The ninjas engulfed in flames let out shrill screams, rolling on the ground as they tried to extinguish the fire on their bodies, but they soon fell silent.
Crackle!
Another Roaring Thunder jutsu shot out from the Hoshinin position. Blue arcs of electricity leaped through the air, electrocuting several approaching Allied Forces ninjas and sending them sprawling as their bodies convulsed violently before collapsing to the ground.
Immediately afterward, jutsu such as Earth Release: Earth Spear, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, and Water Style: Water Fang Blade erupted from the Hoshinin position.
Most of these were either wide-area burst jutsu or precise small-scale attacks. The sudden assault drove back dozens of Allied Forces ninjas attempting to approach.
However, a burly Iwagakure Shinobi in a brown ninja vest used Earth Release to travel underground, avoiding every jutsu and bullet as he silently made his way to the edge of the trench.
"Die!!!"
He burst straight out of the trench wall, his entire body encased in hard rock armor, and slammed a fist into a Hoshinin's neck.
"Agh!" The Hoshinin managed only a single scream.
Blood splattered across the trench, leaving horrifying dark-red stains on the grayish-brown soil.
"Hideki!!!"
"You bastard!!"
But immediately afterward, the closest Hoshinin did not retreat. Instead, he charged forward, thrusting his rifle straight at him.
A bayonet was fixed beneath the rifle's barrel, turning it into a spear as he engaged the Iwagakure Shinobi in close combat.
As the saying went, a longer weapon gave one the advantage.
Although this Hoshinin was at a slight disadvantage in hand-to-hand combat, the reach of his weapon allowed him to hold the enemy at bay for the moment.
He gripped the rifle tightly, the bayonet carving an arc through the air and forcing the Iwagakure Shinobi to retreat again and again.