What was an Elite Jonin?
Although Elite Jonin was merely a distinction made by Naruto fans, the original work had actually long since subtly demonstrated the weight carried by Elite Jonin.
Take Konoha, for example. Beneath the Hokage, it was divided into the regular forces and the Anbu.
Elite Jonin stood at the pinnacle of the regular forces. They were the foundation of every ninja village, and their influence permeated every aspect of life.
For example, in actual administration, there was the Jonin vote on major decisions.
To most people, the Hokage was an untouchable figure. So how could ordinary Jonin judge the Hokage's decisions?
They needed a point of reference, and that reference was usually a familiar and reliable elder—in other words, the positions taken by the Elite Jonin.
Moreover, look at the teams led by Elite Jonin. The students they trained were generally talented commoners or members of ninja clans with powerful backgrounds.
The reach of an Elite Jonin's network was something ordinary Jonin could hardly imagine.
The official definition of a Jonin should actually have been the definition of an Elite Jonin.
(They could display formidable Taijutsu and Genjutsu at the front lines, as well as advanced ninjutsu that made the air tremble and blood run cold. In addition to leadership ability, they were required to demonstrate outstanding performance in ninjutsu, analytical ability, and every other area, making them all-around ninja. They could handle A-Rank and even S-Rank missions alone.)
To the audience, an Elite Jonin represented someone who was no mere cannon fodder. No matter how flashy a Kage Level fighter was, they could not instantly kill an Elite Jonin.
That was also why the situation had reached a stalemate.
More than thirty Elite Jonin from both sides were engaged in a battle between immortals. The others simply did not dare get involved.
Sarutobi Hiro said that the people arriving one after another were all Chunin, and he was not wrong. In the eyes of Elite Jonin, ordinary Jonin were Chunin.
"The numbers on both sides are about even. Why haven't they started fighting?" Hyuga Ao asked.
"That was because the people who arrived first didn't fight. Later, when more people arrived, there was no one to give orders, so they still didn't fight."
"Oh." Hyuga Ao swept her gaze over the Konoha forces and indeed found no one particularly outstanding.
But she felt that something was strange. If Konoha was not in a hurry because it could afford to drag things out, why weren't the Sand Ninja in a hurry?
Did the Sand Ninja have no commander either? No. The Sand Ninja were under quasi-military management, with an even stricter hierarchy. They could certainly find someone to give orders.
Then their lack of urgency meant they had to be waiting for something.
Hyuga Ao activated her Byakugan, searching for the opportunity the Sand Ninja were waiting for.
Looking forward with her Byakugan, she saw nothing unusual in the chakra of the Sand Ninja opposite them. Looking behind them, she found no ambush.
Then the answer had to be underground.
Hyuga Ao looked down with her Byakugan and discovered that the earth beneath them seemed to be trembling slightly.
"Hm?" Hyuga Ao was uncertain and alarmed.
She continued looking downward and discovered that the rocks and soil underground were being transformed into grains of sand by a group of Sand Ninja.
"Not good!" Hyuga Ao's expression changed drastically. She warned, "Everyone! Leave immediately!"
Seeing the others staring at her in confusion, Hyuga Ao's expression darkened.
She had overlooked the weight her words carried.
"I am Orochimaru's disciple, Tsunade's student of secret techniques, and the future wife of the head of the Hyuga Clan. Please believe me. Leave first. I swear it on these eyes."
Although she was extremely reluctant, Hyuga Ao still invoked every identity she had to lend her words greater authority.
Although Hyuga Ao felt deep down that whether these people lived or died had little to do with her, there were so many lives at stake, and her current identity did not allow her to simply turn around and leave.
Hyuga Ao's identity had an effect. With Sarutobi Hiro also backing her up, the gathered Konoha ninja began preparing to move.
In the Sand Ninja ranks, a brown-haired youth let out a cold laugh.
"So this is Konoha? You only realized something was wrong now? Heh, too late!"
The brown-haired youth pressed both hands against the ground.
"Flowing Sand Burial! Rise!"
The ground sank and split apart. Countless golden grains of sand erupted from within, instantly interrupting the battle between the Elite Jonin. In this environment of surging sand, the Sand Ninja moved with ease.
Konoha, on the other hand, was thrown into chaos and was struck hard several times by the Sand Ninja.
When the disturbance settled, Hyuga Ao discovered that the terrain had changed so drastically that it had nearly reached Tsunade's position.
"Attack!" At the Sand Ninja's command, they launched an all-out assault.
The Konoha ninja's hearts sank. Fighting while standing on sand created by the enemy was truly the worst possible situation.
The brown-haired youth was Rasa. Rasa clenched both hands.
"Sand Binding Coffin!"
The sand writhed, capturing the Konoha ninja scattered across the desert. While fighting the Sand Ninja, the Konoha ninja also had to evade the sand's attacks.
And once they were caught by the sand hands, the consequences were even more severe.
The lucky ones suffered broken bones. The unlucky ones died. But in this desert, a broken bone meant death.
"Ah! Aaaaah!"
One Konoha ninja after another was seized by the sand. As Konoha's numbers dwindled, the sand's speed of capture increased, making it even harder to evade. Konoha's line rapidly collapsed.
"Retreat!"
The Konoha ninja quickly reached a consensus and began retreating toward Tsunade's barrier.
"Hahahaha! Chase them slowly!"
Seeing the plight of the Konoha forces, the Sand Ninja laughed with satisfaction. Earlier, Konoha's healing abilities had nearly driven them mad.
The moment they were injured, they would be fine again after a short while. If this group of Sand Ninja had not been elites, their side would have collapsed long ago.
This small desert was a vast expanse of mountains and rivers to the Konoha forces. The Konoha ninja passed through it as if treading through fire and water, and after suffering countless casualties, they finally moved out of the desert.
The Konoha ninja who had escaped with their lives stopped at the barrier. When they looked back, they grew even more desperate.
This desert was moving!
"Aaaaaah!" Rasa's veins bulged as he pushed the sea of sand forward with all his strength.
The sea of sand formed a huge wave and slowly rolled toward the Konoha forces.
Tsunade walked out of the barrier. Seeing the scene before her, she could not help crying out.
Tsunade had just finished her treatment after repeatedly receiving warnings from outside.
The diamond-shaped mark on her forehead had already vanished. The intense chakra expenditure left Tsunade somewhat dizzy. Looking at the sea of sand rolling toward her, Tsunade murmured, "No way!"
A jolt went through her, and Tsunade turned around and shouted furiously, "Konoha ninja, defend!!!"
The giant wave of sand seemed slow but was actually swift. The Konoha forces had only just emerged when it was already about to reach them.
Several Elite Jonin stepped forward from the crowd. "Water Release ninja, with me!"
Under the Elite Jonin's command, a line of Konoha forces stepped forward and formed hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!" ×n
One Water Wall after another struggled to take shape, joining together to block the giant wave.
The Water Walls were swallowed by the giant wave in an instant, but the Konoha ninja had achieved their goal. The water they had gathered successfully slowed the sand wave.
But Rasa was decisive as well. He directly abandoned the sand weighed down by the water. The sand wave continued surging forward, and with the replenishment that followed, it slowly returned to its former size.
But the sand wave's speed had been reduced somewhat.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
A massive wall rose from the ground, barely reaching the height of the sand wave.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The thunderous impacts rang out. The Konoha ninja using Earth Flow Wall gritted their teeth and held firm, their faces flushed and their temples bulging as they poured out chakra without restraint.
It was difficult, but they held it back. The sand wave's momentum was halted, and only a little of it could seep through at a time.
But above them, the Sand Ninja rode the momentum of the sand wave.
Carrying a sky full of yellow sand, they descended from above!
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