Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou [179]

The Eight-Tails appeared directly at the rear of Konoha. This scene left Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had just rallied his forces and prepared for a desperate counterattack, staring in disbelief.

"How… how is this possible?!"

At that moment, a sensory ninja from the Yamanaka clan urgently reported:

"Something's wrong! A terrifying chakra suddenly appeared at the rear. One of them is… the Third Raikage!"

"That's impossible! How could the Third Raikage possibly appear at the rear? Unless he can fly!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen angrily questioned, but the Yamanaka sensory ninja, pale-faced, hurriedly explained:

 "Lord Hokage, the Third Raikage's chakra was previously in front of us, but it suddenly appeared at the rear."

At this moment, Hyūga Hizashi, staring intensely at the rear, spoke in a grave tone:

 "The Yamanaka sensory ninja is not wrong. It's not some jutsu meant to disrupt perception. My Byakugan has seen the Third Raikage…"

As they spoke, a blinding light suddenly rose, followed by a terrifying shockwave and the sound of destruction sweeping through.

...

In the distance, the Eight-Tails roared furiously.

"Damn you! How dare you seal me?!"

At this time, the Eight-Tails had not yet formed a bond with Killer Bee. When Killer Bee used his feigned sleep technique and let his head droop, the Eight-Tails immediately manifested on the battlefield.

A single Tailed Beast Bomb, directed by the Third Raikage, struck Konoha's defensive line squarely.

"This is bad! Our defensive line at the border has been breached! A force of over 300 Kumo ninjas is trying to flank us through the breach!"

The Konoha sensory ninja finally uncovered the situation and cried out in alarm.

A pincer attack!

The sudden appearance of the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails at the rear, combined with the Kumo ninja force breaching their defenses, caused the faces of the Konoha ninjas to change drastically.

"The Kumo ninja are trying to encircle us!"

Not long ago, it was Konoha devising a plan to break the Kumogakure's forces, but now, the tables had turned. The Kumo ninja's counterattack was aimed at breaking Konoha instead.

A pincer attack. If the encirclement was completed, it would be a bitter struggle for survival. The Kumo ninja had abandoned their defensive line in the Land of Hot Water.

It was all-or-nothing: either they would decisively crush Konoha's defenses in one battle, or they would lose their foothold in the Land of Hot Water.

No matter how the situation played out, the Kumo ninja had nothing to lose!

"Lord Hokage! We must break through now! If we don't, we'll be surrounded!"

"The Kumo ninja have abandoned their positions. Nearly two thousand of their forces are advancing in full force. Our reinforcements will need more time to arrive…"

The elite Jōnin from Konoha's prominent clans wore grim expressions. What had initially been a significant strategic failure now appeared to be a catastrophe.

The Third Raikage's presence on the battlefield made it painfully clear—no one could stop him.

And then there was the Eight-Tails.

A rampaging Tailed Beast was a disaster, not just for their side, but even for the enemy's battlefield.

"Hiruzen!"

Even Koharu Utatane, normally calm, revealed her agitation. The situation was too sudden. They had been preparing for a desperate counterattack, but who could have anticipated that the Kumo ninja would strike with such ruthless decisiveness?

Even releasing the Nine-Tails now wouldn't resolve the situation. Two Tailed Beasts on a battlefield would be devastating for both sides. The real question was whether their Hokage could withstand the Third Raikage.

"Including the rest of us, we have fewer than 800 combat-ready ninjas. The Kumo ninja outnumber us two-to-one or even three-to-one. And they're on the verge of encircling us!"

"In this situation, someone must act as a decoy to hold them off and buy time for Lord Hokage to break through."

"Decoy? That's a death sentence! Who's going to go?!"

The voices echoed, and Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned pale. Even Koharu Utatane couldn't help but recall memories from over twenty years ago—a memory long buried.

Back then, they, along with the Second Hokage, had been trapped in the Land of Lightning. The situation now was eerily similar.

Once again, they were faced with a difficult choice.

"Hiruzen, you are Konoha's Hokage. If Konoha loses a Hokage at this time, the loss would be devastating!"

"The war has only just begun. If Konoha falls into chaos, it will only invite the other four major villages to act on their ambitions! Hiruzen, you absolutely cannot fall here!"

Koharu Utatane's voice, sharp and decisive, cut through the din. She laid bare the gravity of the situation and, without giving anyone a chance to argue, shouted:

"Send a message to Danzo! Order him to lead Root and the Anbu elite to cover the Third Hokage's retreat. Konoha can afford to lose any ninja, but it cannot afford to lose the Hokage!"

Her righteous declaration reverberated, and the surrounding Konoha Jōnin's faces grew heavy. No one wanted to die, but as Konoha ninja, protecting the Hokage was their unquestionable duty.

"Tsunade! What are you standing there for? Organize an elite team immediately to protect the Hokage's retreat. The rest of us only need to hold the Kumo ninja back for half an hour. This isn't a death sentence!

Half an hour is enough for our reinforcements to arrive. When they do, we'll drive this Kumo ninja back across the border in one fell swoop!"

Koharu Utatane's command was sharp and logical. But countless pairs of eyes turned toward the Hokage.

Some had eyes full of doubt, some avoided meeting his gaze, and others seemed resolute. Their complicated gazes all fell on the Third Hokage.

"Everyone!"

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen found himself facing one of the most difficult choices of his life. Yet, as he looked into the eyes of his comrades, he began to steady himself. Just as he was about to speak—

"The situation in the ninja world is exactly as the advisors said. Konoha cannot lose its Hokage!"

A determined voice interrupted him. It was Namikaze Minato, his eyes filled with unshakable resolve.

"Lord Hokage, Jōnin Namikaze Minato volunteers to act as the rearguard and hold off the enemy until reinforcements arrive!"

Though Minato could use the Flying Thunder God Technique, his chakra reserves were heavily depleted from earlier battles. Moreover, the distance was too great for him to sense his marked kunai, or he would have already taken the Third Hokage to safety.

Even though he was significantly weaker than the original story, Namikaze Minato was still the same person willing to give everything to the village.

"Minato!"

Seeing Minato's resolute expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to realize something. He looked around and, with a determined expression, addressed everyone.

"My comrades! The failure in judgment here is my responsibility, but as Koharu and Minato have said, the village cannot fall into chaos!"

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen's obsessive resolve sent a chill through Tsunade. She realized, with growing fear, that her former teacher had changed. Much like Hanzo of the Salamander in the Rain Village, his beliefs had become twisted.

They began to see themselves as indispensable to the village, believing that without them, the village would collapse. Everyone else, in their eyes, would only bring instability.

The village could lose anyone—but not them. Because they were the future of the village.

"The Senju Clan has never abandoned a comrade and fled in cowardice since the founding of Konoha!"

Tsunade, clad in armor, shouted decisively. Her words drew everyone's attention.

Her identity made it impossible for anyone to suggest she act as the rear guard.

If she had remained silent, the Third Hokage would have drawn the enemy's attention, and no one would have dared to question her. Yet no one expected Tsunade to make such a decisive choice.

"Tsunade, you…"

Before the Third Hokage could speak, his face filled with mixed emotions, Tsunade cut him off coldly:

"Prepare for battle. The distress signal has already been sent. Half an hour! With me, Tsunade, here, reinforcements will arrive within half an hour!"

At this moment, when Tsunade looked at the Third Hokage again, her eyes were devoid of any emotion—only cold indifference.

At that moment, the already fragile bond between master and student seemed to snap entirely.

"The Konoha cannot exist without the Hokage? Such high-sounding words, yet back in the Land of Lightning, why was it they who returned, and not Tsunade's granduncle, Tobirama Senju?"

"Any Uchiha willing to cover the Hokage's retreat, do so immediately! I, Uchiha Shirou, will hold the rear and wait for reinforcements!"

At this moment, Shirou took a deep breath and shouted. This situation was beyond his expectations. He had anticipated that the Raikage would be ferocious, but he hadn't expected the Third Raikage to be this overwhelming.

Or rather, from the very beginning, the higher-ups had miscalculated everything. Even if they faced the enemy head-on, the combined destructive power of the Third Hokage and the ninja army shouldn't have resulted in such a devastating defeat.

Their overconfidence had backfired. The Four Violet Flames Formation, meant to prevent the Raikage from escaping, had instead trapped them as well. Two long-range ninjutsu specialists, confined within a limited space barrier, battling a close-combat expert like the Raikage?

It was as if they had built a battlefield that favored their enemy.

They had expected mutual destruction at worst, but who would have thought that the Kumo ninjas would seize the momentum instead?

If they truly lost this battle, the Kumo ninjas would invade the Land of Fire itself.

Yet, despite Shirou's commanding voice, the Uchiha clan's jonin showed no hesitation. Their faces were cold and emotionless. The Uchiha's pride would never allow them to escape alone. They would rather engage the Third Raikage in close combat!

"Hiruzen, if you don't leave now, it'll be too late…"

At this moment, Koharu Utatane, fearing that Sarutobi Hiruzen might hesitate, shouted urgently, signaling with her eyes. Immediately, two ANBU members stepped forward and carried their Hokage away into the distance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, eyes dazed, was still hesitating when Koharu's words echoed in his mind, leaving him stunned.

"Hiruzen, this is a golden opportunity to weaken the major clans. This isn't something we're forcing! As long as the village has us, we can nurture more shinobi, win this war, and defeat the Four Great Ninja Villages. The village cannot survive without us!"

Koharu's resolute words resonated, pulling Hiruzen into a different mindset. They amplified a certain thought in his heart.

Instinctively, he stopped resisting, letting the two ANBU escort him through the forest. In the end, he didn't even dare to glance back at the comrades he had abandoned.

The remaining Konoha jonin, watching the Hokage flee without hesitation, revealed expressions of disappointment.

Their leader had left them behind.

As shinobi, they were prepared to die for the village. But the Hokage's retreat left an unavoidable sense of despair in their hearts.

"Everyone! Listen!"

At this moment, Minato Namikaze stepped forward, his expression resolute as he addressed the group.

"We all inherit the Will of Fire! As long as we unite, we can—"

"The Will of Fire that abandons comrades?"

A cold laugh interrupted Minato's words. Stunned, he looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Shirou slowly stand up, brushing nonexistent dust from his clothes with a calm expression.

"Shirou, we're all doing this for the Konoha—"

"For whose Konoha?"

Just as Minato was about to explain, Shirou's calm voice interrupted him again.

Shirou stood tall, his gaze sweeping over the remaining shinobi, most of whom belonged to the major clans.

"The Konohagakure was created through the joint efforts of the Senju, the Uchiha, and other clans. The original intent and belief were to protect children from going to war. It was for peace that we united.

That is the true Will of Fire! The Second Hokage stayed behind in the Land of Lightning to protect the next generation. That was our Hokage…"

As Shirou's calm voice echoed, it felt like he was mocking the idea that "the Konoha cannot exist without the Hokage." At the same time, his words stirred memories of the village's founding ideals—the hope for peace and protection.

"Perhaps… it was a mistake from the very beginning."

Shirou's voice reverberated. To those listening, it sounded like he was saying that the Second Hokage's sacrifice in the Land of Lightning had been a mistake.

However, as Shirou's gaze swept over the group and landed on Tsunade and Kushina, the two of them understood the true meaning of his words: the mistake was in trying to protect everyone.

Why should they protect everyone? Only those deserving of protection were their comrades.

"Everyone, trust me! The Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails are mine to handle, along with Kushina and Mikoto!"

Shirou's words left the gathered Jonin stunned. Tsunade, witnessing this moment, couldn't help but smile confidently.

"Alright! I'll take responsibility for everyone's safety and the enemies in front!"

"Then I'll handle the enemies flanking us. Of course, I'll need everyone's help."

At that moment, the usually unnoticed Shibi Aburame, wearing sunglasses, spoke calmly as he slowly removed his coat.

His exposed skin, from his limbs to his chest, was covered in dark purple marks—a clear sign of deadly poison.

"Then we Uchiha will protect you while you unleash your powerful secret techniques!"

Several Uchiha jonins, typically arrogant and unapproachable, now stood tall and proud. While their demeanor might have been irritating before, in this moment, their confidence was reassuring.

"And we, the Hyuga Clan, will join too!"

One by one, the major clans stepped forward. Some exhibited determined gazes, while others laughed boldly, ready to risk their lives in battle.

The Konohagakure was originally built by the major clans. They were the first to see the village as their home.

Protecting their home was a legacy passed down through the clans, instilling not only powerful shinobi but also a strong sense of character.

Watching the jonin of the major clans step forward, Shirou smiled.

"Everyone, are you ready?"

"Yeah!"

"Let's go!"

With a resounding cheer, the Konoha shinobi radiated a newfound sense of unity.

At this moment, seeing everyone band together, Shirou raised his arm and pointed toward the Konohagakure.

"Protect our Konoha!"

"Protect our Konoha!"

The collective roar of the shinobi was overwhelming, emanating a terrifying sense of resolve.

Uchiha Shirou, the legendary genius who had defeated Hanzo the Salamander in the Second Great Ninja War, had chosen to face the Third Raikage. To everyone present, this was a self-sacrificial act to buy them time.

As for victory?

No one dared to hope. The terror of the Third Raikage was such that only overwhelming numbers could overcome him.

"Shirou, I've always said you'd make a better Hokage than me."

As the shinobi prepared to head to their respective battlefields, Tsunade's carefree laughter caught everyone off guard.

Shirou paused briefly but didn't look back. Instead, he walked toward the distant battlefield, leaving only his back and a firm declaration:

"If I succeed, when this war ends, I'll aim to become Hokage and reignite the true Will of Fire in the Konoha!"

"Victory!"

A determined shout rang out from his retreating figure. At that moment, the gathered Konoha jonin clenched their fists and shouted in unison:

"Victory!"

"Victory!"

In the face of despair, the unleashed potential of the Konoha shinobi became a force to be reckoned with.

At this moment, it was as if all the great clans had found their lost pillar of support, their strength gathering together before erupting.

Tsunade watched the figure, her beautiful eyes brimming with admiration and brilliance.

"Shirou! You are a natural-born leader. In just a short moment, your charisma united the combat power of all the great clans. Konoha needs a true Hokage…"

This terrifying cohesiveness among the clans—she had only ever heard her grandmother speak of it. It was the kind of innate leadership charisma that existed only when her grandfather, the First Hokage, founded the village.

Even during the time of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, this level of unity had already begun to wane.

"Shirou! You are destined to become Hokage!"

As the three figures moved swiftly, Kushina Uzumaki spoke with unwavering determination. Beside her, Uchiha Mikoto's eyes reflected absolute trust, while Shirou smiled upon hearing their words.

"I will! This is my ambition!"

At that moment, his eyes shone with resolute determination. It was time for him to bare the fangs of a new king to the ninja world.

PS: Absolute Cinema!