Reinforcements?

As time slowly ticked by.

The pitch-black night seemed to be fading, as if a ferocious demon were temporarily retracting its cruel claws.

A hint of pale white gradually revealed itself on the horizon, and the moon, which had hung high in the night sky, transformed into a faint, lingering crescent.

However, down on the ground, this unprecedented war of invasion was only now truly baring its fangs to the world.

The large contingents of Rock Ninja and Sand Ninja that had been lurking within Konoha Forest finally ceased their concealment, emerging from the darkness to confront the various ninja of Konoha head-on.

With this, the entire situation of the war instantly reached a fever pitch, and the casualties and deaths on both sides increased dramatically.

Under the light of dawn, in the forest shrouded by thin mist, glaring blood was everywhere.

On branches, the ground, and green leaves, the spotted and vast patches of crimson seemed to recount the vibrant lives that had once existed here.

Just then!

"Swish!" "Swish!" "Swish!"...

From the dense forest, the sound of rapid movement suddenly erupted, growing closer and closer.

"Crash!"

A ninja, covered in blood, suddenly leapt out from the edge of the tall jungle!

The moment he hit the ground, he didn't even look back, continuing his flight forward with a face set in a mask of grim determination.

Yet, he had barely run a few steps when a deep, resonant voice echoed from the jungle behind him.

"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Hiding Technique!"

"Crackle... crackle..."

As the dull words fell, a straight trench several meters wide suddenly appeared in the ground. The soil within the trench churned outward, surging directly toward the fleeing ninja.

Hearing the commotion behind him, the blood-soaked ninja glanced back, his pupils constricting sharply as he