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Shin returned to the Konoha camp, where Sakumo Hatake was overseeing the reconstruction. The camp had been frozen solid; they had to build a new one.
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"Whew, you''re finally back."
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Kushina sighed in relief.
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"Where''s that Tanuki? Don''t tell me you lost it?"
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She hadn''t seen Shukaku.
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"No, I didn''t bring it here."
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The Konoha Shinobi were afraid of the One-Tail, so Shin had left it in a nearby forest.
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"Aren''t you worried Suna will steal it back?" Mikoto asked.
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"They don''t have the guts. Besides, Shukaku is under my control. If Suna tries anything, I''ll know."
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Shin said. He didn''t think Suna would dare try anything after their humiliating retreat.
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....
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Several days passed. Suna and Ame remained quiet, avoiding any conflict.
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They outnumbered Konoha, but they were forced to stay on the defensive. They were afraid of Shin''s large-scale Ice Release Jutsu.
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Konoha had the advantage on the Suna front, but the overall situation was still dire.
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At the Iwa front, with Hiruzen and Danzō, they had managed to achieve a stalemate.
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But Konoha was also facing Kirigakure. And on that front, Konoha was losing. Kiri had even reached the heartland of the Land of Fire.
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The Daimyo was panicking, sending messages to Hiruzen demanding an explanation. But those messages were useless. The Daimyo could only provide financial support; he couldn''t help militarily.
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He did have an army, but it was composed of ordinary humans. Against Shinobi, they were cannon fodder.
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Shin was currently on his way to the Kiri front, accompanied by Kushina, Mikoto, and Konan.
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The Sandaime Hokage had issued a special order, promoting Shin to Jōnin and sending him to the Kiri front.
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Shin had no objections. He had a mission to complete: help Konoha win the war.
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He couldn''t let Konoha lose. Kiri was practically at their doorstep. Even if Hiruzen hadn''t sent him, he would have found a way to deal with Kiri.
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...Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
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"Will Konoha be able to handle Suna and Ame without us?" Mikoto asked Shin.
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"I''m not sure, but they won''t lose."
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Shin wasn''t confident that Sakumo Hatake could defeat Suna and Ame.
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He should have dealt them a heavier blow before leaving. But if Sakumo really couldn''t handle it, he could always return.
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For now, dealing with Kiri was the priority. They were almost at Konoha''s doorstep. That was why Hiruzen had sent him.
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"Shin, can you make this Tanuki run a bit slower? I''m getting dizzy," Kushina complained.
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"Just endure it for a bit longer. We''ll be there soon," Shin said.
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Two hours later, they arrived at the Kiri front. The Konoha Shinobi were desperately defending, but they couldn''t hold back Kiri''s attacks.
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The Third Mizukage was personally leading the assault, slaughtering Konoha Shinobi.
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Homura and Koharu, the Konoha elders, were cowering at the back. It was a pathetic sight.
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"They''re both elders of a Hidden Village. Why are they so much weaker than Chiyo and Ebizo?"
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Shin scoffed, spotting them hiding.
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But even if they joined the fight, it wouldn''t make much difference. They were only quasi-Kage level at best. And after years of inactivity, their combat skills were probably rusty.
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"Shukaku, it''s your turn! Fire a Tailed Beast Bomb!"
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Shukaku''s three-tomoe Sharingan spun. Yin and Yang Chakra gathered in its mouth, forming a sphere that resembled a giant Rasengan.
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But its power was far greater.
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The Tailed Beast Bomb shot towards the Kiri Shinobi. Caught off guard, they couldn''t defend in time.
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BOOM!
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The Tailed Beast Bomb obliterated hundreds of Kiri Shinobi. It might be a weaker Tailed Beast Bomb, but it was still a Tailed Beast Bomb.
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"Too bad they''re so spread out. If they were all together, one Tailed Beast Bomb would have sent them all back home."
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Shin shook his head in mock disappointment.
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After two Tailed Beast Bombs, they couldn''t hide anymore. the One-Tail was massive. If the Kiri Shinobi hadn''t been focused on the Konoha Shinobi, they wouldn''t have been able to launch a surprise attack.
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"Damn it!"
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The Mizukage cursed and abandoned his attack on a Konoha Jōnin, turning to face the One-Tail.
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The other Kiri Shinobi also charged towards the One-Tail, their eyes filled with rage. They had been attacked from behind while fighting Konoha. And the Tailed Beast Bomb had killed many of their friends and family.
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They wanted revenge.
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With Kiri turning their attention to the One-Tail, the Konoha Shinobi sighed in relief.
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"So many of them... No wonder Homura couldn''t hold them back."
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Shin observed the approaching Kiri Shinobi. There were at least two or three thousand of them.
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Kushina and Mikoto looked at the horde, their hearts pounding. "Can you handle them, Shin?" they asked.
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"What are you worried about? Look at Konan. She''s so calm. You should learn from her."
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"I-I was just speechless from shock..." Konan mumbled, blushing.
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"Ice Release: Ice Human Technique!"
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Shin created a massive ice giant, almost as tall as his Perfect Susanoo. Even the One-Tail only reached its waist.
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"See that ice giant? Feel safe now?" Shin grinned.
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This was a new Ice Release Jutsu he had developed, based on the Wood Release: Wood Human Technique.
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It wasn''t just Ice Release; it was a combination of Ice Release and Yang Release. The ice giant had been given life by Yang Release.
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"That''s also Ice Release?"
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Kushina, Mikoto, and Konan stared at the giant in awe. Even Kushina and Mikoto, who had seen the Perfect Susanoo, were stunned.
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"It is Ice Release, but not ordinary Ice Release. It''s like the Shodaime Hokage''s Wood Release."
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Shin explained.