Naruto: I have an attribute panel

Chapter 478 The Demons Approach the Front Lines

Shrine maidens are not ninjas and do not possess the same formidable physical abilities as ninjas. They cannot withstand the immense pressure brought about by spatial teleportation.

Therefore, Taiyi could only watch as Maitreya went out to make arrangements for his trip.

With some free time, he finally turned his attention to the Nine-Tails at his feet.

I don't know if I don't see it, I'm startled when I see it.

It's only been a few days, and the Nine-Tailed Fox has already gained weight.

It was already an adorable, fluffy creature, and now it's evolving into a ball.

Thinking about the days he had spent on the front lines, and comparing them to the size of the Nine-Tails, Taiichi felt a sense of imbalance.

"You've been eating very well lately!"

"Ha, I didn't eat at your house, and you're already interfering with this? I earned this through my own abilities."

This time, Nine-Tails wasn't intimidated by Taiichi at all. It wagged its big tail and spoke with a straight face.

Taiyi was speechless after Kurama's words. He could only say that the joys and sorrows of humans and tailed beasts are different, and the existence of Mouryou was irrelevant to Kurama.

While Taiichi was waiting for the priestess, the battlefield did not stop because of his departure.

The demon had suffered such a huge loss, being beaten to a pulp twice. How could it possibly swallow this pent-up anger?

At the same time, it also understood that if things continued to develop in this way, it would be only a matter of time before it was sealed again. So, the Wraith stopped allowing the Ghost Legion to attack at will, and all its forces began to gather in the canyon. Its main body was also moving towards the canyon.

The commotion was naturally detected by the Allied Forces' intelligence ninjas immediately.

"The Third Hokage, it seems Moryo can't wait any longer."

On the high platform in front of the camp, representatives from various villages gathered, their feelings a mix of joy and worry in the face of this unusually intense battle.

The representatives of the five great ninja villages were naturally delighted. The unusual behavior of the Ghost Legion indicated that the allied forces had truly threatened their survival, and victory was just around the corner.

What's worrying is the representatives of those small ninja villages. They don't have that much resources to spare. With this even more intense attack, how many of their own ninjas will be killed or wounded?

"The decisive battle is imminent. If the priestess does not arrive before the demons join the battle, we will have to find a way to hinder their advance. You should all be prepared."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was low and deep, but what he said revealed the worst possible situation.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Taiyi was able to defeat the demon twice without suffering any harm himself; that's Taiyi, and no one else could do that.

Faced with such a colossal creature as the demon, if there is no opponent of equal strength to restrain it, then human lives can only be sacrificed.

This is a situation that no one wants to see.

"When will the Miroku priestess arrive at the front lines?"

The representative from Kusagakure looked deeply worried. Twenty percent of the ninjas who had come from Kusagakure had been killed in battle. Such a loss was heartbreaking for the representative.

"The latest intelligence indicates that it is expected to take another two days."

"Snapped!"

Kusakabe slammed his hand on the railing of the high platform.

"Can't it be any faster? That monster should arrive by the morning after tomorrow."

"That's already the fastest speed; a shrine maiden isn't a ninja after all—"

The words were not fully explained, but everyone present understood.

Time passed, the battle continued, and on the other side of the canyon, a hundred kilometers away from the front line, the demon was slowly moving its heavy limbs toward the battlefield, each step leaving a huge crater in the ground.

However, if an intelligence ninja from the Allied Forces were to get close and observe, they would be surprised to find that there was another person beside the demon.

"Wangliang, what's your decision? Do you want to join us?"

In the realm of the mind, Black Zetsu's voice is incredibly alluring.

"You wouldn't want to be locked back in that dark and hopeless cage right after being released, would you?"

"Despicable humans, you will never be able to seal me away again. I'm on my way to wipe out their army."

The roar of the demon resounded throughout the entire spiritual world, but to Black Zetsu's ears, it sounded somewhat fierce but actually weak.

He didn't expose the demon's cowardice, but instead went straight to the heart of the matter.

"You've already been killed twice. The first time was only because the priestess wasn't there, but now the Allied Shinobi Forces have gone to fetch her. Do you think you still have a chance?"

The demon remained silent for a long time, the unbearable memory replaying in its mind. How could humans be so strong? In the past, weren't humans just stronger ants? They defeated it by sheer numbers.

Although that person cannot kill it, with its cooperation, the priestess will surely be able to seal it away.

"Do you really have a way to break me free from the seal?"

After a long while, the voice of the demon finally rang out again, but it was no longer as violent as before.

"Of course, we don't want all our efforts to be in vain. Your sealing away does us no good."

Another long silence followed.

"Fine, if you really have a way, how about I join you!"

In reality, Black Zetsu finally smiled, took out a scroll from behind his back, and quickly approached the demon.

"Please sign it, just leave your mark; this is a crucial step in the plan."

Having made the initial decision, the demon no longer hesitated and decisively left its mark.

In the spiritual realm, Black Zetsu also told the demons about their plan.

At this time, the demons were only a day's journey from the front lines.

The fighting continued and intensified, with allied casualties becoming increasingly severe.

What's infuriating is that the root cause of these casualties is not the increasingly fierce Ghost Legion, but rather the "traitors" mixed in among them.

They understood the ninjas' fighting style and could often break through their formations at the most critical moments with minimal losses.

"Third Hokage, we can't continue like this. We must find a way to eliminate those traitors to humanity, or our losses will be too great."

Chiyo looked at the battlefield and saw yet another formation collapse, especially since it was a gathering area of ​​Sunagakure. She was heartbroken, for those were the backbone of Sunagakure.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the battlefield and frowned. That was the eighth formation to collapse that day. Every time it collapsed, the rebuilding was done with lives. Not only Sunagakure ninja were killed or injured, but also a considerable number of Konoha ninja.

However, priorities must be met. The demon is already close at hand, but the priestess still needs time. The elite troops have already left the front lines to repair their formations. They need to recover their chakra in order to slow down the demon's advance later.

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, Chiyo gritted her teeth and made up her mind, "Sarutobi, I'll lead the men myself. There aren't many of those traitors."

Chiyo was desperate. Although there weren't many traitors, they were very cunning. After their attack, they would decisively retreat into the depths of the Ghost Legion, giving the Allied Forces no chance to snipe them.

Chiyo's move was to penetrate deep into enemy territory and brutally kill these traitors; the danger was self-evident.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked conflicted. He had to be careful about Chiyo's request, as Konoha ninjas had also died on the battlefield.

Seeing this, the person on the earthen platform added fuel to the fire, saying, "Add me to the mix. I can't help standing here anyway, so it's good to get rid of those bastards as soon as possible."

Seeing that both Chiyo and Tsuchida were willing to personally take part, Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer hesitated and immediately transferred some of his guards to join in.

"Gentlemen, be careful. The demons could arrive on the battlefield at any moment. Fight as quickly as possible and don't delay."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave his final advice and watched as the two led their group away.

The tense battlefield did indeed change due to the strong addition of the two, at least the allied lines were no longer in danger of collapsing.

After a chase, the two men's twenty-man squad had reached the central area of ​​the canyon.

The terrain here is relatively open, which naturally attracts more ghost legions.

Further away, several figures could be vaguely seen fleeing in disarray; they were the traitors who had infiltrated the Ghost Legion to ambush the Allied forces' formation.

"Damn it!"

Chiyo manipulated two puppets from the "Chikamatsu Ten Puppet Masters," their sharp blades slicing through a ghostly spirit that lunged at her.

The spirit emitted a silent shriek and turned into blue smoke amidst the remaining energy of the lightning escape.

She stared intently at the traitor's back as he disappeared behind the rock golem, her eyes practically spitting fire.

In just forty minutes since they set out, their team has already rescued three Allied lines that were attacked by traitors and killed more than thirty traitors mixed in with the Ghost Legion.

The initial pursuit went exceptionally smoothly. But those traitors weren't fools; the remaining guys, seeing the situation was turning against them, turned and fled, plunging headlong into the depths of the Ghost Legion.

"Chiyo, we can't chase them anymore!" Tsuchida's voice was clearly urgent.

This strategist from Kumogakure was also in a bloodthirsty frenzy at this moment, but he realized the danger earlier than Chiyo.

They had pursued them beyond a safe distance, and the density of the Ghost Legion around them was increasing at a visible rate.

"If we go any further, we might not be able to get back out!"

Chiyo knew this all too well. She glared hatefully at the retreating figures of the traitors. "Damn it—they run so fast." Chiyo gritted her teeth, the puppet strings taut between her fingers. The nearest traitor was only ten meters away; if she pushed forward just a little more, she could—

rear.

"Report! Trails of a demon have been spotted; it is expected to arrive on the battlefield in one hour!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as he looked at the latest reconnaissance report presented by the intelligence ninja. The report marked the movement trajectory of the demon.

The speed was 30% faster than expected.

He looked up at the sky. Even with the most optimistic estimate, it would be at least three more hours before Taiyi returned.

But the demons only need one hour.

This means the allied forces must face the fully-formed demon alone for at least two hours.

"Send the signal." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm and unwavering. "Tell Chiyo and Tsuchida to retreat immediately."

"Reserves, prepare! We must advance to delay the demons' advance."

The order was quickly relayed.

In the camp, a reserve force of 500 people, composed of the most elite ninjas from each village, began to assemble.

Hiruzen Sarutobi flicked off his divine robe with one hand, revealing his tight-fitting black combat suit underneath.

The Third Hokage, who hadn't fought in a long time, stretched his shoulders and leaped off the edge of the platform.

"Hokage-sama!" Several Konoha Jonin tried to dissuade him.

"I'm not so old that I can't go to the battlefield," Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "Besides—isn't it only right that the Commander-in-Chief personally goes into battle?"

He glanced back at the assembled reserve force and declared loudly, "Gentlemen, our mission is not to defeat the demon; that awaits the arrival of the priestess. Our mission is to hold it off, to buy time for the priestess, to buy time for Taiichi, and to fight for the entire ninja world."

Get the time! Understand?

"clear!"

The unison of five hundred people's voices shook the canyon walls slightly.

"Set off!"

Just then, three scarlet signal flares rose into the sky in succession, illuminating the sky with a vibrant red.

In the middle of the canyon, Chiyo and Tsuchida made their decision the instant they saw the signal flare.

"retreat!"

The two spoke almost simultaneously. All desire to pursue was forcibly suppressed at that moment.

However, coming here is easy, but going back is difficult.

The group of twenty-two turned around and rushed back along the path they had come from. But after advancing less than fifty meters, they realized the seriousness of the situation.

"These damned things—when did they surround us?" A Cloud Village Jonin panted heavily, his lightning blade slicing through the arm of a rock golem. He had already used up more than half of his chakra, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

The team had already broken through at least three waves of interception during the previous pursuit.

Although no one died, the depletion of chakra and stamina was real.

Even more fatally, they had advanced too far, and were now at least a kilometer away from the Allied lines, a kilometer that had been completely filled by the Ghost Legion.

The traitors who were originally on the run also realized their predicament.

"They want to retreat!" A hoarse voice came from deep within the Ghost Legion.

"Stop them! Lord Wangliang is almost here. If we can hold these people off, the entire allied defense line will collapse once he arrives!"

"Kill!" Another traitor leaped out of the shadows, his kunai aimed straight at a Sand Village Chunin on the flank of the group.

"Be careful!"

Tu Tai reacted extremely quickly, wielding his sword to block the sneak attack.

But more attacks came from all directions: kunai, shuriken, and even explosive tags.

Instead of fleeing, the traitors, with the help of the Ghost Legion, began to systematically block the elite squad.

"Form a circular formation! Cover each other!" Chiyo shouted sternly.

The puppet threads wove into a net in the air, and three puppets of the "Chikamatsu Ten" guarded the three directions of the group, their sharp blades spinning into a storm of death.

Tsuchikage then commanded the Cloud Village ninja to use Lightning Release techniques in an attempt to break through the encirclement.

But the resistance was too great.

Within just two minutes, the first seriously injured person appeared in the team.

"We must break through!" Chiyo's eyes were bloodshot. She saw two more ninjas wounded in the traitor's sneak attack, one of whom was the captain of the Sunagakure puppet unit, her old subordinate who had followed her for twenty years.

"Everyone, listen up! Abandon defense and retreat at full speed!"

She was prepared to stay behind herself to buy time for everyone.

"Elder Chiyo, we'll hold them off, you all retreat immediately!" The heavily injured Sand Village Jonin struggled to his feet, forming a hand seal with one hand, preparing to unleash his final Wind Release technique.

"Yes, Lord Tsuchidai, someone has to cover the rear, otherwise none of us can escape!" another Kumogakure Chunin shouted. "We're all injured, we can't go back, you guys go!"

"Shut up!" Chiyo shouted angrily, her voice echoing through the canyon. "Trust your teammates! The Allied Forces will send reinforcements!"

She herself didn't believe that. At this moment, the main force of the allied forces must be fully prepared to deal with the attack of the demons, how could they have the spare strength to send reinforcements a kilometer in to support a small team?

But as the commander, she had to say it: once morale completely collapsed, none of them would ever make it out.

After a brief silence, the team regrouped.

The wounded were protected in the middle, while the ninjas who could still fight formed a wedge formation on the outside and made a difficult advance towards the defensive line.

Every meter comes at a price.

In the fifth minute, the team was reduced to eighteen players.

In the eighth minute, the number of personnel was reduced to fifteen.

Chiyo's hands were trembling. Not from fear, but from muscle spasms caused by excessive chakra depletion.

"How much further... how much further?" a young Sand Village chunin asked, panting heavily.

No one answered.

A sense of despair began to spread.

Chiyo gritted her teeth, the puppet strings tightened again, and she prepared to unleash a forbidden technique.

Just as she was about to form the hand seals—

A huge, jet-black club came hurtling through the air from afar.

The giant club pierced through the heads of the crowd, whistling as it tore through the air, and slammed into the ground behind them.

"Boom!"

The deafening roar shook the entire canyon. The shockwave spread outwards from the point of impact, sending plumes of dust and sand flying everywhere.

The stick didn't stop.

It rose from the ground, tracing an arc in the air before swinging left and right. This simple movement contained terrifying power; any rock golem struck by it, regardless of size, was sent flying like pieces of paper.

One strike, just one strike.

The big stick retracted, leaving a vacuum zone more than ten meters long in its original position.

Immediately afterwards, shouts of battle came from the front.

That wasn't just sporadic sounds of battle, but a cacophony of shouts from hundreds and thousands of people.

"It's reinforcements! Reinforcements have arrived!" someone in the ranks shouted first.

Chiyo was stunned. She really hadn't expected that the Allied Forces would actually send reinforcements at this time, and judging from the scale of the operation, it was definitely not a small support force.

The remaining members of the group were greatly encouraged, as if they had been injected with new energy.

Three minutes, just three minutes.

The two sides finally met.

At this moment, Chiyo and Tsuchida realized that what had arrived was not a simple rescue team, but an elite reserve team, the team that was there to stop the demon's advance.

At the very front of the group, a familiar figure was wielding a black club, sweeping away all obstacles like a god of war.

"Chiyo, Tsuchida, how are you? Do you still have the strength to fight?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smashed three rock golems away with a single blow, clearing the last obstacle. He looked at the two with a hearty smile on his face.

Although the Third Hokage was old, his aura was more imposing than any of the younger ninjas present.