Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 38 The Cloud Shadow Village Army Presses In

The border between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire.

Thousands of elite ninja from Kumogakure formed a black torrent, rolling toward Konoha's northern fortress with unstoppable momentum.

Each of them was burly and muscular, with faint electric currents crackling around them, and their faces wore expressions of bloodlust and excitement.

The Hidden Cloud Village, a village that reveres martial prowess and takes pride in battle, has been lying dormant for far too long.

Today, led by their shadows, they will announce their return to the entire ninja world.

At the very front of the torrent was a figure that resembled a demon god.

The Third Raikage, A.

He was shirtless, his bronze skin covered with battle scars, and every muscle brimming with explosive power.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Shield!"

A blinding blue bolt of lightning erupted from his body, forming an armor made of pure lightning that enveloped his entire body.

Sizzle—sizzle—

The violent lightning made the air hiss as if it were about to collapse under the strain.

His personal guards were forced to retreat repeatedly by this powerful chakra.

"Hahaha! That's exactly how it feels!"

Feeling the surging power within him, Ai let out a hearty laugh.

"Lord Raikage, according to intelligence, Konoha's three armies are currently tied down by Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure, leaving the village's military forces vulnerable. This is the perfect opportunity for us to break through their northern defenses in one fell swoop!"

His secretary, also a powerful Jonin, excitedly reported to his superior.

"Not bad." Ai snorted disdainfully.

He glanced south at that fertile land, his eyes filled with greed and contempt.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi... that weak brat who hid behind his teacher actually became Hokage."

"Hmph, very well. Tobirama Senju died at the hands of our Kumogakure back then. Today, let his disciple also leave his life here!"

"Pass on my order! All troops, accelerate! I want to raze this dilapidated fortress of Konoha to the ground before nightfall!"

"yes!"

The morale of the Cloud Hidden Army reached its peak amidst the Raikage's roar.

Thunder rumbled, and a murderous aura filled the sky.

In their view, the outcome of this war was no longer in doubt.

They will be like a red-hot blade, easily slicing through the rotten cheese that is Konoha.

"Waaaaah—waaaah—"

The urgent alarm sounded instantly throughout the entire northern fortress.

The Konoha ninjas, who had been chatting, instantly lost their laziness and confusion, and their faces tensed up with a murderous aura.

The ninjas of the Barrier Squad rapidly formed hand seals, and visible chakra barriers rose up from all sides of the fortress, enveloping the entire fortress like an iron barrel.

The medical team ninjas quickly set up a temporary aid station in the rear and prepared a large amount of medical supplies.

The ninjas of the combat unit, armed with kunai and ninja swords, stood densely packed along the hundreds-of-meters-long city wall, their sharp eyes fixed on the distant horizon.

Within minutes, the entire fortress transformed from a seemingly relaxed holiday camp into a war machine on high alert.

This is the essence of Konoha.

Even in the most peaceful times, they never forgot the cruelty of war.

Standing atop the highest point of the city wall, Shimura Danzo gazed at the orderly scene below, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

He now understood that Hiruzen's seemingly idle waiting was not laziness, but an extreme form of confidence.

He was confident that his subordinates could enter a perfect combat state the moment they received an order.

He was confident in himself and believed he could handle whatever came next.

"All troops, heed my command!"

Danzo's voice, amplified by chakra, resounded throughout the fortress: "The enemy is approaching! This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill!"

"Root members, disperse into formation, monitor the battlefield, and be ready to provide support and execute special missions at any time!"

"Anti-subordinate members, form assault teams and await my signal!"

He issued a series of commands in an orderly manner.

At this moment, he was no longer the competitor living in Hiruzen's shadow, but the true Hokage's deputy and the deputy commander-in-chief of the battlefield.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood beside him, simply watching calmly without uttering a word.

He handed over all pre-battle command to Danzo.

This trust warmed Danzo's heart in a way that was hard to describe.

He knew that Hiruzen was telling him in this way: Danzo, I believe you.

"Hiruzen, thank you."

Danzo said in a low voice.

"We're comrades, aren't we?" Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled.

Just then, a dark cloud appeared on the distant horizon.

The dark cloud was moving rapidly toward the fortress at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Boom—!"

A muffled rumble of thunder came from the distant horizon, as if a vast army was galloping in.

The earth began to tremble slightly.

The ninjas on the city wall knew that it was the ninja army of Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village).

It is the main force of Kumogakure, famous for its strong physique and domineering lightning release!

As the distance closed, the true nature of the dark cloud was finally revealed.

It was a massive legion composed of thousands of robust Cloud Village ninjas dressed in white combat uniforms.

Each of them was like a beast unleashed from its cage, exuding an aura of savagery.

At the very front of the legion, a burly figure was charging forward at a speed that surpassed human limits.

His body was enveloped in a dazzling blue lightning bolt, transforming him into a bolt of lightning that tore through the air.

Wherever the lightning struck, deep furrows were carved into the ground, and the air seemed to groan in agony, as if it were about to collapse under the weight of the lightning.

The Third Raikage, A!

Instead of following the main force, he chose one person to be the spearhead of the entire legion, charging ahead at the very front.

What confidence, what domineering attitude!

He wanted to use his own body to break down the gates of Konoha for the legion behind him.

"That's... the Third Raikage?"

On the city wall, a young Konoha Chunin looked at the blue lightning bolt that seemed to be descending from the heavens, his voice trembling slightly.

"Wow...that's terrifying chakra..."

"Is this really a power that humans can possess?"

Even seasoned veterans, when faced with this overwhelming sense of oppression, gripped their weapons tightly, their palms drenched in cold sweat.

"Everyone, hold your ground!"

Danzo shouted angrily, "He's just a commoner! We are Konoha ninjas! Behind us are the village, our families!"

His voice roused the wavering ninjas.

Yes, they are Konoha ninjas.

Behind them is the Hokage!

All eyes turned to the figure standing in the very center of the city wall.