Inside the submersible vessel, Kagami watched everything through shared vision and gave a slight nod.
"The progress is slower than expected, but it's still steady."
He looked at the Hyuga ninja beside him. "What's the situation at the main battlefield in the Land of Whirlpools?"
The Hyuga ninja activated his Byakugan and looked northwest. A moment later, his expression turned grave. "The energy clashes inside the Four Violet Yang Formation are extremely intense. The aftershocks have already shattered three smaller barriers.
"The Uzumaki clan chief's... chakra is declining.
"The Raikage and Kazekage's attacks are growing fiercer."
Kagami fell silent for a moment.
"Inform Zhi to speed things up.
"We must clear all the nodes within forty minutes."
"Yes."
As the order was relayed, Kagami looked toward the sea, in the direction of Kirigakure's command ship.
He could sense a sharp opponent aboard that vessel.
Though that opponent was temporarily blinded by genjutsu, such keen instincts would not remain dulled for long.
"Time..."
Kagami murmured, "What we lack most is time."
Underwater, Zhi's squad had already rushed toward the fourth node.
The mist over the sea seemed to have grown thicker.
Inside the Four Violet Yang Formation, the air was as thick as blood.
The Uzumaki clan chief knelt on one knee. His crimson hair was plastered to his cheeks with blood, and his once-majestic face now held nothing but exhaustion and desolation.
At his side, two of the four elders had already fallen dead. The remaining two were also grievously injured and on the brink of death.
Of the twenty Uzumaki elites, fewer than eight could still stand. Every one of them was wounded, their chakra nearly depleted.
Outside the barrier, the Allied forces watched like tigers stalking their prey.
Inside, the Raikage and Kazekage stood like two insurmountable mountains,