LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Opponents
Valley of the End
Decades ago, after Uchiha Madara left Konoha, he suddenly returned, aiming to destroy it. To protect the village, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, fought Madara in an earth-shattering battle at this very location.
The battle ended with Madara's death and Hashirama's victory. This clash not only changed the terrain but also left behind a massive canyon, split open by their sheer power. This site was later named the "Valley of the End" by future generations.
To commemorate the battle, Konoha erected two colossal statues of Hashirama and Madara, facing each other in eternal opposition.
This usually desolate place was now occupied by two figures.
"Orochimaru, why choose this location for the showdown with the Hokage?" Deva Path Pain asked, stomping on the surface of Madara's statue.
Nagato's plan was to use the Akatsuki to launch attacks on Konoha's borders, drawing away its core forces. Then, he would deploy the Six Paths of Pain alongside Orochimaru's undying army to descend upon the village, seal Senju Tobirama, and capture both the Nine-Tails and the One-Tail in one fell swoop.
Yet Orochimaru insisted they come here first.
"Hehehe... Perhaps killing Tobirama in this place will carry a certain... flavor," Orochimaru said with a wicked smile, his tongue sliding out grotesquely.
"It better," Deva Path scoffed coldly, saying no more.
Orochimaru shot a sly glance at the Rinnegan glowing purple in Deva Path's eyes, a trace of greed flickering in his own.
Time passed.
Just as Nagato's patience was about to run out, a faint rustling sound came from the statue beneath them.
From the ground, Zetsu's figure emerged beneath a massive clump of aloe. His sudden appearance immediately drew their attention.
"They're here—Senju Tobirama, accompanied by Uchiha Itachi," Zetsu reported before vanishing back into the ground, leaving the two men to face the gravity of the situation.
On top of Hashirama's opposing statue, the whistle of a kunai pierced the air.
Swish!
Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Itachi appeared simultaneously atop the massive stone head.
...
Northern Border of the Land of Fire
"Hahaha! Sasori-senpai, it's been too long since I've been able to unleash my art like this!"
Riding his clay bird high above the battlefield, Deidara gleefully hurled clay bombs at the retreating Konoha ninja below, shouting toward Sasori on the ground.
Since Sasori's Hiruko shell had been shattered, he now fought in his true form. Despite his youthful appearance, he had donned a thick, iron-plated armor over his puppet body.
Seeing Sasori's face—barely older than his own—Deidara had stopped calling him "Master" and instead switched to "Senpai."
"Shut up, Deidara. Your fleeting explosions can hardly be called art. The eternal beauty of human puppets is the only true art!" Sasori tugged on his chakra strings, and a Konoha ninja's head rolled from the blade of one of his puppets. With his hands momentarily free, he took the opportunity to mock Deidara's so-called artistry.
"Tch. You'll never understand, Sasori-senpai. The fleeting brilliance of an explosion—now that's real beauty," Deidara muttered, stroking a tiny clay bird in his hand.
He then pulled out a handful of clay birds and hurled them toward Konoha's defensive line.
"Art is an explosion! Katsu!"
A swarm of white birds dove into the Konoha forces, followed by a series of deafening blasts and anguished cries.
"Quick! Take out the puppet master on the ground first!"
A Konoha ninja, likely a commander, took charge amidst the chaos. Part of their forces moved to defend against the bombs raining from above, while the rest charged toward Sasori.
"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"
"Konoha Style Kenjutsu!"
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
One by one, the Konoha ninja unleashed their signature moves, converging on Sasori in what seemed to be a certain death trap.
But when their attacks struck the black iron armor covering Sasori's body, they left only faint scorch marks. Even the intense heat from Fire Style techniques, deadly to ordinary humans, meant nothing to a man who had transformed himself into a puppet.
"Such frail human bodies," Sasori said with a disdainful sigh. His body whirred as mechanisms activated, launching a volley of poisoned senbon at his attackers.
Those struck by the needles fell lifelessly to the ground in an instant.
"Drink this!"
Deidara's shout echoed from above as he rained another wave of clay bombs toward the battlefield.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Tiger!"
At the last moment, a roaring thunder tiger ripped through the air, neutralizing the clay bombs with its crackling energy. One by one, the explosives fell harmlessly to the ground.
"What?! Whose Lightning Style is this?!" Deidara froze midair, his face twisting in frustration as he scanned the battlefield. Lightning Style was his nemesis.
"Piercing Heel Drop!"
Before Sasori could react, a commanding female voice rang out. With a single strike, one of his puppets was shattered into pieces.
"Lady Tsunade! Kakashi!" The Konoha ninja, who had been on the verge of death, opened his eyes to see Kakashi carrying him over his shoulder, with Tsunade standing resolutely beside him.
A small slug had crawled onto his shoulder, its healing chakra beginning to mend his wounds.
"You've done enough. Leave the rest to us," Tsunade said.
"You two have gone far enough!" Tsunade shed her green cloak, standing tall and exuding a commanding presence.
Beside her, Kakashi signaled the remaining ninja to retreat and prepared for battle.
"Who's the old hag?" Deidara scoffed, his youthful ignorance showing. "She's so full of herself! Sasori-senpai, you know her?"
Sasori, however, ignored him. His face was grim, his gaze fixed entirely on Kakashi.
Kakashi, the son of the White Fang.
The sight of Kakashi ignited a fire of hatred within Sasori. His parents had been killed by Hatake Sakumo during the Second Great Ninja War.
Not even the presence of a legendary Sannin like Tsunade could deter him. Sasori's eyes burned with a singular focus.
He would avenge his parents.
...
Eastern Border of the Land of Fire
Meanwhile, on another front, Hidan and Kakuzu were wreaking havoc on Konoha's defenses.
"Haha! Three million ryō for this one!" Kakuzu held up the severed head of a Konoha ninja, comparing it to the black-market bounty list in his other hand with a satisfied grin.
"Even now, all you think about is money?" Kisame mocked, weaving hand signs as he unleashed a massive Water Style technique that drowned dozens of Konoha ninja.
"You wouldn't understand, kid. Money is everything. Someday, you'll regret not taking it seriously," Kakuzu replied, shedding his Akatsuki cloak. Several black threads emerged from his body, forming monstrous entities that rampaged through the enemy ranks.
"Such a vulgar obsession," Kisame muttered, glancing away. He couldn't help but miss Itachi's composure and insight.
"They're here!" Kisame suddenly tensed, signaling Kakuzu. Both retreated just as flames and boiling oil engulfed their previous position.
"Did they dodge?"
A tall, middle-aged man stepped out from the shadows of the forest.
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"
Before Kakuzu could react, Maito Guy dropped down from the trees, delivering a spinning kick aimed directly at him.
"Jiraiya-sama! And...?"
The surviving Konoha ninja turned their hopeful eyes toward their reinforcements.
"Leave this to me and Guy!" Jiraiya called, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Green Beast of Konoha.
"So, one of the Legendary Sannin," Kisame murmured, his eyes narrowing as he focused entirely on Jiraiya.
As for the peculiar green-clad ninja, Kisame dismissed him without a second thought.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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