Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 474 The future of Hidden Cloud Village rests on your shoulders.

Hundreds and thousands of Cloud Village ninjas followed in the footsteps of their Raikage brothers, engaging in the most primitive and brutal hand-to-hand combat in the ninja world against enemies many times their number.

The light of ninjutsu flashed repeatedly under the gloomy sky, only to be extinguished in an instant.

Each flash of light represents the end of at least one life.

The shriek of the shuriken cutting through the air, mixed with the hoarse sounds from the throats of the dying and the fanatical roars of the attackers, together composed this hellish symphony called war.

Tsuchishiro stood on the makeshift platform at the back, calmly observing everything.

Rainwater slid down the edge of his blindfold, like silent tears.

His single eye held no ripples, only the stillness of a deep, lifeless sea.

His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh, yet he felt no pain whatsoever.

Because physical pain can't compare to even a fraction of the pain in my heart right now.

The Hidden Cloud Village is using their lives, the blood and bones of their own people, to buy precious second after second for the unfallen hammer of Konoha.

His village is bleeding.

His heart was bleeding.

How cruel.

How tragic.

Ai, the man who would rather lead the entire village to certain death than bow down to his enemy, left him with only one sentence just before launching his charge.

Tsuchishiro closed his eyes, the words still echoing in his ears, each one as heavy as a mountain, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Toshiro."

"If this is the price of becoming a shadow, then I accept it."

After being rescued by Killer Bee, Yuki used her remaining left hand to detonate the explosive tags on her body, perishing together with an attacking Sand Village puppet.

He saw hundreds and thousands of Cloud Village ninjas following behind the Raikage brothers, engaged in the most brutal hand-to-hand combat against an enemy many times their size.

The light of ninjutsu flashed and faded under the gloomy sky, and someone fell every second.

The shrill whistling of the shuriken cutting through the air, mixed with the screams of the dying and the roars of rage, composed the cruelest chapter of war.

The Hidden Cloud Village is risking their lives to buy precious time for Konoha's iron hammer to fall.

Every explosion, every charge, every death paves the way for final victory.

Tsuchishiro raised his head and looked up at the sky, which was pressed down like a heavy iron plate by the leaden-gray clouds.

"Minato Namikaze..."

He muttered to himself in a voice only he could hear.

"The future of Kumogakure rests on your shoulders."

"Don't let us down."

……

Several kilometers away from the battlefield, in a deep forest, another unit was moving silently at high speed.

They were few in number, only a hundred or so, but each of them moved with agility and efficiency, with a breathtaking precision and composure.

The rain seemed to deliberately avoid their path, and the entire group transformed into a black, silent torrent, making not a sound.

"How much longer until we arrive?"

Obito Uchiha grumbled in a low voice as he adjusted his breathing.

"Oh, Bitto, if you're scared, go back."

Kakashi Hatake, standing beside him, didn't even turn his head. His steps were so light they were almost weightless, and his short, silver-white hair left a conspicuous trail in the dim forest.

"Damn it! That wretched Kakashi!"

"Alright, alright."

Nohara Rin gently interrupted their argument, a helpless smile on her face.

On the other side of the team, the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho trio also maintained a perfect formation.

"This is such a hassle... The rain in the Land of Lightning just won't stop; my clothes will be moldy by the time I get back."

Nara Shikaku yawned, his seemingly lifeless eyes scanning the surrounding terrain as he rapidly constructed a battlefield model in his mind.

"Shikaku, I haven't detected anything unusual within my perception range yet."

Yamanaka Inoichi pointed out that his blond ponytail looked particularly striking in the rain, "However, in this kind of weather, the range of perception is also greatly affected."

"Gurgle..."

Choza Akimichi patted his stomach and muttered to himself, "After the war, I definitely have to go eat the premium yakiniku at Uncle Torifu's shop, and I'll add three servings of sauce..."

"There are four portions. I just saw them on the front-line rolls. They're Cloud Village's Thunder Steak, and they're absolutely amazing when grilled," Shikaku lazily added.

"Four portions?! Okay! It's settled then!"

Ding Zuo instantly perked up, and his steps became more energetic.

At the very front of the group, Minato Namikaze stood as straight as a javelin.

Her short, golden hair swayed slightly in the rain, and her azure eyes calmly gazed into the unknown darkness shrouded in the rain.

He calmly experienced all of this.

Sudden.

Minato paused.

He didn't turn around, but slowly raised his right hand.

A simple gesture.

Behind him, the footsteps, breathing, and even heartbeats of hundreds of ninjas ceased abruptly in that instant.

The entire forest fell into a deathly silence, with only the rustling sound of raindrops hitting the leaves.

All eyes were focused on the center of the group.

Haiyi in the mountains.

The sensory core of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio is standing still in place.

His face, devoid of its usual confidence and composure, was deathly pale, with fine beads of sweat mingling with rainwater and sliding down his cheeks.

"Haiyi?"

For the first time, Nara Shikaku's voice carried a hint of nervousness.

Haiyi did not answer.

He sensed it.

In the northeast.

A vast, cold chakra, like a dormant volcano, lingered there.

That's not ordinary chakra.

Haiyi suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the golden figure at the front of the group, his tone becoming somewhat sharp due to extreme shock.

"Captain Minato!"

"Ahead... there's an extremely high level of chakra!"

His throat felt dry, and he swallowed with difficulty.

"Judging from the nature and intensity of the chakra... that power, there's no mistake..."

"It's from Sunagakure, the Third Kazekage!"