The next day, Ryun arrived with his troops at Kumogakure. However, he saw the flag of Konoha already flying on the village's battlements. He smiled. It seemed his grandfather had succeeded.
Since that was the case, he would head directly to Kirigakure. That place should not be so easily taken. As for Kumogakure, he would not stay. Now, the great undertaking of unification was right before his eyes. How could he let mere personal desire affect the grand enterprise?
Therefore, he led his troops onward toward Kirigakure. At that moment, the system prompt sounded. "Congratulations, host. Unification progress of the Ninja World: 50 percent."
Sunagakure
Hashirama Senju stood outside the village walls with his arms crossed. Elder Chiyo's face was pale. Looking at that figure, she could not help but suck in a cold breath. In the past, every village had heard the name Hashirama Senju and witnessed his power.
Chiyo was of that generation. Now, seeing the long black haired Hashirama Senju standing at the village entrance, her heart immediately gave rise to thoughts of surrender. Only Sasori and Chiron, their eyes filled with gravity, wanted to resist.
It was truly the case that newborn calves are not afraid of tigers.
Hashirama Senju stood beneath Sunagakure's gate. "Sunagakure, surrender. As long as you are willing to surrender, your village will become the Sand Division of Konoha, completing the unification of the Ninja World. I, Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, can guarantee that not a single Sunagakure shinobi will be harmed."
Hashirama Senju now stood in the Land of Wind where yellow sand swirled. Although his hair was blown about wildly, his body stood straight as a ramrod.
On the city wall, Elder Chiyo spoke, her voice trembling. "Lord God of Shinobi, did you not say you would guarantee the territorial sovereignty of each other, and strive to build a peaceful Ninja World of mutual understanding? If so, are today's actions not a violation of that original oath?"
She could only pray that such words would make Hashirama Senju withdraw his army. Because among Konoha's several armies, Hashirama Senju was the easiest to talk to.
If they could stabilize him, Sunagakure could at least survive for a while longer. This was just as Elder Chiyo had anticipated. Hearing these words, Hashirama Senju's eyes flickered. However, in the next moment, Tsunade spoke. "Grandfather, the unification of the Ninja World is now urgent. Once we take Sunagakure, we can cut off war from its roots once and for all."
"If you waver because of Chiyo's few words, then I, as the Fourth Hokage and wife of Ryun, have the right to take command of the troops. I will lead Konoha's shinobi to fight and seize Sunagakure." Tsunade's voice was solemn and just. Although she was a mother and rarely participated in war, and even this time Ryun did not want her to come.
But she said that now Konoha was unifying the Ninja World and could not afford any mishaps. If Grandfather was soft eared and persuaded by others, there must be another person who could take up his heavy responsibility. To lead Konoha in crushing Sunagakure.
Who else but her could be that person? Finally, with the support of Tobirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki, Ryun gave Tsunade the position of Vice Commander. He also gave a secret decree. If Hashirama Senju hesitated, Tsunade would take control of the army and continue to fight bravely for Konoha's great unification mission.
Hashirama Senju was silent. Looking at Tsunade now, he unconsciously felt a sense of pride rising within him. First, he sighed. "Granddaughter, rest assured. Since your grandfather promised Ryun, promised Madara, promised Mito, he will not break his word."
Having spoken, his gaze became firm again, looking at Chiyo on the gate. "I am sorry. If not for Ryun's Mangekyo, I would be a dead man now. Therefore, at this moment, I am carrying the will of Ryun and hundreds of thousands of Konoha villagers to wage this campaign. No matter what, for the peace of the Ninja World, I must take Sunagakure."
Elder Chiyo's face turned white. This move had not worked. That meant their Sunagakure must face Hashirama Senju, the strongest of the previous Warring States Period.
Even if her son Chiron possessed a living puppet, even if her grandson Sasori could now control forty puppets, even if Rasa, Reto, the Second Kazekage at their peak, and herself at her peak, they probably could not hold out for long.
However, Chiron of Sunagakure now spoke. "Sunagakure, from its establishment at the end of the Warring States Period to now, has nearly a hundred years of history. This place carries the hopes of the Land of Wind's shinobi clans. It carries the faith of the Land of Wind's shinobi. I will absolutely not allow you Konoha to trample on our homeland and place of faith."
"Even if we are no match, I cannot retreat without a fight. This is the most basic requirement of being a Kazekage. Fight, Hashirama Senju. The Fourth Kazekage, Chiron, is here." Having spoken, the Fourth Kazekage Chiron waved his right hand. The living puppet appeared. Now, the living puppet's gaze was grave as it looked at Hashirama Senju.
Although it was a puppet, it could sense the strength of the enemy. It looked at Hashirama Senju as if looking at a high mountain, a mountain so high it could not see the peak.
Chiyo's eyes were tearful. "Chiron." Having spoken, she reached out her hand, preparing to jump down and fight alongside Chiron. Even if it meant death, she would stand together with her son.
At this moment, Sasori of the Red Sand stepped forward and snapped his fingers. Two puppets appeared and held Elder Chiyo back. "Grandmother, live well. This is a battle belonging to us, father and son. We cannot escape. Please forgive your grandson's lack of filial piety." Having spoken, Sasori of the Red Sand summoned the Third Kazekage puppet. The Third Kazekage puppet was in sync with Sasori of the Red Sand.
Magnet Release: Iron Platform appeared. Sasori stepped onto the iron platform and flew toward his father Chiron's direction together with the Third Kazekage puppet.
"What are you doing here. Get out of here." Chiron pointed at his son Sasori and roared angrily. His eyes were filled with rage.
"Old man, if you lose, Konoha will definitely not let it go. Then I will also have to fight to protect Sunagakure. Rather than fighting Hashirama Senju one by one like that, it is better to fight him together. Maybe there is a sliver of hope."
Having spoken, Sasori moved his hands and twenty chakra threads flew out. Immediately, twenty puppets appeared. The next moment, twenty chakra threads appeared on his feet, and another twenty puppets appeared.
"Performance of a Hundred Puppets, Forty Puppet Manipulation. First Hokage, please advise." Sasori tilted his head. Then he made the forty puppets burrow into the ground, fly into the sky. Long swords, cannons, propellers, now all firepower was unleashed, rushing to kill Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.
Hashirama Senju roared. "Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees." Instantly, the ground began to tremble. In this Land of Wind where sandstorms spread and the land was severely desertified, an oasis actually appeared.
Now the terrain of the Land of Wind changed, causing the forty puppets to constantly shift about.
"First Hokage, we will help you." Konoha shinobi jumped out, ready to help. However, the next moment, a wooden wall blocked them, and then came Hashirama Senju's voice. "You step back. This battle is a battle between Kage. You are not allowed to interfere."
Having spoken, Hashirama Senju clapped his hands together. Sage Mode enveloped his body. Now a puppet carrying blades rushed straight at Hashirama Senju. Hashirama Senju saw the opportunity, bent his waist, and jumped back. Severe Pain Foot.
Bang.
With just one kick, he kicked Sasori's refined puppet to pieces. Parts scattered all over the ground. The puppet began to smoke. The next moment, it was about to explode.
Hashirama Senju single handedly struck the ground. "Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall." A large wooden bowl covered it. The force of the explosion only made the wooden bowl tremble slightly.
This made Kazekage Chiron's eyes light up. "Good opportunity. Living puppet. Death Blaze." He moved his hands. Chakra poured into the living puppet through the chakra threads.
The living puppet roared, opened its large mouth, and a stream of blue flame shot at Hashirama Senju's Wood Locking Wall. In an instant, the Wood Locking Wall began to burn.
The next moment, Sasori of the Red Sand seized the timing. He manipulated a puppet to make a big jump, then flipped over. The lid on its back opened. Engine oil flowed out from inside, just flowing onto the Wood Locking Wall.
Fire meeting oil, burning unceasingly. Immediately, the fire surged. On the city wall, held back by puppets, Chiyo was stunned. This father and son pair, their strength seemed quite formidable. Was this the first time they performed this combination technique?
Fierce fire meeting oil caused the flames to surge violently. At this moment, it completely burned. Sasori and Chiron's eyes were filled with excitement. Could it be they had succeeded. Was the legendary God of Shinobi about to be burned to death by them?
Just as the two were having such fantasies, a pillar of water shot into the sky. It washed the oil and fire together into the air. The mixture of oil and fire now scattered and flew in the sky. Chiron and Sasori hurriedly dodged. Sasori still had to control the remaining puppets, so the Third Kazekage puppet carried him away to escape.
Hashirama Senju now jumped out. Everyone only knew he was a wood release user. But they did not know that Hashirama Senju's water release was also not bad.
Chiyo watched this scene. The secret joy she originally felt in her heart now all turned into panic. "Is this the power of the God of Shinobi." She sighed.
The next moment, Hashirama Senju twisted his neck. "Not bad. The temperature just now gave me a sauna." Having spoken, the originally somewhat burned marks on his body instantly recovered as if nothing had happened.
Seeing this astonishing recovery power, Chiyo, Chiron, and Sasori could not help but suck in a cold breath. They had only heard that using Hashirama cells allowed infinite regeneration, regrowth of severed limbs. But they did not say the living Hashirama Senju's recovery power was so monstrous.
"Not bad, not bad. Chiron and Sasori, right. I remember your names now. The warm up is over. Then next, let me experience your strength." Having spoken, he used a Body Flicker Technique and rushed at Sasori. Chiron hurriedly made the living puppet create a fire wall, intending to block Hashirama Senju.
A blue fire wall rose from the ground. The scorching temperature made Chiyo on the city wall begin to sweat. However, Hashirama Senju did not dodge or avoid. He rushed through the fire wall. His large hand reached out, about to grab Sasori.
However, Sasori was not panicked. He moved his fingers slightly. "Magnet Release: Iron Sand Bind." Iron sand instantly gathered, wrapping around Hashirama Senju. Then the Third Kazekage puppet carried him away.
The Iron Sand Bind contracted. Strands of blood flowed out from within. Sasori was ecstatic.
"Father. Keep burning with fire." He roared and shouted, looking at his father Kazekage Chiron.
Kazekage Chiron nodded. He controlled the living puppet. Blue flames spewed forth. Just as the blue flames were about to contact the Iron Sand Bind, an accident happened...