The coastal ground split open, and countless white arms reached out of the earth. The mixed squad at the very front had only just raised their ninja tools when the White Zetsu were already upon them.
"Lightning Release, hold your fire!"
Ishikawa, an Iwagakure jonin, raised his hands and formed hand seals. An earthen wall rose in front of the squad, and several streaks of lightning grazed its surface as they struck, pinning a swath of White Zetsu into the sand.
The Kumogakure shinobi's expressions changed on the spot.
"Who told you to block our lightning?"
"If your Lightning Release punches through the wall, there are Kirigakure shinobi behind it!"
"The White Zetsu are right outside the wall! Saving people comes first!"
"Saving people? If that lightning strikes, our own people will be the first to die!"
As the two squads argued across the earthen wall, White Zetsu had already circled underground to their flank. An Iwagakure genin had barely turned around when a white hand emerged beneath his feet, grabbed his waist, and dragged him into the earth.
"Enemies on the left!"
The Konoha shinobi handling communications raised a signal flag. Before he had finished speaking, three Water Release attacks surged from behind. The water struck the White Zetsu, but also swept two Iwagakure shinobi off their feet.
The Kumogakure jonin cursed angrily. "Kirigakure's making a mess of things too!"
"If you'd listen to the commands, you wouldn't be standing in a clump!"
Waves crashed against the shore as White Zetsu charged across the shallows in groups, their numbers still increasing. A gap broke open in the First Division's line, and the medical ninja at the rear could only drag the wounded back.
Standing on a raised platform, Kakashi saw it all clearly.
He did not draw his blade,