Chapter 302: The Three-and-a-Half-Day War (Part 4)
D-0, 1 hour and 7 minutes after the attack began.
"So many... how many have passed?"
"Can't count them all. Feels like more than last time."
In a small town in the Land of Hot Water, Nagato and Kushina lay in their courtyard, counting the Heavenly Transfer Technique lights in the sky.
A few months ago, the Cloud had conducted a massive deployment, but today's scale surpassed it. Last time, they were all heading to the same destination; this time, they were flying toward different locations across the ninja world.
"I have a bad feeling about this. Last time, someone landed in our yard while we were watching. Don't tell me it's going to happen again."
Kushina said uncertainly, "What does this have to do with us...?"
Just as she spoke, a rainbow light flew above their courtyard and disappeared.
Then, a dark figure slowly descended.
Nagato's eye twitched. "No way..."
Maintaining Sage Mode, Dana descended from the sky, shocking the pair.
Nagato exclaimed, "You're that guy! Sumatra!"
Kushina sighed helplessly. "Nagato, that nickname is so forced even I can't stand it! Yotsuki Dana-sama, may I ask why you are here?"
After all, he was their benefactor who helped them escape. Except for Nagato, who held a grudge over Dana's teasing, Kushina was very polite and considered him her savior.
Seeing their confusion, Dana decided to be direct.
"You two, the war has begun. I'm afraid you can't be this leisurely anymore. To prevent other villages from targeting you, I need you to come with me to the Land of Lightning."
Blue Bee's fate was unknown. The Cloud had lost its mature Jinchuriki, making Kushina's status exceptionally critical.
Even in the worst-case scenario, Dana couldn't allow other villages to get Kushina—or Nagato.
Living in seclusion here, anyone with determination could find them. Previously, they were protected by the Cloud's deterrence. Now that war had started, the Three-Nation Alliance would definitely try to contact them, especially Kushina.
Nagato asked in shock, "War? ...But we've only had peace for a few years!"
Dana replied, "Regrettably, the Cloud also desires peace, but the Three Nations conspired and struck first. There's no turning back. I know you don't want to join any village, but the situation has changed. You don't have to serve the Cloud, but you must return to Kumogakure with me."
"Even if I didn't come to disturb you, other villages would. They might not speak as nicely as I do. You should know that your peaceful life here was partly due to the Cloud's protection. But now, it's different."
Kushina asked, "The war you speak of... do you mean... the entire ninja world...?"
Dana interrupted firmly:
"No doubt about it... the Third Great Ninja War has already begun. I don't have much time. Come with me."
Nagato said bitterly, "How could this be... The previous two wars were separated by many years... Why did it happen so fast? What is wrong with this world...?"
Having aspired to eliminate pain from the ninja world, he had planned to practice his and Jiraiya's philosophy when he grew up. He didn't expect war to come so soon.
Dana said, "Counting stars in this courtyard won't reveal the truth of the ninja world. Nagato, you have ambition, but you also need resolve."
Kushina looked at Nagato. Although she was older, she generally followed his lead.
Nagato said with difficulty, "I suppose whatever I say, you will..."
Suddenly, Dana, who had been floating quietly, exploded into motion.
Terrifying power drove his arm as he punched toward Kushina's head.
No one reacted in time, including Nagato and Kushina herself.
But soon, Nagato's Rinnegan saw a faint silhouette behind Kushina.
Sure enough, Dana's lightning-fast punch wasn't aiming for Kushina, but the space beside her.
The faint silhouette had just solidified—it was Minato Namikaze, appearing out of nowhere. In the next instant, an iron fist was already in his face.
The wind from the punch blew Kushina's hair into disarray.
He dodged?! Such fast reaction speed! Dana was secretly surprised.
Minato, even in this situation, managed to react and disappear again.
In the next moment, Dana hesitated no longer. He stepped forward and grabbed Kushina's small hand to prevent Minato from snatching her away. "It seems you were marked with a Flying Thunder God seal earlier. From now on, do not leave my sight for a second, and maintain physical contact with me."
Nagato rolled his eyes. "That sounds incredibly perverted."
D-0, 1 hour and 8 minutes after the attack began.
Land of Fire, Dense Forest.
Might Duy struggled to lift the Adamantine Staff. In the next instant, a massive two-handed axe descended with the force to split mountains.
SCREECH!
The Adamantine Staff let out a shrill monkey cry. The immense force sent Might Duy flying, smashing through three giant trees before stopping.
"Is this the Third Raikage?! So strong!"
With the Seventh Gate open, every part of Might Duy's body screamed in pain. He had no way to deal with the Third Raikage.
After engaging the Raikage, he found it difficult to hold on after just a few rounds. So he switched from direct combat to harassment. But once he opened a little distance, the Third Raikage would ignore him and head straight for the capital or kill other nearby Konoha ninja.
To stop him, Duy had to risk engaging in close combat again.
By now, fewer and fewer teammates remained. Duy's condition in the Seventh Gate was deteriorating. Although his training resources had improved in recent years, the Seventh Gate wasn't sustainable long-term. In contrast, the Third Raikage's aura was stable, and he didn't have a single scratch. His endurance and defense were leagues ahead of Duy.
"Does this guy never need to rest? I feel like he could fight for two days and nights!"
Enma said hoarsely, "Duy, we can't go on like this. That axe is a Chakra Metal weapon."
I feel like I'm about to break!
It was getting dark. The light in the forest dimmed.
Suddenly, the sky lit up. Dozens of rainbow lights flew over their heads, rushing toward the Fire Capital.
At this time, the Third Raikage contacted Dana via the golden slug.
"The Earth Daimyo has been captured and sent to the Cloud?"
The Third Raikage breathed a sigh of relief.
With one chip in hand, there was room for negotiation. Of course, capturing the Fire Daimyo too would be safer.
Fighting and moving, the Third Raikage could already see the Fire Capital in the distance.
It was already engulfed in a sea of fire.
D-0, 1 hour and 10 minutes after the attack began.
The Fire Capital's Daimyo Palace was in shambles.
First, a dozen powerful Cloud ninja stormed into the capital, causing massive chaos. When they entered, some samurai tried to intercept them but were cut down like melons and vegetables, leaving rivers of blood. After that, no one dared to intervene.
Inside the palace, Cloud ninja engaged the Guardian Twelve Ninja in fierce combat, with wins and losses on both sides. Then, more Cloud reinforcements arrived via Heavenly Transfer. The Guardian Twelve Ninja began to crumble, with four already slain.
Simultaneously, a large number of Cloud ninja began searching the palace for the Daimyo.
"Help! Assassins!"
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"
The entire palace fell into chaos.
Ryosuke Kuroki grabbed a noblewoman in fine clothes—unsure if she was a wife or daughter of the Daimyo—and used Genjutsu to interrogate her directly.
"Where is the Daimyo?"
"The Daimyo... I don't know... I haven't seen him for days..."
Kuroki knocked her out and looked for other clues, then reported to his teammates via the small slug:
"This is Kuroki. No target in the West Wing."
"None in the East Wing either!"
"None in the basement."
"Something's wrong. The masters of several large noble estates in the city are also mostly missing!"
D-0, 1 hour and 24 minutes after the attack began.
Konoha.
The bombardment of the Heavenly Transfer Technique seemed endless. Although Konoha had deployed many barriers, they could only protect key locations. Other areas suffered heavy losses. One shelter even collapsed, causing numerous casualties.
The ninja maintaining the barriers had started taking Soldier Pills.
But Shikaku Nara knew the time wasn't right yet!
Hokage Building, Intelligence Room.
"Sir! There are over 60 Cloud ninja in the capital! All elites!"
Shikaku asked, "Where is Hokage-sama?"
"The situation with the Jinchuriki is resolved. He is heading to the border!"
"What about the Cloud's border troops?"
"Southern Front troops have not mobilized!"
Shikaku said to his father, "Is the pressure not enough...? Or did we miscalculate the Cloud's strength?"
The Clan Head replied, "Although we caught them off guard with a premeditated attack, the Cloud has likely realized something!"
"Should we change the plan?"
The Clan Head shook his head. "Once the strategy is set, it cannot be changed easily. The Cloud possesses the ability to project force across the entire ninja world. Therefore, in traditional warfare, holding a single city or territory is meaningless. To fight them, we must achieve: 'They fight their battle, we fight ours!'"
After speaking, the Clan Head thought of Yotsuki Dana.
During the Second Great Ninja War, this man was said to be the strategist behind the Cloud, devising numerous plans. He wondered if Dana had already detected the Alliance's intentions.
"Order Might Duy not to enter the capital for now. Monitor enemy movements from the outside!"
"Yes!"