After So Many Filler Chapters, the War Finally Begins

"It's begun."

Xun Uzumaki watched the distant forest erupt with explosions and flashes of colorful Chakra. He knew the Uzumaki Clan had clashed with Kirigakure. At the same time, he glanced toward the place where Kirigakure had come ashore...

What an enormous fleet!

Worthy of a maritime superpower. He wondered whether the ten of them could dismantle every one of Kirigakure's ships. This move was crucial. If they could inflict severe losses on Kirigakure's fleet, their chances of victory would rise accordingly.

After that, he refused to believe Kirigakure's high-ranking officials and clans would pay for the Mizukage to build another fleet. As long as they saw that invading the Land of Whirlpools brought no gains and only serious losses, Hozuki Gengetsu's position as Mizukage would not be easy to keep!

And besides...

A cold smile appeared on Xun Uzumaki's face. He wondered if the Mist Ninja would turn green with rage when they discovered that no matter which Uzumaki ninja they killed, there would be a pop and the target would turn into mist. In the end, all those differently shaped Uzumaki ninja were fucking Shadow Clones.

"There are roughly a hundred Mist Ninja guarding the fleet." The Clan Head held up his binoculars. "Should we move now?"

If they struck now, the main force was being drawn away by the rear. They would only need to deal with around a hundred people. Their main goal was not to kill the Mist Ninja, but to blow things up. As long as they were careful, there should be no problem.

Xun Uzumaki pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Not yet."

The war had only just begun. The Mist Ninja in the rear probably had not lowered their guard yet. Only after they relaxed would they be able to reap huge rewards. After all, there were over a hundred ships. Destroying them all would not be easy. Even if they could not destroy every last one, taking out eighty percent would be enough to make Hozuki Gengetsu suffer.

Besides, it would be difficult to have two people draw fire at the front while giving those at the rear enough time to throw Molotov Cocktails. Operating underwater was out of the question, so as for the sky...

After thinking for a moment, Xun Uzumaki took out what he had prepared.

"What is this thing now?" The Clan Head and Great Elder curiously watched Xun Uzumaki pull two large bamboo baskets from his ninja pouch.

"This?" Xun Uzumaki let out a sigh. This was a transmigrator's divine tool, though it was somewhat crude and troublesome to make. After all, finding airtight fabric at this time was truly difficult!

That was right. This was a Hot Air Balloon.

Fortunately, only a handful of people could fly in this era. Those capable of flight were likely limited to special ninjutsu such as Sky Ninja Village's Angkor Fortress, the Third Tsuchikage's Light-Heavy Technique, Konan's paper ninjutsu, Deidara's art, and the like.

The ninja world was merely a slightly more advanced martial arts world. Aside from Chakra being released externally and used like magic, there was basically no difference. Traveling relied on running, sending messages relied on shouting. Flying was extremely difficult. One could only jump—triple jump, quadruple jump—leaping upward step by step. Of course, that excluded aliens such as Kaguya.

"This is called a Hot Air Balloon."

"Looks like the Second Mizukage and the others have already begun." A Mist Ninja leaned against the bow, looking toward the place where the other Mist Ninja had departed. "Are we just waiting here?"

"We'll leave once the main force finds a campsite and unloads the supplies." Another Mist Ninja smoked casually. "Then we'll come back once the supplies are used up."

"We probably won't even need to come back. With that much time, Lord Mizukage will be able to crush the Land of Whirlpools himself." A Mist Ninja lying on the deck said, "Uzushio Village is only full of old, weak, sick, and disabled people now."

"That's right, that's right. Once Lord Mizukage acts personally, the Uzumaki Clan will become history in minutes."

"A ninja village without Kage-level fighters or Tailed Beasts will never be a ma—"

"Holy shit!!"

The Mist Ninja standing at the bow suddenly cried out.

Then...

Boom—

Roar—

A blinding light shot into the sky. A world-shaking roar followed, and the entire island of the Land of Whirlpools trembled with it.

"Damn it, what happened?"

"Explosive Tags—there are so many Explosive Tags!!!"

"How are Lord Mizukage and the others? Did they fall into the Land of Whirlpools' trap?"

"Impossible! Lord Mizukage and the others are so powerful!"

"W-we should..."

"Shut up! Carry out Lord Mizukage's orders!" Seeing the confusion and unease among the Mist Ninja, the commander guarding the fleet shouted, "Trust Lord Mizukage! Aren't they just a group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people?"

"That's right, that's right. Under an explosion like that, the Uzumaki Clan must already be almost dead."

"Exactly. We're so strong, and we have Lord Mizukage leading us."

"And we have Tailed Beasts, so many Jonin, so many powerful fighters."

"..."

Yet while the Mist Ninja were noisily arguing, the Mist Ninja lying on the deck suddenly felt the scorching sun being blocked. He muttered in confusion, "What's that?"

Something was wrong!!!

The Mist Ninja on the deck abruptly sat up and stared at the enormous strange object in the sky, crying out, "What is that?!"

Time rewound by half an hour...

Boom—

Another one!!

Boom!!

Again...

"Damn it, what is going on?" The Mist Ninja frowned and shouted impatiently. "Why are they all Konoha Shadow Clones?"

Boom—

Their strength was not great, but they were incredibly irritating!

After all this time, they had not killed a single Uzumaki ninja. Could all these people be Shadow Clones?

Hozuki Gengetsu also frowned as he watched the Shadow Clones continuously popping around him. What was going on?

Why were they all clones? With a casual ninjutsu, he wiped out another large group of Shadow Clones, but those Shadow Clones meant nothing against the endless barrage of ninjutsu!!

What exactly were the Uzushio Village ninjas trying to do?

Boom—

Another group of Shadow Clones was destroyed.

"Hm? What's this?" Suddenly, the Mizukage saw several gray sheets of paper exposed beneath the shattered earth.

"Explosive Tags!!!" Hozuki Gengetsu cried out. He suddenly looked up and roared, "It's a trap! Retreat!"

"Move!" Seeing that the Mist Ninja had noticed, Uzumaki Kai knew it was time to act and immediately shouted. At once, the voices of the Uzumaki Clan rose all around them.

"Move!"

"Move!"

"Move!"

"..."

Their hands formed seals!

"Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tags!"

"Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tags!"

"Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tags!"

"..."

Blazing flames surged up all around them, followed by deafening explosions.

Boom—!!!

It seemed as though the entire Land of Whirlpools was trembling.