Chapter 192: After the Battle

Chapter 192: After the Battle

BOOM!

Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!

A deafening roar echoed across the battlefield, followed by the sound of thunder clashing with the earth and anything—or anyone—it encountered.

Tonari's lightning jutsu had captured everyone's attention. As the enormous thunderclap fell, all combatants, friend and foe alike, momentarily paused to watch.

The massive lightning beast, the "Thunder Beast Kirin," struck the ground with unparalleled power. As the lightning spread, sand and shinobi alike were engulfed in its destructive embrace.

At the center of this devastation stood Rasa, faced with a critical decision. In the end, his instincts prioritized his survival. While he managed to protect a few nearby Sand Shinobi using his golden sand, his focus was on saving himself.

Even with the additional preparation time granted by Tonari's slight delay, Rasa barely escaped death. Had Tonari acted a moment sooner, Rasa's chances of survival would have been zero.

Meanwhile, the Sand Shinobi desperately attempted to evade the attack. For many, it was a futile effort.

The aftermath revealed a massive crater, dozens of meters wide and several meters deep. The air was thick with the stench of scorched earth and charred flesh. Scattered throughout the pit were irregular chunks of gold—Rasa's golden sand, melted and reformed under the intense heat of the lightning.

As the dust settled, a single question lingered: Was Rasa still alive?

The surviving Sand Shinobi stared at the figure in the sky, their expressions etched with shock and fear. The cold, feline-like gaze of Tonari's eyes, devoid of emotion, sent chills down their spines.

The sheer devastation wrought by the "Sage Art: Lightning Release—Kirin" was almost unimaginable. Those directly at the attack's center had no chance of survival. Even those on the outskirts of the blast were gravely injured or killed.

Conservative estimates suggested that the attack had claimed at least 800 to 1,000 lives.

This level of destruction was staggering. If Tonari had executed the technique slightly faster, or if the Sand Shinobi had been more clustered together, the casualties could have easily reached one-third of their 4,500-strong force.

Though the attack hadn't wiped out their entire army, the psychological impact was devastating. The Sand Shinobi's morale plummeted to its lowest point.

In contrast, the Konoha forces, buoyed by the overwhelming display of power, roared with renewed fervor.

"Lord Tonari!! Lord Tonari!!"

"Lord Tonari!!"

"Lord Tonari!!"

The cheers echoed across the battlefield as the storm clouds dissipated, and the rain came to an abrupt halt.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the sun pierced through the dense clouds over the Land of Rain, bathing the battlefield in golden light. It was as if Tonari's actions had split the heavens themselves.

At the heart of the massive crater, a large gold block began to shift. Streams of sand trickled out from beneath it, gradually coalescing into a human form.

Rasa emerged, battered and exhausted, but alive. His survival was a testament to his quick thinking.

In the final moments, he had abandoned his golden sand, opting to use ordinary sand as a shield. The intense heat of the lightning had turned the sand into glass-like silicon crystals, but it had successfully insulated him from the full force of the attack.

Looking up at Tonari, Rasa muttered under his breath, "So this is the power of Konoha's Black Cat..."

His voice carried across the battlefield, loud enough for all to hear.

Konoha's Black Cat!

The name rippled through the ranks of both the Sand and Leaf forces.

Tonari's identity as a legendary Konoha operative—known in the shadows as "Black Cat"—was no longer a secret.

The Leaf Shinobi erupted into a new wave of cheers, chanting his codename with pride.

"Konoha's Black Cat!! Konoha's Black Cat!!"

"Lord Black Cat!!"

"Lord Black Cat!!"

This battle had solidified Tonari's reputation, much like the legendary White Fang of Konoha before him. While the Black Cat and White Fang had different styles, both had become symbols of Konoha's might.

The Sand forces, however, were paralyzed with fear. Their morale was shattered. Even though they still outnumbered the Leaf forces, they lacked the will to fight.

"Retreat!!"

Chiyo's aged but authoritative voice cut through the chaos, carrying with it a sense of resignation and helplessness.

Though the Sand forces were still formidable, their broken spirits rendered them incapable of continuing the battle.

For now, the only option was to retreat, regroup, and recover.

As the Sand Shinobi began to withdraw, Chiyo directed her forces with precision, ensuring the injured and lower-ranked ninja were protected.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru confronted Chiyo, his serpentine grin unwavering.

"Leaving so soon, Chiyo? How rude. Don't you want to stay and chat a little longer?"

A snake shot from Orochimaru's sleeve, aiming for Chiyo's arm.

Clang!

The sound of metal echoed as the snake's fangs struck something hard. Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Chiyo had prepared for this. Her arm bore a mechanical shield, a testament to her mastery of puppet techniques.

Taking advantage of Orochimaru's momentary surprise, Chiyo and her forces continued their retreat.

Orochimaru watched her go, his tongue flicking out in amusement.

"Interesting... You truly are a remarkable woman, Chiyo. It's a shame we're on opposing sides."

In the sky, Tonari descended, landing near Rasa. The two locked eyes.

Tonari's lips curled into a faint smile as he mouthed two words: "Cooperate further."

Rasa's expression darkened. The proposition lingered in his mind, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it. For the moment, ensuring his forces' safe withdrawal was his top priority.

The Sand forces retreated, their losses staggering. Of their initial 4,500 troops, over 1,000 were dead or incapacitated.

Back in the Leaf camp, Orochimaru began organizing cleanup efforts.

"Start gathering the bodies," he instructed. "We'll ensure our fallen comrades are returned to the village for proper burials."

Tonari, though exhausted, immediately turned his attention to the wounded. As the acting head of the medical division, his work was far from over.

Inside the medical tent, the cries of the injured filled the air.

"Lord Tonari, this patient is losing too much blood!"

"Lord Tonari, we need you for a complex surgical procedure!"

"Lord Tonari, we've lost a pulse—please assist!"

Tonari worked tirelessly, moving from one patient to the next, his chakra reserves dwindling with each passing moment.

The battlefield had shown him the harsh reality of war.

"This... is war," Tonari muttered to himself as he stitched a wound.

Orochimaru's voice echoed in his mind: "Yes, this is war. It's a grim reminder of how fragile we humans truly are. That fragility... is something I aim to overcome."

By the time the wounded were stabilized and the bodies gathered, a full day and night had passed.

Tonari emerged from the medical tent, his body heavy with fatigue.

The remaining Leaf Shinobi watched him in silence, their eyes filled with respect.

In this moment, Tonari wasn't just a medic or a skilled fighter. He was their hero.

Dragging himself to Orochimaru's tent, Tonari joined the war council. Despite his exhaustion, he knew his duty wasn't over.

"Now that Tonari is here, we can begin," Orochimaru announced.

"The first order of business—an assessment of our casualties."

(End of Chapter)

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