Mutual Restraint and Retreat

Let's turn our attention back to Kumogakure.

Despite their best efforts to avoid escalating the war, their covert methods of ambushing and killing the weaker members of Iwagakure were destined to escalate and deepen the enmity between the two sides.

After all, which of the high-ranking members or Jonin of Iwagakure doesn't have a younger member who is still young and needs training?

By doing this, isn't Kumogakure) undermining the very foundation of Broken Iwagakure?

Can Iwagakure withstand this?

Therefore, on the third day after the Kumogakure took action, Ōnoki personally went to the border to confront the Kumogakure.

"Hey, you barbarian, what's wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"

"Didn't we agree to form an alliance to fight Konoha together? Why are you suddenly targeting my Iwagakure like this?"

"Allies? Suddenly?"

Heh, I won't go into the past grievances between our two families, but you formed an alliance with us one day and then turned around and sold us out to the Uchiha.

You're telling me this is sudden? Humph! Today, we're locked in a life-or-death struggle!

Upon hearing this, Ōnoki's expression changed slightly, but he stubbornly composed himself and began to defend himself:

"When did I sell you out to the Uchiha? Weren't there just as many Uchiha killing ninja from our Iwagakure as you?"

"Is it possible that you, a muscle-headed idiot, have been fooled and fallen for someone's divisive scheme?"

"A scheme to sow discord?" The Fourth Raikage A, sneered, turning to look at the Yugito Nii who were ordered to guard him. Upon seeing this, the Yugito men pulled out two copies of the document and threw them in front of Ōnoki.

One document was recently delivered by Inabi Uchiha to Kumogakure, outlining a non-aggression pact Iwagakure and the Uchiha clan.

The other document is the alliance agreement previously signed Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

"Heh, were the signature and official seal on this also forged by someone else?"

"Hmph, does that mean I can assume that the alliance agreement you signed with our Kumogakure is also fake, and that you've been lying to us all along?"

Ōnoki glanced at the documents on the ground and his expression immediately changed drastically.

He personally signed and stamped one of the two documents two months ago, and the other one a month ago. He personally scrutinized many of the details, so it was easy to recognize at a glance.

However, he really couldn't understand why the Uchiha didn't do anything when the Kumogakure sold information about the Iwagakure to the Uchiha.

But why was it that when it was Iwagakure's turn to sell Kumogakure, the Uchiha Iwagakure quickly reported the sale to the Kumogakure?

"Fourth Raikage, let me explain—" However, Ōnoki still wanted to try to argue his way out of it.

But seeing Ōnoki's treacherous and cunning nature, the Fourth Raikage A, immediately became furious and didn't want to waste any more words with him.

Explain yourself!

"Guillotine Drop!"

With a roar, he activated the strongest Lightning Release: Chakra Mode Strongest Lightning Release Armor form, and delivered a powerful axe kick to Ōnoki.

The two sides were quite far apart, and by the time Ai's attack got close, Ōnoki had already flown into the sky to dodge it.

Ai leaped high into the air with all his might to chase after Ōnoki.

But "Buzz...!"

With a clear sound, a small, transparent cube appeared between Ōnoki's outstretched palms, facing Ai who was chasing after him.

Ai's eyes widened instantly, and he used the ' Body Flicker Technique ' to get away from Ōnoki.

That transparent cube is the starting stance of the "Kekkei Genkai" technique, which surpasses even "Kekkei Tōta" —Dust Release Detachment of the Primitive World Technique: Particle Style.

Its power is so great that it can separate the target it hits into atomic states. Only someone more stupid than an idiot would want to run into that thing.

Without hands, Ai's speed hasn't diminished, but his strength is far less than before. So, while he might not lose to Ōnoki in the short term, he definitely won't win. The only difference is how long he can last.

Fortunately, the Kumogakure itself was aware of this, so the Yugito Nii Jinchūriki the Two-Tails kept a close eye on the battle between their Fourth Raikage and Ōnoki, ready to rush in at any time.

Meanwhile, A's attack ignited the war between Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

The five thousand Cloud Ninja soldiers, who had been holding back their anger for several days, roared in unison and charged towards the Iwagakure following A's steps.

The Iwa Ninja, who were originally skilled in Earth Release, were known for their strength and defense, while the Cloud Ninja, who were skilled in Lightning Release, were mostly strong and physically robust close-combat types.

Under normal circumstances, it should be difficult to determine a winner between the two types of ninjas. However, Lightning Release naturally countered by Earth Release, which means that when the strengths are similar, the Iwa Ninja quickly falls into a disadvantageous position.

However, the two sides had fought from the first war to the Third Shinobi World War, and they were old rivals who knew each other well for decades. The Iwa Ninja naturally knew that Earth Release was countered by Lightning Release, so how could they not have countermeasures? Otherwise, Iwagakure would have been conquered by Kumogakure long ago.

Therefore, although the Iwa Ninja seemed to be at a disadvantage, through various means, they prevented the Cloud Ninja from gaining any real advantage.

Finally, the battle lasted until nightfall, and both sides suffered hundreds of casualties before unanimously calling a retreat.

Meanwhile, Yugito had been involved in the battle between the Fourth Raikage A and Ōnoki for quite some time. Although it was a two-on-one fight and he was bullying an old man, the two of them only managed to hold off Ōnoki and prevent his Dust Release from reaching their own camp.

As for winning, that was something I never even considered.

All I can say is that although the old man is old and his arms and legs are not very good, his Dust Release is really strong, and even the Jinchūriki dare not face its edge directly.

The initial battle resulted in a few hundred casualties, which is insignificant compared to the wars in China history where tens or even hundreds of thousands of prisoners were massacred.

However, for a country with only a few hundred military personnel, and for the entire Ninja World where all the ninja villages together couldn't muster 100,000 ninjas, the loss of a few hundred people from a single ninja village was already an extremely significant loss.

Therefore, both Iwagakure and Kumogakure wished they could tear each other to pieces to vent their hatred.

However, the Land of Fire was not far away, and Tsunade's 10,000-strong army was less than half a day's journey from the battlefield. In addition, there was Uchiha Feng in the Land of Whirlpools, whose intentions were unknown.

Neither Iwagakure nor Kumogakure wanted to be caught in the middle of a conflict, thus benefiting the other side.

Under these circumstances, the Kage of both major ninja villages then firmly restrained themselves, preventing another major battle from taking place.

The two sides could only stand facing each other across the border, each retreating to their respective camps, somewhat like the snipe and clam locked in a struggle, neither daring to exert further force, nor daring to give in first.

This standoff lasted for a full three months.

Small-scale skirmishes occurred almost daily over the three months.

Sometimes it's a sneak raid on a camp by three or five people at night, and sometimes it's a ninja encounter where they scout each other out for enemy positions. But whenever the number of casualties approaches a hundred, whether it's Kumogakure or Iwagakure, they will grit their teeth and silently retreat their camps ten miles away to reduce casualties.

By the fourth month, the army of Kumogakure had basically withdrawn to the area near the Iron Country Land of Waterfalls, while the Iwa Ninja had almost withdrawn their defensive line to Iwagakure itself. The distance between the two sides was practically the same as that between two small countries.

Although they are still in a standoff, it takes two days to travel even to meet once. Considering the return trip, rest in between, and the restraint of the high-ranking officials on both sides, they might not even fight once a week. It is basically a tacit truce.

This is definitely not what Konoha and Uchiha Feng wanted to see, yet they didn't participate in the three-month war between Kumogakure and Iwagakure at all.

Especially Feng, who, if not fanning the flames and exacerbating the casualties in Kumogakure and Iwagakure, would certainly not stop either side from doing so.

But the result was that he and Konoha never participated in it from beginning to end. As for the reason?

Haha, all I can say is that those who act arrogantly will eventually be punished by Heaven. Feng was too cocky, and now enemies have come from the sky!

Konoha was caught in the crossfire and suffered as a result, leaving them with no time to deal with Kumogakure and Iwagakure.