Chapter 68: Flames Sweep Across the Land of Rivers

"Everyone skilled in Fire Release, start burning everything!"

As the Sunagakure retreating ninja were about to escape beyond reach, Hyuga Soushu took over command and shouted orders directly.

Originally thirty-two elite ninjas had set out from camp for reinforcement, but only nine remained now. There was no point arguing about authority anymore, so relying on sheer power, Yechame Hamako immediately began spitting massive fireballs in all directions without hesitation.

Hyuga Soushu's goal was simple—to stage a false display by setting deliberate fires.

Though it was still deep winter, the Land of Rivers lying between the Land of Fire and Land of Wind had dry trees and piles of dead leaves rather than snow-covered ground like western areas of the Land of Fire, giving Konoha exactly the opportunity they needed.

Therefore, after using the [Ouroboros Tail Kill] technique to scatter the Sunagakure deserters into chaotic retreat, the remaining nine members of Konoha's Reinforcement Unit immediately began igniting multiple fires while launching a red signal flare into the sky.

That was their prearranged signal for regrouping and withdrawal.

But this was merely a fake demonstration—they had no idea what condition the Advancing Unit was currently in.

However, this time they weren't disappointed.

Before long, multiple red signal flares burst into the sky in the distance ahead!

"Judging from the flare positions, they're probably about ten kilometers away, and launched across multiple zones."

Yechame quickly assessed the situation.

As a military organization, Konoha had always followed strict rules when it came to signal communications.

Especially with commonly used signal flares, although different colors carried generally similar meanings, their explosive effects varied according to command level.

From the signal flares sent up just now by the Advancing Unit, it appeared they had maintained roughly five combat squads, each consisting of about twenty ninjas—though they might have been reorganized through battlefield merging during retreat.

But regardless, having nearly a hundred surviving ninjas was itself extremely significant.

Yechame finally allowed himself a slight sigh of relief.

"What an awkward distance."

Hyuga Soushu also sighed.

His Byakugan granted him vision far enough to observe objects clearly at five or six kilometers away, but ten kilometers exceeded even his Byakugan's natural visual range.

"So what do we do now?"

Yechame Hamako turned his gaze toward Hyuga Soushu.

Although he officially served as commander of the Reinforcement Unit, that force existed now only in name. Furthermore, during combat, Soushu—as reconnaissance personnel temporarily assigned here—had demonstrated especially outstanding performance throughout repeated battles, making Yechame Hamako need to take his opinion seriously.

"How about we keep setting fires while advancing forward until within Byakugan observation range?"

Hyuga Soushu pondered briefly before suggesting, "This way, we can both test the strength of Suna forces attempting to surround them and confirm the current status of our own Advancing Unit under siege."

"Sounds good to me!"

Yechame Hamako agreed instantly without hesitation.

It was truly the only viable option available.

After all, no one came here just to light a few fires, pop a flare, then bolt like cowards!

"If anyone still has the strength left, perhaps you could try using the Shadow Clone Jutsu."

Hyuga Soushu offered another suggestion.

The eight Konoha ninja hesitated slightly before quickly understanding and each performed the jutsu to create a shadow clone.

Once separated from their bodies, these clones immediately changed their appearances by using the Transformation Jutsu.

As a result, on the surface it appeared that their reinforcement unit had suddenly surged from nine to seventeen. Since Hyuga Soushu hadn't systematically studied standard Jonin requirements such as the Shadow Clone Jutsu, he did not produce a clone himself.

Although this number still seemed extremely small compared with the Sand unit numbering in the hundreds, psychologically the difference between single and double digits was significant. Furthermore, each Jonin had given prearranged instructions to their respective clones, which would immediately disperse upon encountering battle, returning their chakra to the original for combat usage.

In this way, although the reinforcements were still meager, beneath the cover of widespread firelight and despite their seemingly weary expressions, they appeared somewhat convincing.

Of course, all of this depended upon the element of surprise and an information gap held by the enemy commander.

Yet considering over fifty Sand ninja confidently dispatched had already been defeated—including the hidden sniper units swept away along the way—the ambushes launched by Sunagakure against this small reinforcement group had already resulted in over a hundred defeats. And the entire invading force entering the Land of Rivers numbered barely around seven hundred strong; just how many more ninja could they possibly divert for further interception operations?

Therefore, despite desert vultures circling ominously overhead, the Konoha ninja charged forward fearlessly, rapidly closing the distance with the besieged remnants of the Advancing Unit.

"Lord Sahiga, we must make a swift decision!"

Inside the command headquarters of the Sunagakure Ninja Force, the Jonin commander leading this invasion into the Land of Rivers faced a difficult dilemma.

Even with constant urging from his subordinates, he still couldn't make up his mind.

While theoretically, the remaining one hundred plus members of the Konoha Western Border Forces' Advancing Unit had been encircled within a rocky desert by his force of five hundred, in reality, their clearing operation hadn't proceeded smoothly.

Unlike other great Hidden Villages that typically stationed elite forces along borders, generally speaking, border-defending Leaf ninja possessed overall mediocre individual combat abilities—a consequence of Konoha's longstanding centralized authority policy. Konoha ninja, however, were known for their persistence and ability to think independently—even when compared to shinobi from other great nations.

Especially after suffering defeat during direct confrontations, the local Advancing Unit stationed within the Land of Rivers immediately dispersed from organized formations into squad-sized units, conducting guerrilla warfare while gradually withdrawing across the territory—causing considerable difficulties for Sunagakure's offensive troops.

This strategy perfectly aligned with traditional ninja fighting habits, as ninjas were essentially fragile assassins—deadly in offense, resilient against magical attacks, but vulnerable in prolonged combat. The intense direct confrontations Soushu's team had faced during their swift advance were merely rare exceptions brought about by extraordinary conditions.

Even though the Sunagakure forces had successfully crushed Konoha's Advancing Unit in direct combat, they failed to end the conflict decisively in one fell swoop. After several days of mopping-up operations, they had only managed to inflict fewer than a hundred casualties upon the remnants of the Advancing Unit. Worse yet, their own side had suffered nearly fifty ninja fatalities due to fierce counterattacks launched by the Konoha shinobi.

It was a slight net gain, admittedly, but given the overwhelming advantage they currently held, Sunagakure could already consider this a minor loss.

In addition, Kai Sahiga Jonin—the normally valiant and renowned Sunagakure Jonin commander—faced another issue: he couldn't verify the authenticity of the intelligence reports sent back by the Scout Hawk Reconnaissance Unit.

Frankly speaking, if it were really true that a Konoha squad of merely twenty or thirty shinobi could directly defeat a Suna force two to three times their number, then there would be absolutely no reason to continue this battle!

"Reconnoiter again and report back!"

Therefore, Kai Sahiga Jonin demonstrated an unusually cautious attitude.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, he added, "Tegan Jonin, please take the staff officers along with the Scout Hawk reconnaissance team and personally investigate the actual situation regarding those Konoha shinobi."

"At once!"

Tegan Jonin—who served as chief military advisor—immediately stood up, acknowledged the order, and instantly vanished using Body Flicker Technique.

The Konoha shinobi were still charging forward relentlessly as though entering enemy territory completely unchallenged. If he delayed even slightly, this Konoha reinforcement unit might link up with the remaining members of the trapped Advancing Unit scattered throughout the vast rocky wastelands, reigniting their comrades' fighting spirit—something that would spell major trouble for them.

"Reinforcements! Our reinforcements are here!"

Upon spotting the spreading flames and the signal flares hanging high above the distant horizon, the surviving members of the once-desperate Advancing Unit found their spirits reinvigorated.

Now, they held nothing back.

Without hesitation, they consumed their last reserves of stimulating secret medicinal potions, and under the leadership of their respective division Jonin commanders, the Konoha shinobi began launching desperate breakout assaults toward the direction where reinforcements approached.

This was the power brought forth by hope itself.

Truthfully, these isolated detachment units stationed at the buffer nation fully understood the current dire situation of the Western Border Forces. They knew deep down that even if rescue messages had reached Shirakawa Namiko, the Western Camp would still lack sufficient manpower for any substantial relief effort.

Yet despite this, the commanding Jonin officers never gave up on hope, continuously encouraging their subordinates to fight back stubbornly after suffering defeats, retreating gradually while buying much-needed time for the rear forces.

As for safely returning to Konoha, that had long since become a luxurious fantasy—only younger Genin and lower-level Chunin still clung onto such thoughts.

Ever since they released the ninja hawks to seek help, the frontline Advancing Unit—whose entire command structure had been shattered—had not received any communication from headquarters.

But now, seeing those familiar signal flares light up the sky, even the most hardened Konoha Jonin found their eyes brimming with tears.

"The village hasn't abandoned us!"

Murmuring words filled with gratitude, the Konoha shinobi unleashed their greatest potential. Their physical exhaustion and injuries appeared to vanish into thin air. Even severely wounded shinobi tightened the bulky bundles of Explosive Tags strapped around their bodies and tried desperately to keep pace with their comrades during the breakthrough attempt.

[Storm Buildup!]

[Jumping Slash!]

[Crescent!]

Another deadly combo, as familiar as ever. Leading the charge at the front of the Reinforcement Unit, Hyuga Soushu instantly crushed more than thirty panicked Sunagakure ninjas. At that moment, figures of Konoha ninjas already came into view within his Byakugan!

"They're right ahead!"

Hyuga Soushu wasted no time sharing the news with his team.

"Signal flare!"

Yechame Hamako shouted shortly afterward.

Snapping out of it, the Konoha ninjas in the Reinforcement Unit quickly launched another Signal Flare into the sky.

That red glow lit the way for the desperate Konoha escapees—who had barely survived a clash with the Sunagakure interceptors—as they pressed forward.

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