"Have you heard? Lord Tsuchikage has made up his mind to fight to the death with those Konoha guys!" A Iwagakure Jonin who was wiping Ninja Blade said to his companions in a low voice.
"It's more than just a fight to the death! I heard that all the available troops in the village are on the way, and... Kirigakure's reinforcements are coming soon!" His companion had a trace of bloodthirsty fanaticism on his face, "This time, we want them to be buried in this mud together with the man named Senju Chen!"
"Yes! Revenge for Lord Sumashi!"
Similar conversations occurred one after another in Iwagakure's camp. Konoha's reinforcement of troops, instead of scaring them, aroused the bloody spirit of this group of ninjas who are known for their tenacity. In their view, Konoha's desperate move was a God-given opportunity for them to defeat their opponents in one fell swoop and wash away their shame.
In the command tent, Iwagakure, the frontline commander Kitsuchi, listened to the high-morale words from the surroundings, looked at the densely packed troop markings on the Land of Rain side on the map, and showed a cruel smile on his face. He It seems that we can already see the scene where Konoha's defense collapsed under the joint stranglehold of Iwagakure and Kirigakure, and Yellow Flash of Minato Namikaze was chopped down.
Father's decision was indeed a wise one.
However, just as the entire Iwagakure front line was immersed in the enthusiasm for the upcoming decisive battle, a storm that could overturn the entire battle situation was suddenly coming in the most violent and arrogant manner behind the country they thought was impregnable!
Land of Earth, Northern border.
Different from Land of Rain where it rains all year round, this is the dry and desolate Gobi. Fortresses made of rocks, like silent giants, have been guarding the north gate of Land of Earth for decades.
Late at night, everything is silent, and only the monotonous footsteps of patrolling ninjas echo in the empty fortress. Since the main force has been almost exhausted, the defense here has been relaxed to a dangerous situation. But no one thinks there will be danger. The group of muscle brains of Kumogakure are probably still thinking about how to deal with Konoha at this moment. How can they have the courage to provoke our powerful Iwagakure?
"Woo--Woo--Woo--!!!"
The sharp, shrill siren tore through the tranquility of the night without any warning!
Iwagakure Chunin, who was in charge of the lookout, opened his eyes in horror, and the telescope in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.
At the end of his field of vision, on the horizon, a moving "dark cloud" appeared. No, that was not a dark cloud! It was thousands of figures, rolling up smoke and dust in the sky under the moonlight, surging in like a flood that bursts a bank!
At the front of the crowd, a figure that was too burly to look like a human being, wrapped in blue-white lightning visible to the naked eye, was closing the distance to the fortress at an incredible speed!
"Yes... it's Kumogakure! It's Third Raikage!!!"
His desperate scream became his last words left in the world.
Boom!!!
Third Raikage's steel-like body contained the ultimate power of Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Without even using any Ninjutsu, it just stood upright like a meteorite from the sky and smashed into the several-meter-thick rock gate of the fortress!
The earth shook!
The indestructible door, in front of "Strongest Spear", was as fragile as paper. Countless cracks exploded instantly, and then, the entire door, together with the surrounding walls, exploded and shattered inward with a deafening loud noise!
Rubbles and smoke, mixed with the horrified screams of the Iwagakure Ninjas, rose into the sky.
"All-army assault!!"
Third Raikage's roar like rolling thunder resounded throughout the battlefield. He took the lead, like a prehistoric beast charging into the herd. Every time he punched, it brought a bloody storm. Iwagakure's ninjas didn't even have time to organize effective resistance, and were easily crushed in front of this absolute power.
Following closely behind were thousands of Kumogakure ninjas who looked like wolves and tigers. They roared and poured the blades and Lightning Release Ninjutsu in their hands into the empty land.
The line of defense will collapse at the first touch.
The news spread like an avalanche towards Iwagakure along the roads stained red with blood.
Iwagakure, Tsuchikage office.
Ōnoki's short figure was suspended in mid-air. He had just sent away the satisfied Kirigakure messenger Genji. The gloom that had been suppressed for many days on his face was swept away, replaced by a ferocious smile that controlled the overall situation.
Konoha, Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru, Senju Chen...
He seemed to have seen these serious troubles struggling desperately in the dragnet he had set.
Konoha Want to fight? Then fight! I, Iwagakure, plus Kirigakure, will make you Konoha completely break your spine this time!
"Lord Tsuchikage, everything is ready, the morale of the frontline troops is high, they are just waiting for your order!" a confidant Jonin reported respectfully.
"Very good." Ōnoki nodded with satisfaction, his cloudy old eyes flashing with the joy of revenge, "Give me the order..."
"Report--!!!!"
His words were rudely interrupted by a rolling intrusion and a scream that changed its tone.
A ninja in charge of intelligence communications, covered in dirt and without a trace of blood on his face, rolled into the office as if he had seen a ghost. His voice was full of panic and disbelief that could make anyone's heart stop.
"Lord Tsuchikage!! Urgent... urgent military situation!!"
Ōnoki frowned, and an ominous premonition surged in his heart. "Why are you panicking! Is the sky falling?!"
The ninja fell to his knees with a pop and used all his strength to squeeze out trembling words from his throat:
"The northern... northern border... collapse!!"
"Kumogakure...Kumogakure Third Raikage personally led the main army and tore apart our defense line! Multiple fortresses... all lost contact within half an hour! They... they are heading towards the Land of Earth inland!!"
"What... what?"
The smile on Ōnoki's face froze instantly.
He was completely stunned, his mind went blank, as if he had been struck by thunder.
Kumogakure? Third Raikage? Main army?
These words were like red-hot hammers, hitting his brain hard, making him dizzy.
How is it possible...Kumogakure How dare... Where did they get the courage?!
In an instant, countless clues were connected and combined crazily in his chaotic mind.
Konoha The abnormal large-scale increase in troops...Kumogakure The troops were sent out without warning...
Tune the tiger away from the mountain!
This is a game! A shocking situation that has been set against Land of Earth and the entire Iwagakure from the very beginning!
Konoha's increase in troops in Land of Rain is a fake! It's a feint! It's a bait to attract all the attention of Ōnoki and the entire Iwagakure to the south! And the real killer move comes from the north where they think they are the safest!
They...Konoha and Kumogakure... actually joined forces?
"Pfft--!!!"
The moment he thought about all this, a fishy-sweet liquid suddenly gushes out from his throat. Ōnoki's vision went dark, and he felt like the world was spinning. A mouthful of hot old blood sprayed out uncontrollably, staining the map in front of him red.
His short body could no longer maintain flight, and he fell heavily from mid-air, slumping down on the cold stone chair.
The shame, anger, the rage of being played, and the bone-deep despair were like a big invisible hand, strangling his heart tightly and almost swallowing him up.
He, Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, "Two Scales" who has been with Shinobi World for decades, actually... acted like a fool, and was co-operated by those reckless men Konoha and Kumogakure to create such a big scheme!
"Konoha...Kumogakure..."
He gritted his teeth, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, smelling of blood.
Ōnoki slumped in a chair, panting violently. Every breath he took affected his fragile waist, causing excruciating pain.
But he knew that now was not the time to fall.
He is Tsuchikage, the pillar of Iwagakure. If he falls, Iwagakure will really be doomed.
He used all his strength, supported the table with both hands, and tremblingly stood up again amidst a bone-shattering moan!
The despair in those turbid old eyes is receding, replaced by madness and determination that burn to the extreme and at all costs!
"Give me my order!"
His voice was hoarse, but it contained unquestionable majesty, echoing in the empty office.
"Mobilize all the ninjas in the country! Set up a defense line for me on the only way Kumogakure leads to the village! Block Kumogakure at all costs!"
"Notify Kirigakure's people and ask them to rush to the front line immediately!"
"And..."
Ōnoki took a deep breath, as if to turn all the humiliation and anger in his chest into the final strength.
"Get ready'Dust Release'Barrier Team! Notify Roshi, get ready to go. Also, bring me my equipment!"
"I want to go to the Northern Line in person! Meet that old man Raikage for a while!"
"Let's see if he dares to attack us Land of Earth."
"I, Ōnoki, am not dead yet! I, Iwagakure, are not dead yet either!"
He understands the current situation. He has stationed troops at the Land of Rain border, but his internal defense is empty.
In the entire Iwagakure, only if he took action personally could he possibly stop Kumogakure's surprise attack and the man known as "Strongest Spear".