As both sides gave the order to attack, ninjas from every faction surged toward their opponents like a tidal wave.
Uzumaki Shori issued his command.
"Elder Uzumaki Keimei, they outnumber us. Lead our Uzumaki Clan against them—soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals. Leave the Mizukage to me."
Hearing the order, Elder Keimei immediately went to take command.
The Uzumaki Clan had an enormous chakra reserve. By using Fire Release as a group and pouring extra chakra into their jutsu, they could multiply its power.
The Uzushio Ninja formed hand seals. "Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"
Elder Keimei formed hand seals. "Fire Style: Great Flame Bullet!"
At the command, countless balls of flame surrounded the massive fireball of the Great Flame Bullet.
They blotted out half the sky above the battlefield as they hurtled toward the Mist Ninja.
The Kirigakure jonin stared in shock at the enormous fireballs coming their way.
"How are we supposed to face a jutsu this huge?"
"Damn it! If you don't want to die, use your jutsu and take them out!" They formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!" "Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
Wild Water Wave gushed from their mouths like a waterfall, surging toward the enemy, while Water Fang Bullet compressed the water and added rotation to increase its lethality.
The two techniques combined, but in this dry environment, Water Release was weakened.
Against the sky-darkening Fire Release, it was like thrusting a spear into a sandbag: sand still spilled out through the gaps. The giant fireball broke apart into countless large fireballs.
The Kirigakure jonin stared at the sight, their pupils contracting as they stood frozen.
"How can you be this weak? If the enemy wipes you out, we won't get our hands on the Land of Whirlpools' assets, and my fee is coming out of those assets!"
Minazuki Junhyo's face was grim. Seeing the Mist Ninja falter, he formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"
He gathered a vast amount of chakra and spat out enormous columns of water. Under Minazuki Junhyo's Water Release chakra, the dry surroundings—
could not diminish their original power. The massive pillars shot up from the ground, instantly striking the large fireballs falling from the sky.
The large fireballs were defeated by the immense water pillars.
The Uzushio Ninja watched the enemy ninja dispel their combined jutsu with a single technique. This had to be a joke.
Uzumaki Keimei steadied himself and stared at the enemy, his gaze resolute. He roared, rallying his troops:
"There's only one of them! The Kirigakure Ninja couldn't even withstand our combined jutsu just now. In terms of strength, the Uzushio Ninja can certainly defeat them. We will win!"
Then the Uzushio Ninja drew their kunai, their chakra surging as they reinforced their bodies and charged at the enemy again.
The Mist Ninja, still stunned by the power of Lord Minazuki's jutsu, came to their senses. Their morale rose at once, and they formed hand seals to take out their opponents.
"Water Release: Water Clone Technique!"
The Mist Ninja already greatly outnumbered the Land of Whirlpools' forces. Now, the Water Clone Technique multiplied their numbers several times over.
Facing several times as many enemies, the Uzushio jonin thrust their shuriken forward. The Water Clones had only a tenth of their originals' strength.
Though they could wear down the Uzushio Ninja, each time a Water Clone was quickly defeated, it only boosted the Uzumaki fighters' morale even further.
Their chakra continued to surge. The Uzumaki Clan had a unique advantage: an immense chakra reserve. Their abundant chakra flooded toward their eyes, turning their gazes crimson.
The more timid Mist Ninja were immediately frightened into sluggishness, and the Uzushio Ninja seized the chance to take them out.
Minazuki Junhyo saw what was happening on the battlefield. Despite the Mist Ninja appearing to outnumber their opponents several times over, they were not gaining control.
Instead, the enemy's morale was overwhelming. He strode toward them, his massive frame moving slowly, and formed hand seals.
"Secret Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles!"
The water transformed into countless steel needles, which shot toward the Uzushio Ninja from every direction.
At the sight of this, Elder Keimei recognized Ice Release. The enemy was a member of one of Kirigakure's three great Kekkei Genkai clans. He stepped forward, eyes wide as he watched his opponent, and formed hand seals.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song Technique!"
Four fire dragons burst from his mouth, protecting the Uzushio Ninja under attack from Thousand Flying Water Needles from the north, south, east, and west.
"You Yuki Clan scum! Let this old man take you on."
In an instant, Elder Keimei charged at Minazuki Junhyo.
Chakra gathered. "Hand Seals!"
"Sealing Jutsu: Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Four chains shot from his back, knocking down the Mist Ninja in their path.
Seeing Elder Keimei lead the charge, the Uzushio Ninja's morale soared, and they completely suppressed the Mist Ninja.
A flicker of surprise crossed Junbai Yuki's face. The abilities of these Uzushio Ninja had truly exceeded his expectations.
Watching Elder Keimei charge toward him, he gave a cold laugh. As the head of the Yuki Clan—
"I'll show you that there are many shinobi villages, but only five are called the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
As the Adamantine Chains struck toward him, his expression sharpened and he formed hand seals.
"Kekkei Genkai: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"
The bloodline power hidden deep within his body erupted with enormous chakra, forming mirror-like ice crystals around Elder Keimei.
They enclosed him completely. Minazuki Junhyo could move at lightning speed using the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
Seeing Elder Keimei trapped inside the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, Uzumaki Shori's heart tightened.
That was the Yuki Clan's Kekkei Genkai, the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals. It was difficult to break through from within; they had to attack from the outside.
"Attack on all fronts and rescue Elder Keimei! It's our turn!"
As he spoke, he charged forward first. Hozuki Gengetsu saw Uzumaki Shori advancing and grinned eagerly.
"My opponent, you're finally making your move, Second Uzukage!"
Kushimaru Kuriarare saw Uzumaki Sasuke heading toward the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals and hurried to intercept him.
After all, Minazuki Junhyo was inside the ice crystals, and Uzumaki Keimei would grow weaker as he was worn down.
Seeing Kushimaru Kuriarare come to stop him, Uzumaki Sasuke's chakra surged through his body.
"Taijutsu: Shadow Leaf Dance!"
It was a taijutsu technique passed down from Konoha: a low stance followed by an upward kick to the opponent's chin.
Kushimaru Kuriarare watched him use the technique and formed hand seals.
"Summoning Technique: Nuibari!"
Nuibari was a blade with tremendous piercing power. A sharp steel wire was fastened to its back, which could be pulled free when needed.
Excitedly, he grabbed the weapon and swung it at his opponent. Uzumaki Sasuke immediately changed his attack. His first assault had disrupted the enemy's rhythm; when it failed, he switched tactics without hesitation.
"Taijutsu: Leaf Rising Wind!"
He curled his waist downward, then sprang into the air like a slingshot, kicking at the enemy's weapon in an attempt to knock it away.
Kushimaru Kuriarare wore a Kirigakure Anbu mask, so his expression was hidden. He simply drew Nuibari back and pulled out the steel wire to block Uzumaki Sasuke's Leaf Rising Wind.
Seeing that his opponent had not dodged but instead pulled out the wire to block him, Uzumaki Sasuke sensed something was wrong.
His foot struck the enemy's weapon. He quickly pulled it back and retreated, then realized that merely grazing the steel wire had left a thin cut across his thigh, with blood seeping from it.
He gathered chakra around the wound to close it. Facing the Nuibari in his opponent's hands, he felt the situation was troublesome.
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