Shattered pebbles flew everywhere.
As figures flashed away.
Bang!
Bang!
The ground cracked into small craters wherever they landed. The aftershocks of the battle alone had already entered a realm ordinary ninja could never reach!
Clearly, the Konoha side had deliberately kept away from this area. Under Shikaku's command, they spread far apart along both flanks. Under Shōji's orders, the Iwagakure Ninja had no intention of attacking either. They remained huddled within their stronghold, relying on the barrier as they formed a defensive formation!
This was also the scenario Konoha had anticipated from the start.
In Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shikaku's eyes, the key to this war lay in whether Konoha could break through the Iwagakure Ninja defenses in a short time. As long as they could accomplish that, no matter how strong Uchiha Shōji was, he would be nothing to fear!
Of course, it was not that they were shortsighted. It was simply that no one like Shōji, a supremely terrifying existence, could be found in the current ninja world. Their expectations were destined to be difficult—even impossible—to fulfill.
Leaving aside Shōji's personal strength, the more than one thousand immensely powerful automatic puppets already prepared and waiting to be deployed at the critical moment would be enough to give these Konoha Ninja a miserable time!
Not to mention that every Iwagakure Ninja who had followed Shōji to the front lines this time was equipped with the latest Chakra Armor, along with compact and convenient weapons. Even though the Konoha Ninja held an absolute numerical advantage.
It would still be difficult for them to establish an absolute advantage in a short time.
The number of techniques Chakra Armor could neutralize was simply too great. It was far too overpowered.
Because of that.
Shōji could confront Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya without concern.