Konoha Is Iwagakure's Greatest Enemy!

From Blackstone Fortress, Jianyan, the Iwagakure commander, saw the scene unfold. His face darkened at once.

He had never imagined that three Summoning Beasts from the legendary Sacred Grounds would appear together in Konoha's vanguard.

Damn Konoha. Why did it keep producing geniuses like this?

First came Kagami Uchiha, who had killed Ginkaku single-handedly at eighteen. Now came The Three Sannin, who wielded such power on the battlefield despite their youth.

Lord Tsuchikage was right. Konoha was Iwagakure's greatest enemy!

He could not let talents like these keep growing.

Once the three of them reached their full potential, they would become a nightmare Iwagakure could never escape.

An Iwagakure Jonin beside him stepped forward and bowed. "Sir, the front line is locked in a hard fight. Should we commit the fortress's remaining main force and kill those three youths here?"

Jianyan fixed his blade-sharp gaze on the gorge battlefield and shook his head. His voice was cold:

"If we rush out in full force, we'll fall into Konoha's trap. Their vanguard is bait meant to draw us out."

"Not unless I see Torifu Akimichi show himself."

He paused, his eyes sweeping the trenches that crisscrossed the gorge. A ruthless glint flashed in them.

"But that doesn't mean we'll sit back and let them do as they please."

"Pass down my orders."

"The front-line troops are not to fight the Summoning Beasts head-on. Focus everything on those three youths: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru."

"Kill them first. Without their summoners, the Summoning Beasts will disappear on their own."

"Mobilize the ambush squads in the trenches. Circle around the snake and the toad, then strike at the three youths. Use every means available. Whatever it costs, cripple them or kill them."

"Remember, a momentary victory means nothing. Our goal isn't to defeat this vanguard. It's to snuff out Konoha's future."

The orders spread swiftly through the trenches.

At the front of the gorge, the Iwagakure Ninja who had been battling the Summoning Beasts quietly changed tactics.

Some continued to hold Manda and Gamabunta in place. The others used the trenches along the cliffs for cover, circling toward the three youths amid the fighting.

The shadow of death had fallen over them.

Just as Iwagakure's entire force changed tactics and countless ninjas slipped through the trenches toward Jiraiya and the others, murderous intent closing in on all three—

Thunderous, synchronized footsteps erupted from the open mountain road behind the gorge!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A thousand marching feet shook the mountains. Dust billowed into the sky!

At the far edge of the horizon, Konoha's fully armed main force appeared, its presence overwhelming!

At its head stood a burly man, broad as a mountain and commanding in bearing. It was Torifu Akimichi!

Broad-shouldered and brimming with Chakra, he wore Konoha's standard battle armor. He raised an arm, his booming voice ringing through all of Broken Cloud Gorge!

"Tsunade! Jiraiya! Orochimaru! We're here to back you up!"

"Konoha's main force has arrived!"

His roar filled the valley, drowning out the thunder of Ninjutsu and the roars of giant beasts!

Eight hundred seasoned Konoha Ninja followed close behind Torifu Akimichi. Their ranks were straight, their armor and blades rang, and they were eager for battle!

This was Konoha's main assault force. Every one of them was battle-hardened and equipped for both attack and defense. Unlike the lightly armed vanguard, they wore full armor and carried heavy gear, ready to kill!

The tide of eight hundred troops surged forward, filling the open ground behind the gorge. Their combined Chakra presence overwhelmed the pressure Iwagakure had held over the battlefield!

The young Three Sannin, who were fending off attacks from the shadows, jolted at the sound!

Tsunade sent an Iwagakure Ninja flying as he came at her from the flank. She glanced back, and delight lit her eyes.

Jiraiya let out a long breath and laughed. "Hahaha! It's Uncle Torifu and the others! Reinforcements are finally here!"

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, a faint smile touching his lips. "Perfect timing."

At the front of the formation, Hatake Sakumo's taut shoulders finally relaxed. Relief flashed in his eyes.

They're finally here...

On the high platform of Blackstone Fortress, Jianyan's face turned livid!

He had just set a lethal trap, ready to pay any price to kill Konoha's three future geniuses and eliminate the threat they posed to Iwagakure!

But within moments, Konoha's main force had marched straight onto the battlefield!

"Damn it!"

"That damned fat Torifu Akimichi committed his entire main force?"

"Looks like Konoha has made up its mind to go to war with us!"

Jianyan slammed a fist into the stone railing, cracking it. Shock and fury churned within him.

He had never expected Konoha's main force to advance so quickly!

The vanguard he had meant to lure in and wear down had gained the support of the main force in an instant. His assassination plan was now a joke!

If he did nothing, the three hundred Iwagakure Ninja below would likely die here too.

The battle in the gorge had turned completely!

Torifu Akimichi strode to the front and barked his orders:

"All troops, form ranks!"

"Earth Release users, spread out along the line! Protect the wounded vanguard troops!"

"Everyone advance! Wipe out every Iwagakure Ninja at the front of the gorge!"

Konoha's eight hundred main-force troops roared as one, their voices shaking the earth!

"Yes, sir!"

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

Scores of Earth Release users performed the Ninjutsu together.

Thick Earth Flow Walls rose one after another, shielding every wounded Konoha Ninja and blocking every route the ambushers could take through the trenches.

The remaining ninjas surged forward alongside Manda and Gamabunta. Together they closed in on the three hundred Iwagakure defenders at the front, overwhelming them!

Jianyan wheeled around, eyes bloodshot, and shouted so loudly his voice rang through Blackstone Fortress!

"Pass down my orders!"

"Send word back to the village at once. Request reinforcements from Lord Tsuchikage."

"Leave two hundred ninjas to hold the fortress, defend its fortifications, and secure our retreat!"

"The remaining thousand will attack with me!"

"I will not stand by and watch my comrades die!"

"All troops, form up for a frontal assault! We'll face Konoha's main force in a head-on battle!"

"Show them the Will of Stone!"

In an instant, Jianyan weighed his choices.

The village had worked hard to train the more than three hundred ninjas on the front line. He could not throw their lives away!

Now that Konoha's main force had advanced openly, holding his troops back inside the fortress served no purpose!

Every moment he hesitated left those comrades to die!

At Jianyan's command, Blackstone Fortress sprang to life!

Rumble!

The fortress's heavy stone gates swung inward!

One thousand elite Iwagakure Ninja marched out, fully equipped with weapons drawn!

Every one of them wore an Iwagakure Forehead Protector and full battle armor. All were Earth Release specialists!

Dense earth-nature Chakra surged from their ranks. The mountain-heavy pressure of their presence met the momentum of Konoha's main force head-on!

Jianyan leaped to the front of his army, Chakra surging around him. He stared across the open ground at Torifu Akimichi, Hatake Sakumo, and the three young geniuses who had stunned the Shinobi World!

It's come to this. Let's have a proper fight!

On the battlefield in Broken Cloud Gorge,

Konoha's troops had just completed their encirclement and were about to wipe out the remaining Iwagakure Ninja at the front when they sensed a terrifying flood of Chakra erupting from the fortress beyond them.

Torifu Akimichi halted, his expression turning grave. "Looks like Iwagakure's commander is finally willing to come out of his hole."

"Danzo, you really do have a good head on your shoulders."

Hatake Sakumo watched Iwagakure's thousand-strong main force pour out and said in a low voice:

"The real battle... is only beginning now."

As he spoke, he drew the White Fang Short Sword from his back. He fixed a cold gaze on Jianyan and murmured to himself,

Jiraiya and the others have had their moment. As our teacher's student, it's time I made an appearance too...

The final head-on battle for Broken Cloud Gorge had begun!