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Chapter 374: Just an Ordinary Squad Leader
🕑 Added 2024-11-19 16:34:39 +0000 UTCAlthough they knew Takuya was strong—he had easily repelled the Three-Tails at the coastal battlefield not long ago—it didn't mean he was invincible.
After all, Shukaku, the One-Tail, was nothing more than a big toy in front of the Third Kazekage. Did that make the Third Kazekage invincible? In war, strength relied on the army.
Takuya decided to take a walk as reconnaissance. He'd gather information for now and hold off on making any other decisions. He planned to return to the camp in a few days, hopefully when reinforcements had arrived.
With that in mind, Takuya quickly left the camp, moving towards the border. Soon enough, he encountered a Sunagakure patrol unit and easily eliminated them before continuing forward. The closer he got to the border, the higher the chance of running into enemies. Takuya had dealt with quite a few foes by the time he reached the border.
However, Sakumo Hatake was facing more trouble. With a larger group, it was easier for Sunagakure to spot them. Less than an hour after Sakumo entered the field, news of the famous White Fang of Konoha spread.
The Third Kazekage quickly took this seriously. Sakumo Hatake was an old rival, and the Kazekage knew very well how powerful he was—a force that could change the tide of war and had to be addressed.
After two more patrol teams fell to Sakumo, the Third Kazekage went to provide backup. Unfortunately, it was pointless—by the time he arrived, the Konoha ninjas had already cleaned up and left. All that remained were battle scars—no bodies, not even a hint of evidence.
Ninja corpses were considered valuable war loot—sources of information that could reveal secrets. Sakumo Hatake certainly wasn't going to leave bodies behind for the enemy.
Standing on iron sand with a few Sunagakure ninjas, the Third Kazekage landed a hundred meters away from the Konoha forces. On the Konoha side, Sakumo stood calmly, while his men were visibly nervous. After all, the Third Kazekage's power had been famous for years.
Facing such a formidable opponent, even Jonin couldn't help but feel uneasy. Thankfully, they had no reason to fear; their leader, Sakumo Hatake, was equally formidable—more than a match for the Kazekage. The difference lay only in their preferred techniques: one relied on Lightning Release and swordsmanship, while the other possessed a unique kekkei genkai.
In the original story, the Third Kazekage had died a rather unfortunate death. Now, he was alive and well since Sasori hadn't yet grown strong enough to kill him. And with the Third Shinobi World War breaking out, the timeline had changed, allowing the Kazekage to survive. Though Sasori certainly wanted him dead, he hadn't found the right opportunity.
"I didn't expect we'd meet again," the Third Kazekage said in a calm voice. "I thought you'd truly retired."
The Kazekage's voice was devoid of animosity—it sounded more like meeting an old friend rather than facing an adversary. Behind him, Sunagakure's new generation of strong ninjas, Rasa and Pakura, watched Sakumo warily, sneaking curious glances at him.
They had heard of Sakumo Hatake's formidable reputation long ago. During the Second Shinobi World War, they had been considered talents and were kept from the battlefield, still lacking enough strength to fight. Everything they knew of Sakumo was from word of mouth.
Seeing the slightly aged, serene man before them, Rasa and Pakura couldn't help but wonder—was this man truly as strong as everyone said?
How could someone look so unassuming?
Sakumo wasn't old—barely in his late thirties—but years of fighting and relentless training, coupled with a slightly older appearance, made him seem older. He wasn't even forty yet, only a few years older than the Sannin. But being betrayed by Danzo and the Third Hokage, being left heartbroken, had caused Sakumo to age overnight.
It showed just how deep the wounds inflicted by the Third Hokage and Danzo were.
"I also thought you were done for," Sakumo replied. "Who knew it would only take a few years for Sunagakure to tear up the peace treaty and declare war on Konoha once more?"
The two knew each other well, and both had fought as adversaries for a long time. They weren't going to resort to family insults—they maintained a fairly civil conversation.
The Third Kazekage ignored the jab, his hands folded behind his back. He spoke indifferently, "If not for the huge war indemnities, I wouldn't have taken this path. Blame it on Konoha's greed."
Of course, those in power were always shameless.
Sakumo resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Really? You say that with a straight face?
It wasn't Konoha that started the war—it was you, sending your people into the Land of Fire to kill and destroy villages, steal from civilians. The reparations were high because of you, and now you say it's someone else's fault?
Sakumo gave the Third Kazekage a sarcastic smile—so fake it couldn't be any more obvious.
"If that's how you see it, Kazekage, then there's nothing more to say. I'll see you on the battlefield."
"I'm disappointed in you," the Third Kazekage said, shaking his head. "You've lost your old spirit. It seems the Konoha higher-ups' actions have affected you greatly. I didn't expect that, even after preparing to retire, you would still fight for Konoha. Aren't you afraid of history repeating itself?"
"I'm just doing a favor. Besides," Sakumo said, his expression blank, "I'm just an ordinary squad leader—not your opponent."
He used Takuya's favorite phrase—he found it rather amusing. It had a certain ring to it, especially when mocking others.
"..."
The Third Kazekage froze, and Rasa and Pakura were also stunned.
Ordinary? You?
Wasn't Sakumo Hatake the commander of Konoha's western front?
The Third Kazekage ignored his words. If Sakumo was "ordinary," then no one in the world was ordinary.
But who could it be?
"Be careful," Sakumo continued, "he's not as polite as I am. His methods are far worse. But he should be perfect to deal with someone like you."
The two weren't going to fight, so there was no point in lingering. Sakumo waved and left with his men. The Third Kazekage didn't try to stop him—he just frowned, trying to figure out who Sakumo was referring to.
Could it be Danzo?
Hadn't Konoha sidelined Danzo?
How capable was that old man?
