Rock Ninjas Attack

After returning from the banquet in the Hall of Heroes, Uchiha Iori discovered that his soul power had increased once again.

He did not know if it was because of the battle with Diarmuid or because of the food he had consumed in the Hall of Heroes.

Suddenly, with a loud bang, a red signal flare exploded in the sky.

"It's a red signal flare. It seems the Iwagakure forces have assembled and are launching an attack."

Iori looked at his teammates with some concern.

Uzuki Kaori and Kurama Takumi were only of average talent; if they continued to develop at their current pace, they might not even reach the rank of jonin.

With such a disparity in numbers for this battle, would they be able to survive?

Iori shook his head, casting aside these useless thoughts.

He pulled the magic spear he had projected yesterday from Unlimited Blade Works, determined to end the battle as quickly as possible; he could not let his friends die here.

Minato Namikaze quickly assembled the troops and said with a firm tone:

"Execute the plan as previously discussed. The jonin will go to confront the jonin of Iwagakure, the chunin will hold the line, and I will go to repel their ninja forces."

In Minato Namikaze's plan, he took on the vast majority of the pressure himself. No one raised any objections, and they immediately moved to follow his orders.

"Iori, be careful later. The methods of jonin are endless; you must protect yourself."

Gekko Nobuhiko's words were filled with worry. After three years as teacher and student, their relationship could be described as both mentor and father figure.

"Teacher, do not worry. Please watch my progress."

Iori appeared somewhat spirited. Although he had lived for over twenty years in his previous life, as a low-level office worker and shut-in, he possessed no real guile; his emotions were entirely written on his face.

Gekko Nobuhiko looked at the crimson spear in Iori's hand, which radiated a strange sensation, and chose to trust his student.

Inuzuka Gaku and Akimichi Doto did not speak, simply moving forward in silence, waiting for the engagement.

Passing through the forest, Minato Namikaze took the lead, throwing his Flying Thunder God kunai into the densely packed crowd.

He then used the Flying Thunder God technique to blink over, stirring up a gale of blood.

"It's the Yellow Flash! Spread out! Move in pairs, back-to-back!"

After the battle against Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning, the reputation of the Yellow Flash had already spread throughout the ninja world.

Although they did not fully understand the specific mechanics of the Flying Thunder God technique, they had summarized some methods to counter it.

When Minato Namikaze's killing efficiency dropped and he needed multiple blinks to take a single life, Akimichi Doto said in a deep voice: "We cannot let Minato fight alone. It is time for us to enter the fray."

"There are eight jonin on the other side. The four of us will attack in pairs; let's thin their numbers first."

With that, Akimichi Doto charged out and launched an attack at a jonin.

"Super Multi-Size Technique."

His body instantly expanded, transforming into a giant-like stature, and he struck the opponent with a palm.

"Watch out, there's a Konoha ninja ambushing!"

The Iwagakure jonin leaped backward quickly, avoiding the attack while simultaneously warning his companions.

"Ninja Art: Beast Mimicry - All-Fours Jutsu!"

Inuzuka Gaku sprang from below. After performing the Ninja Art: Beast Human Clone, he joined forces with his ninja dog to execute their secret technique.

Their bodies spun at high speed, forming two tornadoes that pincered the opponent from the air.

Inuzuka Gaku and Akimichi Doto coordinated perfectly. The Iwagakure jonin was caught off guard, his body torn to a bloody pulp by the whirlwinds, and he died on the spot.

At the same time, Gekko Nobuhiko and Uchiha Iori reached a consensus after a brief exchange.

They decided that he would provide the feint, and Iori would finish the opponent.

Taking advantage of the enemy's attention being drawn by Akimichi Doto, Gekko Nobuhiko quietly used the Transformation Technique to sneak up beside another Iwagakure jonin.

"Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon."

Gekko Nobuhiko did not hesitate, striking with his full strength immediately.

He quickly used the Shadow Clone Technique to create two clones, then blinked like lightning in front of the enemy, attacking the target's vitals from the left, top, and right.

"Earth Style: Hardening Jutsu."

The enemy Iwagakure ninja was clearly caught off guard. After activating his jutsu, he only had time to protect his vital areas.

He intended to tank this wave of Gekko Nobuhiko's attacks and then counterattack in coordination with his companions.

Clang! Gekko Nobuhiko's sword struck the Iwagakure ninja's hands and feet, failing to sever his bones.

The sword became wedged in the flesh, unable to move.

The Iwagakure ninja revealed a cruel smile, clamping down hard on Gekko Nobuhiko's blade, preparing to call his teammates to take his life.

At this moment, Uchiha Iori flashed out from behind Gekko Nobuhiko.

Chakra gathered at the tip of the spear as he thrust it toward the Iwa-nin's heart.

"I'll be taking your heart now."

Restraint was mutual; while the Iwa-nin had Gekko Nobuhiko locked down, Nobuhiko had him locked down just the same.

The Iwa-nin had no choice but to shift his elbow in front of his heart, hoping his Hardening Technique would block Iori's spear.

However, it was entirely futile. Mere hardening was as fragile as glass before the Gae Bolg, which shattered the defense with ease and pierced through the Iwa-nin's elbow and heart.

"You've grown stronger, Iori."

Gekko Nobuhiko said with gratification. Watching Iori grow from a rookie genin into an elite ninja capable of killing a jonin filled his heart with pride and relief.

Gekko Nobuhiko scanned his surroundings and realized that two of the eight Iwa jonin were already dead.

Of the remaining few, one was chasing Minato Namikaze, three were contending with Akimichi Doto and Inuzuka Gaku, and the other two were rushing toward their position.

"Let's go. Two against two—we need to repel them quickly. Many of their men are already preparing to regroup."

Gekko Nobuhiko said tensely. Although they held a slight advantage on the jonin battlefield, the enemy's numerical superiority among the chunin was simply too great.

Once they regained their command structure, whether they chose to harass the jonin or mass an attack on the outpost, Konoha would be plunged into a dire situation.

"Damn Konoha ninjas, the heads of you two will be taken by us brothers, Hanaka and Anzan!"

The Iwa jonin Hanaka roared, and then both Iwa-nin shouted in unison after forming hand seals.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!"

The ground beneath Uchiha Iori and Gekko Nobuhiko suddenly surged, swallowing their calves.

A force erupted from the ground, dragging their bodies toward the sides of the battlefield where a group of newly gathered Iwa-nin waited for them to fall into the trap.

"Earth Style: Rock Bullet Technique!"

The Iwa-nin unleashed the technique in concert, and countless stone projectiles shot from their mouths toward Iori and Nobuhiko.

Bang. The two who were struck turned into smoke; Uchiha Iori and Gekko Nobuhiko had been prepared, and the targets hit were merely Shadow Clones.

The real Iori and Nobuhiko had been on guard, having used the Transformation Technique earlier to take the appearance of Iwa-nin and quietly close in on the enemy.

"Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon!"

Gekko Nobuhiko lunged at Hanaka, three blades slashing toward him simultaneously.

Uchiha Iori also swung his demonic spear, the weapon striking like a dragon as he and Nobuhiko pincered Hanaka.

"Earth Style: Rock Fist Technique!"

Hanaka condensed chakra into his right hand, turning it into a hard rock fist. Abandoning defense entirely, he threw a punch at Gekko Nobuhiko.

Hanaka understood that he had no path to survival, but he was determined to trade his own death for a grievous injury to Nobuhiko.

"Let me show you the backbone of an Iwa-nin!" Hanaka roared.

"Brother, no!" Anzan screamed, but he was too late to provide support and could only shout in vain.

Squelch. Iori pierced Hanaka's heart with his spear, while Hanaka's fist shattered Gekko Nobuhiko's longsword.

Hanaka's reaction had been too decisive; Nobuhiko had only managed to hold his sword horizontally to block, barely avoiding a fatal blow.