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

Chapter 427 Konoha's Fangs

"Those guys..."

Obito slammed his fist in frustration, his eyes blazing with anger behind his goggles. "We have to teach them a lesson!"

"Calm down, Obito."

Kakashi's voice came from the side, as cool and clear as ever, "Now is not the time to act impulsively. We should follow Minato-sensei's arrangements."

"I know! Of course I know!"

Obito protested, "I just think... it's outrageous!"

Nohara Rin looked worriedly at the two bickering, then glanced at the silent Akatsuki team. She took out three water bottles from her ninja tool bag and handed them over.

"Have some water first."

She said softly.

Yahiko took the water bottle and took a big gulp. The icy liquid flowed down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the fire in his heart.

Looking at his energetic and hopeful companions, and then thinking of the little girl who died in the ruins, whose name he didn't even know, a huge sense of separation overwhelmed him.

This is Konoha, this is what they are meant to protect.

And those bastards are trampling on all of this with impunity.

Just as the atmosphere in the camp became increasingly tense due to the return of the Akatsuki squad.

A very faint chakra fluctuation, detectable only at a specific frequency, suddenly rang out in the miniature communication device next to Minato's ear.

Yamanaka Inoichi's voice, filled with unprecedented urgency and solemnity, exploded directly in his mind.

"Captain Minato, a large-scale chakra reaction has been detected to the northeast!"

coming!

Minato's eyes narrowed to their absolute limit in an instant.

The young man, who was as gentle as the spring sunshine just a moment ago, suddenly changed his entire demeanor.

It was a sharpness that defied description, like a peerless sword hidden in its sheath, suddenly drawn, revealing its cold gleam!

With almost no time to think, Minato Namikaze's thinking ability, known as the brain of Konoha, had reached its limit, and the optimal solution was formed in the blink of an eye.

Without the slightest hesitation, his sharp, knife-like gaze swept over the young ninjas before him. His voice was calm and decisive, each word like a nail, precisely driven into the hearts of each person.

"Seventh Class, Xiao Team, follow me!"

"The rest of you maintain formation, clear the battlefield, and be ready to provide support at any time!"

At the command, there was no further delay.

"yes!"

He was met with several equally resolute and fighting voices.

The anger in Yahiko's eyes finally found an outlet. He turned around abruptly, his orange hair drawing a passionate arc in the air.

"Oh my go! Are we finally going to get started?!"

Obito Uchiha let out an excited shout, as if he wanted to vent all his pent-up frustration.

Kakashi Hatake silently pushed his headband up, revealing his left eye, which, though not yet awakened, was equally sharp and piercing. His right hand was already resting on the hilt of the White Fang short sword behind him.

Nagato raised her head, and something deeper seemed to be slowly flowing in the depths of her usually quiet eyes.

Several figures transformed into arrows released from a bow at the same time, following closely behind the golden flash, rushing headlong into the twilight-shrouded northeast direction without hesitation.

Golden shadows refracted repeatedly through the dense forest.

Minato Namikaze lightly touched the tree trunk with each step, without even stirring a single leaf. Behind him, the members of Team 7 and the Akatsuki maintained a tight assault formation.

The acrid smell in the air grew stronger; it was the pungent odor unique to burning rice.

Yahiko increased his speed again, practically skimming the ground. Having grown up in the Land of Rain, he had an instinctive aversion to the smell of destroyed crops. That smell meant hunger, it meant plunder, it meant countless families would face utter despair in the coming winter.

"Three hundred meters ahead, the chakra reaction is entering a period of violent fluctuation."

Nagato's voice was clearly transmitted to everyone through the earpiece. His perception range was even wider than that of the Hyuga clan. In his mind, there was not only fighting ahead, but also lives falling like harvested wheat.

Minato didn't turn around; he raised his right hand slightly and made a spreading gesture backward.

……

"Help...help me..."

In the muddy center of the village, a genin from Kumogakure struggled to stand up.

His right hand was broken, and he could only use his left hand to support himself on the ground with difficulty, leaving a long trail in the wet soil.

Before him stood six Iwa ninja wearing brown vests.

"You brat from Kumogakure, where's your spirit?"

The leader, a Jonin from Iwagakure, codenamed Daishi, was casually playing with the short sword in his hand.

At his feet lay the bodies of several civilian samurai who, just minutes before, had tried to protect their village with their rusty ninja swords.

"Captain, there are still people in the cellar behind, and it seems like they've hidden a lot of supplies."

A rock ninja casually tossed down a fire-sealing talisman, which ignited a nearby thatched hut.

The firelight illuminated Da Shi's face, which was full of mockery.

"Kill them all, empty the place."

The large stone stepped on the back of the Cloud Village genin and twisted it forcefully. With a cracking sound, the genin let out a shrill scream.

"Don't die so soon. Let me think, should I slit your throat first, or...?"

Daishi's words came to an abrupt end.

Because a golden spot of light that shouldn't have been there appeared at the edge of his retina.

In that instant, Oishi's instincts as an elite Jonin made his hair stand on end, and he almost instinctively wanted to jump back.

But the concept of time and space was strangely misplaced in his perception.

Snapped.

It was an extremely faint sound of water hitting the surface.

Daishi didn't even see how the person appeared; he only felt a gentle yet irresistible force that instantly seized his thoughts.

A blond youth had somehow crouched down beside him, holding a strange, specially made kunai with three points in his right hand.

The sharp blade was now pressed against the carotid artery of the large stone.

"Your game is over."

The sound of the water gate was very soft, yet it was exceptionally clear in the drizzle.

Daishi's entire body stiffened, and his pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints at that moment.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his underwear; due to extreme fear, he could even hear his own heart pounding violently.

How is that possible... at this speed...?