Rocket Launcher's Fourth Volley

The sensory ninja tracked the enemy at every moment, suddenly speaking up:

"Lord Uzukage, the target has entered within ten kilometers."

The scene fell into a deathly silence, the atmosphere heavy.

"Notify the artillerymen to prepare. Listen to my orders and divide into four groups: A, B, C, and D. Fire four hundred Katyusha Rocket Launchers in four waves."

Uzumaki Shori issued his commands with composure.

The Uzushio Ninja inside the warships wore grim expressions, gathering fire-attribute chakra and gripping the fuses, waiting for the signal.

"Lord Uzukage, the target has entered the artillery range."

"Adjust orientation to the west-B position. Katyusha Rocket Launchers, North Group A fire, South Group D fire!"

Uzumaki Shori roared.

Twenty-four I-beam launch rails were arranged in two staggered rows, top and bottom.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Successive roars erupted.

The rockets rose into the sky in unison.

They reached the sky and initiated their second-stage thrust.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh."

They streaked rapidly through the air.

Inside the Kirigakure warship, the sensory ninja detected objects approaching at high speed.

"Lord Mizukage, nearly two hundred long, cylindrical objects are approaching rapidly."

Hozuki Gengetsu stroked his handlebar mustache.

I knew that if the Land of Whirlpools dared to sail out for a confrontation, they would certainly have something to rely on.

"All forces, move out! I want to see exactly what the Land of Whirlpools is relying on."

At nine kilometers, the warships of the Land of Whirlpools were already visible. Hozuki Gengetsu's eyes widened, his body growing increasingly excited.

Yet, the rockets in the sky continued to accelerate toward them.

Jinin Akebino realized, Aren't these just oversized arrows?

"Lord Mizukage, they're just oversized arrows. Watch us shoot them down!" He leaped into the air and formed hand seals.

"Water Style: Water Trumpet Technique!"

An endless stream of water surged toward the rockets.

The rockets slammed into the water flow and exploded.

The North Group A rockets broke through the Water Style: Water Trumpet Technique.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

They successfully bombarded the formation.

Biwa Juzo shouted, while Kushimaru Kuriarare and the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen rose to complain.

"Bastards, how are you blocking this? Everything is leaking through!" They formed hand seals.

"Joint Ninjutsu: Water Style: Water Wall!"

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen exerted their power collectively. A curtain of water rose from the sea.

"North Group B fire, South Group C fire."

Uzumaki Shori made a calm judgment regarding the enemy.

The South Group D rockets slammed into the water curtain one after another.

The fire-attribute chakra gunpowder exploded.

It released waves of intense heat, evaporating the water curtain into clouds of steam everywhere.

Uzumaki Shori intended to launch the next wave while their vision was obscured.

The South Group D rockets were exhausted, and the chakra of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was depleting rapidly.

Jinin Akebino panted heavily.

"Look, don't blame me. Where did the Land of Whirlpools get these weapons? The power is immense."

"If your strength is lacking, don't make excuses for yourself. I've blocked them all for now." The Seven Ninja Swordsmen bickered among themselves.

The North Group B and South Group C rockets were still raining down on the targets at a speed of ninety kilometers per hour.

The sensory ninja of Kirigakure found his abilities weakened by the environment saturated with chakra.

"Not good! Another wave of rockets is incoming!"

Before he could finish his sentence, rockets had already landed among the ten warships.

"Bang, bang, bang!" They exploded.

Because of the extreme speed, they had not yet managed to react.

The rocket shells tore into the decks of the Kirigakure warships, and the Kirigakure ninja were instantly swallowed by flames.

The hot wind of the explosions swept across the faces of everyone present.

Seeing such heavy losses, Hozuki Gengetsu, the Mizukage, wore a grim expression and let out a furious roar.

"What are you still bickering about? Wait until we return to see how I punish you all." He formed hand seals with both hands.

"Water Style: Thousand Feeding Sharks Jutsu."

Countless chakra sharks emerged from the sea, charging toward the incoming rocket shells.

They collided in a mutual bombardment.

The rocket shells were wiped out by the swarm of sharks.

On the other side, the ship that had launched the rockets was destroyed by its own recoil.

"Quickly, move to the other ships! Follow the Uzukage's orders and rendezvous at the small island!"

Uzumaki Shori commanded the group, steering them rapidly toward the island.

A hundred warships retreated in organized groups.

However, the countless chakra-manifested sharks pursued the retreating fleet from the sea.

They leaped from the water one after another, tearing into the hulls of the ships.

The Uzushio Ninja widened their eyes, gritting their teeth.

"Bastards! Kirigakure underestimates us too much; they think a few measly sharks can keep us here?" He formed hand seals.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"

Countless fireballs erupted from the mouths of the Uzushio Ninja, and the chakra sharks were annihilated one by one.

"Those with damaged ships, use the chains to move to the intact vessels, detach the chains, and withdraw quickly!"

Uzumaki Shori directed the battle.

Watching the enemy gradually pull away, Hozuki Gengetsu gritted his teeth.

Unable to continue the pursuit, Hozuki Gengetsu ordered his subordinates to assess the losses.

Of the ten warships, only five remained operational, and even those five were riddled with holes from the metal shrapnel of the rocket shells.

Nearly half of the four thousand Kirigakure ninja they had brought were lost, with a small portion of the remainder wounded.

Feeling increasingly stifled, he radiated a terrifying aura, glaring at everyone present.

"A tiny Land of Whirlpools has managed to cost us nearly half our personnel, and it even required me to step in at the end to resolve it."

"What kind of punishment do you think you deserve?"

Everyone turned pale.

One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Hozuki Gensei, knew how cold and ruthless the Mizukage was in his battle state and immediately knelt on the ground.

"Lord Mizukage, your strength is peerless; naturally, your subordinates cannot compare. The Land of Whirlpools will pay the price."

Hozuki Gengetsu let out a cold "Hmph."

He stared at Uzumaki Shori, who was currently steering his ship away.

Uzumaki Shori sensed a stinging sensation on his back and turned his head.

His mental energy, infused with chakra, collided with the Mizukage's once more.

Auras expanded from both sides.

Seeing the ships behind him successfully retreating to the island, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He also steered his ship away, sending a final message through his mental energy and chakra.

"Mizukage, I won this time. If you retreat to the Land of Water, you might still have a way to survive; if you continue to follow, there is only a dead end."

The Second Mizukage of Kirigakure was a battle maniac; he became cold and ruthless when facing combat, and once his anger was ignited, his blood would boil.

He would launch attacks regardless of the cost, and he hoped his intelligence was correct.

Otherwise, if the enemy attacked the Land of Whirlpools directly, they would be forced into a disadvantageous battle at sea.

Hozuki Gengetsu's aura grew increasingly terrifying as he looked down at the people kneeling on the ground.

"Get up and reorganize the troops. We are pursuing the scum of the Land of Whirlpools."

Hozuki Gensei hurriedly stood up.

"Lord Mizukage, instead of chasing the Uzushio Ninja, why don't we attack the Land of Whirlpools directly to force them to pursue us?"

"My Lord, what do you think of this strategy?"

Before Hozuki Gensei could finish, Hozuki Gengetsu stepped forward and slapped him, knocking him to the ground.

"You idiot! How do we deal with the wounded? And with the ships so severely damaged, if we don't go to the island to regroup, how can we continue? This is an overt trap."

Hozuki Gensei lay stiffly on the ground and slapped himself twice.

"Lord Mizukage, naturally I am not as wise as you. I will go repair the ships immediately."

Suikazan Fuguki chuckled to himself, Once you lose your utility, I will be able to finish you off in secret again.

Hozuki Gengetsu let out a breath, his blood-boiling state subsiding as he regained his composure.