After returning from the Heroes' banquet, Uchiha Iori discovered that his spiritual power had increased once again.
He didn't know whether it was because of his battle with Diarmuid or because he had eaten in the Hall of Heroes.
Suddenly, a red signal flare exploded in the sky with a bang.
"It's a red flare. Looks like the Iwagakure Ninja have assembled their forces and are launching an attack."
Iori looked at his teammates with some concern.
Uzuki Kaori and Kurama Takumi were both of average talent. If they progressed at the usual pace, they might not even make it to jonin.
With the numbers in this battle so heavily skewed, would they survive?
Iori shook his head, dispelling the useless thoughts.
He took out the Demonic Spear he had projected yesterday from Unlimited Blade Works, determined to end the battle as quickly as possible. He couldn't let his friends die here.
Minato Namikaze quickly assembled the forces and said firmly:
"Stick to the plan. The jonin will engage the Iwagakure jonin, and the chunin will hold our position. I'll go drive back the enemy's ninja forces."
Minato's plan put most of the pressure on himself. No one objected, and they immediately followed his orders.
"Iori, be careful out there. Jonin have all sorts of tricks up their sleeves. Make sure you protect yourself."
Concern colored Gekko Nobuhiko's words. After three years as teacher and student, their relationship was almost like that of father and son.
"Don't worry, sensei. Just watch and see how much I've improved."
Iori looked full of confidence, though he had lived more than twenty years in his previous life.
But how could a low-level office worker and shut-in have any real composure? His emotions showed plainly on his face.
Gekko Nobuhiko looked at the crimson spear in Iori's hand, which gave off an uncanny feeling, and chose to trust his student.
Inuzuka Gaku and Akimichi Doto said nothing. They simply moved forward in silence, waiting for the battle to begin.
They passed through the forest. Minato Namikaze took the lead and hurled Flying Thunder God Kunai toward the densest part of the enemy formation.
Then he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to flash over, raising a storm 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 name Yellow Flash had spread throughout the Ninja World.
They still didn't know exactly how the Flying Thunder God Technique worked, but they had figured out a few ways to counter it.
When Minato's killing efficiency dropped and he had to teleport several times to take down a single enemy,
Akimichi Doto said gravely, "We can't leave Minato to fight alone. It's our turn to join the battle."
"There are eight jonin on the other side. We'll split into pairs and attack them together. First, let's thin out their numbers."
With that, Akimichi Doto charged at a jonin and attacked.
"Super Multi-Size Technique!"
His body swelled in an instant, growing to the size of a giant, and he swung his palm at his opponent.
"Watch out! Konoha Ninja are attacking from behind!"
The Iwagakure jonin leaped backward to dodge, then warned his comrades.
"Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu: Fang Over Fang!"
Inuzuka Gaku burst out from below. After using Beast-Man Clone, he and his Ninja Dog performed a secret technique together.
Their bodies spun at high speed, forming two tornadoes that closed in on their opponent from both sides.
Inuzuka Gaku and Akimichi Doto worked together seamlessly. Caught off guard, the Iwagakure jonin was torn apart by the swirling attack, his body reduced to a bloody mess. He died on the spot.
Meanwhile, Gekko Nobuhiko and Uchiha Iori had reached an understanding after a brief exchange.
Nobuhiko would draw the enemy's attention, and Iori would finish them off.
While the enemy's gaze was drawn to 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 attacked at full strength without hesitation.
He quickly used the Shadow Clone Technique to create two clones, then flashed in front of the enemy like lightning, attacking his vital points from the left, above, and right.
"Earth Release: Hardening Technique."
The Iwagakure ninja was clearly caught off guard. After using his jutsu, he had only enough time to protect his vital areas.
He planned to withstand Gekko Nobuhiko's assault, then counterattack with his comrades.
Clang! Gekko Nobuhiko's sword struck the Iwagakure ninja's hands and feet, but failed to break his bones.
The blade lodged in his flesh, stuck fast.
The Iwagakure ninja gave a cruel smile and clamped down hard on the sword, preparing to call his teammates over to finish Nobuhiko off.
Just then, Uchiha Iori appeared from behind Gekko Nobuhiko.
Chakra gathered at the tip of his spear as he thrust it toward the Iwagakure ninja's heart.
"I'll take your heart."
They were holding each other in place. As the Iwagakure ninja pinned Gekko Nobuhiko down, Nobuhiko had pinned him too.
With no other choice, the Iwagakure ninja moved his elbow in front of his heart, hoping his Hardening Technique could stop Iori's spear.
But it was futile. The mere Hardening Technique was as fragile as glass before Gae Bolg. It shattered the defense with ease, piercing the Iwagakure ninja's elbow and heart.
"You've gotten stronger, Iori."
Gekko Nobuhiko said with pride and satisfaction. He had watched Iori grow from a rookie genin into an elite ninja capable of killing a jonin, and his heart swelled with pride.
Gekko Nobuhiko looked around and saw that two of the eight Iwagakure jonin were dead.
Of the remaining six, one was chasing Minato Namikaze, three were fighting Akimichi Doto and Inuzuka Gaku, and the other two were heading toward them.
"Let's move. Two against two. We need to drive them off quickly; quite a few of their men are getting ready to regroup."
Gekko Nobuhiko spoke tensely. They had the upper hand on the jonin front, but the enemy had a tremendous numerical advantage among the chunin.
Once the enemy regained command, they could either interfere with the jonin battle or gather their forces to attack the outpost, both of which would leave Konoha in a difficult position.
"Damn Konoha Ninja! We, the Hanaka and Anzan brothers, will take your heads!"
The Iwagakure jonin Hanaka roared. Then the two Iwagakure ninja formed hand seals and shouted in unison.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
The ground beneath Uchiha Iori and Gekko Nobuhiko suddenly surged, swallowing their legs.
A force rose from the earth and dragged them toward opposite sides of the battlefield, where a group of Iwagakure ninja who had just regrouped waited to trap them.
"Earth Release: Rock Iron Cannon Technique!"
The Iwagakure ninja used the technique together, firing countless stone cannons from their mouths at Iori and Nobuhiko.
Bang! The two figures were struck and turned into smoke. Uchiha Iori and Gekko Nobuhiko had been prepared; the ones hit were only Shadow Clones.
The real Iori and Nobuhiko had been ready well in advance. They had already used the Transformation Technique to disguise themselves as Iwagakure ninja and quietly approach the enemy.
"Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon."
Gekko Nobuhiko charged at Hanaka, three swords slashing at him at once.
Uchiha Iori swung his Demonic Spear as well, thrusting like a dragon as he joined Gekko Nobuhiko in attacking Hanaka.
"Earth Release: Fist Rock Technique!"
Hanaka concentrated chakra in his right hand, turning it into a rock-hard fist. Abandoning all defense, he punched toward Gekko Nobuhiko.
Hanaka understood that he had no chance of surviving, but he was determined to trade his life for a serious wound to Nobuhiko.
"Let me show you the spirit of the Iwagakure Ninja!" Hanaka roared.
"Brother, no!" Anzan shouted. He couldn't get there in time to help, so all he could do was cry out in vain.
With a wet thud, Iori's spear pierced Hanaka's heart, while Hanaka's fist shattered Gekko Nobuhiko's sword.
Hanaka had reacted too decisively. Gekko Nobuhiko had only managed to hold his sword across his body, barely avoiding a fatal blow.