Battlefield Division

Chaos spread through Konoha like a plague.

Inside the arena, Kimimaro clashed with the Sunagakure jonin Baki. Their bone blades and wind blades collided, emitting ear-piercing screeches. Baki was a seasoned veteran, but Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku offered both offense and defense, and his fearless, desperate style managed to pin the jonin down.

Elsewhere, Haku's Ice Release struggled to contain Shukaku's sandstorms. Ice mirrors constantly formed and shattered; the frigid air mingled with sand and dust, creating a hazy zone of death. Shukaku's roars were deafening, and every thrash of its body shook the earth. Haku's face was pale, his chakra reserves draining rapidly, yet his gaze remained resolute as he held the line, buying time for the others.

Uchiha Sasuke stood in the center of the chaos, his Sharingan locked onto the massive Shukaku. The stinging pain and surge of power from the Cursed Seal left him feeling a mix of terror and exhilaration. Kakashi appeared beside him, pressing a hand firmly onto his shoulder. "Sasuke, calm down! That is not an opponent you can handle! Stay close to me!"

In the stands, ordinary spectators remained unconscious while ninjas engaged in slaughter. Asuma, Kurenai, and others were locked in a chaotic melee with the jonin of Sunagakure and the Sound Ninja. Kunai, shuriken, and the flashes of ninjutsu flew everywhere, accompanied by an endless chorus of screams.

Ling's figure moved.

He did not rush toward the conspicuous Shukaku, nor did he go to support Kimimaro and Haku, who were locked in bitter struggles. His objective was clearer: to eliminate the Sunagakure and Sound Ninja elites who were slaughtering Konoha's genin and chunin while attempting to destroy the base points of the barrier.

Flying Thunder God Technique, activate!

With a flash of golden light, he appeared behind a Sound Ninja who was about to plunge a kunai into the back of a Konoha genin. His hand rose, and the kunai fell. The Sound Ninja stiffened, a streak of crimson blooming across his throat before he collapsed in silence.

Ling didn't even glance at him; his senses locked onto the next target, and he vanished once more.

He reappeared beside a barrier node where two Sunagakure ninjas were attempting to destroy the runes. Wind Release: Vacuum Wave erupted from his hand like an invisible blade, severing both the men and the Explosive Tags they held.

He was a ghost on the battlefield; every flicker of his presence was accompanied by the death of an enemy. The efficiency was chilling. He used no flashy techniques, only movement of extreme precision and one-hit kills. He was doing his part to minimize Konoha's casualties and stabilize the defensive line.

"Is that... Uchiha Ling?" A Konoha ninja recognized him, watching as he cleared enemies like a scythe through grass, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. This usually reticent, exceptional student possessed such terrifying strength?

Ling ignored the gazes. A thread of his perception remained tightly fixed on Naruto. He saw Naruto following Jiraiya, rushing toward the direction of Shukaku, and felt a sense of relief. With Jiraiya there, Naruto's safety was temporarily assured.

His gaze shifted to the rooftops. There, the Four Violet Flames Formation isolated the interior from the outside, yet he could vaguely sense the terrifying chakra fluctuations emanating from within. The Third Hokage... how much longer could he hold out?

He had to resolve the trouble below as quickly as possible.

His figure vanished again, this time appearing near the battle between Baki and Kimimaro. Baki, unable to secure a victory after a prolonged engagement, was growing agitated; seeing Ling appear made his heart skip a beat.

"Your opponent is me." Ling looked at Baki calmly, then said to Kimimaro, "Go help Haku. Leave this to me."

Kimimaro didn't hesitate; he pulled back sharply and dashed toward the direction of Shukaku.

Baki's expression darkened. "Arrogant brat!" He formed hand seals, and a massive amount of wind-attribute chakra gathered. "Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"

Countless sharp wind blades descended upon Ling like a net.

Ling stood his ground, not even forming a seal. The moment the wind blades reached him, he vanished again.

Baki's pupils contracted violently. He instinctively turned to the side, but a kunai grazed his ribs, drawing a trail of blood.

Ling appeared behind him, his expression devoid of emotion.

"Flying Thunder God... the technique of the Second and Fourth Hokage..." Baki finally realized, his heart churning with turbulent waves. This Uchiha brat not only possessed the Sharingan but had also mastered such space-time ninjutsu! The intelligence report was a catastrophic failure!

He dared not be negligent and fought with everything he had. But Ling's speed was too great, his movements erratic and ghostly. The Flying Thunder God, combined with precise taijutsu and shuriken techniques, left Baki struggling to keep up, new wounds appearing on his body one after another.

The battlefield was divided into several sectors: the death match on the roof, the rampaging Shukaku, the melee of the jonin, and Ling's efficient, cold-blooded cleanup.

However, Ling's heart did not relax. He sensed that deep underground, that cold chakra belonging to Danzo was beginning to stir.

Was "Root" finally going to move? Who would be their target?

Ling parried one of Baki's wind blades, his gaze sweeping across the chaotic battlefield before finally settling on Naruto, who was struggling in the distance to get closer to Shukaku.

His eyes turned sharply, piercingly cold.