Naruto: The Hidden Shadow Style

The Hokage had positioned himself like an arrowhead, and every ninja in Konoha bore witness to it. His fearless charge ignited explosive energy across the entire Konoha frontline. Once they surged forward, there was no turning back—only victory or destruction awaited them.

However, unlike what Haseo had anticipated, although the Hokage was indeed brave, he did not charge straight into the heart of Sunagakure's formation. Instead, he maneuvered toward their flank.

This slight change in route puzzled Haseo slightly, but he quickly understood—the Hokage was clearly aiming for the most critical objective. The biggest difference between Konoha and Suna in this battle lay in Konoha's more timely and precise reconnaissance capabilities.

This advantage came from the Hyuga Clan within Hidden Leaf Village.

Undoubtedly, a Byakugan user must have been accompanying the Hokage, allowing him to fully grasp the enemy's battlefield layout. Even if Suna managed to create shielding barriers, such protection could only cover key areas; there was no way they could shield their entire formation.

And since full coverage was impossible, based on Suna's arrangement, much more intelligence could be inferred.

With such an advantage available, there was no reason not to use it. So now, the Hokage wasn't just aiming to break through enemy lines—he wanted to strike straight at their core.

But was achieving a one-hit kill actually possible?

"He's coming!"

Although the Hokage had taken a slightly longer path, for ninjas moving at full speed, the extra distance hardly cost any time at all. Within Haseo's vision, the enemy faces finally became clear… Konoha ninja and Suna ninja were about to collide head-on.

Probing attacks arrived one after another.

Haseo pulled out a short sword tucked at his waist with one hand, deflecting incoming shuriken sent by the enemy while simultaneously hurling a kunai back.

This was merely the simplest form of probing. Just as Haseo prepared to form hand seals for Ninjutsu, scorching Fire Release techniques burst and spread wildly through the air directly ahead, instantly clearing the enemies at the forefront. Immediately afterward, Haseo felt the ground beneath his feet rapidly rise. In the blink of an eye, he stood atop a half-circular elevated wall.

[Earth Release: Earth-Style Rampart]

By itself, the jutsu was merely a defensive Earth-style technique. However, the scale made all the difference—this technique had completely reshaped the battlefield terrain. Was this the Hokage's move? Haseo believed so. Then, would he soon witness that Ultimate Art—the Hokage's multi-elemental Ninjutsu?

Unleashing ultimate techniques right from the start actually suited the current situation quite well.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't hesitate, leading his direct subordinates leaping down from the top of the earth rampart. As a result, Konoha forces gained high-ground advantage over Suna's troops. Following this, Wind Release, Fire Release, Water Release, and Lightning Release techniques rained down from above in dazzling, complex, wide-range assaults.

But just as the Third Hokage had rushed down ahead of everyone else, his attack was also the first to be launched and arrive at the enemy—Hiruzen Sarutobi fully displayed his deadly expertise, whether it was ninjutsu or taijutsu, Elemental Chakra Affinities or hand speed, quantity or intensity of chakra.

He pulled out a scroll, unsealed its contents, and summoned forth an enormous shuriken whose diameter exceeded even that of an average human. The Hokage slung the enormous shuriken over his shoulder and hurled it toward the enemy below.

Next, he swiftly formed a series of hand seals:

[Ninjutsu: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique].

This was one of the personal techniques of the Third Hokage. In an instant, countless giant shurikens spread across the skies above Sunagakure's frontline—an endless expanse of terrifying force. To tell the truth, from the enemy's perspective, the young Hokage's debut was quite horrifying.

Yet as most Suna shinobi stood bewildered and uncertain, a pitch-black iron cloud suddenly intercepted midair before Sunagakure's battle line—and then expanded vastly.

"Iron Sand?"

Yes, Iron Sand.

Upon contact, loud metallic clashes rang out repeatedly; they had resisted this assault. Though Suna's defense was truly remarkable, the range of techniques varied. The Third Hokage's Shadow Shuriken was a saturation strike, while the coverage of the Iron Sand could never possibly protect all the ninja.

Thus, the shurikens struck the ground, sending sprays of blood into the air.

Though this Iron Sand effectively blocked much of the Hokage's assault, it inadvertently confirmed one crucial fact—Konoha had pinpointed Sunagakure's command center. If the ninja who controlled the Iron Sand appeared here, that meant Konoha had probably pierced directly into the heart of Sunagakure's frontlines.

Capitalizing on the various attacks falling from the sky, the Konoha ninja began their full-scale breach into Sunagakure's formation. The battlefield erupted with clashing steel and soaring jutsu—a chaotic melee had begun.

Just as Haseo was mid-leap, preparing to plunge into Suna's battle line, his peripheral vision caught sight of something unexpected on the battlefield. Therefore, with light steps against the sheer cliff face created by the Earth Flow Technique, he propelled forward through inertia, suspending sideways midair.

From such a high vantage point, he could practically overlook the entire battlefield, confirming once again what he had seen earlier.

"Haseo, what's wrong?" Nagisa Nara asked behind him. Because their leader had suddenly stopped, the rest of the squad halted immediately as well.

"I… I'll be back shortly."

But Haseo didn't acknowledge his question. Instead, his hands rapidly formed seals, followed by the unique Lightning Release glow enveloping him. Then, crackling with lightning chakra, he shot forward like a bolt of thunder—vanishing from sight before plunging headfirst into the enemy ranks.

What the actual hell!

All those earlier promises about staying in formation? Worthless now—those strict, formal orders were clearly just hot air.

Startled by Haseo's sudden action, his three squad members were taken aback. Naturally, they couldn't bring themselves to voice any accusation since their captain had already charged headlong before anyone could even speak.

In fact, because they momentarily failed to keep pace with Haseo, they soon completely lost track of his whereabouts.

The trio focused on the battle unfolding below, Chichio already gripping her bow.

"I found him!"

It was Chichio who first spotted Haseo. As her voice rang out, the direction of her arrow shifted swiftly and abruptly stopped. Then she let go of the bowstring, releasing an arrow directly forward.

Haseo's lightning-covered figure darted through enemy ranks when a grotesque foe blocked his path. Without hesitation, he slightly tilted his head sideways. A bolt of lightning suddenly surged, slicing through his body before striking the foe head-on.

Right between the eyebrows.

This was support from an ally, but Haseo didn't even turn around. He simply stepped over the fallen enemy and rushed into another fierce battle ahead.

Only upon reaching there did his footsteps finally stop.

Flashing figures darted through the battlefield above and below, gleaming blades flew in all directions, insidious and unpredictable poisons filled the air, along with the distinct sound of puppet manipulation… An enemy who had met Haseo once before now stood before him.

Long time no see, Menzuomen.

"Oh, I remember you—Konoha's "Homura Naraka." Didn't expect we'd meet again." Suddenly faced with Haseo himself, Menzuomen was first taken aback. Upon recognizing Haseo's face, he smiled. Of course he remembered him—last time not only had he failed to eliminate that young Konoha ninja squad, but he had been forced to retreat in disgrace from the Front Line.

And one major reason for that failure was this young ninja here dragging things out far too long.

Menzuomen remembered Haseo also because of the latter's uniquely distinctive hand seals and unimaginably fast jutsu casting speed. Therefore, during combat against this youth, absolutely no excessive room for forming seals could be given.

So this battlefield "greeting" ended right there. After all, they were enemies—what else needed saying? Menzuomen shook both arms then, fingers dancing rapidly. His famed creation—the full Chikamatsu Collection, all ten puppets—immediately surged toward Haseo.

Yet as the attack came, Haseo stood his ground without so much as flinching.

That his opponent still remembered the name he'd made up amused Haseo—it showed a decent memory. But what this puppeteer didn't know was that beneath each layer of "Homura Naraka's" skin lay a hidden ninja whose true designation would forever remain [Loner's Sting].

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