki is your brother, isn't he! Because of him, we've already suffered heavy losses! You Konoha must take full responsibility!"
Seeing that Renji remained silent, the Cloud ninja's last trace of fear vanished.
"Then, in your opinion, what exactly do you want?" Renji asked with a solemn expression.
The Cloud ninja suddenly became speechless.
Renji pressed on, "After saying so much, is everyone's true intention merely to vent? Do you really want us to fall into disarray, exhaust our strength in internal strife, and then allow the Akatsuki to easily annihilate us?"
Renji's voice was calm, but the moment his words fell, the surrounding clamor instantly fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone looked at each other.
'Yes, what purpose could they achieve by blaming each other? It was just venting. But if such unrestrained venting led to their disintegration...'
The Ninja Allied Forces, hastily assembled, still harbored unresolved hatred. They were a disorganized rabble.
Gaara, standing high above, looked down and slowly began to speak. "For the sake of our respective countries and villages, after enduring three Great Ninja Wars, we are filled with deep resentment and hatred towards each other."
The moment he spoke, all the ninja quieted down.
"This intense hatred drives us to pursue greater power. It is precisely because of this that existences like myself, treated as Jinchuriki and cruel weapons, came into being."
He paused. "I once harbored deep hatred for this world, intent on destroying it, exactly as the Akatsuki is attempting now."
The ninja listened quietly.
"But later, I gradually understood that endless slaughter cannot change this world. Only love possesses such miraculous power, capable of eliminating hatred and truly uniting people."
Hearing these words come from Gaara's mouth, even Renji, who knew this was his clone, couldn't help but feel a wave of nausea. 'It's truly difficult for someone who lived in such darkness to suddenly preach the power of love.'
"The Akatsuki is our common enemy! They plundered the Tailed Beasts, destroyed our villages, and slaughtered our loved ones!"
A heavy, sorrowful atmosphere permeated the scene.
"Yes, everyone here carries the deep wounds left by Akatsuki!" Gaara's words were like a hammer, striking their hearts.
"Sand, Stone, Leaf, Mist, Cloud... all the former boundaries are no longer important. What exists now is only one identity: Ninja!"
"If, even after all this, you still cannot forgive Sunagakure's past mistakes, then once this cruel war ends... cut off my head!"
At this, Gaara's tone was resolute. 'Of course, before my head is cut off, I would surely be a step ahead in severing theirs.'
"I am too young, with limited knowledge. I wish to protect this world, but my current abilities are far from sufficient... Therefore, I earnestly ask for your help. Lend me your strength!"
Gaara's sincere plea spread to every corner.
After a brief silence, it was met with an overwhelming roar of deafening cheers.
The clone Gaara's gaze sharply swept across the scene, instantly pinpointing the main body's figure within the crowd. Renji was flashing a brilliant smile, while many people beside him were shouting enthusiastically.
'For Renji, the higher Gaara's prestige, the greater the Malice Value he could acquire in the future.'
"I'm sorry..."
Renji turned. The Cloud ninja who had spoken so harshly was standing behind him, his face full of guilt.
He whispered, "What I said just now was my fault, I went too far… Please forgive me."
Renji smiled brightly. "It's alright. Let it pass. From now on, we are comrades, fighting side by side."
Hearing this, a light flickered in the Cloud ninja's eyes. He nodded heavily. "Mm!"
...
Around the Mountain Graveyard.
Everything was quiet.
Within the Byakugan's visible range, the White Zetsu, who had been stiff and motionless, suddenly stirred.
Hyuga Tokuma abruptly withdrew his gaze, shocked. He quickly turned to Anko. "They've moved! And there are a terrifying number of them!"
Anko's eyes instantly sharpened. "You all immediately speed up, rendezvous with the main force, and report this. Move quickly, no mistakes! I will stay to continue investigating."
Tokuma was filled with worry. "But… it's too dangerous to stay here alone!"
Anko's expression darkened. "Stop talking nonsense! This is war. Every second is crucial. Getting the intelligence out earlier might save countless comrades. Go!"
Tokuma looked at Anko's firm expression. He nodded heavily, stood up, and led the intelligence unit in an immediate retreat.
As he left, he looked back. Anko was still hidden, her gaze fixed on the pale bones protruding from the foliage ahead.
Tokuma resolutely turned and blended into the dense forest.
...
At this moment, the Edo Tensei ninja, as if receiving a command, poured out en masse.
Yakushi Kabuto stood on a high vantage point, deploying forces.
Deep underground, one hundred thousand White Zetsu moved silently. Attacking from underground was the wisest strategy.
Kabuto's gaze suddenly shifted, his sharp eyes sweeping towards a certain direction.
The corners of his mouth curved. 'Heh heh, there's an old friend over there. It seems I need to go say hello...'
Hasumi Maki, standing beside him, stretched. "Alright, it's time to get serious. Those guys eager to send out intelligence... I'll take care of them."
With that, before Obito and Kabuto could react, Hasumi Maki's figure vanished.
Looking in the direction he left, Obito couldn't help but frown. "This guy acts recklessly. Will he be alright?"
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000]
[Chakra (290,002,000 / 400,000,000)]
Kabuto chuckled indifferently. "What could happen? He seems to be truly serious. For us, isn't this a good thing?"
...
In the dense forest, an intelligence squad was rushing forward.
Suddenly, Hyuga Tokuma, in the middle of the team, stopped abruptly.
"Hey, Tokuma, what's wrong?" The two teammates ahead quickly turned, puzzled.
"Muta, Rankka, hurry and go!" Tokuma shouted.
His Byakugan clearly saw every movement of the person tracking them. When he saw who it was, his heart sank: 'It's Hasumi Maki!'
"I'll hold him off and buy you time!" Tokuma said without hesitation.
"You must successfully bring the intelligence back to the main force!" he emphasized, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.
Muta and Rankka understood. Without a word, they turned and ran.
However, just then, Tokuma suddenly felt the atmosphere become unusually quiet. The sounds of their footsteps abruptly vanished.
His heart jolted. He looked up, only to see two huge, ferocious beasts appear in front of him, blocking his path.
They snarled, their eyes having lost all reason, dominated by bestial instincts.
And not far behind them, Hasumi Maki stood leisurely. He wore a smile, seemingly pleased.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000]
[Chakra (290,012,000 / 400,000,000)]
"I never said I'd allow you to take the intelligence with you," Hasumi Maki expressionlessly patted the two modified monsters. They were Muta and Rankka.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000]
[Chakra (290,022,000 / 400,000,000)]
The two monsters pounced fiercely towards Tokuma.
One opened its gaping maw and bit down hard on his arm. The other, with lightning speed, bit onto his leg.
The powerful bite force instantly pierced through flesh and bone.
"Ah!"
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000]
[Chakra (290,032,000 / 400,000,000)]
Tokuma did not fall. He endured the intense pain, glaring at Hasumi Maki with his Byakugan, filled with hatred.
Hasumi Maki remained completely unmoved. Instead, he slowly extended his right hand and gently placed it above Tokuma's head.
'Since I can't erase the Caged Bird seal... why not simply transform him? A modified human with a Byakugan!'
Thinking of this, the corners of Hasumi Maki's mouth curved into a cold, cruel smile.
-----
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