But they didn't care.
The main force continued to advance. Finally, as the two armies closed in and the first barrage of ninjutsu exploded toward the enemy, the fires of war were ignited!
When the first intelligence report arrived at Danzo's temporary command post, a smug smile crept across his face.
"The lowly Sand Village isn't worth fearing!"
"A disorganized rabble—how could they ever hope to contend with the number one Hidden Village?"
"See that, Hatake Sakumo?"
"They're retreating from us again and again!"
That's exactly what's not normal, Lord Danzo!
Sakumo's expression was grave. He had just examined the battlefield where the enemy had supposedly been driven back. Though everything looked chaotic, the actual number of casualties was suspiciously low.
They were baiting them in—luring them deeper!
"Lord Danzo, I strongly advise—"
Having realized the enemy's true intent, Sakumo hurried to speak, trying to warn him.
"Full assault! Everyone charge!"
Danzo didn't even wait for Sakumo to finish before shouting his next order.
His command was met with thrilled expressions from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans on the front lines. In their eyes, the enemy ahead was nothing more than easy merit—plentiful war contributions ripe for the taking.
Even Danzo, the so-called supreme commander, cast off his status and rushed toward the front with fervor.
But the moment the ninja plunged into the narrow mountain valley, everything changed drastically.
"Something's not right…"
Danzo glanced around at the shinobi around him, then at the faint figures moving on the cliffs above. A sinking feeling clenched in his chest.
"Retreat! Pull back!"
A sudden, inexplicable dread made him bark the order to withdraw.
But it was far too late.
Chiyo, who had been waiting patiently, finally gave the order for the ambush to begin!
Ninjutsu. Hidden weapons.
From all directions came the howling of projectiles slicing through the air. In the eyes of the Shimura and Sarutobi clans leading the charge, these attacks turned into a deadly downpour.
"Lord Danzo! Something's wrong!"
"There's a massive force blocking the retreat route—we can't even identify them yet! Our escape path is cut off!"
Panicked cries from every direction surged around them. Desperate ninja looked toward their commander, clinging to the hope that he had a plan, a way out.
But Danzo's face held no light—only fear.
"Run!"
"I can't die here!"
"My goal is to become Hokage! There's no way I'm dying on this battlefield!"
With bloodshot eyes, Danzo yanked a nearby ninja to shield his head, then turned and bolted, dragging his personal guards with him.
If they could just break open a gap, they could carve a path back!
He didn't want to die.
And so the battle began.
Danzo's reckless order had cost Konoha's forces dearly. Agonized screams and the wails of the wounded became the soundtrack of the valley—echoing off bloodstained rock and shattered stone.
Not far from the main battlefield, atop a nearby mountain, over a thousand identically uniformed ninja stood, eyes wide in disbelief as they stared at their clan leader—
Senju Yukika.
Just moments ago, Yukika had precisely identified the location of the enemy's ambush and had predicted that Konoha's forces would be surrounded.
At first, they didn't believe it.
But when Yukika had led them—gritting his teeth, openly defying the "hold your position" order—they followed him to this vantage point. And now… they finally understood.
Everything Yukika said was true.
Konoha's shinobi were caught in a deadly trap, surrounded on all sides.
This was it.
This was the Senju clan's opportunity!
If they could break the encirclement and rescue their comrades, they would become the heroes of this war. The ones who turned the tide. The ones remembered and honored.
"Clan members!"
Yukika's eyes blazed with determination as he raised his arm, pointing toward the valley battlefield below.
"Right here! In the Land of Rain!"
"Let your fists show the world…"
"That the Forest's Senju… have returned!"