The heavy iron door slammed shut Menma, Hiruko out the wolf-fox figure collapsed on the ground and Uchiha Hikari's calm, unwavering Mangekyō Sharingan.
The lingering chill of killing intent and the afterglow of the illusion had not yet completely dissipated when Menma's figure vanished into the dimly lit passage.
Flying Thunder God Technique.
The distance of thousands of kilometers was covered in an instant. One moment they were in the cold underground prison of the Land of Stars, and the next moment, a dry wind carrying the feel of Sajin was blowing in their faces.
The border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Rain is so desolate that it seems to have been forgotten by the world.
The phosphorus rocks cast long, twisted shadows in the twilight.
A simple outpost built against a natural rock wall, like a beetle clinging to the back of a giant beast, with a few wisps of smoke rising from it, is the only sign of life in this desolate place.
Outside the stronghold, several Iwagakure Ninja were patrolling vigilantly, their khaki vests looking somewhat dull in the sandstorm.
Inside the stronghold, in a room built of rough stones that could barely keep out the wind, the air was filled with the smell of herbs and a faint stench of blood.
Several injured Iwa ninja lay on makeshift hospital beds, some with blood-soaked bandages, others panting with pale faces.
A woman dressed in Iwagakure clothing was kneeling beside a seriously wounded man.
Her hands, covered in a gentle green chakra glow, pressed against a gruesome laceration on the wounded man's abdomen.
Under the influence of Medical Ninjutsu, the muscle tissue near the wound is visibly wriggling and slowly healing.
She lowered her head slightly, a few strands of chestnut hair falling down, partially obscuring her profile, revealing only a focused and calm expression.
Her name here is " Suzuhara Ai ".
A wandering ninja who had only recently joined Iwagakure.
The wounded soldier's painful groans gradually subsided, and his breathing became steady.
The woman withdrew her hand, and the chakra light faded.
She let out a soft sigh of relief, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.
A ninja from the nearby Iwa ninja handed her a water pouch, and she whispered a thank you in a gentle voice.
Just then, a short and shrill scream suddenly came from the outskirts of the stronghold, followed by the loud bang of rocks being smashed to pieces by a tremendous force!
The entire stronghold seemed to tremble, and dust fell from the rocky top.
"Enemy attack!!"
The piercing alarm shattered the tranquility of dusk.
The Iwa ninja inside the base instantly erupted into chaos, with the wounded struggling to grab the weapons beside them.
The Iwagakure on guard duty paled, and roared, "Defensive formation! Sensor Division! Report their location and numbers!"
Suzuhara Ai's body tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment, and a sharp glint of a top spy flashed in the depths of her gentle eyes.
She quickly got up and retreated between the wounded and the wall. Her movements seemed frantic as she sought shelter, but in reality, she occupied the best position to observe the overall situation. At the same time, her fingers quietly gripped several poisoned Shuriken hidden in her sleeve.
However, there was no response from the Sensor Division, nor were there any further explosions.
There was only a suffocating, tangible, and oppressive feeling, like thick ink, that instantly permeated every inch of space inside and outside the stronghold!
The air seemed to freeze; even the wind stopped moving.
A figure appeared without warning on the only relatively flat open space in the center of the stronghold.
The black robe billowed silently in the sudden, eerie gust of air, the mysterious Nine Masked Beasts pattern on the cloak appearing and disappearing.
The White Three-Eyed Fox Mask he wore was like a nightmare branded into the eyes of every Iwa ninja present.
A strange fox with three eyes, its hollow eye sockets seeming to stare into the souls of everyone.
" Asura?!" The voice of the Iwagakure who had just given the order was dry, like sandpaper rubbing together, and his hand holding the Kunai trembled uncontrollably.
The terrifying deeds associated with this name have long been known throughout the Shinobi World.
Beneath the mask, Menma's gaze swept across every panicked face in the stronghold, finally settling on the seemingly inconspicuous woman.
He ignored the Iwa ninja around him who were on high alert but too afraid to make a move, and took a step forward.
That step was light, yet it felt as if it had stepped on everyone's hearts.
A cold, emotionless voice pierced the suffocating silence, ringing out clearly, each word like an icicle striking:
"Found you, Yakushi Nonō."
The woman's body froze the instant the masked man uttered that name.
The feigned panic on her face froze instantly, then peeled away like a shattered mask, leaving only incredulous shock and a deep-seated chill that had been completely exposed.
She suddenly raised her head, and beneath her chestnut hair, the gentle eyes that belonged to " Suzuhara Ai " disappeared, replaced by the sharp, cold glint of " Wandering Shrine Maiden " Yakushi Nonō, like a scalpel.
With his identity exposed, the pretense was no longer meaningful.
"Attack! Protect the medical ninja!" The Iwagakure Jonin finally broke free of extreme fear and roared hoarsely!
He didn't understand the deeper meaning behind the name that Asura mentioned.
But as the highest leader of this stronghold, he could not sit idly by and wait for his death!
The order was given, and all the Iwa ninja inside and outside the base—whether patrolling, on guard, or wounded—emerged at that moment!
Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spear!
" Earth Release: Earth Style: Earth Rising Spears!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
With a roar, the ground shook violently!
Sharp rock spears burst from the ground, piercing the dark red figure in the center like a thicket of thorns! A massive, blazing fireball, accompanied by rolling waves of heat, roared down!
Several Chunin, fearless of death, brandished Kunai and longswords, charging in from all directions!
They attempted to overwhelm the enemy before them with sheer numbers and a burst of attacks!
Faced with this combined attack that could tear an ordinary Jonin to shreds, Menma didn't even turn his head.
His left hand, which had been hanging by his side, was casually raised, fingers spread, palm facing upward, as if supporting invisible air.
" Nine Mask Svāhā- "
A deep voice came from beneath the white Three-Eyed Fox Mask.
A formation extended from his feet, expanding into nine interconnected formations, each containing a single character.
[Blue, White, Vermilion, Black, Empty, South, North, Three, Jade]
" The Northern Dipper Sage!"
When the word "North" lights up, there is no earth-shattering light and shadow, only a heavy, solid force that is like the core of the earth suddenly descends!
Buzz!
The air seemed to groan under the weight of Yuan Ming's voice.
A gigantic, semi-transparent, rhomboid barrier, like an inverted giant bowl, instantly expanded outwards from Asura as its center!
The barrier wall exuded an indestructible and heavy aura, blocking all incoming attacks!
Boom boom boom boom!!!
The sharp rock spear pierced the pale yellow barrier wall with a sickening clang!
The rocks shattered, scattering fragments everywhere, yet leaving only faint ripples on the barrier!
The massive fireball hurtled towards the barrier, crashing into it like a wave hitting a reef, exploding with a deafening roar. The scorching flames slid down the smooth barrier walls, failing to budge it in the slightest!
"What?!" The Iwagakure Ninja were shocked!