Qianyu spotted the force of around eighty ninja ahead. He immediately deactivated Honoikazuchi no Kami and tensed.
The Konoha ninja from the rear guard hadn't caught up yet.
He frowned, thinking rapidly.Why would a force this large appear in front of them?Had Kumogakure predicted their movements and deployed troops ahead?But that didn't make sense.If the Cloud had known, they wouldn't have bothered sending those fourteen to intercept.
His Kenbunshoku Haki sensed at least twenty jōnin among the eighty.
Qianyu shadowed them silently, moving closer for a clear look.When he saw them, his eyes widened slightly.Konoha headbands. They were Konoha ninja.How had reinforcements arrived so fast?
Not taking any chances, he created a Shadow Clone. It appeared before the group."Are you the Konoha reinforcements for the Land of Hot Water?" the clone asked.
Most here knew Qianyu.A man with a spiky, pineapple-like hairstyle stepped forward from the ranks. "You're Qianyu, correct? We are the reinforcement unit for the Land of Hot Water. I am the acting commander of this force, Nara Shōji."
"Why are you here so quickly?" Qianyu pressed.
Nara Shōji answered, "The Hokage stated the situation in Hot Water was critical. We assembled immediately and marched at full speed, cutting rest to hasten our progress. Do you know where Lord Orochimaru and Lord Jiraiya are, Qianyu?"
Qianyu's gaze shifted to a ninja with pale eyes and shoulder-length black hair."You're from the Hyūga clan," Qianyu stated, his tone leaving no room for question. "You have the Byakugan. Activate it."
The Hyūga ninja he addressed, Hyūga Shōshi, frowned. The Hyūga were Konoha's second-greatest clan. Qianyu's tone grated on him—ordering him to activate his eyes on demand? What about his dignity?
Nara Shōji looked at Qianyu's disheveled state and the strong scent of blood clinging to him. Clearly, he'd just been in combat. Shōji understood his caution."Shōshi," he said to the Hyūga ninja. "Activate your Byakugan. Qianyu is verifying our identities."
Under the acting commander's order, Hyūga Shōshi reluctantly gathered chakra. The veins around his eyes bulged as the Byakugan activated.
Qianyu gave a slight nod. His Shadow Clone vanished in a puff of smoke, and his real body emerged from the treeline nearby.
Nara Shōji looked at him, surprised by such caution. But it made sense. If Qianyu suspected their identities, he wouldn't have risked his real body appearing before them.
Qianyu addressed Shōji seriously. "I am the acting field commander of the Konoha force stationed in Hot Water. Cloud forces were attempting to encircle us. I breached their line and led a breakout. Our survivors are behind me. You need to move now to support them."
Many in the reinforcement unit looked at him with disdain.They thought he was boasting.With Orochimaru and Jiraiya present, how could command fall to a 13-year-old?He was alone. It looked more like he'd fled by himself.Most already had a poor impression of Qianyu, so they were more inclined to believe he'd run.
Nara Shōji, however, believed him.First was Qianyu's demeanor. Calmness was paramount for a leader, and Qianyu was ice-cold. A fugitive wouldn't have taken the time to coolly verify their identities.Second was Qianyu's position.While unpopular in Konoha, he was undeniably Orochimaru's disciple.It was strange for a 13-year-old with little battlefield experience to be in command.But as the student of one of the Legendary Sannin, Qianyu had to have exceptional qualities.
Nara Shōji issued the command immediately. "All units, move to support our comrades!"
He led the force forward.Thanks to the path Qianyu had cleared—tearing a hole in the Cloud ninja's still-forming encirclement—over twenty Konoha ninja had managed to break through.Now, Cloud ninja pursued them closely.
When Nara Shōji's force arrived, they immediately organized a counter-attack.The Cloud ninja saw eighty-plus fresh Konoha reinforcements and were stunned. They broke and retreated in disarray.
Qianyu observed the newcomers. They all seemed to be from ninja clans.It appeared Konoha had nearly exhausted its pool of civilian-born shinobi. Now they were sending clan ninja.Konoha, built from numerous clans, actually had far more clan ninja than civilian ones.And whether they were chūnin or jōnin, clan ninja typically held a significant power advantage over their civilian counterparts, thanks to monopolized secret techniques.
The reinforcements arrived. Many of the surviving Konoha ninja broke down in tears of relief.It meant the relentless, high-intensity combat was finally over.Since Orochimaru and Qianyu had arrived, their force had dwindled from nearly a hundred to just over twenty.The constant pressure and high casualty rate had pushed their spirits to the brink.
The reinforcement troops heard it from the survivors: Qianyu truly was their field commander. It was his path-clearing that had saved so many of them. They looked at him with shock and newfound respect.
Qianyu himself was already leaning against a tree, resting.Finally. A chance to breathe.His nerves had been wound tight since arriving in Hot Water. The intensity of the combat was extreme.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya soon rejoined the main group.Nara Shōji finished his report. Orochimaru gave a slight nod. "Thank you for your efforts. Your arrival was timely. With your support, our plan can be considered a complete success."
Nara Shōji asked what their plan had been.Jiraiya explained it. As Shōji listened, a chill ran down his spine.That was incredibly risky.No wonder the survivors had looked at them with such tearful gratitude.Under Orochimaru's command, they'd been whittled down from over ninety to just over twenty—nearly seventy sacrificed.
While Shōji found the plan dangerously bold, its effectiveness was undeniable. They were now positioned roughly six kilometers from the original border.Six kilometers was not to be underestimated. On a battlefield, that distance allowed for significant tactical maneuvering.If they'd remained pinned at the border, pushing the line forward would have been difficult even with reinforcements.
What shocked Nara Shōji next was learning who had designed the plan. Qianyu had been involved—more than involved. The strategy was primarily formulated based on his ideas.
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