Whoosh.
A breeze swept through, clearing the dust.
Everyone could now see Rasa's miserable state.
His face and hair were covered in dust, and a deep wound that exposed the bone ran from his chest to his abdomen. Around the wound, blackened burn marks spread—scars left by intense heat.
"This is the end, Fourth Kazekage." Shisui looked at him with a cold expression and said flatly, "You have no chance of winning this war."
"Rasa!"
Not far away, Chiyo saw her Kazekage in such a terrible state and lost her composure for a moment.
Konoha Whirlwind!
Seizing the opportunity, Might Guy delivered a flying kick that sent Chiyo's puppet crashing to the ground, its parts scattering in all directions.
Konan quickly snapped a picture of the scene and sent it to the group chat along with a brief description.
Doujin Artist: A comeback? Did they actually turn the situation around?
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Has Uchiha Shisui really gotten this strong?
Curly-haired Guy: He has mastered the power of Hollowfication. If he weren't this strong, that would be the strange part.
Shark-Faced Guy: Yeah. Gaining Hollowfication is like evolving from a regular ninja into something beyond human. And this is just the beginning for Shisui.
Meanwhile, at the battlefield on the outskirts of the Land of Fire…
A massive, bottomless trench stretched before Hoshigaki Kisame.
Beside the trench, over a dozen Konoha ninja lay scattered across the ground. Most were unconscious, while only a few were still barely hanging on.
Crack.
Hoshigaki Kisame slung Samehada back onto his back and turned to leave. But before leaving, he glanced slightly in a certain direction.
Did he notice me?
Lying on the ground, Uchiha Fugaku sucked in a breath, feeling a chill down his spine.
Why? Why is this happening?
It's just Kirigakure… so why does it have such an overwhelming monster?
One attack—just one attack had wiped out an entire squad of elite ninja, including himself.
And worst of all… Kisame had held back.
Fugaku knew this clearly. If that attack had been meant to kill, there wouldn't be a single living person left here! Even with Susano'o activated, he wouldn't have been able to withstand it!
And with power like that, why didn't he just force his way through Konoha's defenses?
That was the part Fugaku couldn't figure out.
Something was off.
This didn't feel like a war. It felt more like this Kirigakure ninja was playing a game with them—deliberately keeping Konoha's forces trapped on this battlefield.
Damn it! What the hell is going on?
Fugaku felt powerless, as if an enormous shadow was looming over him.
Amegakure Village's Angel: Iwagakure has started moving.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Wow, they really know how to pick their timing! Why did they choose this moment of all times?
This is an Actor: Must be spies.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Oh, that makes sense! Since Iwagakure knew Konoha had spies in their village, they must have spies in Konoha as well!
Amegakure Village's Angel: Anzen-san, you're amazing. You figured it out just like that.
Konan was full of admiration.
She hadn't given any hints, yet Anzen had pieced it together so easily—almost as if they had seen it happen firsthand.
Shark-Faced Guy: ...
Hoshigaki Kisame was speechless. Silly girl, that wasn't a guess! He was there the whole time—he's your boss!
Boom.
Another loud explosion echoed from the western gate of Konohagakure. Covered in dust and dirt, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the heavily injured Fourth Raikage stood apart, locking eyes.
"You're really something, Third Hokage!" A grinned, baring his teeth. "No wonder they call you the 'Ninja Hero.' Even at your age, you can still fight at this level."
"No matter how much time passes, my Will of Fire will never fade." Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, his wrinkled face solemn. "For the sake of Konohagakure, I will stop you no matter what!"
"Hah, Will of Fire?" A scoffed, his voice full of sarcasm. "Breaking into someone else's village and stealing their tailed beast—is that your so-called Will of Fire? Don't make me laugh, old man!"
"Blaming us now?" Sarutobi Hiruzen remained expressionless. "If you've already decided to join forces with Danzo and invade Konohagakure, why not come up with a better excuse?"
"Bullshit! I've never even met Danzo in my life!" A roared, raising his fist and charging straight at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Lightning Release: Lariat!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression shifted. Something felt off. "Wait, Fourth Raikage! What did you just say?"
But before he could finish his sentence, an Anbu fighting a Kumogakure ninja nearby suddenly abandoned his opponent. He raised his Chunin blade and, without hesitation, slashed at Sarutobi Hiruzen's back.
Slash.
Bright red blood splattered through the air.
Sarutobi Hiruzen dodged A's attack, but he hadn't expected the Anbu's betrayal. A deep cut ran across his back, and blood flowed freely.
"Well, well, even in a moment like this, you still managed to avoid a fatal wound?" A raspy voice came from above. "That's just like you, Sarutobi."
That voice…
Both Sarutobi Hiruzen and A immediately looked up. Floating in midair was a small, elderly figure.
"The Tsuchikage of Iwagakure?"
"Oonoki?!"
"Tsuchikage-sama." The Anbu removed his mask and knelt before Oonoki with one knee.
"You did well, Iwakawa." Oonoki nodded slightly, then waved his right hand. "Now, it's our turn. Stick to the plan—begin the operation!"
"Kill them! Kill them all!"
"It doesn't matter if they're from Sunagakure, Kumogakure, or Konohagakure—anyone you see, take them out! Leave no one alive!"
"The final victory belongs to Iwagakure!"
Battle cries pierced the sky. Iwagakure ninjas, wearing bright red uniforms and forehead protectors, swarmed into Konohagakure like a crimson flood.
"I see… so that's how it is!" Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened, his voice filled with fury. "This was all your doing, wasn't it, Oonoki?!"
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