Chapter 114: The Outbreak of War
In terms of raw strength, the Uzumaki Clan was not weak. Within the entire Ninja World, they could be considered an extremely powerful ninja clan.
Unfortunately, their numbers were simply too small. Compared to Kumogakure, the gap was far too great.
Under Kumogakure's surprise attack, even if they could rely on the barriers around the Land of Whirlpools to hold out for a time, those defenses would eventually be broken.
If they wanted to avoid total annihilation, there was only one choice.
"Send word to Konoha for help at once!"
After realizing the severity of the situation, Nagato immediately issued the order. "Tell Konoha's people to get here as fast as they can!"
"I already sent the message."
The person before him wore a solemn expression. "Once Konoha receives the news, Lady Mito should respond."
"However, I fear it may already be too late."
"From Konoha to the Land of Whirlpools, no matter how fast they move, it will still take at least three days."
"And in three days, we may already be unable to hold out."
"Three days?"
Nagato looked outside at the ninja fighting desperately, his expression turning grave. "No matter what, we have to endure."
"Even if we are defeated, we cannot let the Uzumaki Clan's possessions fall into Kumogakure's hands."
At this moment, he had already prepared himself to die here in battle.
Facing a situation like this, as the leader of the Uzumaki Clan, even if he had to die here, he would never allow Kumogakure to advance another step.
His only regret was that he had not listened to Konoha's warning in the beginning.
Even though Konoha had already informed him of the danger, he had ignored it, convinced that Kumogakure would never go that far. That overconfidence had pushed the Uzumaki Clan to this point.
If he had recognized the threat back then, perhaps things would not have ended up like this.
"Taro!"
With a solemn face, he called out to the man beside him. "It doesn't matter if we die here, but the children must not come to harm."
"If we truly can no longer hold them back, take the children and leave. Scatter and escape if you have to."
"Especially Kushina."
His voice grew even heavier, as if he were already giving his last instructions. "She has potential comparable to Lady Mito's. She is someone who can bring glory to the Uzumaki Clan."
"If I am no longer here, take her to Konoha and entrust her to Lady Mito."
"Yes!"
Uzumaki Taro's face was serious as he nodded at once.
While they were resisting Kumogakure, Konoha had already received the news.
Without the slightest hesitation, Kei immediately ordered the ninja force stationed near the Land of Whirlpools to move out and support the Uzumaki Clan.
"Hokage-sama's orders have arrived."
Inside the military camp, Uchiha Kawaaki looked at the letter in his hand. The crimson Sharingan in his eyes looked especially striking. "Looks like we can finally have a real battle."
"I've spent the last few years crushing bandits all over the place. I was getting tired of it."
"So this time we're heading to the Land of Whirlpools to help the Uzumaki Clan resist Kumogakure?"
Uchiha Setsuna stood to the side and spoke indifferently, "What a rare experience. To think that one day we'd actually be rescuing our former enemies."
In the history of the Ninja World, the Uzumaki Clan had always been close to the Senju Clan.
Or rather, the two clans had once been one family long ago before splitting apart. Their bond of blood had always run deep.
Because of that connection, the Uzumaki Clan and the Senju Clan had always been one another's closest allies.
And because the Uchiha Clan had long been hostile to the Senju Clan, they had naturally also been longtime enemies of the Uzumaki Clan.
For old Uchiha like Setsuna, this mission really was the same as going to rescue a former enemy, and that strange feeling was hard to shake.
"Forget it."
Standing there, he finally shook his head. "Since this is Kei's order, I'll follow it."
"I just hope the Uzumaki Clan can hold out a little longer. It would be best if they aren't already wiped out by the time we arrive."
He looked into the distance as he spoke.
"Don't worry."
Nearby, another Uchiha Jonin spoke up. "That bunch is absurdly hard to kill."
"With their Sealing Techniques and their vitality, holding on for a while should not be a problem."
The reinforcements from Konoha arrived far faster than the Uzumaki Clan had expected.
Nagato and the others had thought it would take at least three days for Konoha to arrive, and they had already prepared themselves for the possibility of total destruction.
Yet in just half a day, Konoha's force had already reached the battlefield.
Although there were only eight hundred of them, for the Land of Whirlpools, it was still an enormous boost.
Because he had anticipated this situation years earlier, the eight hundred men Kei had stationed here were all elites. None of them were cannon fodder. Even the weakest among them could be called an Elite Chunin.
The captains were all Uchiha Jonin who had awakened the Sharingan, which made their combat strength far superior to that of ordinary Jonin at the same level.
A force like this was enough to rival an army of three thousand ninja.
But when Nagato saw the man leading them, shock immediately appeared on his face.
"It is actually you!"
"Kawaaki, you're still not dead!"
"If you're still alive, why would I be dead?"
Kawaaki cast a cold glance at Nagato, showing no fondness toward his old rival.
As the former leader of the Uchiha Clan, he had already crossed paths with Nagato in the past. The two could indeed be called old enemies.
"I heard the Uchiha Clan had changed leaders, so I assumed you were already dead. It seems I was mistaken."
Nagato spoke.
The information he had was incomplete. He only knew that the Uchiha Clan had a new leader who had ascended to the position of Hokage, but he did not know the details.
Kawaaki glared at him, but in the end, he did not bother saying much. He only spoke coldly.
"Focus on the enemy."
"Kumogakure is not weak. Be careful not to die on the battlefield."
"Same to you."
Nagato smiled, and for the first time since the attack began, he felt a trace of relief.
As an old rival, he knew exactly how strong Kawaaki was.
With Kawaaki's support, the Uzumaki Clan might truly survive this calamity.
"Hokage-sama is already on the way with the main force. He'll arrive in two days."
Kawaaki spoke again.
"Two days? That's enough!"
Hearing that, Nagato's confidence surged. "With the two of us here, defeating Kumogakure may be impossible, but holding them back for two days is no problem."
As the leader of the Uzumaki Clan, his strength was certainly not weak. He could also be considered a Kage level combatant.
With Kawaaki beside him and the Uzumaki Clan's barriers supporting them, defending for two days should not have been difficult.
"I wouldn't be so certain."
Kawaaki shook his head, far less optimistic than Nagato.
Long before he had come to support them, Konoha had already sent intelligence through summons.
The force Kumogakure had brought for this raid on the Land of Whirlpools far exceeded what ordinary people would imagine.
If they were careless, they might truly be doomed.
Sure enough, in the next moment, black lightning flashed through the air.
A figure tore across the battlefield like a spear of black lightning, rushing forward at terrifying speed.
Four Finger Hell Stab!
The strongest spear of the Third Raikage erupted with terrifying power, and that overwhelming impact nearly pierced straight through the barrier before them.
.....
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