I Am Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 332 - 332 Konoha's Ninja vs Star Ninja

The sky above Sunagakure was stained a murky hue by yellow sand and smoke. The former fortress of the wind was now in complete chaos.

Cries, explosions, and the sharp clang of Ninja tools clashing mingled together to form a picture of war-torn devastation.

From the smoke and dust following the breaching of the northern passage, Star Ninja in dark blue uniforms poured in like a tide. Their movements were swift, their coordination seamless, the star-shaped forehead protectors on their brows gleaming with a cold, hard light under the dim yellow light.

Hizashi stood atop a tall rock structure, his Byakugan wide open, taking in all the chakra flows around him.

Beside him, Kabuto adjusted his glasses and reported in a calm, low, and rapid voice: "Hizashi-sama, there are no organized units left within Sunagakure. The remaining resistance is very scattered. However, the Konoha's reinforcements led by Danzo number about one hundred and twenty. They are the main obstacle now."

"Your efforts are appreciated." Hizashi nodded slightly, knowing this spy was the main reason for the Star Ninja's main force's successful breach of Sunagakure's easily defensible outer perimeter.

Then, Hizashi issued orders in a steady voice: "As planned, all units disperse to clear out remaining resistance and secure important facilities. Gotta, Kimimaro, with me to assault the Kazekage Building directly."

"Yes! Hizashi-sama!" The Star Ninja behind him responded in unison, their eyes blazing.

During the advance, Hizashi's gaze suddenly sharpened. At the edge of his Byakugan's vision, he caught several familiar Chakra Signatures.

They belonged to his friends from Konoha, comrades he had fought alongside for many years.

Hizashi's lips pressed together tightly, a complex feeling rising in his heart, but it was quickly replaced by resolve.

Even though they were former friends, their allegiances were now opposed. Any hesitation would be irresponsible to the lives of his own warriors.

In war, there was no room for personal feelings.

The Star Ninja's main force thrust like a sharp sword towards the village's core.

Sporadic Sunagakure's Ninja attempting to block their path were quickly routed under the Star Ninja's assault. Sunagakure's defenses were virtually nonexistent.

In front of the Kazekage Building, Konoha's Ninja had established a circular defensive line centered on the building. A few Sunagakure's Ninja were being organized by the Konoha's Ninja to evacuate.

Danzo stood atop the Kazekage Building, leaning on his cane, his single eye scanning the approaching Star Ninja with a sinister gaze.

Kakashi stood beside him, the Sharingan revealed after removing his eye patch filled with gravity. The Anbu and Root's members behind him held their breath, the atmosphere taut as a bowstring.

When Hizashi, leading Gotta, Kaguya, Haku, Yukimi, and other elites appeared before the defensive line, the air seemed to freeze.

"Hizashi... senpai..." Kakashi muttered the name under his breath, gripping his kunai tighter.

During the Third Great Ninja War, Hizashi had served as deputy frontline commander. Due to his relationship with Sakumo, Hizashi had looked out for Kakashi, and their relationship had been decent.

Now, however, Kakashi saw only unfamiliarity in the eyes of this senior he respected.

The battle erupted instantly.

The Star Ninja, in groups of three or four, cut into the defensive line constructed by Konoha like precise scalpels.

The shrieks of Kunai Guns, the roar of explosive tags, the blasts of clashing Ninjutsu.

Gotta and Yukimi moved first, meeting Kakashi and Tenzo.

Gotta's body suddenly turned into a dense mist, disappearing from his spot.

Kakashi's Sharingan spun rapidly, trying to track him, but saw Yukimi press her hands to the ground.

"Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"

Rumble-

Countless tough vines and trees burst forth from the desert ground. Though the area wasn't large, it was extremely sudden, entangling Kakashi and Tenzo.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" Tenzo reacted swiftly, a wall of earth rising to block the vines, also deflecting the kunai swung by Gotta after he rematerialized from the side.

Kakashi tore through the approaching branches with his Raikiri, his gaze locked on Gotta.

"Yukimi... your Wood Release is stronger than last time," Tenzo commented. It was hard to believe she had only developed it less than a year ago.

"Tenzo..." Looking at Tenzo's figure, the freckles on Yukimi's face trembled slightly with her movements. She still firmly believed Tenzo was her brother, which is why she called him Tenzo when they first met.

"I will definitely bring you back!"

Then, with determined eyes, she formed hand seals again: "Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"

A massive wooden spear extended from her arm, thrusting fiercely towards Tenzo.

"Raikiri!" Kakashi's hand erupted with brilliant lightning, stabbing straight at Yukimi!

However, Yukimi turned into mist again and vanished. The Raikiri pierced only emptiness.

Gotta misted again, harassing Kakashi from the side, forcing him to split his attention to deal with this elusive attack.

Lightning and Earth Release Ninjutsu flashed frequently, but they struggled to break through the duo's exquisite coordination.

Kakashi had not been Gotta's match years ago. Now, with his Kekkei Genkai illness cured, Gotta's combat power was even greater. Working in tandem with Yukimi, they pressed Kakashi and Tenzo, these two Konoha elites, to the point of being somewhat flustered, only able to hold on with difficulty.

On another front, Kimimaro and Haku faced off against Guy, Tsume, Anko, and the others.

Kimimaro's body was covered in sharp bone protrusions, his transplanted Byakugan coldly observing his opponents.

He moved, appearing before Guy in an instant, a bone blade thrusting at his throat.

"So fast!" Guy exclaimed, barely dodging sideways, his fist whistling as he counterattacked.

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

Kimimaro didn't dodge or evade. His arms instantly ejected pale white bone blades!

Clang! Clang!

Leg and bone blades collided, emitting metallic clashing sounds!

Guy felt a tremendous force, his body involuntarily forced back several steps. An expression of excitement and gravity appeared on his face. "So hard! You're the last survivor of the Kaguya Clan? And you've transplanted the Byakugan! Truly... it makes my blood boil!"

"You are Konoha's [Blue Beast]?" Kimimaro slowly assumed a stance, white bones covering his body like a porcupine, his Byakugan coldly fixed on Guy.

"Elders in my clan mentioned you. During the Third Great Ninja War, you were a worthy opponent. A pity. Today, your youth may end here."

"Hahaha! You really are like your elders!" Guy steadied himself, an excited smile on his face, sweat glistening in the sunlight.

"Let's have a hot-blooded duel of youth!"

"Sixth Gate: Gate of View, Open!"

Boom!

A vast green energy erupted from Guy's body, a shockwave sweeping the surroundings, blowing the fine sand away in a circle.

Kimimaro's eyes narrowed slightly, feeling the pressure, but the bone spikes covering his body became denser as he assumed a fighting stance. "The honor is mine. Today, in the name of Kaguya, I shall experience the peak of Konoha's Taijutsu!"

"Bloom! Youth!" Guy roared, his speed and power instantly skyrocketing to a new level!

"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of Willow!" Kimimaro showed no weakness, his body like a flexible willow branch, accompanied by a sky full of bone spikes, engaging Guy in battle!

The two turned into green and white streams of light, colliding once more. The sound of fists, feet, and bone blades clashing was like a rapid drumbeat.

Simultaneously, Haku's hands flew, the temperature in the air plummeting.

"Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

Countless ice mirrors instantly formed, trapping Tsume and Anko within.

Haku's figure flitted through the mirrors, senbon raining down.

"Fang Passing Fang!" Tsume and her Ninken Kuromaru transformed into two rotating whirlwinds, trying to break through the ice mirrors, but were blocked and refracted by even more mirrors.

"Damn it! Isn't this a desert?! How does he have so much Ice Release?!" Anko's Fire Release saw its power greatly reduced in the extreme cold. Ice and fire interwove, billowing large amounts of steam. The two were hard-pressed within Haku's Ice Release domain, in a sorry state.

At the core of the battlefield, Hizashi faced Danzo directly.

His Byakugan veins bulged, clearly seeing the Sharingan hidden beneath Danzo's bandages.

"Shimura Danzo!" Hizashi's voice was loud, filled with unconcealed scorn. "You old dog! As expected, you've transplanted numerous Sharingan. What? Collecting Sharingan isn't enough? Do you also want to dig out our Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, and other Kekkei Genkai, to install on your filthy body?!"

His words caused a stir among the Konoha's ranks.

Hyuga Iroha and the others' expressions changed drastically, their gazes towards Danzo filled with suspicion and displeasure.

They instinctively looked at the Hyuga Clan's branch family's members opposite them, whose foreheads were smooth and unmarked. A complex emotion welled up in them.

Several Uchiha Ninja glared angrily, their Sharingan fixed intently on Danzo.

Danzo's face darkened, a flash of killing intent in his single eye. "Hyuga Hizashi! You traitor who betrayed the village, what right do you have to spout nonsense here!"

"Tatsuma!"

No need for further words. Tatsuma and the Root's elites charged out instantly.

"Secret Technique: Insect Javelin!" Black destruction bugs swarmed towards Hizashi like a dark cloud!

"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!" Hizashi didn't hesitate, both palms striking out. An invisible shockwave scattered the insect swarm!

The elite Uchiha behind him immediately formed hand seals!

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Flame Technique!"

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Nail Crimson!"

Several fire dragons roared as they crashed into the Root formation, causing a series of explosions.

Danzo took the opportunity to retreat, his hands forming seals, a summoning formula unfolding-

"Baku!"

The giant dream-eating beast descended with a crash, its long trunk inhaling, creating a terrifying wind pressure.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"

Combined with the Baku's suction, high-pressure wind spheres shot like cannonballs towards the Star Ninja ranks.

"Scatter!" Hizashi shouted.

At the same time, several Star Ninja skilled in Earth Release stepped forward, slapping the ground. "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

The Star Ninja swiftly evaded, while the Uchiha Ninja countered the Wind Release with Fire Release. The sound of explosions was unceasing.

Nara Shikihiro seized an opportunity, his Shadow Imitation Technique stealthily extending, attempting to control a Uchiha Jonin.

"Hmph, petty trick." That Uchiha Jonin's Sharingan spun, easily seeing through the shadow's trajectory.

He sidestepped to avoid it, countering with a shuriken attached to an explosive tag aimed at Shikihiro, forcing him to interrupt his Jutsu to defend.

"Damn it! The Uchiha on the other side are too familiar with our tactics!" Shikihiro's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Iroha and Hizashi's eyes met briefly amidst the chaos.

Iroha looked at Hizashi and the branch family's members behind him, who no longer bore the Caged Bird on their foreheads, his expression complex.

Hizashi understood his look and said solemnly, "Iroha, look at us! Without the Caged Bird, the Hyuga are still strong, even stronger! What Konoha gave you was only shackles!"

"Hizashi-senpai, the new clan head has already placed the Caged Bird Seal on the main family and promised that from now on, no Hyuga, whether main or branch, will be marked with the Caged Bird!" Iroha gritted his teeth, assuming a Gentle Fist stance.

"Is that so? That's good." Hizashi was silent for a moment, also assuming a Gentle Fist stance. He didn't even ask who the new clan head was.

Iroha's Byakugan trembled, even attempting to persuade Hizashi. "Come back, Hizashi-senpai. The new clan head will forgive you."

Hizashi shook his head, his eyes firm. "In the future, your children will not be marked with the Caged Bird. The main family's secret techniques will also be open to you."

"But remember, this isn't because the main family has become kinder..."

"It's because we appeared!"

After speaking, Hizashi charged at Iroha. The two engaged in combat, Gentle Fist against Gentle Fist, palm winds whistling.

The battlefield descended into complete chaos.

Sunagakure's buildings continuously collapsed under the Ninjutsu exchanges. The former streets turned into scorched earth.

Relying on their superior equipment, diverse Kekkei Genkai, and high morale, the Star Ninja gradually gained the upper hand.

Although the Konoha's Ninjas were individually experienced, under this high-intensity, multi-Kekkei Genkai assault, their defensive line began to waver.

Kakashi and Tenzo were gradually showing fatigue under the fierce attacks of Gotta and Yukimi.

Although Guy, having opened the Sixth Gate, was fighting Kimimaro to a standstill, the eeriness of the Shikotsumyaku and the insight of the Byakugan made it difficult for him to gain a substantial advantage.

Tsume and Anko were completely suppressed by Haku's Ice Release.

Danzo, watching the Konoha's defensive line being pushed back step by step, and the number of opposing Star Ninja increasing, a trace of ruthlessness flashed in his single eye before he quietly slipped away.

The Sunagakure's frontline main force had collapsed, and now the village was invaded by a large number of Star Ninja. Just as Hizashi said, there was indeed no need for further support here...

He had originally tried to use military merit to regain his authority. But now, facing the increasing number of Star Ninja, the only option was to retreat and preserve the Konoha's Ninjas. Otherwise, if too many Konoha's Ninjas were lost here, he would be in great trouble himself.