Chapter 362: Total War!
Raikage's order had been relayed, and headquarters swiftly initiated the Chakra Diffusion Cannon. As the light grew brighter, the rumbling became deafening.
"Everyone, retreat to a safe distance!"
Through the Yamanaka Clan's mental link, Raikage's command echoed in everyone's minds.
The Allied Forces trembled inwardly but forced themselves to evade the enemy, retreating as fast as possible despite their injuries.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, the Chakra Diffusion Cannon finally fired. A brilliant beam of light descended from the sky, spreading out instantly and engulfing the entire battlefield.
Wherever the beam reached, everything was obliterated by the overwhelming chakra waves. Whether it was Edo Tensei reanimations or fully resurrected warriors, they all seemed powerless against this devastating force.
The resulting shockwave swept across the battlefield. Though some of the Allied Forces had retreated to a safe distance, they were still affected by the blast's residual force.
Yet, none of them cared. Every single ninja held their breath, watching the battlefield intently.
As the glowing pillar finally faded, the sight before them left everyone in shock—a massive ravine had been carved into the earth. Its cross-section was impossibly smooth, as if cut with precision beyond imagination. The edges gleamed like polished glass, reflecting the faint light.
The ravine stretched endlessly into the horizon, a deep wound slashed into the land. The sand on both sides had been vaporized by the intense heat, leaving behind a surface as smooth as glass.
Everything within the light's range had been completely erased. Some Edo Tensei shinobi crumbled into dust, attempting to regenerate, but the Sealing Squad seized the opportunity to seal them away permanently.
This overwhelming attack reignited morale, slightly easing the Allied Forces' desperate situation.
So what if they were outmatched in strength and numbers against the Land of Snow?
They had chakra technology!
The virtual war had been lost precisely because they hadn't possessed this kind of chakra-based weaponry.
But now, in reality, they could unleash their full power!
"Grass Ninja, release the creatures from the Box of Ultimate Bliss immediately!"
"Dust Release squad, assemble! Use the Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
"Barrier team, trap the Edo Tensei shinobi!"
As one trump card after another was revealed, the Allied Forces temporarily stabilized their front lines.
Hyuga Miyuki observed this scene, her ears filled with reports through her communication link.
"The troops have reached the enemy command center."
A faint smirk formed on her lips as she stepped onto the battlefield once more, charging directly at Tsunade.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
…
While the Three Kage led tens of thousands of Allied Forces into battle against Hyuga Miyuki in the desert, the rear command center suddenly found itself under siege by an overwhelming ninja army.
"Report! A massive enemy force has been detected in the northwest quadrant within the sensory barrier—over 4,000 strong!"
"Report! Team Ten's sensory ninja has spotted an enemy force of at least 2,000 approaching from ten kilometers south!"
"Northeast quadrant—the Land of Snow's aerial forces are incoming!"
A tide of shinobi surged forward, breaking through the perimeter defenses unnoticed and swiftly encircling the command center. Their movements were precise and synchronized, revealing that they were elite troops, highly trained and meticulously coordinated.
Inside the command center, the stationed shinobi immediately went on high alert as alarms blared throughout the camp.
Shikaku, who was in charge of the defenses, quickly organized a countermeasure. But faced with such a sudden and powerful assault, their defensive lines were on the verge of collapse.
After all, the Three Kage had taken most of the main forces to the front lines, leaving fewer than 5,000 troops at the command center. They were no match for the enemy's numbers and strength.
"What's going on? Where did these ninjas come from?" Shikaku frowned.
The sensory ninjas worked at full capacity but found no signs of prior movement. One of them, frustrated, reported, "Shikaku-sama, there was no trace of them before they appeared. It's as if they materialized out of thin air."
"…"
Shikaku's expression darkened.
Was this the large-scale space-time teleportation that Kitsuchi had warned them about?
Kitsuchi had previously shared intelligence about the war—how the Land of Water's fleet had suddenly appeared near the shore, likely through a large-scale teleportation jutsu.
Hyuga Fuji had used similar teleportation when he left the Land of Fire, so this situation wasn't entirely unexpected.
Shikaku had just underestimated how quickly the attack would come.
It was clear now—Hyuga Fuji intended to end this war in a single decisive strike.
Shikaku furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, inside the command center, communication ninjas attempted to contact the Three Kage at the front lines, but their signals were blocked. No connection could be established.
"There's a barrier cutting off our communications! We're completely isolated!" A communication ninja, sweating profusely, reported, "Sir, you must lead the strategists and retreat immediately! If anything happens to you here, we cannot afford the consequences!"
"This is the command center. Where could I possibly retreat to? What would happen to the front lines if I left? This is my battlefield!"
"But—"
Shikaku interrupted, his tone firm. "No buts! Shrink the defensive line immediately. Prepare the next Chakra Diffusion Cannon strike to target the enemy forces outside. Stall for time! Barrier team, work on breaking their communication disruption barrier!"
"Yes, sir!"
Shikaku's composed leadership steadied the morale inside the command center, allowing the troops to focus on their tasks.
But inside, Shikaku was anything but calm—his mind raced, searching for a way to break through this predicament.
The enemy force was not overly large. Their numbers were roughly equal to the defenders'.
However, the difference in quality was astronomical—these were undoubtedly the elite troops Hyuga Fuji had taken with him when he left the villages.
If they were allowed to press their attack, the command center's defenses would inevitably fall.
Yet, calling Tsunade and the others back for support was not an option—it would only disrupt the front lines.
"Leave this to us, Shikaku."
A gentle voice suddenly echoed in his ears, easing the tension in his mind.
"Minato…"
Shikaku turned to see Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina standing beside him. He nodded slightly and smiled. "Then I'll count on you."
"Mm."
Minato gave a quiet nod before vanishing in an instant, Kushina following closely behind.
The next moment, Minato reappeared on the battlefield outside, his expression turning ice-cold.
With a swift flick of his wrist, he hurled several marked kunai into the enemy ranks. Then, in a flash of golden light, he vanished.
There was no longer any need to conceal the fact that he was alive. Instead, it was time to contribute his strength to the war.
At that moment, the Yellow Flash returned to the shinobi world.
But before he could finish clearing the enemy forces, a figure suddenly blocked his path.
"Second Hokage…" Minato's expression turned serious as he looked at Senju Tobirama.
"You've improved my Flying Thunder God technique well," Tobirama remarked, crossing his arms. "In this area, you've surpassed me."
Minato's gaze lowered slightly. "But that alone isn't enough to defeat you, is it?"
"Exactly."
Minato took a deep breath. "Then let's test it. It's an honor to face you in battle."
In the next instant, both of them vanished simultaneously, transforming into two streaks of light that clashed in a dazzling storm.
(End of Chapter)