*Chapter 221: Decapitation Operation*

But even so, Konoha is their home ground, and to be honest, Konoha is in a worse state than the Hidden Mist Village.

The core strength of Konoha has mostly left, leaving only a few prominent clans.

Even with home-field advantage, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no confidence in winning this war.

"Have they spread out?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a worried expression, aware of Konoha's weakened leadership.

The biggest fear was that the Hidden Cloud Village would use a divide-and-conquer tactic. With their current forces, Konoha couldn’t muster enough competent leaders to face them.

Originally, the leading figure in Konoha was Kakashi, whose genius and Sharingan made him stand out in the ninja world, even though he hadn’t reached Kage level.

He was the one reliable individual capable of creating a breakthrough, especially with Might Guy and others by his side.

But now, such individuals were scarce.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as he reviewed the names on the list in his hand.

Seventy percent were from the Sarutobi clan!

These were the soldiers Hiruzen had painstakingly trained.

One could say!

Hiruzen Sarutobi had poured immense effort into this army.

The weakest among them were Chunin, and there were over four hundred Jonin-level ninjutsu experts.

Moreover, there were also mixed-bloods from the Sarutobi and Senju clans, as well as other clans, many of whom were proficient in various secret techniques.

Unfortunately, Wood Release was exceptionally rare, and none of them had mastered it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi always believed it was due to their impure bloodlines that they couldn’t master Wood Release.

But relying on this ninja army alone, at least this time, Konoha wouldn’t fall.

The individuals sent to Jiraiya before were just a select few.

But!

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced outside Konoha, a sharp glint in his eyes.

Perhaps!

The Uchiha clan was watching from the sidelines.

If the Hidden Cloud Village attacked, they might strike Konoha!

This wasn’t impossible, so he had to be cautious.

He couldn’t reveal all his cards at once.

He needed to keep his forces in reserve.

He had to be wary of the Uchiha clan's actions.

"We won’t stay on the defensive any longer. You two will each lead a team to try and break through the Hidden Cloud Village’s defenses!"

"I will also lead a team and force out the Raikage, which is the only way to win."

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew this was risky, but if they continued to stalemate, their morale would plummet, and even the civilians under their protection would become dissatisfied.

They could fight, but not at their doorstep, and definitely not in Konoha.

Every tree and blade of grass in Konoha was nurtured by them, so if they had to fight, it would be outside the village.

"I understand!"

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances, unable to refuse Hiruzen Sarutobi’s request.

After all, under the current circumstances, they couldn’t continue hiding in Konoha.

However,

So much time had passed.

When was the last time they fought?

Oh right, during the Second Shinobi World War.

But that was decades ago, and their blades had dulled.

However, with their experience, surviving on the battlefield shouldn’t be a problem.

"By the way! I’ll need to borrow 200 of your clan's ninjas. The Uchiha clan hasn’t made any moves so far."

"I plan to have the Sarutobi clan stay in the village to deal with the Uchiha!"

"If they show up, the elite of the Sarutobi clan will strike them with full force."

"So don’t worry about the rear!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi added.

"Boom!"

This news struck like a bolt from the blue.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were stunned.

They didn’t expect that even at this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi still didn’t intend to deploy the Sarutobi clan.

He was even keeping the Sarutobi clan's strength in reserve, unwilling to send out even a small force.

Now, borrowing 200 ninjas already spoke volumes.

Suddenly, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in shock.

Unbelievable!

Hiruzen Sarutobi had become like this!

It wasn’t enough to desecrate the Uchiha and Senju clans' graves.

Was he now going to turn against his old friends?

Those who had once been Sarutobi’s allies now felt like they were being used and discarded.

After being nurtured by Hiruzen for so many years, now, at this critical moment, they were being used as cannon fodder.

"Do you still have time to worry about personal gains and losses? This is a matter of Konoha’s life and death!"

"After all these years of benefiting from Konoha, isn’t it time you contributed?"

"As long as we survive this crisis, your clans will remain important parts of Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.

"Yes!"

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado finally agreed.

They knew Hiruzen Sarutobi too well.

If they died, everything they had gained over the years would likely be lost, and their clans could be reduced to insignificance.

But!

They had no choice.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi said, they had taken too much.

Now it was time to repay.

Night fell!

Darkness enveloped the world.

And the blackness was the perfect cover for ninja operations.

"Click!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi ensured his gauntlets were securely fastened.

Dressed in battle gear, with Enma already transformed beside him.

He looked at the strongest forces Konoha had to offer, those who were handpicked as the current elite.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s line was critical.

"Commence... the Decapitation Operation!"

A sharp glint flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes as he spoke softly to the group.

Although his voice was quiet, it reached everyone’s ears.

As ninjas, they were long prepared for death.

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi’s words, they showed no reaction, merely drawing their weapons and assuming attack stances.

"Let’s go! Protect Konoha from the Tailed Beasts!"

The Hyūga clan leader’s face no longer showed any signs of fear as he spoke sternly to the clan members beside him.

This time, the main force would be the branch family, while the main family and the elderly, women, and children were positioned in the middle of the formation.

Some members of the main family were still quite angry, feeling they were being treated as if they had no combat ability, like the old and weak.

But at this moment!

There was no need for another voice.

They would be eliminated swiftly and with overwhelming force.

"Lord Ryūya! I hope you can lead the team!"

The Hyūga clan leader, worried that he might not perform well, turned to Hyūga Ryūya for guidance.

He was someone who had been brought in temporarily and felt he didn't have the capability to command an entire clan.

"At this point, you’re still showing such a detestable expression!"

"I really don’t know how you became the temporary clan leader; you don’t even have this much courage."

"If you don’t want to lead, then follow behind me. I’ll die first, and then you can die."

Hyūga Ryūya sneered!

He could see that the other’s heart was not as calm as it appeared.

Ryūya was someone who had seen through life and death, so he had no fear at all.

But these younger ones had not lived enough yet! It was only natural that fear would arise in their hearts.

"Yes!"

The Hyūga clan leader lowered his head and stood beside Hyūga Ryūya.

Even though he had been scolded, he had no intention of talking back.

"Let’s go! Let’s put a definitive end to Konoha! The Hyūga clan of Konoha will perish here and now."

Hyūga Ryūya was the first to charge forward.

The white-robed ninjas behind him surged like a wave.

They followed closely behind Ryūya without stopping.

All the enemies in their path were quickly dealt with.

After all!

In the face of the Hyūga clan’s Byakugan, no form of concealment could escape their sight.

Even the most advanced stealth techniques could not hide from the Byakugan.

"Lord Raikage, Konoha has started attacking in four different directions."

Tsuchidai was the first to notice Konoha's movements, so he immediately reported to the Raikage in his tent.

Raikage had not slept either; after all, how could they sleep under such circumstances?

Instead, he was discussing with Killer Bee and others on how to break through Konoha’s internal defenses as quickly as possible.

"What?"

Raikage’s eyes flashed with excitement!

Unexpected!

Konoha actually dared to step out of its own cage.

But this was good news; they had already laid out a trap.

Now they just had to wait for Konoha to fall into it!

"We also spotted the Third Hokage on the battlefield, personally leading a team of about 500 ninjas."

"The other two teams are led by Konoha’s higher-ups, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado!"

"And there’s one more team, which seems to be from the Hyūga clan!"

Tsuchidai’s Byakugan had already assessed the situation on the battlefield.

However, he still wasn’t clear on their intentions.

This made Tsuchidai feel a bit uneasy.

He was afraid the enemy might be hiding some sinister plan.

"Hmph, Konoha must be out of tricks! We might just be able to gain some Byakugan this time."

"Let’s hope Konoha doesn’t try to deceive us with the branch family’s Byakugan."

A grinning Raikage showed excitement at the prospect of obtaining Byakugan, which was quite tempting for him.

After all, they had previously plotted to acquire the Byakugan but had been thwarted by Konoha.

Now, they had the chance to gain a large number of Byakugan on the battlefield for their use.

Raikage immediately organized his forces, taking Yugito Nii and Killer Bee to confront the Third Hokage.

Leaving the two jinchūriki behind made him uneasy, so bringing them along was the best option.

As for the others!

They would use tactics to stall for time.

Once they took care of Hiruzen Sarutobi, everything else would fall into place.

These people would be easily defeated, with little resistance left.

Without hesitation, Raikage led 1,500 ninjas away.

Among them were 500 who had drunk the Hero Water, which gave them their only chance of assured victory.

"Have you located the jinchūriki?"

Hyūga Ryūya asked some scouts who had been sent out for reconnaissance.

Their target was the jinchūriki, so they needed to find them amid the chaos of the battlefield.

But this was like finding a needle in a haystack, though with the Byakugan, they could identify anyone with a massive amount of chakra.

"Lord Ryūya, they are following Raikage and moving towards the Third Hokage."

"Their target seems to be the Third Hokage! Should we?"

At this moment, the branch family ninja hesitated.

It was obvious that they shouldn’t interfere at this time.

Everyone in the Hyūga clan knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi was using them as cannon fodder.

The Hyūga clan rarely stood together, but their anger and resentment toward Hiruzen were enormous.

At this moment, they all wanted to see Hiruzen die on the battlefield.

"Fool!"

Hyūga Ryūya closed his eyes and scolded the branch family ninja in front of him.

The downfall of the Hyūga clan was inevitable; under Hiruzen Sarutobi’s rule, they had no way to survive.

And!

Now was the Hyūga clan’s final moment in the ninja world.

He hoped the Hyūga clan could leave behind a name like the Senju clan.

At the very least, after their death!

They could still be remembered many years later.

But these clan members didn’t understand.

They only cared about their immediate hatred.

But there was nothing more to say.

Hyūga Ryūya quickly organized the group to pursue Hiruzen Sarutobi.

And the members of the Hyūga branch family, as if without personalities of their own, just followed along.

However, compared to before, they were in a much better mood.

After all!

Today, not only would they die here.

But the main family would die here too.

Didn’t you notice that some of the main family members had even brought their children?

If they died here, perhaps there would be some sadness, some anger at their so-called fate!

But now!

They only hoped the ninjas from the Hidden Cloud would hurry up.

And leave just enough life in them to witness the main family dying in front of them.

To see them executed by the Hidden Cloud ninjas would be a sight to savor.

All obstacles along the way were cleared!

The Hyūga clan, as a large group, pressed toward the center of the Hidden Cloud’s defenses.

Because the area outside Konoha was covered in dense forests, both they and their enemies had significant opportunities for concealment.

"I can sense the chakra of a tailed beast."

Hyūga Ryūya’s eyes showed a sharp determination as he quickly rushed forward.

Bursting out of the forest, they found themselves in an open field!

They looked ahead and saw a massive sealing jutsu that had entrapped Hiruzen Sarutobi and hundreds of ninjas within it.

Meanwhile, the two tailed beasts were positioned outside the sealing jutsu, preparing to break it from the outside.

Hyūga Ryūya had arrived just in time!

"The Hyūga clan’s final honor! Let the entire ninja world remember that the Hyūga clan was the strongest in Konoha."

At this moment, the clan leader couldn’t help but feel emotional and spoke before Hyūga Ryūya could.

The main family members behind him were filled with excitement, complexity, and fear—a mix of emotions.

The branch family, however, showed only relief on their faces.

They knew that after this battle.

They would finally be free.