Chapter 109

Chapter 109

Chapter 109: A Million Explosive Tags!

 Chapter 109: A Million Explosive Tags!

The rain poured heavier, and the battlefield grew bloodier with each clash.

Streams of rainwater turned into rivulets of red, running downhill.

“These Konoha ninjas are insane—they’re completely ignoring their own losses!”

“Lord Hanzō, the frontlines can’t hold much longer. We request reinforcements!”

As the battle intensified, deep in the rear lines, Hanzō of the Salamander, wearing his breathing apparatus, listened calmly to the reports from his subordinates.

“Has the commander of Konoha appeared on the battlefield yet?”

Finally, after three days of fierce combat, the leader of the Hidden Rain Village—revered as a demigod by his people—spoke.

The Rain ninja delivering the report suppressed his excitement and responded solemnly,

“No! However, Konoha's Princess of the Land of Fire has deployed her summon, Katsuyu, to heal their wounded. It’s this summon that’s fueling Konoha's relentless vigor.”

“Yet, the three have not shown themselves. It seems they’re waiting for a decisive battle.”

Upon hearing that Tsunade and her team hadn’t appeared, Hanzō didn’t seem worried. Instead, a faint smile crept across his face.

“Their absence is the best outcome.”

Had those three appeared, he might have suspected that Konoha’s Third Hokage himself had come to the frontlines. However, the presence of Katsuyu suggested those three were directing the battle from behind, intending to force his hand.

Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals.

“Send reinforcements from the second defensive line to the front. Hold the reserve forces in place!”

“Yes!”

After issuing his orders, Hanzō signaled discreetly to one of his most trusted aides. The aide nodded gravely. Alone in the room, he performed a transformation jutsu, taking on Hanzō’s appearance. Meanwhile, Hanzō disguised himself as the aide.

“Half a day. You only need to impersonate me for half a day.”

With his words echoing in the room, Hanzō disappeared.

---

### The Hidden Rain Battlefield

Above ground, the bloodshed was relentless. Deep below, in the darkness of a subterranean river, a thousand elite Rain ninjas advanced silently.

Some traveled by wooden rafts, others clung to rocky walls as they moved forward.

“Lord Hanzō, we’re approaching Konoha’s territory.”

As the dense ranks of Rain ninja continued their march, Hanzō listened gravely to the report from the rear.

“Once we enter Konoha’s territory, split into thirteen units. Attack here and here. Prioritize destroying Konoha’s mining operations in the Land of Rain.”

Hanzō remained eerily calm. This battle was his message to Konoha: the Land of Rain was his domain. It was also a show of strength and a retaliation against the invaders plundering his nation's resources.

“Even if Konoha's sensory ninjas detect us, it doesn’t matter. By the time they react, it will already be too late to mobilize their forces.”

“Yes! For the victory of the Land of Rain!”

“We only need to break Konoha’s central defenses here. Once the frontline collapses, the Land of Rain will see peace!”

Ever cautious, Hanzō altered his previously planned position, fearing possible intelligence leaks.

As night fell, the rain intensified. Lightning and thunder added to the foreboding atmosphere, signaling the arrival of a storm.

---

### Konoha’s Response

“Lightning!”

Konoha ninja hiding in forests and caves looked up at the ominous weather. The thunderstorm darkened their mood. Signal flares would now be less effective.

“They’ve been spotted!”

A Hyūga ninja in the forest shouted suddenly, veins bulging on his temples as his Byakugan detected activity underground.

“There are ten—no, countless chakra signatures. Rats infused with weak chakra are being controlled by Rain ninja to confuse our sensory units!”

The Hyūga ninja’s shocked report quickly spread. Though a few Rain ninja were among the underground presence, most were rats—hundreds of them.

Konoha’s sensory system wasn’t prepared for such a strategy.

“Launch a signal flare! Report this to Lady Tsunade immediately!”

Under the experienced leadership of their jōnin, Konoha’s ninja wasted no time.

---

Signal flares shot into the rain-soaked sky, their light piercing through the storm. The battlefield lit up as if it were daytime.

Konoha’s ninja sprang into action, relaying warnings:

“I sense a massive number of chakra signatures moving rapidly!”

“To the left! Underground at ten o’clock—chakra activity!”

“Wait, no—it’s rats!”

---

### The Sannin React

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru stood under the stormy sky, faces grim.

“A massive number of chakra signals, including rats with weak chakra controlled by Rain ninja,” their scout reported.

Orochimaru’s voice was hoarse, carrying a sinister edge.

“Heh, just as expected. Hanzō’s paranoia even extends to rats. How amusing.”

“Rats trained to carry chakra signatures—this disrupts everything we’ve prepared!”

Tsunade interrupted:

“Plan B. The moment we detect Rain ninja, launch illumination flares and detonate all explosive tags buried in the area!”

---

### A Million Explosive Tags

Underground, Rain ninja advanced cautiously. Hanzō’s sharp instincts alerted him.

“Wait… Something’s wrong. The intel was leaked!”

Before he could react, countless explosions erupted. The ground trembled violently as the massive stockpile of explosive tags buried by Konoha detonated.

The land shook, cracks formed, and entire sections of the battlefield collapsed. Forests turned into lakes, swallo

wing Rain ninja in torrents of muddy water and debris.

Konoha’s calculated gamble had paid off, turning the tide of war.

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