Escape From Konoha

Chapter 302: 295: Breakthrough

Confronting the troops from the Land of Demons, Suna strategically positioned itself in a three-stage concentric circle formation, delineating three lines of defense from the outermost to the innermost.

A total of 1,000 Suna ninjas held the first line of defense, primarily tasked with surveillance and alerting in case of an enemy approach from the Land of Demons. Their role was pivotal in discerning the enemy's attack route.

Following this, the 1,500 Suna ninjas stationed on the second line of defense would promptly respond to any calls, ready to support and thwart the enemy's invasion.

The third line of defense, situated at the core, served as both the last line of defense in the Suna Formation and the headquarters. It housed 2,500 Suna ninjas who were under the command of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa.

Within the core headquarters area, a large amount of stockpiled supplies brought by Suna to the front line was stored, including a simple field medical area. These areas were vital protection zones for the Suna ninjas, with their defense force was most concentrated here.

In a conference room adorned with simple tents, Suna nims led by Kazekage Rasa and Konoha nins led by Jiraiya engaged in a highly rigorous tactical discussion.

Given that the Land of Wind was Suna's home territory, Jiraiya primarily focused on Suna's strategic layout, occasionally offering his insights to address any deficiencies.

"According to the firsthand accounts of our investigation team, the Land of Demons' troops have established a massive base 30 miles north of our camp. Judging from their appearance, it seems they plan to engage in a long-term stalemate with us," Rasa declared, presenting several photos displaying the base's structure.

Evaluating the size of the base, it could easily accommodate 5,000 people for an extended garrison. The outer walls were tall, equipped with protective barriers. Storming such a fortified base was deemed unwise, with guaranteed heavy casualties.

"Are they intending to prolong the stalemate until the end of the war?" Jiraiya asked, expressing his perplexity.Although unable to articulate it precisely, the Land of Demons' strategic arrangement in the Land of Wind raised numerous questions, which created confusion.

"I don't have information on such matters, but from the very beginning, we fell victim to their schemes. This led to the defeat of the vanguard army composed of a thousand ninjas, their fates remain uncertain as of now. Given the current situation, there's a high probability they've been captured," Rasa revealed, expressing sorrow for the captives' fate.

In this turbulent era, captives had no human rights. Despite the past formulation of humanitarian principles by the five major powers, the rule of not killing prisoners of war lacked significant binding force on ninjas.

This humanitarianism was merely a superficial measure concocted by the five major powers, allowing smaller countries a semblance of comfort. In reality, it was a tacit understanding among the major powers to kill enemy prisoners at will during the ninja world war.

Unless some special captives will receive preferential treatment, such as medical ninjas.

Rasa strongly suspected that the vanguard army led by Baki had been wiped out, with no survivors. Even if any survived, their lives likely spiraled into a situation worse than death.

After listening to it, Jiraiya also sighed lightly, with a hint of gloom in his eyes. Of course he knew how prisoners would be treated in times of war. Once they pry open their mouths and get the information they want, one can imagine how they will be treated. Especially some female ninjas, after being captured, will have a more miserable end than male ninjas

Contemplating this, Jiraiya's abhorrence for war deepened, and he vowed to prevent such tragedies from happening. As long as he could find the true Child of Prophecy and guide them on the path of a savior, war could be averted. The ninja world could then usher in true peace, sparing everyone from the pain inflicted by war.

Just as Jiraiya was about to speak, there was suddenly a sound of firecrackers outside, and the pattern of fireworks exploding was also reflected on the cloth of the tent.

The significance of this scene was self-evident.

Rasa immediately addressed Jiraiya sternly, "Jiraiya-san, please use the transformation jutsu immediately. Transform into a ninja from Suna and move to a safe area. No matter what, your whereabouts and identities must not be noticed by the Land of Demons at this time; otherwise, our surprise attack plan will be in vain."

The alliance with Konoha was carried out secretly and was not publicly announced.

Jiraiya and others entered the Suna camp, exercising caution to avoid attracting the attention of the Land of Demons. They existed as a surprise attack force, reserved for the most critical moment. If the ninjas from the land of Demons discovered any traces at this time, it would disrupt Suna's future plans.

Jiraiya understood the importance of the matter, nodding solemnly to Rasa.

After that, Jiraiya, Takashi, and Masaki utilized the transformation jutsu. Following Rasa's instructions, they transformed into Sand nins.

They accompanied a Suna ninja out of the tent, proceeding to where the rest of the Konoha ninjas were stationed. Together, they employed the transformation jutsu to alter their appearances, ensuring they stayed away from the impending battlefield and avoiding exposure that could compromise their identities.

As the previous fireworks exploded in the night sky, the Suna ninjas at the first line of defense issued a warning signal, confirming an enemy invasion.

Not long after, the second firework exploded in the air.

The enemy had breached the second line of defense and was advancing towards the headquarters.

Rasa, leading the command center and waiting in full force, looked slightly gloomy.

The pace of the enemy's actions was too swift. They almost disregarded the two lines of defense set up outside and directly attacked the headquarters.

The direction from which the enemy approached allowed them to bypass the outer defenses effortlessly, providing the correct answer without much thought - the air.

Indeed, above the second line of defense, two black shadows streaked towards the headquarters like meteors at an extremely fast speed.

"Don't dwell on the past!" Rasa clapped his hands together, dashed forward, and conjured a single pedestal made of gold dust under his feet. It swiftly drifted into the air.

Behind him, a massive gold dust hand broke free from the shackles of the desert, reaching into the void as if to crush the body of the invading enemy.

Boom!

The dull scratching sound reverberated through the air.

The two figures veered off their flight path, one to the left and one to the right, as golden sand rained down from the sky. The gold dust hands grasped at empty air.

Rasa wasn't discouraged by the failed attack, he dispersed small strands of gold dust from the gold dust hand, pursuing one of the shadows like a nimble golden snake. The gold snake moved swiftly in the air, resembling golden lightning with a piercing sound of friction against the air.

Beside the pursued shadow, a light bullet emerged, colliding with a flying speed not weaker than the gold dust snake.

Boom!

Intense flames scattered in the air, shattering the gold dust in the shock wave after the light bomb explosion.

Rasa scrutinized the scene, realizing the enemy in the night sky wasn't human but a metallic figure with a lustrous surface all over its body.

The red gem on its chest emitted a beeping sound, and its semicircular, thick head shone with red light as if warning of danger.

"What's this?" Rasa questioned. It was his first encounter with such a peculiar mechanical creation.

No matter how he looked at it, this sort of entity didn't belong to the category of normal creatures. The Land of Demons consistently producing strange fighting tools.

Gradient colors of exhaust sprayed from behind. Destroyer 001 seemed to sense danger from Rasa, ascending to high altitude. During the transfer, the air around it distorted, and numerous red light bullets appeared like phantoms.

Sand and soil were sent flying, people were thrown off their feet, and cloth tents instantly burned up. Suna ninjas yelled and scolded, swiftly employing their long-range methods.

Explosive tags attached to the arrows, the ballista capable of hitting targets at an ultra-long distance was pushed out, aimed at high altitude, launching a counterattack against Destroyer 001.

A series of explosions created an incredibly brilliant sea of flames, turning the night sky into day.

Ameyu, separated from Destroyer 001, initiated a surprise attack on the supply supply building area.

A red scroll slipped out from the white sleeve as Ameyu untied the rope without hesitation, revealing intricate seal engraved on the scroll. The central word 'fire' stood out amid the surrounding seal.

The moment the scroll was opened, the word 'fire' made contact with the air, seemingly igniting immediately, casting a radiant flame on the characters.

Thin flames swiftly emerged, as if igniting the void, accompanied by a violent hurricane generated around Ameyu. At the same time, flames from the air were drawn into a hurricane.

Similar to sparks igniting a prairie fire, the hurricane, tinted red, spread from the sky to the vast sandy land below.

Guided by the storm, the formidable flames raged around the Suna Camp, engulfing the supply buildings storing supplies, causing distress among the surrounding Suna ninjas.

Despite the Suna ninjas stationed in the supply building area's frantic efforts, they struggled to contain the spreading flames.

Suna, on the defensive, faced numerous constraints, especially in this crucial supply building area. Many aggressive methods were off-limits due to these restrictions.

Boom!

Within the fire, it seemed an explosive device in the supply building had detonated, intensifying the blaze. Some Suna ninjas were caught in the flames before they could evade.

Witnessing this scene, Rasa abandoned Destroyer 001 without hesitation and sprinted directly towards the supply building area.

Gold dust surged from all directions, forming a massive wave rushing towards the supply building area in an attempt to extinguish the burning fire.

Just as the wave of gold dust was about to quell the fire, light bullets pierced through the barriers of the atmosphere, descending from the sky.

The core of these light bullets was white, surrounded by fiery exteriors. Upon landing, they collided directly with the wave of gold dust.

Accompanied by a terrifying explosion, countless gold dust particles turned into powder, scattering in the night sky. The radiant golden light and scorching fire light dazzled observers.

The hurricane spread in all directions, accompanied by a scalding heat wave. The supply building burned, collapsing corners and instigating panic among the Suna ninjas.

In less than a minute, Suna's Command Center transformed into a battleground fraught with gunpowder.

Rasa, witnessing the scene, deeply felt the horror and difficulty posed by the Land of Demons.

The supply building where the fire erupted was essentially beyond saving, with the materials destined for damage.

Despite his anger at the enemy's tactics, Rasa maintained control over the gold dust, erecting a thick layer of gold walls around and above the unaffected supply buildings to thwart the enemy invasion.

Ameyu unleashed chaos, spreading fire in the camp's HQ, creating turmoil.

These actions didn't seem to concern Rasa.

As long as the remaining supply buildings remained intact, the enemy's efforts would be deemed unsuccessful, and Suna's defense would prevail.

Due to the imperative of safeguarding the supply building area, Rasa had to concentrate most of his energy on sustaining the operation of the gold dust, preventing any diversion of focus from attacking the enemy.

His guard team noticed this and shielded Rasa in the center with a formation, staying vigilant against potential aerial light bomb attacks.

The red light incessantly flashed on the colossal gem. Destroyer 001, in this moment. Just as Destroyer 001 was about to make the next move, the sound of something piercing through the sky reached its ears. It instinctively twisted its body to avoid the sudden attack.

The black shadow nearly soared past the mechanical body, fleeting like lightning.

Twisting the bearing on its neck, Destroyer 001 turned its head with a creak, witnessing the black-clad puppet with eight arms extending from its attire. These arms swung freely in the air, resembling octopus tentacles wrapping around its mechanical body.

Destroyer No. 001, naturally avoiding falling into the puppet's trap, it attempted to move backward, but its body suddenly stiffened, seemingly restricted by some form of art, rendering it unable to move.

On the ground, an old Suna ninja wore a triumphant smile. He skillfully manipulated a puppet with eight arms, using one hand while concurrently weaving sturdy chakra strings with the other, connecting them to Destroyer 001's body, effectively restraining its movements.

Although the chakra binding force was only momentary, it proved sufficient.

The eight arms of the Puppet swiftly ensnared Destroyer 001's body. With each arm exerting a binding force no less than that of a python, the restraint grew tighter. Each extended arm contained an engraved hardening seal, contributing to the formidable restraining force.

"Attack quickly, i won't be able restrain it for too long!"

The opponent's chakra presented a formidable challenge to the elderly Suna ninja. His puppet seemed to be subduing a gradually rampaging wild beast. It had been a long time since he encountered such a formidable enemy. It brought back memories of his past battle with the One Tail, although the oppressive feeling wasn't as exaggerated as facing the Tailed Beast.

Seeing the peculiar mechanical figure restrained by the puppet, the Suna ninjas erupted in excitement. They swiftly adjusted the launch trajectory of the ballista, and numerous arrows headed towards Destroyer 001.

Each arrow carried an explosive tag, and the anticipation was that the enemy would be obliterated.

Just as the Suna ninjas reveled in joy, a figure flickered in front of Destroyer 001. Palms joined together, natural energy and chakra blended within, generating a substantial amount of senjutsu chakra concentrated in her body.

The figure was Ameyu. Her long black hair fluttered in the air, and her pupils, adorned with gradually changing circle patterns, emitted an otherworldly light shifting from dark purple to blue, spreading outward layer by layer.

Sage Art · Dust Ember!

Under Ameyu's word, an ethereal white light, akin to ink painting, enveloped the entire night sky.

Within this vast whiteness, an ominous energy brewed.

The voices around dissipated.

The surrounding air hung still.

The explosive tags, propelled by the arrows into the sky, began to explode. Flames and shockwaves scattered intensively, yet the sound was swallowed by the white light.

After a few seconds, the flames were also engulfed by the white light curtain.

People's vision instantly lost color, plunging them into a pale world, disorienting their sense of direction.

"What the hell is that?"

"Are you kidding me?"

The Suna ninjas gazed at the sky in bewilderment.

Some couldn't believe the spectacle, struggling to comprehend the jutsu employed by the enemy to absorb the flames, shockwaves, and the detonation sounds from the numerous explosive tags.

The white light, like bubbles in water, slowly dissipated in the night sky, returning to normalcy.

Ameyu took a light breath. Although it felt somewhat forced, she had successfully intercepted it. If her brother got damaged, father would be displeased..Taking care of such a foolish brother was undeniably challenging.

Destroyer 001, behind Ameyu, broke free from the puppet's restraints at this moment. Its eight arms transformed into wooden parts, descending from the sky.

On the sandy ground, the elderly Suna nin, who had witnessed the scene, panted heavily, coughed, and displayed resentment.

"Damn, almost got it!"

But no matter how much he regretted the opportuned moment had passed, failure was inevitable, and remorse wouldn't alter this outcome.

Suddenly, valve-like mechanisms opened on both sides of Destroyer 001's metal arm, revealing round metal bullets to the air without warning, which emitted a chilling and dangerous aura.

Ka! Ka! Ka! Ka!

These metal bullets were ejected from the arm's grooves, flying irregularly in the air under the propulsion of flame exhaust, displaying a completely erratic trajectory.

Subsequently, these warheads hurtled toward the sand, causing nearby Suna ninjas to jump away in fright.

Just when they anticipated the warheads exploding on the ground, the metal projectiles penetrated the sand layer, disappearing immediately to the astonishment of the Suna ninjas.

As confusion enveloped the Suna ninjas, Rasa, responsible for using his gold dust to protect the supply buildings, realized something wrong. His face changed drastically as he swiftly withdrew the gold dust surrounding the supply building.

Boom!

At the moment the gold dust withdrew, explosions erupted from the ground, and some of the supply buildings were engulfed in flames. The fiery blaze illuminated the gloomy and angry expressions of countless Suna ninjas.

In the sky, Ameyu and Destroyer 001 were indifferent to the anger and killing intent of the Suna ninja's on the ground, they soared into the distance, leaving behind a calming backdrop for their foes.

.....

The following morning, the Suna troops retreated.

At noon, Shiraishi and Ruri led a team of one hundred ninjas to sweep Suna's garrison. Although labeled as a sweep, it was essentially an inspection of the aftermath of the previous night's battle.

The sandy ground bore charred black marks from the explosions, with the lingering scent of burnt debris in the air. While the airstrike hadn't claimed many enemies, the firepower had covered a substantial area.

Especially within the camp, numerous flammable and explosive structures bore the scars of intense firepower, revealing the embarrassment left in its wake.

"I thought we'd have a few more days of stalemate, but the retreat was more decisive than expected. That Kazekage is truly cautious," Shiraishi remarked with a smile, surveying the chaotic scene.

Despite anticipating this outcome, he harbored a hope that Suna could endure a bit longer before retreating. This would allow him to leverage Destroyer 001 and Ameyu's aerial combat capabilities to further diminish Suna's ninja count.

After all, given the need to conceal Konoha's surprise attack force, the Kazekage would avoid revealing Konoha ninjas at this juncture. Appearing now would expose them, signaling the failure of Suna and Konoha's surprise attack.

While Konoha's support was already exposed to the Land of Demons, it remained a strategic asset for subsequent battles.

Ruri didn't refute. After the significant loss of such huge amount of supplies, Suna had been stripped of their resources for prolonged warfare.

A strategic withdrawal was the prudent choice.

It was inevitable, and the next move for Suna would involve continuing to transfer supplies from Sunagakure to the front line.

This process would take at least three days, providing a crucial window for various strategic maneuvers.

Cupping a handful of sand, Shiraishi gazed toward Suna's retreating direction.

"The new batch of construction materials mobilized from Hoshigakute has also arrived. We can't waste this time. Let's keep advancing and extending our front line. It depends on if Sunagakure would be able seize the next opportunity. They shouldn't let us down."

As the fine sand slipped through his fingers, carried by the wind, it flew into the distance, accompanied by Shiraishi's whispered words.

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