Uchiha's personal opinion

……

After three days of rest and replenishment of supplies, the Rain Ninja, having recovered somewhat, launched a proactive attack on the Konoha Expeditionary Force's positions. Hanzo of the Salamander also frequently appeared on the battlefield.

The Rain Ninja had no choice but to launch an offensive.

The western border defense forces, which started from the south and moved eastward, are being led by commanders Mimura Yoru and Kime Kōtō and are heading towards the weak right flank of the Rain Ninja. If they are caught in a pincer movement, the situation facing the Rain Ninja will become even worse.

However, if they were to retreat at this point, the proud and arrogant Hanzo of the Salamander would not be able to accept it, so he had no choice but to launch a desperate attack under the circumstances that he was likely to be attacked from the rear.

After two days of intense squad battles, the Konoha ninjas regained their form, and the confidence gained from their repeated victories overshadowed their fear of Hanzo the Salamander.

……

Whoosh, boom!

A tremendous wind roared, accompanied by rolling thunder, echoing throughout the heavens and earth.

Streaks of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the dark earth.

The gloomy sky was covered with dark clouds. With the flashes and roars of thunder, the rain poured down on the earth like sharp arrows, as if to wash away all the killing and bloodshed.

With thunder, the rain grew heavier and heavier.

Under the dark night sky, streaks of lightning illuminated the ground, revealing the figures of the Rain Ninja who were silently walking forward.

Leading the Rain Ninja group was still Hanzo, the leader of Rain Ninja Village.

He carried his usual chain, head held high, and strode forward.

His tall figure seemed to shield the Rain Ninja behind him from all storms and thunder.

The 2,300 Rain Ninja here represent the last remaining full-strength fighting force of Rain Village and even the Land of Rain.

Tonight, he will lead them to attack the Konoha Expeditionary Force, which outnumbers them by a factor of two.

He had a premonition that this battle would be more difficult and more brutal than the battle against Sunagakure on the western front.

But he had no other choice.

Aside from taking a desperate gamble, he couldn't think of any other way to withstand Danzo's devastating attack.

Rather than slowly bleed to death, it's better to fight to the death with the last bit of strength we have left against a malicious enemy.

The Rain Ninja, who silently followed Hanzo the Salamander, also marched with firm steps.

The respirators they wore on their faces concealed their expressions, but they knew how they felt at that moment.

Tension, fear, anxiety, excitement, indignation...

But none of them backed down.

Before they set off, they had already written their wills.

He proudly proclaimed to his parents, wife, children, and brothers the pride and glory of fighting for the Land of Rain.

After donning all their ninja tools, they embarked on a journey of no return, led by their leader.

The Rain Ninja fight for their village and their country.

In this fragmented country, there is always a need for some people to step forward and do something.

Regardless of success or failure, regardless of life or death.

But we have to do it, because if we do it, there is hope.

Hanzo the Salamander strode forward through the puddles, without looking back at his ninja army.

I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop my tears.

He was also worried.

Fear of defeat.

Fear of dying in battle.

Fearing the loss of his demigod status.

They were even more worried about whether the Rain Kingdom could maintain its current precarious rule after this battle.

He still has many ambitions to fulfill and many visions to realize.

But he had no choice.

The Sand Village in the west is licking its wounds and preparing for another battle, the Stone Village in the north is eyeing it covetously and is about to launch an invasion, and the Leaf Village in the east and south is pressing forward relentlessly, leaving the Land of Rain with little room to retreat.

Hanzo the Salamander is the unwavering faith of the Land of Rain for thirty years.

The Rain Village is a ninja army that countless people of the Land of Rain scrimp and save to support.

The aura of heroism surrounding him left him no room for retreat.

He had to move forward.

He led the Rain Ninja forward with firm steps.

Even if there is an endless abyss ahead, even if we are shattered to pieces, we will still wield the kusarigama and katana to carve out a bloody path.

The silent Rain Ninja troops solemnly continued their advance.

Hanzo the Salamander stopped in his tracks.

Boundless killing intent poured forward as the head was slowly raised.

Using the intermittent light brought by the lightning, he saw a figure on the treetop ahead.

Danzo Shimura!

Three more figures leaped to the lower treetops nearby.

Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were the three disciples of the Third Hokage.

More figures, radiating powerful chakra fluctuations, emerged one after another.

Then, an almost endless number of Konoha ninjas appeared.

"call……"

Hanzo the Salamander breathed a sigh of relief.

My heart immediately calmed down.

He never expected to be able to sneak into the outskirts of Konoha's camp and launch a surprise attack like he did with the night raid on Sunagakure. After all, Konoha's reconnaissance ninjas, whether it was Hyuga, Aburame, or Inuzuka, could easily discover the whereabouts of large groups of Amegakure ninjas.

Now then, let's tear this suffocating darkness apart with chains!

Hanzo the Salamander continued to lift his feet, walking forward without wavering.

The Rain Ninja Army followed their leader's steps and marched forward once more.

Even when faced with twice the number of Konoha ninja, they remained resolute.

……

Standing atop a treetop, Shimura Danzo coldly observed the scene before him.

Hanzo the Salamander, leading the last Rain Ninja troops, marched through the rain, seeing them as easy prey.

As for the tragic grandeur of small nations and the twilight of heroes, in his eyes, they were nothing more than futile, desperate struggles, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, utterly worthless except for their inevitable demise.

Four thousand nine hundred Konoha ninjas fought against two thousand three hundred Amegakure ninjas.

The advantage lies with me!

Danzo Shimura surveyed the Konoha ninjas who were methodically forming battle formations around him, filled with pride.

He then glanced behind the Rain Ninja, in the direction from which the western border defense forces and mobile units were coming from.

Of course, there was no movement behind the Rain Ninja at this time.

"Uchiha, Hatake Sakumo... Hmph!"

As Shimura Danzo thought of Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo, his face grew even more somber.

"And those like Mimura Yoru and Kōtō, who are in cahoots with them, those parasites of Konoha! We'll teach them a lesson sooner or later!"

Regardless of whether Mimura Yoru and Kōtō of the border troops were truly colluding with Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo, Shimura Danzō was still filled with ruthlessness.

The rain is getting heavier.

Lightning flashed and roared in the dark, gloomy clouds, like a dragon roaring in anger.

About five kilometers behind the Rain Village, the mobile force led by Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo was lying in ambush.

Under the cover of the thunderstorm, the two stood atop the highest tree on the mountaintop, watching the impending battle unfold.

Sakumo Hatake looked solemn, while Tokumitsu Uchiha cursed and swore at the torrential rain.

Neither of them had any intention of joining the battle immediately.

Whether it's adding flowers to brocade or providing charcoal in snowy weather, the two of them naturally know the difference.

"hero……"

Filled with boundless emotion and admiration, Hatake Sakumo uttered two words.

"Ok?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu looked over, somewhat puzzled.

"Hanzo the Salamander, truly lives up to his name as a demigod..." Sakumo Hatake casually wiped the rain from his face, "What a pity..."

"It's a pity he's a Rain Village ninja, and the leader of the Rain Village..." Uchiha Tokumitsu helped Hatake Sakumo finish the sentence he couldn't say.

"yes……"

Sakumo Hatake gazed intently at the imminent battle before him, and murmured in a daze, "So, this is the hero of the Land of Rain, this is the legendary demigod..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu glanced at Hatake Sakumo again, then at the Mobile Force silently lurking under the tree, without saying a word.

The Rain Ninja Force and the Konoha Ninja Army are getting closer and closer.

"kill!"

Without any exciting pre-battle declarations, Hanzo of the Salamander ripped off his gas mask and used his Water Body Flicker Technique to charge towards the Konoha ninja army who were waiting in battle.

Chapter 96 Bloody and Frenzied Clash