Fierce Battle for Months, Growth Achieved; Rock Ninjas Attack, War Rekindled

Two months passed in the blink of an eye. The brutal grind of the western front had honed Haotian and the other two into sharper blades.

Inside the tent, the afternoon sun streamed through the gaps, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The air was thick with the mingled scent of herbs and sweat. Haotian sat cross-legged, feeling the abundant Chakra within him, like a surging river, many times more potent than it had been two months prior.

He now possessed Chakra levels befitting a Jonin, enough to sustain him through more intense combat.

Guy sat nearby, wolfing down Soldier Pills without regard for their strange taste.

"These things are awful!" he mumbled around a mouthful, yet continued to stuff them in, as if performing some kind of training.

"But they really do boost Chakra, hehe!" Guy grinned, revealing a set of pearly white teeth. Sweat dripped from his chin, sparkling in the sun.

He could now stably open the Eight Gates, his strength and speed greatly enhanced.

Meihui leaned against a wooden stake, a small mirror in her hand, scrutinizing her own eyes.

The scarlet, two-tomoe Sharingan spun slowly in her gaze, emitting a chilling light.

She had become adept at using these eyes, able to perceive enemy movements and even predict some basic attacks.

"Teacher Zhiwei went off on his own again?" she asked, putting down the mirror, a hint of teasing in her tone. "As expected, having so many bugs lets you do whatever you want."

Haotian opened his eyes and nodded. "Teacher Zhiwei excels at reconnaissance and assassination; he's more efficient acting alone."

"Speaking of which, Teacher Zhiwei's strength is truly unfathomable," Guy said, swallowing the last Soldier Pill with a sigh. "He always completes his missions perfectly. So reliable!"

Meihui chuckled softly. "Yeah, but he's always so mysterious. Who knows what he's thinking."

Haotian stood and walked to the tent entrance, gazing out at the rolling mountains in the distance, a surge of ambition rising within him.

"We need to work even harder," he took a deep breath, his gaze resolute. "This war is far from over…" Before he could finish, he felt an unusual Chakra fluctuation rapidly approaching their position…

Haotian spun around, his eyes signaling Guy and Meihui. "Someone's coming…"

Haotian's pupils contracted sharply. His keen senses detected two powerful Chakras rapidly closing in.

He quickly turned back, signaling with his eyes for Guy and Meihui to prepare for battle.

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly froze, a killing intent permeating the air.

Guy stopped chewing, clutching his Soldier Pill tightly, his previously relaxed expression turning serious.

Meihui's Sharingan spun rapidly, her scarlet pupils reflecting the swaying tree shadows outside the tent, as if sensing the imminent danger.

"BANG!" A loud noise erupted as the tent canvas was torn apart by a powerful force, and a tall figure appeared before the three.

The newcomer wore the uniform of Iwagakure, his grey, rocky skin and angular face twisted into a cruel sneer.

It was the elite Jonin of Iwagakure—Changshi.

Behind him, another burly Iwagakure ninja, Yantie, slowly walked out, exuding a heavy Earth Release Chakra.

"Konohagakure brats, your luck has run out!" Changshi's voice was low and hoarse, grating like rubbing sand. "I didn't expect you to survive this long, but today is your death day!" His eyes gleamed with bloodlust, as if he already saw Haotian and the other two lying in pools of blood.

"Stifling Konohagakure's new generation is our strategic objective," Yantie added, his tone cold and merciless, as hard as steel. "You brats would be wise to accept your fate!"

Changshi clasped his hands together and slammed them onto the ground. "Earth Style: Moving Earth Core!"

The ground trembled violently, and the earth around the tent instantly cracked open. Countless shards of rock shot out like blades, hurtling towards Haotian and the other two.

A dangerous aura enveloped the three, as if they would be swallowed by this terrifying Earth Release jutsu in the next second.

Haotian's gaze sharpened. "Be careful!" he said gravely.

This old guy's strength is at least Special Jonin level! Haotian calculated rapidly, forming hand seals. "Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!" He spat out a powerful vacuum wave, meeting the incoming rock shards. The two collided in mid-air, producing a deafening explosion.

Guy and Meihui reacted swiftly, flanking to the left and right, forming a pincer formation around Changshi.

Guy roared, his body erupting with powerful aura, muscles bulging like steel. He stomped his feet, cracking the ground, and charged at Changshi like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Meihui's Sharingan spun rapidly, observing Changshi's every move. Her Kunai glinted coldly in her hand, ready to deliver a fatal blow.

Seeing this, Changshi's lips curled into a sneer. "Heh, you can still squirm, huh? But in the face of absolute power, all resistance is futile!" He clasped his hands together again, Chakra surging madly. "Earth Style: Earth Spikes!" Countless sharp rock spikes erupted from the ground, dense and numerous, like mushrooms after rain, stabbing towards Haotian and the other two.