Naruto: With Favorabiltity System

Chapter 263: Do You Also Wish to Dance?

At the Konoha encampment in the southern region of the Hokey Mountain Range, a Hyuga scouting ninja rushed to Haneda's side, reporting the enemy's numbers:

"Hokage-sama! Kumogakure has gathered nearly all their forces—dense clusters of chakra signatures, definitely exceeding ten thousand!"

Haneda activated his Kagura's Mind Eye, casually correcting him: "Twelve thousand, three hundred twenty-seven."

Hearing such a precise number, Jiraiya's face grew solemn.

He wasn't worried about Haneda dying on the battlefield—after all, with the Flying Thunder God Technique, escape was always an option.

What truly concerned him was the fate of the Konoha ninja.

In a conventional battle, the leaders would face off against each other—Haneda against the Fourth Raikage, Killer Bee, and Yugito.

But the Konoha forces had to contend with an enemy army that was four times their size. That sheer disparity was staggering, nearly insurmountable.

Jiraiya spoke with concern, "Haneda, it's not too late to make a decision. If we retreat now and focus on defense, we can preserve most of our forces."

Shisui, who had experienced the brutality of post-war skirmishes, also understood the realities of war. He added his voice to Jiraiya's:

"Hokage-sama, we should retreat for now. I can use Kotoamatsukami on the Fourth Raikage to stop the war altogether."

Itachi, standing nearby, hesitated. He wanted to support Shisui's suggestion but was interrupted as Haneda declared with unwavering confidence:

"Twelve thousand ninja? I alone shall suffice."

"I, Uchiha Haneda, value the lives of my soldiers as if they were my own. I will never stand by and watch Konoha shinobi perish needlessly!"

"You all will stay atop the Hokey Mountain Range as spectators while I, as Hokage, battle Kumogakure alone!"

His bold proclamation left Jiraiya, Shisui, Itachi, and the surrounding Konoha ninja in stunned silence.

Love his soldiers like his children?

The Hokage himself going to single-handedly face Kumogakure?

Even by the lofty standards of Haneda's strength, this statement was almost impossible to believe.

"That's twelve thousand ninja!" one shinobi muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

The sheer thought of twelve thousand enemy ninja attacking simultaneously—each one capable of devastating destruction—made their blood run cold.

"Hokage-sama, you can't put yourself in harm's way like this!" Shisui urgently protested.

But Haneda cut him off. "I have the Flying Thunder God. Amidst an army, I will move as freely as picking an object from my pocket."

"And besides, I am not the Third Hokage. I will not hide behind my troops—I will lead from the front!"

Jiraiya couldn't help but chuckle. "Well said, Haneda. We'll hold the rear lines for you. With the Flying Thunder God, you'll always have a way back."

His first sentence was sincere; the second was to reassure the other Konoha shinobi.

Jiraiya could tell that Haneda wasn't joking. He was serious—dead serious.

This Fifth Hokage is nothing like the Third. He truly dares to take on everything himself.

Following Haneda's orders, the Konoha forces ascended to the peak of the Hokey Mountain Range, overlooking the vast Kumogakure army below.

From their vantage point, they could see the sprawling formation of the enemy's forces. But instead of attacking, the Konoha forces simply took their positions and waited, as if they were securing the high ground to fend off an assault.

Yugito Nii, observing the unusual behavior of Konoha's army, turned to the Fourth Raikage.

"Should we attack, Raikage-sama?"

The Raikage furrowed his brow. "Something feels off. This strategy doesn't align with Uchiha Haneda's usual style—it's more like Jiraiya's."

"Yo yo, big bro, look at the sky though, something's shining, a star on the go! But hey, it's not night—what's up with that light? Hachibi flow, here we go!"

Killer Bee's rap redirected everyone's attention upward.

In the snowy expanse of the sky above, a streak of lightning shot across the heavens, resembling a meteor.

As it approached, its true nature became evident. It wasn't a meteor—it was Haneda, clad in Lightning Chakra Mode, soaring through the air.

The Raikage's eyes narrowed. "Prepare to engage! That's Uchiha Haneda!"

The Kumogakure ninja scrambled into position, but their movements were slightly delayed by their shock.

Haneda's Lightning Chakra Mode was unlike the Raikage's own—it was infused with a unique quality, allowing him to fly effortlessly through the air.

As he descended, the Raikage's gaze shifted to the Konoha forces atop the mountain.

None of them were moving.

They stood silently, as if watching a grand spectacle unfold—a stark contrast to the tension building on the battlefield below.

"How bold! Uchiha Haneda dares to face twelve thousand of us alone? Does he think we're as weak as Iwagakure?"

"Men of Kumogakure, show him our unity! Let's make sure he doesn't leave here alive!"

The Raikage's rallying cry reverberated through the ranks, igniting their fighting spirit.

"URA! URA!"

The Kumogakure forces roared in unison, their battle cries echoing even to the Konoha troops on the mountain, instilling a sense of foreboding.

"Can he really win?" Itachi murmured, doubt clouding his voice as he witnessed his first large-scale war.

Jiraiya had no answer. He didn't know if this battle would end in disaster or become a defining moment of Haneda's legacy as Hokage.

Shisui, however, offered reassurance. "Hokage-sama wouldn't enter this fight recklessly. He's prepared for any outcome."

Far away, in the shadows of the battlefield, a figure in a tiger-striped mask and a black cloak adorned with red clouds observed silently.

It was Obito.

Zetsu emerged from the ground beside him, grinning wickedly. "Are you worried about your dear friend?"

Obito didn't reply. His Sharingan focused intently on Haneda as he descended into the Kumogakure ranks.

Finally, he muttered, "No one in this world can stop him... except me."

...…

Amidst the thunderous roars of the Kumogakure army, Haneda landed gracefully. He brushed the dust off his robes, scanning the encroaching enemies with a glint of excitement in his eyes.

"Let's see if this spectacle can entertain me."

In a flash, he vanished from his spot, reappearing among the ranks of Kumogakure.

Without hesitation, he drew his blade. A single swing cut through multiple enemies before he darted forward, striking down more in rapid succession.

The battlefield erupted into chaos as Kumogakure ninja attempted to surround him, but Haneda moved with inhuman speed and precision.

Dodging kunai and shuriken with ease, he countered every attack with deadly efficiency.

Relying solely on his taijutsu, Haneda danced through the battlefield like a force of nature, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake.

At one point, a Kumogakure ninja hurled an explosive-tagged kunai at him, aiming to exploit his reluctance to expend chakra unnecessarily.

Haneda avoided the kunai and, before the tag detonated, casually stuck it onto another ninja's vest.

Realizing the trap, the unfortunate victim frantically tried to remove the tag, but it detonated before he could.

The explosion sent blood and gore flying, but Haneda didn't even look back. Instead, he grabbed the original attacker by the collar.

Haneda's crimson Sharingan bore into his prey.

"Do you also wish to dance?"

...…