58 Chapter 58 Prelude to the Final Battle

The moon hung high, casting its light all over the large forest. But with time the dark clouds on the sky continued to increase, the moonlight gradually unable to pierce through the veil of darkness that took over the sky.

Swish!

Through the forest, making minimal sound a large group of shinobi with the konoha forehead protector jumped from tree to tree, marching forward.

There number was at least thousand but their movements were so synced and coordinated that such a large group hardly made a sound, the skills of a ninja fully showing at the moment.

"I can see you have improved a lot during all this time but still be careful, we don't know what awaits at the iwa camp"

Forefront of the huge army were five figures next to each other, a man looking in his early thirties with a short saber on his back, his long silver hair tied into a pony tail rustling through the hair, Hatake Sakumo.

Three of them were the famed students of Third Hokage in the ninja world, Princess Tsunade, Jiraiya and Orochimaru and the last was the man who rose to fame in this war, a 12 something kid with short silver and a sword fixed on his back, Kazuki Aoyama, also known as the Blue Storm of Leaf.

In a concerned voice spoke Tsunade to Kazuki next to her, her worried eyes fixed on him.

Yesterday along with Jiraiya, Orochimaru and Sakumo, Tsunade arrived at Tanzaku town and after resting a little, a meeting was held on how to put the stalemate that had lasted for over a year to an end.

The plan to take the initiative to attack the iwa army stationed near tanzaku bridge was proposed during the meeting and majority agreed with it.

Over the last year they have just been defending and now with the arrival of Tsunade, Sakumo and rest; everyone felt that it was the right time to launch one big attack and put an end to iwa army.

But the only thing that worried everyone was that for a while now iwa has been quite and they have been hardly able to get any information on what's happening inside the camp.

More than a year ago Kazuki has saved her and her brother, and on her request he without requesting anything in return had agreed to guide her brother, this made Tsunade really admire and care for this boy half of her age but seemingly more mature than her, more calm than her and probably more strong.

"Ha!"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine Lady Tsunade"

Kazuki found Tsunade's concern a bit funny, chuckling but still assuring her.

Of all the present in this army, Kazuki knew he was easily the second strongest with only Sakumo few points above him, so he was the last person to be worried about.

Of course he knew Tsunade didn't knew his true strength but still he found it kind a funny.

"Hey! You can't be so biased Tsunade, we are equally in danger if something happens, worry for us as well."

"Humph! At least you don't need to worry; evil bastards like you don't die so young so stay put."

Seeing Tsunade worried for Kazuki, Jiraiya putting a fake displeased look tried to tease her but only to be put down by her mercilessly.

"I think you are worried for nothing Tsunade, I can feel Kazuki-Kun might have improved a lot more than we know"

Said Orochimaru as he entered the conversation, his snake like eyes with a deep look on them fixed on Kazuki.

This feeling… am I overthinking or did he really improve so much in a year?

Struggled Orochimaru inwardly, his danger sense has always been sharp and the feeling that Kazuki was giving him now was similar to when he faced kazekage, chiyo and even a little like his sensei but not as much as him.

Kazuki was just twelve but had he really reached that level of strength? He, Orochimaru was termed as a genius prodigy from a very young age, later he grew up under one of the strongest in the world yet still in his mid-twenties he was still a little short to achieve that strength.

So Orochimaru was a little unsure and for the first time was doubting his gut feeling that he had always believed in, or maybe it could be said, he was refusing to believe it.

Someone who just graduated from academy more than a year ago has surpassed a seasoned shinobi like him, Orochimaru unknowingly didn't want to believe it.

As expected, his observation skills are truly top notch

On the surface Kazuki just gave a smile at Orochimaru's words but inwardly he had to admit that Orochimaru really had an outstanding eye, seemingly able to gouge his strength just after staying around him a little.

"Okay, stay alert from here onwards"

At this moment, Sakumo, who had been focusing on the surroundings, spoke up. He reminded everyone to be on guard as the newly built Tanzaku Bridge, created using Earth Style, slowly appeared in their path.

Nimbly, under the leadership of Sakumo, everyone watched out for any traps. They quickly crossed the bridge without any problems and continued their journey towards the Iwa camp.

The squad didn't have to travel after crossing the bridge for long, soon their destination appearing before them.

"So here we are, it's time to put an end to this war"

Said Sakumo standing on top of the branch of a tree, his eyes on the numerous earth dome merely hundreds of meters away from him, the konoha army behind him in the forest slowly taking out their weapons at his words.

(Two chapters today)