009 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

After ten days of rest in the Sands Oasis, Danzo's forces finally moved out! Following another twelve days of rapid marching, the army reached Lake Tsuki. Without any hesitation or preliminary scouting, they launched a full-scale assault on the fortified stronghold of Sunagakure. No probing attacks, no reconnaissance—just an all-out charge, as reckless as a street brawl.

Arashi frowned, peering through his binoculars at the battlefield.

Is this really the grand strategy Danzo came up with after ten days? A headlong rush like some punk picking a fight on the street?

From Arashi's experience, this wasn't a feint or mock attack. Konoha wasn't playing around. Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and even the legendary Tsunade had shown up on the battlefield. Though Konoha had the advantage of numbers, Sunagakure was fortified and its troops rested and ready. The result was a fierce, evenly matched battle.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Three loud shouts echoed across the battlefield, followed by massive plumes of smoke.

As the smoke cleared, a gigantic toad, a colossal snake, and an enormous slug appeared, towering over the combatants. The sheer size of the summoned beasts drew gasps from both sides, but Konoha's forces erupted in cheers.

"Seriously? That's playing dirty!" Arashi muttered as he quickly pulled out two scrolls, releasing a torrent of iron sand.

"Magnet Release: Human Technique!"

A massive black figure rose behind Sunagakure's lines, rivaling the size of the summoned creatures. Shaped like an ancient warlord, it was clad in beast-faced armor, wearing a prince's helmet, and wielding a halberd. The imposing figure exuded power and dominance.

"Prepare to meet your match! I will take on all three of you!" Arashi shouted, directing the Human forward to clash with the Three Legendary Sannin. The sight of the towering black warrior invigorated the Sunagakure forces, who roared with renewed energy.

"Mark that down," Danzo muttered, his gaze fixed on the towering construct.

"Understood. We'll need to revise our strategy. That technique is going to be a problem," Shikachō Nara replied, his eyes narrowing as he studied the Human.

"You have seven days."

"That's plenty."

...

"Fire Style: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!" Jiraiya and Gamabunta unleashed a devastating combination attack, a blazing fireball hurtling toward the Human. Half of its body was engulfed in flames.

Unfazed, Arashi manipulated the iron sand, shedding the burning section of the Human's armor. The smoldering sand coalesced into a fiery iron hoop, which he hurled directly at Tsunade.

The flaming hoop struck Katsuyu, who instantly split into countless smaller slugs before reassembling. The massive slug retaliated with a blast of corrosive acid, which hissed as it struck the Human, releasing a cloud of steam.

"Damn it, didn't account for acid," Arashi cursed under his breath. The iron sand wasn't well-suited to counter such attacks. His only option was to evade.

Rather than retreat, Arashi pressed the attack. The Human's halberd sliced toward Katsuyu, forcing her to divide again, halting her acid assault. But Orochimaru, riding atop Manda, seized the opportunity to strike. Manda coiled around the Human, while Orochimaru leapt forward with the Kusanagi Sword, aiming directly at Arashi.

Seeing Orochimaru's charge, Arashi smirked. With a flourish, he formed a pair of nunchaku from iron sand, meeting the Sannin's assault head-on.

The clash was ferocious. Arashi fought all three Sannin simultaneously, his iron Human whirling like a storm, dominating the battlefield. The skirmish raged from midday to dusk, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. Finally, both sides called for a temporary retreat.

"No wonder Hanzo of the Salamander deemed them worthy of the title 'Legendary Sannin.' I've never faced opponents this tenacious—so versatile, so durable, and so persistent. Truly formidable foes," Arashi remarked as he wiped his neck with a hot towel.

"They're impressive, no doubt. You handled two just fine, but three's a bit much, isn't it?" Chiyo observed kindly, her gaze steady.

"Karuke! Get in here!"

"Yes, Lord Third Kazekage, what are your orders?" A young ninja carrying an enormous iron fan stepped into the command tent. He was Karuke, a cousin to Karura. Known for his skill with three-star fan techniques, he was as reliable as he was sharp.

"Gather 500 elite troops. Tonight, we raid Konoha's camp!"

"A night raid?!"

"We're exhausted, but so are Konoha's ninjas. They're not invincible. We'll set their camp ablaze and freeze them out!" Arashi grinned coldly.

...

"I think Arashi might be tougher than Hanzo," Jiraiya admitted, his expression grim.

"I almost went all out, and he still seemed unbothered," Orochimaru added.

"His chakra reserves are immense. If we hadn't been attacking from multiple angles, his iron sand would have overwhelmed us. Alone, none of us could take him on. I'm not surprised we lost last time," Tsunade remarked.

Shikachō scribbled notes furiously in his notebook. After a moment, he looked up at Tsunade.

"Do you think Katsuyu's acid had any significant effect on that iron construct?"

"Yes. After being hit once, Arashi kept avoiding Katsuyu's attacks. It's clearly effective."

"Good. Tomorrow, try to force him to reveal more techniques. I need to calculate the total volume of his iron sand. I'm counting on you three." Shikachō bowed slightly and left the tent.

"Report! The enemy is launching a night raid!"

The three Sannin exchanged glances and immediately headed outside. The camp was already ablaze.

The night raid didn't achieve as much as hoped, thanks to Danzo's strict discipline and Konoha's well-trained forces. Their defensive response was swift and effective. After burning a third of Konoha's tents, Arashi called for a retreat.

But the next morning, Danzo ordered his forces to press the attack despite their fatigue, even personally joining the frontlines to boost morale. With no choice, Sunagakure threw everything they had into the fight. Even Elder Ebizō, who had been tasked with transporting supplies, was forced into battle.

The relentless attacks continued into the third day. Despite suffering greater losses, Konoha showed no signs of stopping. Arashi began to suspect there was more to this strategy than met the eye.

"Karuke! Tonight, gather 1,000 men and create a ruckus outside their camp. Bang drums, shout, and make as much noise as possible. If they come out, retreat. If they go to sleep, keep it up. If Danzo sleeps tonight, you don't!" Arashi ordered, his frustration evident.

The plan worked. Danzo's forces withdrew 30 miles and raised the "no battle" banner, signaling a temporary ceasefire.

"How many days has it been?"

"Three days."

"And they've done nothing?"

"Nothing at all."

Arashi clicked his tongue, clearly uneasy.

"I bet that old turtle Danzo is up to no good," he muttered.

"No matter. Elder Chiyo, I'll need you to make a supply run. Without water or provisions, let's see how long they can last," Arashi said, slamming his fist onto the map, glaring at Konoha's camp.