What? Konoha Ninja Are Coming for Me?

Inside Blackstone Fortress in Broken Cloud Gorge.

In Iwagakure's Assembly Hall, Jianyan, the Iwagakure commander, sat at the head of the room in a standard-issue Iwagakure Forehead Protector. His battle-worn face was deeply lined as he studied the defense map on his desk.

Iwagakure Jonin and captains stood along both sides of the hall. The entire fortress was on high alert.

Just then, an Iwagakure scout hurried into the hall. He dropped to one knee and reported urgently:

"My lord! Massive Chakra fluctuations have been detected to the southwest! A large force of Konoha Ninja is closing fast on Broken Cloud Gorge! At least four hundred by the look of it! They're moving quickly and spoiling for a fight!"

Jianyan's brow furrowed. He slammed his palm onto the desk.

"What? Konoha Ninja are coming for me?"

"How dare they?"

"They only just issued their proclamation, and they're already attacking?"

He had expected Konoha to act after receiving the proclamation, but not this swiftly. Now he had no choice but to fight.

"Has the sensory unit confirmed it?"

"Confirmed! Their route leads straight to our gorge outpost. The stream of Chakra goes on and on. This is no small raiding party!"

Jianyan rose and looked toward the distant land beyond the gorge. "So they've come. Kagami Uchiha's proclamation has spread across the shinobi world, and Konoha intends to make an example of our garrison in the Land of Grass."

A veteran of many battles, he knew what the armies of the Five Great Shinobi Villages could do. He would not underestimate them.

"Pass down my orders!"

"Pull back every Hidden Sentry Post outside the gorge. Do not engage recklessly. Activate all outer traps and Earth Release Mechanisms at once!"

"First squad, take positions at the entrance to Broken Cloud Gorge. Build an Earthen Wall Defense Line and hold the mouth of the gorge!"

"Second squad, slip into the tunnels along both cliff faces and prepare an ambush. The moment Konoha enters the gorge, strike!"

"The remaining main force stays in Blackstone Fortress, ready to move. No one redeploys without orders!"

Orders flew through the fortress, and it erupted into activity.

Iwagakure Ninja raced to their posts. Earth Release techniques went off one after another. Thick earthen walls rose at the gorge entrance, hidden openings appeared across the cliff faces, and countless Iwagakure Ninja concealed themselves to await the enemy.

A short while later, dust billowed along the horizon beyond the gorge entrance.

Hatake Sakumo had led four hundred Konoha vanguard shinobi to the edge of Broken Cloud Gorge.

From afar, they could see layers of stone-and-earth barricades at the entrance. Behind them, ranks of Iwagakure Ninja stood ready. Chakra could be sensed lurking in the shadows of the mountains on either side.

Hatake Sakumo raised a hand, signaling the entire force to halt.

The four hundred vanguard shinobi stopped at once, taking position in orderly ranks on the open ground outside the gorge.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru stood shoulder to shoulder at the front, their eyes fixed on Iwagakure's heavily guarded defenses.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, sensing the Chakra moving through the surrounding woods. He said quietly:

"They're ready for us. Earth Release is everywhere, and plenty of people are hiding beneath the cliffs on both sides."

Tsunade's expression hardened. Her fists clenched tight. "Word reached them long ago. These Iwagakure Ninja reacted fast."

Jiraiya grinned and gripped his Kunai. "Good. Saves us the trouble of hunting them down."

Hatake Sakumo swept a sharp gaze over the fortifications ahead and shouted an order:

Atop the gorge entrance, an Iwagakure captain roared.

"Attack!"

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Bullet Jutsu!"

Rumble!

Huge, compressed balls of earth and stone tore through the air, dragging gravel and sand behind them. They hurtled toward the advancing Konoha ranks in a dense barrage!

"Earth Release unit, forward!"

Hatake Sakumo stood at the front and gave the order in a thunderous voice.

More than a dozen Konoha Ninja skilled in Earth Release stepped forward. Their hands flashed through Hand Seals as they shouted together:

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!"

The ground surged. Rock layers heaved!

A massive wall of earth and stone, dozens of meters wide and several meters tall, rose before Konoha's formation. Crisscrossing seams of stone locked into dense layers.

The Earth Flow Bullets came crashing down!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Explosions followed one another as stone fragments flew and dust burst into the air. The rampart endured the entire barrage. It shook without ceasing, but did not break.

"Fire Release unit, advance and attack!" Hatake Sakumo ordered.

Dozens of Fire Release shinobi stepped forward together. They formed Hand Seals, drew breath, and unleashed surging flames!

"Great Fireball Technique!"

Great, scorching fireballs soared into the air. Red flames lit the sky over the gorge, and searing heat washed across the battlefield. The fireballs joined into a tide of flame and slammed into Iwagakure's fortifications at the entrance.

Among them, the Uchiha shinobi pressed their attack even harder, shouting with fierce pride:

"Show Iwagakure the power of the Uchiha!"

Their hands raced through more seals, and flames flashed again and again!

"Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

Sparks became dense volleys of slender fireballs. They rained across the Iwagakure barricades, burning and bursting against the stone and wearing down the defenses.

"Hmph." The Iwagakure captain at the gorge entrance snorted.

"How could mere Fire Release overcome the solid weight of the earth?"

He swept an arm forward and barked, "Everyone, attack! Prepare the Combined Jutsu!"

Dozens of Iwagakure Ninja crouched and formed Hand Seals, then slammed their palms into the ground!

"Combined Jutsu: Earth Release: Earth and Stone Torrent Jutsu!"

Crack—boom!

The ground across the gorge approach split and collapsed!

Great masses of soil, shattered stone, and rock layers rose, merged, and churned into a heavy brown torrent. Like a surging tide, it swept forward across the battlefield!

The torrent crushed the ground in its path, bearing down on Konoha's front line with unstoppable force!

"Well done!"

Hatake Sakumo's eyes tightened at the sight, and he gave a sincere word of praise before issuing another crisp order:

"Water Release unit, stop it head-on!"

The Water Release shinobi stepped forward at once and formed Hand Seals together:

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Powerful, fan-shaped waves poured from their mouths. Dozens of surging streams joined into a broad flood and met the oncoming torrent of earth and stone head-on!

Boom!

The two torrents collided!

A deafening crash shook the gorge!

Muddy water erupted as spray, stones, and sludge flew everywhere!

The violent opposing forces battered and broke against each other, washing together.

Within a few breaths, the rushing earth and surging water had become completely entangled.

The churning mud and water slowly settled and flowed into the low ground of the gorge. A broad, murky channel formed between the two armies.

The first exchange of Ninjutsu ended in a draw!

Battle had erupted before Broken Cloud Gorge!

Atop the barricades, the Iwagakure captain's face darkened.

He had thought Iwagakure's natural advantage in Earth Release and terrain would let a single torrent scatter Konoha's vanguard.

Instead, Konoha's coordination had been seamless. Its Water Release and Earth Release units had worked together to stop Iwagakure's assault.

"Konoha's teamwork is no joke."

He muttered the words grimly and stopped taking them lightly.

But five hundred elite Iwagakure Ninja still held Blackstone Fortress behind him. He had strength to spare.

"First wave, attack!"

At his command—

Whoosh!

Three hundred elite Iwagakure Ninja burst from the tunnels on both sides of Broken Cloud Gorge and from behind the barricades!

Every one of them wore armor and carried a blade. Their Iwagakure Forehead Protectors stood out as they advanced with heavy, steady steps, Earth Release Chakra swirling around their bodies.

They were veterans who had guarded Iwagakure's border for years, skilled at fighting in mountainous terrain. Seasoned in close combat and adept at Earth Release, they formed a disciplined charge and drove straight toward Konoha's front line!

Three hundred shinobi spread across the field. Their ranks advanced with such force that the ground trembled beneath their synchronized steps.

Hatake Sakumo's eyes sharpened. He had expected this.

"So they're closing in."

He called out, "Frontline melee squads, meet them! Stay together, fight in pairs, and hold the line!"

Two hundred shinobi surged from Konoha's vanguard.

Blades flashed free, Chakra flared, and the Konoha Ninja charged through the muddy water to meet them!

The next instant—

The two vanguards collided!