Chapter 75: White Fang.
In the woods at the border of the Fire Country, Konoha's ninja forces, who had been assigned to a nearby mission, gathered at the edge of the land.
They stood alert, noticing the fierce presence of the Sand Village ninja forces. With weapons drawn, they surrounded the border of the Fire Country, clearly on edge.
"This is the border of the Fire Country! What do you want, Sand Ninjas?" a Konoha Chunin called out, trying to assert some control over the tense situation. "Are you trying to start a war between our two countries?"
Gaara, his expression dark and murderous, stood with his massive gourd on his back. His eyes glinted with a dangerous intent as he coldly responded, "War between the two countries?"
A cruel chuckle escaped his lips. "Hehehe…"
With his words, the air thickened with an overwhelming aura of bloodlust. Without a second of hesitation, he issued a command.
"Kill!"
The words were barely out of his mouth before Gaara, his fury amplified by the death of his father, Rasa, and the loss of Sand Ninja lives the previous night, ordered his forces to advance.
Before the Konoha Chunin could protest, Gaara's gourd began to spill sand. The yellow grains rapidly formed into a massive palm, wrapping around the Chunin who had just spoken.
The ninja's scream was quickly silenced as the massive sand hand crushed him, his body torn apart by the unrelenting force. Blood and gore mixed with the sand as his remains were absorbed into the earth.
The moment Gaara made his move, the Sand ninja forces surged forward, no longer holding back. They formed hand seals and quickly engaged their designated Konoha enemies.
On the other side, Konoha's support forces were still gathering, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the elite Sand Village ninjas, and the battlefield descended into chaos.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions and flashes of light rang out, signifying the intensity of the battle.
"Flowing Sand Waterfall!" Gaara shouted, summoning a massive storm of yellow sand that rose high into the air, blanketing the entire battlefield.
The sand, seemingly with a will of its own, surged over the Konoha ninjas, wrapping around them like a living force.
"Get up!" Gaara cried, his chakra flaring with intense power.
With that command, the land around them twisted. What had once been a forest was now becoming a barren desert, as the ground itself began to rise up, becoming an unrelenting sea of sand.
The sand at the feet of the Konoha ninjas seemed to come alive. It climbed up their legs, pulling them down as if it were determined to devour them.
The true terror of Gaara's power became evident. Those caught in the sand's grasp were mercilessly pulled under, consumed by its violent waves.
To add to the carnage, Gaara turned to the surrounding stones, crushing them with his chakra. As they shattered, the pieces were quickly transformed into more sand, which then engulfed the remaining Konoha ninjas.
"Puff! Puff! Puff!"
The sound of flesh being torn apart filled the air as Gaara's sand hands shredded his enemies. The Konoha ninjas, caught in the attack, were torn apart in moments. Their bodies were reduced to nothing but torn, mangled remains.
The battle was over before it had truly begun. The Sand Village had secured a swift and decisive victory.
After the fight, the Sand Village ninjas paused, watching as Gaara stood tall and impassive, his face returning to its usual coldness. The Konoha ninjas were no more, and with them, their hopes of stopping the Sand Village's advance.
The victory was not just tactical, but symbolic. It sent a clear message: Gaara, once viewed as a wild card, had now proven himself as a capable and fearsome leader.
Back in Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Mito Kado En received the grim news of their defeat. The report confirmed that the Konoha forces at the Fire Country border had been completely annihilated.
In response, Utatane Koharu called for an emergency meeting at the Hokage Building. The topic was clear: the devastating attack on the border and the rapidly advancing Sand Village army.
As the high-ranking shinobi gathered, Koharu and Mito Kado En sat at the front, while Hiruzen, though retired, observed. His experience and insight still commanded respect, and he was allowed to participate in the meeting.
Among the gathered, many notable faces stood out. Might Guy, his signature watermelon head visible, and Hatake Kakashi, with his silver hair, took their seats. Other high-ranking shinobi, including Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Mitarashi Anko, Nara Shikaku, and many more, also gathered to discuss the situation.
But there was one individual in the back row who seemed out of place. Chu Feng, wearing sunglasses and a windbreaker, sat casually, clearly unaffected by the seriousness of the situation. He had come out of boredom and was seemingly indifferent to the rest of the proceedings.
As everyone reviewed the reports, the shock and confusion were palpable. No one could understand why Gaara would initiate such a reckless attack.
"Okay, everyone has finished reading the documents in front of them," Mitomon Yan said, adjusting his glasses. "The situation is urgent."
He looked at the others with a concerned expression. "Gaara has launched an attack on Konoha? Is he mad?"
Sarutobi Asuma's face twisted with anger. "At a time like this, starting a war will have disastrous consequences for both sides."
Morino Ibiki, ever the strategist, analyzed the situation. "This won't end well. No matter who wins, both countries will suffer greatly."
As everyone nodded in agreement, Mitarashi Anko blinked and spoke up. "Their army is already at our gates. What should we do now?"
Her words sent a chill through the room. The urgency of the situation was clear.
"We know Gaara, the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, has completely controlled the battlefield," Utatane Koharu said, her voice serious as she glanced over the room. "We must find a way to respond."
Everyone fell silent for a moment, each pondering their next move. But as the room became heavy with thought, Kakashi suddenly stood up, his eyes sharp with realization.
His mind flashed to a memory—a figure from his past, a man who had shaped him into who he was today. The memory of his father, Hatake Sakumo, the Konoha White Fang, flashed before his eyes. He knew what had to be done.
And with that realization, Kakashi made his move.