A bewildering slash

Clock Over. Time stopped accelerating.

"You coordinated that pretty well."

Uchiha Mai voiced his admiration, his gaze drifting around him. At the edge of the battlefield, several Iwagakure ninja were secretly relaying information into the distance.

It looked as though they were requesting reinforcements.

On the current battlefield, Iwagakure held an overwhelming advantage among the Chunin and Genin. Even if Konoha's reinforcements arrived, they would only bring the two sides onto equal footing.

Iwagakure was only at a disadvantage in the Jonin battle. Even with Dong Shiren and Jushi Shota fighting together, they were still in constant peril against Uchiha Mai.

That meant those Rock Shinobi were most likely asking Jonin from other units for help, or appealing directly to Gari, the Explosion Release ninja.

Uchiha Mai had no doubt that he warranted special attention from the enemy.

"Looks like today will bring quite a haul."

Uchiha Mai smiled faintly. Flames ignited along his blade, and a crescent of spectral blue sword energy slashed toward the Rock Shinobi requesting aid.

"Yamairo!"

Jushi Shota's expression shifted slightly. He formed hand seals, attempting to stop Uchiha Mai with an Earth Style jutsu.

A ninja battle lasted only a few minutes, but before making contact, both sides might spend dozens of hours rehearsing and making preparations.

That Rock Shinobi was one of Jushi Shota's subordinates. Requesting reinforcements upon encountering a powerful enemy was also a tactic arranged beforehand. It paid to be cautious.

Earth-nature chakra flowed into the ground, but it was already too late. The crescent of sword energy moved incredibly fast and had already blasted its way to the Rock Shinobi.

Worse still, while Jushi Shota was supporting his subordinate, he noticed Uchiha Mai moving again. There seemed to be no delay at all between his attacks.

"Clock Up."

Time accelerated