Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 34: This Ninja Is Clearly Very Strong

Hayama grabbed hold of Minato, who had intended to charge into the Suna defensive line at the first opportunity. Under the confused gazes of his teammates, he simply stood still, watching the fierce battle ahead, making no move to join in.

"What are you doing?" Minato demanded, clearly displeased with Hayama's hesitation.

His reaction was understandable. In the brief moment since the battle began, casualties had already occurred. Minato's compassionate nature would not allow him to stand by idly while comrades fell before his eyes. He was eager to leap into the fray and use his abilities to open a path for the Konoha forces.

But Hayama said nothing. Instead, he nodded toward the several other Konoha squads lying in wait nearby. Seeing this, Minato immediately understood his intention.

In terms of numbers, the defending Suna ninja were roughly equal to the Konoha attackers, but their overall combat capabilities were somewhat inferior. In the chaos of a large skirmish, differences in individual skill were diminished. Neither side had a single ninja capable of turning the tide instantly—neither Hayama nor Minato, at their current levels, were up to that task.

And the mission was clear: kill as many of Suna's medical ninja as possible. If the entire Konoha force committed to breaking through the defensive line, they might succeed in defeating the Suna defenders—but the mission would fail.

Medical ninja, despite their limited combat abilities, were still ninja. They had legs, and they would not simply wait to die. The mobility inherent in the ninja profession meant that once they decided to flee, it would be nearly impossible to eliminate them all without additional blocking measures.

The objective given to them by Hiruzen Sarutobi was not to annihilate the Suna defenders, but to cripple or even destroy the medical ninja force.

With this in mind, Minato's expression hardened. Silently, he concealed himself and maneuvered around the ongoing battle, making his way toward the field hospital.

Someone who cannot bear to abandon anything will end up losing everything. In the face of a mission, a ninja may be used as a tool, even if this runs contrary to the ideals of the Will of Fire.

Having successfully reached the perimeter of the hospital, Minato refrained from attacking immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Hayama.

As the others watched, Hayama smiled faintly and signaled his plan through hand signs.

It was a simple plan. Several other Konoha squads, which had also infiltrated the area, would initiate an attack first, drawing the attention of the remaining Suna defenders. Meanwhile, Hayama would use his high-speed Lightning Release techniques to breach the hospital, tossing Minato's specially-marked kunai to enable the two of them to eliminate as many medical ninja as possible in a short period.

A smart commander doesn't put all their eggs in one basket. The Suna officer in charge here was surely no fool, and likely had held back a portion of his forces in reserve.

As for the Suna sensory ninja, Hayama wasn't too concerned. Knowing the enemy's intentions ahead of time was one thing; preventing them was another. Hayama had faith in his speed. For him, power combined with caution equaled success—this was his creed.

Minato nodded lightly, fully agreeing with Hayama's plan. Without realizing it, Minato's sense of ethics and his threshold for certain actions were gradually being lowered under Hayama's influence.

It didn't take long for the other Konoha squads to launch their assault. In enemy territory, traditional ninja tools like kunai and shuriken lost much of their effectiveness; it was combination jutsu that truly shone in situations like this.

"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A massive surge of flames intensified by a fierce wind surged toward the Suna field hospital. But the Suna defenders, well-prepared, unleashed a powerful combined Water Release technique, extinguishing the oncoming inferno before it could reach the building.

Thick steam filled the area, obscuring vision. Several impatient Konoha ninja rushed through the haze toward the hospital, only to be met with the sound of clashing steel and agonized screams. When the steam finally cleared, the scene outside the hospital entrance was revealed.

The corpses of several Konoha ninja lay sprawled on the ground. While some Suna bodies were also present, it was clear that this initial probing attack had failed. The bodies of their fallen comrades were a grim reminder that recklessness could have dire consequences.

Konoha ninja were known for their diverse elemental skills, but their famed Fire Release was often more symbolic than practical. When it came to truly lethal jutsu, other elemental techniques often proved more effective.

"Earth Release: Fissure Palm!"

A jutsu beloved by the Stone ninja of Iwagakure erupted from the hands of several Konoha ninja, causing the ground to split and the hospital's outer wall to topple. The hospital building stood exposed, like a peeled banana. Without hesitation, the enraged Konoha attackers prepared their next combination attack.

"Water Release: Raging Torrent!"

"Lightning Release: Ground Spike!"

With lightning surging through the water, the Suna defenders were forced to raise earthen walls to block the attack, shielding themselves while cutting off their own line of sight.

As is often the case in combat, losing sight of one's surroundings can lead to disastrous consequences.

The destroyed hospital wall provided an excellent point of entry, and the Suna ninja's obscured vision made this the perfect opportunity to strike. Approximately twenty Konoha ninja seized the moment and charged into the hospital grounds. Hayama, however, remained still.

He counted silently, waiting until five seconds had passed. Five seconds was all it took before it was his turn to act.

Hayama performed a series of hand signs, causing electricity to crackle around his body. Sparks of lightning occasionally leaped off him, making Minato wince and instinctively step back.

When the five seconds were up, Hayama pushed off the ground, shooting forward like a bolt of lightning.

The Suna sensory ninja's face turned pale as he shouted, "Stop him!"

But the Suna defenders, their attention already split by the initial Konoha assault, were too slow to intercept. They could only watch as Hayama surged into the hospital building, where over a hundred medical ninja were tirelessly treating the wounded.

Ikegami Aonobu roared in anger, trying to shake off the two Konoha Jōnin who had him pinned down so he could intervene. But the Konoha Jōnin had no intention of letting him escape. Their relentless attacks, trading injuries for injuries, kept Aonobu occupied and unable to assist against Hayama's charge.

All of this happened in a flash. The speed granted by Hayama's Lightning Release techniques allowed him to cover the hundred-meter distance in an instant. As he burst through the hospital doors, two kunai slashed at him, aiming for a disembowelment.

But Hayama had anticipated this. His heightened brain activity, stimulated by the lightning coursing through him, sharpened his reflexes.

With a quick pivot, he collided into the Suna ninja attacking him. In one fluid motion, he drove his blade through the enemy's throat. The sheer force of his movement severed the ninja's head entirely. Using this momentum, Hayama dashed upstairs to the second floor of the hospital.

There, hanging from the ceiling in the second-floor hallway, Hayama looked like a wolf among sheep. His bloodstained vest and the drips of red from his face painted a chilling picture. His eyes scanned his surroundings, not yet attacking. Instead, he channeled a small amount of chakra into Minato's special kunai. A moment later, Minato appeared beside him, ready for action.

The two exchanged a glance, their silence saying all that needed to be said. Then they separated, each intent on inflicting maximum casualties in the shortest possible time.

The hospital's halls filled with screams and the sounds of bodies hitting the ground. In the face of Hayama and Minato's onslaught, the medical ninja, untrained for direct combat, fell like wheat before a scythe. The air grew thick with the metallic scent of blood, overwhelming even the sharp odor of antiseptics.

Eventually, Hayama reached the last room on the third floor. The narrow hallways were streaked with blood, his uniform soaked red, and his face splattered with droplets that dripped to the floor.

He kicked open the door and stepped inside. His bloody ninja sandals squished audibly with each step, causing the people inside to shudder in fear.

But what he saw in that moment gave him pause.

Five medical ninja in white coats were gathered around a patient's bed. Their hands glowed with the green light of Healing Techniques, working tirelessly to save a gravely injured Suna ninja. The patient's burns were severe, a blade still embedded through his body, leaving him on the brink of death. Yet, under their hands, his damaged cells were slowly regenerating, inching him back from the grasp of the reaper.

Hayama stared at the scene, his face expressionless. The sheer dedication and determination of these Suna medics struck a chord in him. Deciding the mission was already nearly complete, he slowly turned away, sheathed his blade, and left the room.

He soon found Minato on the second floor, his gaze distant. Hayama sighed, patted Minato's cheek lightly to bring him back to reality, and signaled that it was time to retreat.

In the short span of time they were in the hospital, Hayama and Minato had massacred the majority of the medical ninja. Their mission was a brutal success. The loss of hundreds of experienced medics meant that Suna's medical infrastructure was now teetering on the brink of collapse.

The order given by the Third Hokage had been executed flawlessly by Hayama and Minato. With the mission accomplished, their next challenge was a safe withdrawal.

Hayama's decision to spare those final medical ninja came not from sentimentality, but from a lingering echo of the words spoken by Sakumo Hatake. He reminded himself not to become a monster who kills solely for the sake of killing.

The iron nature of ninja missions drove Hayama to raise his blade against those who healed and saved lives. But the flicker of humanity within him led him to spare those who posed no immediate threat.

On the razor's edge of morality, Hayama had yet to fully descend into the abyss. For now, at least, he still held onto the faint traces of what made him human.