Death of the Raikage

After expending 30% more Chakra than expected, and with several ninjas collapsing and vomiting blood due to Chakra, the cost was significant.

The cataclysmic waves of earth and rock have finally formed again!

Rumble!

The earth is wailing!

A terrifying torrent of earth and rocks crashed down with unstoppable force!

However, the tiny perturbation caused by Taiichi had a huge impact.

The Ninjutsu's condensation speed was slowed down by half a beat, and the giant wave of earth and rocks, which was originally as viscous as lava and had a high degree of cohesion, now showed obvious signs of loosening!

It was no longer an impeccable whole; the edges even began to disintegrate into large and small debris flows.

"Roar"

The Third Raikage let out a deafening roar, keenly sensing this slight opening!

The most powerful Hell Stab - One-Finger Nukite, fueled by his fury, no longer chose to directly confront the core of the giant wave, but instead stabbed at the most loosely structured flank!

Thud — Boom!

The blinding lightning was not completely swallowed by the thick earth and rocks as expected. Instead, it tore open a huge gap in the raging torrent of earth and rocks, just like tearing cloth!

Without the slightest hesitation, the Raikage who broke through the encirclement used the momentum from his charge to plunge directly into the Iwagakure formation.

A flurry of severed limbs flew through the air as every Rock Ninja in the Raikage's path was brutally smashed to pieces by the Raikage.

"Damn it! What's going on? The Ninjutsu's power is off!"

Ōnoki, perched on the cliff, saw it all clearly and was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged.

He clearly felt that the power of the Combined Ninjutsu had decreased by at least 30%!

Otherwise, even the Raikage could never have torn himself out so easily!

His sharp gaze swept over the chaotic troops below, but he could find no trace of enemy sabotage.

"Is it really just a coincidence that after so many rehearsals, things went wrong at the crucial moment?"

In his anger, Ōnoki Hand Seals.

Dust Release: Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!

A deadly white cube suddenly materialized, engulfing the Raikage who had just broken free from the Rock Ninja!

But the Raikage wasn't stupid; he knew the power of Dust Release. Lightning crackled around him as he charged back into the group of Rock Ninja.

This was a desperate choice to avoid Dust Release, using Rock Ninja as hostages and betting that Ōnoki wouldn't use Dust Release on his own people in full view of everyone.

But isn't this exactly what Ōnoki wanted? To use the lives of ordinary Rock Ninja to continuously deplete the Raikage's stamina.

After all, in terms of the number of ordinary chunin Genin, Iwagakure not only has the most, but can also train them in large numbers.

Three days and three nights!

The Iwagakure Ninja and the Raikage fought a fierce battle that lasted for three days and three nights in the canyon.

With Taiichi interfering, the Combined Ninjutsu of Iwagakure could not be fully successful, which angered Ōnoki so much that he had replaced four Commander of the Combined Ninjutsu.

But it was still no use. If it didn't work, it didn't work. Every time it came to the crucial moment, there was always a slight disruption that made the Combined Ninjutsu less than perfect.

This difference might not be a problem when dealing with ordinary ninjas, but against a master like the Raikage, even the slightest flaw can be fatal.

This forced Iwagakure to suffer even greater casualties in order to trap and wear down the Raikage.

The Raikage, like a relentless war machine, repeatedly charged forward amidst the onslaught of Earth Style and Dust Release techniques.

Each Hell Stab takes a life, and each time it is struck, the armor groans under the strain.

Blood and sweat soaked his beard and hair, his muscles were torn from excessive pressure, and his bones creaked from the heavy blows, but he still stood tall.

Only when the last drop of Chakra was exhausted and the last fragment of his body dissipated did he collapse with endless resentment and pride.

The dust in the canyon finally settled, and the air was filled with an overwhelming stench of blood and burnt flesh.

The Rock Ninja collapsed to the ground, their faces devoid of the joy of victory, only filled with the bewilderment of surviving a calamity and an unfathomable weariness.

The mountains of corpses included those from Cloud Village, but most of them were from Iwagakure itself.

Ōnoki floated down in front of the Third Raikage, looking at this worthy opponent with a complex expression.

The strategic objective of killing the Raikage has been achieved, and the Cloud Village's invasion has been completely crushed.

However, looking at the corpses of the Rock Ninja scattered inside and outside the canyon, his heart bled.

Especially considering the inexplicable malfunction of the Combined Ninjutsu and the unusual escape route of the Cloud Village reported by the pursuing forces, a strong sense of unease and doubt lingered in his mind.

The next day.

The frontline command post at Iwagakure was filled with an atmosphere of post-victory jubilation.

Kitsuchi held the newly completed casualty statistics and post-war report, his face revealing his exhaustion.

"----Less than 20% of the elite Cloud Village troops have been confirmed to have escaped. The Third Raikage A, has been confirmed to have died from exhaustion."

These are all good news, especially the losses of the Cloud Village Elite, which far exceeded everyone's expectations. They never imagined the battle would be so brilliant.

The people inside the tent were overjoyed, as if Iwagakure could suppress Konoha and dominate the Ninja World from this day forward.

But what Kitsuchi said next completely shattered everyone's illusions.

"Casualties—more than double what was originally planned!"

"What?!"

An uproar erupted inside the tent.

The elders' faces turned ashen.

"How so?"

"We clearly have an absolute advantage."

"And that Combined Ninjutsu! What exactly happened back then?"

This means they know the losses were severe and are starting to look for the reasons.

Ōnoki sat in the main seat, listening to the report. His lower back ached slightly, but he waved his hand to silence the murmurs of the crowd.

"The reason is unknown. Perhaps the Raikage is too strong, or perhaps the troops are too exhausted from days of combat and made a mistake in coordination. Now is not the time to investigate this."

He suppressed his doubts and anger, believing that postwar reconstruction and deterrence were more important than the enormous losses.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the tent.

An extremely burly figure, exuding a strong stench of blood, ignored the guards' attempts to stop him and rudely flung open the tent flap, barging in!

It was Taiichi, who was using the alias "Ryunosuke"!

He was wrapped in blood-stained bandages, and dried scabs remained on his muscular arms. His eyes were fierce, like a demon who had just crawled out of hell.

He was carrying a huge, heavy cloth bag, which was bulging and made a harsh metallic scraping sound as he walked.

Thump!

The sack slammed heavily into the center of the tent, its opening coming undone.

With a whoosh.

Inside were countless Headband of Cloud Ninja, piled up together!

Among them are the marks of Jonin and Special Jonin!

The sheer number is staggering!

The strong stench of blood instantly filled the tent.

"Ryunosuke! What are you doing?"

Kitsuchi frowned and shouted, recognizing the powerful yet unruly Bounty Ninja.

What are you doing?

Taiichi grinned, revealing a fierce smile, his voice as sharp as sandpaper.

"Of course we're here to collect our money! According to the rules, a Genin 100,000 ryo for their Headband, Chunin 500,000, Jonin 1 million—here it is!"

I painstakingly chopped off your heads, and you Iwagakure's logistics department don't even want to exchange them? That's not fair!

He pointed to the pile of Headband, his gaze sweeping over the grim-faced high-ranking members of Iwagakure inside the tent.

The Headband silently testified to his horrific killing efficiency in this war.

The camp was deathly silent.

Looking at the pile of Headband that symbolized the lives of at least a hundred Cloud Ninja, and then at Ryunosuke's terrifying aura and obviously deliberately displayed wounds, greed and killing intent flashed in the eyes of several Iwagakure elders.

This bounty is enormous!

"Bounty? Hmph!"

One of the Hawks elders couldn't help but snort coldly.

"Who knows if these Headband are ones you picked up on the battlefield? Or—are ones of people who killed us and are now impersonating us?"

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point upon hearing this.

Several Iwagakure Jonin placed their hands on their weapons.

Taiichi flashed with a fierce light, and a violent killing intent, almost tangible, instantly enveloped the entire tent!

The air seemed to freeze!

He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking like popping beans, as if he were about to explode and kill someone at any moment!

"Enough!"

Just as tensions were rising, Ōnoki's aged voice rang out.

He slowly stood up, his gaze sharp and intense, sweeping over everyone present before finally settling on the pair of glaring Headband and Ryunosuke.

"The promise of Iwagakure is heavier than a thousand pounds!"

Ōnoki spoke each word clearly, his voice reaching everyone's ears.

"Ryunosuke's performance on the battlefield is undeniable! These Headband are proof of his achievements! He earned them with his life!"

He took a deep breath, made his decision, and spoke with unwavering conviction.

"Don't even mention 100 million taels! We'll sell everything we own to pay him! This is the reputation of Iwagakure!"

His gaze swept over the elders and Jonin who looked unwilling, and his words carried a deeper meaning.

"In this battle, we lost a large number of ninjas, including many—hired comrades. If we renege on Ryunosuke's bounty today and ruin our reputation, who in the Ninja World will dare to accept missions from Iwagakure in the future? Who will dare to shed blood for us?"

"We need a role model! A role model who can show the entire Ninja World that following Iwagakure will bring good fortune!"

Even among the cannon fodder, the best performers can earn rewards that will make everyone envious!

Only in this way will we not have to worry about not having enough cannons when we recruit next time—brave warriors will follow one after another!

Ōnoki's words were cold and realistic, highlighting Ryunosuke's immense publicity value.

These words left the elders, who had wanted to refute them, speechless.

They understood that the Tsuchikage's decision was correct.

For Iwagakure, whose war potential has been greatly diminished, reputation and role models are more important than immediate money.

"Kitsuchi!"

Ōnoki looked at his son.

"Calculate the bounty immediately, and pay it to Ryunosuke in full!"

Kitsuchi quickly replied, "Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!"

Taiichi's fierce expression softened slightly, but his eyes remained sharp as he stared at the Kitsuchi.

"Hurry up! I don't like waiting!"

He sneered inwardly; Ōnoki's cunning was exactly as he had predicted.

This enormous bounty of over 100 million taels of silver was not only a reward for his "hard work," but also the best cover and spoils for him to disrupt the battlefield and fish in troubled waters.

Afterwards, he picked up the heavy money bag, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and, under the Rock Ninja, turned and Earth Flow of the tent.

He left behind a trail of bloody glory and an unspeakable bitterness in the hearts of the Iwagakure.

Of the hundreds of Bounty Ninja went before the battle, only twelve survived and walked out of this blood-red canyon.

Ryunosuke was undoubtedly the most dazzling among them, and also the one who caused Iwagakure the most heartache.

Behind this devastating victory, the price Iwagakure paid far exceeded expectations.

Taiichi, the figure who roamed in the shadows and caused even more casualties, quietly blended into the darkness of the Ninja World with a huge bounty.

News of the Third Raikage's death spread throughout the Ninja World at breakneck speed.

This speed is naturally inseparable from the support and encouragement of Iwagakure.

They were eager for everyone in the Ninja World to know about this immediately, so as to demonstrate the formidable martial prowess of Iwagakure.

And so, Iwagakure's goal was achieved.

--

The death of the Third Raikage was like a bomb, shattering the Ninja World that was just beginning to settle down.

Northern Front.

Orochimaru, of course, would not let such a good opportunity pass by. Without even waiting for the village's orders, he intensified his attacks on Cloud Village.

This put A, who was opposite him, in a difficult position as the Commander in charge of the battle against Konoha.

How absurd it was when he heard the news that the Land of Earth had been defeated at the front lines and that his father had fought for three days and three nights to cover the retreat of the village's elite troops, dying from exhaustion.

The Third Raikage, his father, such a towering man, actually died due to the scheming and plotting of Iwagakure.

They couldn't even retrieve the bodies; this is a disgrace to the entire Cloud Ninja.

Just when he was thinking of returning to the village to organize people to avenge his father, that damned Orochimaru of Konoha actually led his men to attack his doorstep.

On the battlefield.

Aiman's lightning-infused punch forced Orochimaru back, and just as he was about to press his advantage, his feet suddenly sank, and he began to sink.

Earth Style · Swamp of the Underworld.

Orochimaru's use of Earth Style was also very skillful; he caught A off guard without making a sound.

One of them was focused on a quick victory, relentlessly pursuing the other, his body crackling with lightning, drawing streaks of blue light across the battlefield.

One of them simply dodged, avoiding direct confrontation unless absolutely necessary, clinging to the other like a stubborn leech.

"Orochimaru, you started this fight, yet you don't even have the courage to fight me. Is this the face you deserve as Sannin?"

Ai was completely entangled by Orochimaru, unable to escape or fight back, and his Chakra was about to go berserk due to the fluctuations in his emotions.

"What exactly do you want? Give me a plan. Does Konoha really want to become mortal enemies with Cloud Village?"

Ai decided to stop pursuing and stood still, trying to calm his anger.

He could tell that Orochimaru definitely wanted something from him; the reason he was being held back was simply to see who could be more impatient.

"A blood feud?"

Orochimaru emerged from the ground not far away, his long tongue licking around his face, which made Ai frown.

"Aren't we mortal enemies yet?"

"Besides, I'm not in a hurry at all. I bring my men here every day for a battle, and my days are incredibly fulfilling."

Orochimaru's words made Ai grit his teeth in hatred. How shameless! And the worst part was that he could say it so confidently.

"Orochimaru, name your terms. I don't have time to waste here with you."

"Conditions? What an interesting way to put it. If I remember correctly, your Cloud Village declared war on Konoha first, and now you want to back out? It's not that simple."

Orochimaru was truly righteous and indignant at this moment, radiating a light called justice from his entire body.

Seeing that their respective leaders had stopped fighting, the ninjas on both sides tacitly became wary of each other and dispersed, gathering behind their respective Commander.

This scene was quite common during this period, happening almost every day, and everyone had gotten used to it.

Ai naturally knew what Orochimaru really wanted: to force Cloud Village to admit defeat, otherwise Orochimaru would keep him occupied and prevent him from having any other thoughts.

The Cloud Village is now facing not only the counterattack from the Iwagakure Village, but also chaos within the village itself due to the power vacuum created by the sudden death of the Third Raikage.

At this juncture, as the successor to the Raikage, being unable to return to take charge and instead being trapped here engaging in meaningless entanglements with Konoha is a huge loss of face.

But what could he do? He wasn't the Raikage yet, and ending the war wasn't something he could decide unilaterally.

Just when Ai thought the day was going to end in a hasty retreat, a messenger ninja, using Body Flicker, swiftly rushed towards the front of the formation from behind.