Life Will Die

Chapter 37: Life Will Perish

"Enemy attack!"

"Enemy attack!"

Under the dual assault of the Fire Temple monks and the Senju Clan ninjas, the supply train transporting standard-issue weapons and equipment fell into immediate disarray.

After all, the majority of the personnel in this convoy were ordinary soldiers from the Land of Fire, so it was inevitable that they would panic under the Earth Style ninjutsu attacks from the hostile ninjas.

Even the ninjas from the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans at the front of the formation had no immediate response in their flustered state.

After all, no one wanted to die...

Especially since the location where they were ambushed was this canyon, a place akin to a death trap.

On the steep cliffs on both sides of the canyon, massive boulders fell from time to time.

Above their heads, there were attacks from the enemy consisting of shuriken, kunai, explosive tags, and ninjutsu.

Watching their clansmen being crushed by falling boulders, their fates unknown, and seeing the remaining clansmen scrambling in panic, trying to dodge the enemy's onslaught...

"What do we do?"

The patriarch of the Akimichi Clan, wielding a long staff, knocked away a boulder to save a clansman, then shouted anxiously to the Nara patriarch.

"Gather the clansmen and retreat toward the rear..."

"The Uchiha Clan ninjas are in the back; we must move toward them quickly!"

Having realized the situation, the Nara patriarch hurriedly shouted to the surrounding ninjas of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans.

The Nara patriarch knew that, judging by the enemy's current offensive posture, this group of ambushers was definitely not something the Ino-Shika-Cho ninjas could withstand.

Therefore, they had to retreat immediately, or the ninjas of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans might all be left here today.

Ninja clans like theirs could not afford such losses.

The Nara patriarch seized the moment to use the Shadow Possession Technique to control the falling boulders, forming a barrier above their heads to block the attacks from the cliffs on both sides.

"Yamanaka patriarch, take your clansmen and retreat first; the Nara patriarch and I will cover you..."

"Haha!"

"Multi-Size Technique!"

The Akimichi patriarch waved at the Yamanaka patriarch and immediately unleashed the Akimichi secret technique, his entire body rapidly expanding and growing to a massive size.

"That's right, Yamanaka patriarch, you should take the clansmen and retreat first."

"Your abilities cannot be utilized effectively here."

The Nara patriarch took the opportunity to leap onto the shoulder of the Akimichi patriarch, preparing to coordinate with him to launch a counterattack and cover the retreat of their clansmen.

"Ichiro, Koichi, you..."

"Sigh..."

The Yamanaka patriarch knew that now was not the time for hesitation, and his abilities were indeed ill-suited for this environment.

"Ichiro, Koichi, rest assured, I will definitely bring your clansmen back safely."

"Retreat to the rear!"

"Do not let the expectations of the Akimichi patriarch and the Nara patriarch go to waste."

Yamanaka Makoto, the Yamanaka patriarch, looked at his two old friends preparing to meet their deaths with such generosity, a flash of unbearable pain in his eyes. However, as the head of his clan, he suppressed his grief and began to lead the clansmen of the three families in an orderly retreat toward the rear.

"Ichiro, let's make a scene!"

"Let the enemy see clearly the resolve we hold as ninjas!"

Nara Koichi, the Nara patriarch, looked down at his giant friend Akimichi Ichiro, his eyes still showing a readiness to die.

"Hehe, of course!"

Akimichi Ichiro, the Akimichi patriarch, chuckled, then swung his massive fist, striking a falling boulder and sending it flying back.

In truth, as the strategist among the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, Nara Koichi understood that he had initially thought they could safely earn their mission reward this time.

But the enemies this time dared to ambush a convoy guarded by the Uchiha Clan and the Hagoromo Clan, and they were transporting standard-issue weapons that made everyone covetous.

Therefore, this group of ambushers must have obtained intelligence in advance, and coupled with the fact that the Uchiha patriarch had taken the initiative to suggest camping at the entrance of the canyon last night...

If there was no conspiracy behind this, Nara Koichi would absolutely not believe it.

It seemed that this time, the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans had fallen into a whirlpool of conspiracy...

"The enemy really thinks highly of us, the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans!"

Thinking of this, a bitter smile appeared on Nara Koichi's face.

However, things had reached this point; they could only fight for their lives.

I must see who the enemy is this time, otherwise, it would be too unjust to die.

"Ichiro, let's go up!"

With this in mind, Nara Koichi directed the giant-sized Akimichi Ichiro to move against the current, tracing the trajectory of the incoming shuriken and kunai.

For the giant Akimichi Ichiro, scaling the sheer cliffs on both sides of the canyon was merely a matter of time.

"Master Yamashita, a ninja from the Akimichi Clan is about to climb up."

A monk responsible for monitoring the battlefield quickly reported to Master Yamashita, who was directing the defense nearby.

"The Akimichi Clan?"

"If they manage to climb up, the Akimichi Clan's secret Multi-Size Technique will cause us massive damage in these narrow caves."

"Use Fire Style to attack them and knock them back down."

"Yes!"

Master Yamashita, who was commanding the monks of the Fire Temple, furrowed his brows and immediately issued the order.

"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"

Under Master Yamashita's command, the monks of the Fire Temple hurriedly formed hand seals and unleashed a Fire Style attack toward Akimichi Ichiro and Nara Koichi.

"It's coming."

"I know!"

Nara Koichi observed a massive burst of flame erupting downward from the cliffside and immediately warned Akimichi Ichiro beneath his feet.

"Super Partial Multi-Size Technique!"

Akimichi Ichiro unleashed his clan's secret technique once more; his already giant right arm expanded instantly under the additional reinforcement of the technique.

"BOOM!"

The combined Fire Style attack from the Fire Temple monks was blocked entirely by Akimichi Ichiro's super-sized right arm.

However, Akimichi Ichiro's right arm was also severely burned by the flames of the Fire Style jutsu.

"Such common, dime-a-dozen Fire Style jutsu!"

"It seems the enemy is trying to hide their identity!"

Nara Koichi frowned as he looked at Akimichi Ichiro's severely burned right arm, understanding the situation immediately.

"Koichi, I don't have much chakra left."

"And my right arm is useless now."

Akimichi Ichiro gritted his teeth in pain, veins bulging on his face, as he spoke in a muffled voice to Nara Koichi.

"Then let's give it one last push!"

"If I don't find out who the enemy is..."

"I won't be able to rest in peace even in death!"

Nara Koichi pressed his palms together, preparing to unleash his secret technique at any moment!

"Yeah!"

"Let's go!"

Akimichi Ichiro let out a roar, and in his giant form, he dug his left hand and both feet directly into the mountain face.

"BOOM!"

"BOOM!"

Immediately after, a series of explosive sounds echoed as the rock of the cliff face was crushed under his grip.

At the same time, the giant Akimichi Ichiro carried Nara Koichi as they climbed rapidly upward, nearing the hidden caves where the Fire Temple monks were stationed.

"Quick, attack them!"

"Knock them down!"

Another wave of shuriken, kunai, and ninjutsu attacks rained down.

Akimichi Ichiro gritted his teeth, burning the last of his chakra, and with a swing of his arm, he launched Nara Koichi upward.

Akimichi Ichiro himself was struck directly by the kunai, shuriken, and ninjutsu, dying instantly.

"Ichiro!"

Nara Koichi, sent flying through the air, looked back to see Akimichi Ichiro's massive body falling backward.

"Damn it!"

"Shadow Sewing Technique!"

"Hmph!"

"Talent of the Immortal Clan: Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Armed Murder!"

Reaching the peak of his trajectory, Nara Koichi finally caught sight of the enemies hidden in the cave on the cliff face.

Before he could even release the Shadow Sewing Technique in his hands, countless golden chakra fists surged toward his face.

"Master Yamashita of the Fire Temple?"

"How is this possible?"

"This..."

As Nara Koichi was sent flying, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

"It seems that this time, I have truly been dragged into a grand conspiracy."

"I only hope Makoto can safely lead the clansmen in their retreat!"

While airborne, Nara Koichi struggled to turn his head. In the final moment of his life, he looked toward the canyon, in the direction where Yamanaka Makoto was leading the clansmen to retreat.

"Heh..."

Ensuring that his clansmen had already moved beyond the attack range of the Fire Temple ninja monks, a faint smile appeared on Nara Koichi's face before he drew his final breath and passed away.