206-210

*Chapter 206: The Cloud Ninja Sounds the Horn of War*

"Die!"

The gleam of the blade spun like a wheel, severing heads as easily as cutting grass. Two headless bodies were flung into the grass, their still-warm blood melting the snow, staining the soil red. The heads, full of confusion, rolled far away. The cold air was tinged with the metallic scent of blood, though luckily, the cold weather meant there was no worry about attracting insects.

Uchiha Itachi flicked his short sword, wiping the remaining blood with a tissue.

"All done on my side as well..."

Kimimaro approached, carrying two severed heads. Blood dripped from the necks as he glanced at Uchiha Itachi sheathing his sword. Clicking his tongue, he said, "Tch! Am I one step behind again? You're still as fast as ever."

There was a third person with them—a 14-year-old girl with long blonde hair, her face fresh and pretty, dressed in the standard uniform of a Konoha Chūnin. Her name was Yamanaka Aoi, from the Yamanaka clan, temporarily assigned to this squad with Uchiha Itachi and Kaguya Kimimaro.

Yamanaka Aoi blinked, feeling like she was in a dream. This was... a bit too much. Sure, she knew these two boys, much younger than her, were talented prodigies, but it seemed like not all geniuses were created equal!

This was not the kind of genius she was used to.

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about?" Kimimaro called out when he saw Aoi standing there like a statue.

"Ah, no... I was just checking if there were any more enemies around," she said, snapping back to reality. She realized that not only had she been of no use in the battle, but she'd also spaced out... which made her face flush with embarrassment.

"Oh! Did you find anything?"

"No, nothing. There are no more enemies for now."

Aoi closed her eyes and formed hand seals, using the Yamanaka clan's mental sensing technique. Expanding her chakra perception in an 800-meter radius, she detected no chakra signals besides her two teammates.

This wasn’t surprising. They had already taken out four Cloud Ninja squads in the area, so it was likely that most of the enemy forces nearby had been eliminated. Unfortunately, their orders were to defend, not to attack. Unless the Cloud Ninja crossed the border, they couldn't actively pursue them.

"Well, since there are no more enemies, it's probably time for lunch."

Kimimaro looked up at the gray, overcast sky. The time of day was hard to determine from the sky, but his growling stomach confirmed it was mealtime.

"Boom!"

Itachi bit his thumb and summoned a flock of black crows. "Keep an eye out for anything unusual," he instructed. These crows were trained ninja crows by Uchiha Shisui, and as one of Shisui's few close friends, Itachi had also formed a contract with them, summoning them as needed.

Now, with the crows watching, they could eat without needing to take turns on guard duty.

After a short while, the crows returned.

"Caw! Caw!" Their cries were harsh and grating.

Uchiha Itachi instantly dropped the rice ball in his hand, stood up, and drew his short sword. Kimimaro was just as quick, standing beside him with sharp bones protruding from his hands.

"Aoi, check the northeast!" Itachi ordered.

While the crows were intelligent, they couldn’t speak or communicate telepathically, so they could only give vague warnings. For detailed information, Itachi relied on Yamanaka Aoi, who had been assigned as their "eyes"—a privilege he understood well. Sensing ninjas like those from the Yamanaka, Hyūga, and Inuzuka clans were highly valuable in teams.

In battles, the importance of sensing ninjas couldn't be overstated. Unless the enemy had a comparable sensor, having a good sensing ninja meant holding a significant advantage. Whenever a sensing ninja was left without a team, there was always a scramble to reassign them quickly.

Yamanaka Aoi’s former teammates had died in battle; one was blown apart by an explosive tag, forcing him to retire from the field. As she awaited new teammates, she was directly assigned to Uchiha Itachi and Kaguya Kimimaro by their superior.

Before that, Itachi and Kimimaro had been operating as a duo. Their team had an overwhelming advantage in combat strength, easily mowing down Cloud Ninja squads, but they lacked a strong sensory ability. The crows summoned by Itachi couldn’t compare to a trained sensing ninja.

Compared to Itachi and Kimimaro’s godlike reflexes, Aoi’s reaction was noticeably slower.

But she quickly set aside her food, formed seals with her oily hands, and expanded her sensing range. The intense chakra signatures flooding into her perception made her face go pale.

"It’s a large force! Over 20 Cloud Ninjas are headed this way, and there are many more behind them... It's a full-scale Cloud Ninja battalion! They’re preparing for another war!"

"Kimimaro, Aoi, retreat immediately."

Upon hearing Aoi's report, Uchiha Itachi gave a swift command. With only three of them, they could take on a few small squads, but against a full Cloud Ninja battalion, there was no way they could hold out.

A signal flare shot into the sky.

At the same time, Itachi attached a pre-written note to one of the ninja crows and sent it off to find Uchiha Shisui. Only after completing this did Itachi retreat with his companions. But no matter how fast they moved, some time had already been lost.

The Cloud Ninjas were upon them.

Even Kimimaro could sense the murderous intent approaching from the northeast.

"Itachi?" Kimimaro glanced at him as they fled.

Given the current situation, it would be difficult to escape without engaging the Cloud Ninjas. A confrontation seemed inevitable.

"We’ll fight as we go. Don’t let them surround us. Aoi, you go ahead and request reinforcements. Kimimaro and I will hold them off," Itachi commanded, fully aware that getting bogged down in battle would be fatal. If they were surrounded by the Cloud Ninja battalion, even their strength wouldn’t be enough.

A full retreat wasn’t possible either, with enemy shuriken flying toward them.

They could only fight while retreating and hold out until reinforcements arrived.

"I understand," Yamanaka Aoi responded without hesitation. She had seen enough to know that Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro, though younger than her, were on another level. She likely wouldn’t be able to help much in the fight and might even slow them down. She trusted Itachi’s orders.

Focusing solely on running, she ignored the murderous intent creeping closer from behind.

Itachi and Kimimaro didn’t stop running either, but unlike Aoi, they kept some of their energy in reserve, always alert for attacks from behind. Suddenly, a blinding light flashed, and Kimimaro instinctively blinked.

In the next second, Itachi tapped him, channeling chakra into his body. Kimimaro realized that he had unknowingly stopped running.

"What was that?"

"Genjutsu!" Itachi replied.

 "A brilliant illusion technique, using strong light as deception, tricking people into believing it's a vision-obstructing jutsu, thus smoothly trapping them in the illusion." Unfortunately for the person using the illusion, they didn’t realize there was a Uchiha here, and not just any Uchiha... but one with the three-tomoe Sharingan.

  In Uchiha Itachi's crimson eyes, three black tomoe spun.

  With these eyes, he saw through the Cloud ninja's illusion and spotted the person attacking with it—an attractive man with golden hair.

  "An illusion, huh?"

  Kimimaro frowned, thinking to himself that he clearly needed to intensify his illusion-breaking training. He had already suffered under Uchiha Itachi's genjutsu during their sparring sessions. Despite his continued training in breaking illusions, the results were not yet evident.

  "They’re coming again, be careful."

  As Uchiha Itachi ran, he waved the short blade in his hand, deflecting the shuriken flying toward him. The deflected shuriken then knocked aside kunai with explosive tags attached, and balls of fire ignited behind them. The Cloud ninjas quickly realized that using explosive tags was only hindering their own movements, so they stopped using them and focused solely on attacking Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro with shuriken and kunai.

  Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets

  The boy with the kekkei genkai known as Shikotsumyaku didn’t need hand signs to use his abilities. His bones grew with his will, and without harming himself, they could protrude from his skin. At this moment, he used his finger bones like bullets, shooting them with a flick of his hand.

  These finger bones weren’t large, but in terms of hardness, they were in no way inferior to shuriken. They were incredibly fast as well—so fast that one nearly pierced Nozomi head, slicing off a good number of his hairs as it flew past.

  But,

  While Nozomi was able to dodge Kimimaro’s astonishing attack, that didn’t mean his comrades could. A Cloud chunin swung his sword, trying to block the bone projectile, but failed. The bone pierced his heart, killing him instantly. There was no time to gasp for breath, nor did he seem to experience any pain at death. At the very least, his face showed no sign of suffering, only a blank look of confusion.

  "Scatter, surround them! Flank from both sides and trap them!"

  As the head of the advance party, Nozomi quickly commanded his men. His eyes gleamed with excitement. When his Lightning Illusion: Lightning Pillar was dispelled, he realized that the taller of the two kids chasing them was from the Uchiha clan.

  And Kimimaro’s strange bone-based fighting ability proved he was no ordinary person either. More importantly, they were both so young! Even in a place like Konoha, where talent was abundant, these two must be extraordinary geniuses!

  These two might just be valuable bargaining chips.

  In that moment, Nozomi decided he would try to capture Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro alive.

  However,

  Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro quickly demonstrated through their actions that capturing them alive would be no easy task. As the Cloud ninja forces split up and attempted to surround them, Itachi and Kimimaro wordlessly chose a side each and charged head-on into the approaching Cloud ninjas.

  Fighting while moving made it impossible to flee at top speed. As the pursuers, Nozomi and his men had to be wary of counterattacks from Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro, so they couldn’t rush recklessly. Meanwhile, the flanking squads had no such concerns and were able to push forward with full speed, like the already advancing Yamanaka Aoi.

  This led to a situation where Nozomi and his men in the center were still trailing behind, while Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro had already clashed with the Cloud ninja coming from both sides.

  Seeing the three Cloud ninjas, Itachi's three-tomoe Sharingan spun. Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique activated immediately. The Cloud ninjas, who hadn’t avoided Itachi's gaze in time, were frozen in place by the genjutsu, unable to react. Itachi’s short blade swiftly slashed across their throats.

  Blood sprayed out, and their bodies collapsed.

  On the other side, Kimimaro's body erupted with sharp, pale bones, making him look like a demon from the depths of hell. He easily crushed the Cloud chunin, leaving varying depths of wounds with his morphing bones.

  The speed at which the battle ended almost made Nozomi forget to breathe!

  It was too fast!

  Yet Nozomi heart surged with joy. The more impressive Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro’s performance, the greater their value. If he could capture them alive, it might just meet the demands to trade for Lord Killer B. Nozomi quickly made a decision, "Inform the rear! We’ve encountered big fish here. I need reinforcements, preferably some jonin! If that’s not possible, send several special jonin to assist!"

  "Yes, Lord Nozomi!"

  The message flew back to the main force. Nozomi kept his eyes fixed on Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro, who had regrouped, gazing at them as if they were priceless treasures. He murmured to himself, "This time, I definitely won’t let Lord Raikage down!"

  (End of Chapter)

Chapter 207: Ready for Battle!

When news of the large-scale attack by the Cloud Ninja reached Sōgen, he had just finished his morning duties. Uchiha Futaba had brought him lunch, but he hadn’t even touched his chopsticks. The sudden news made him realize this meal would have to wait.

"Cloud Ninja... are they really in such a rush to get beaten?" Sōgen sighed.

Immediately, orders for an emergency assembly were given. The Leaf and Mist ninjas, whether they had finished their meals, were eating, or waiting in line, sprang into action. Simultaneously, the commanders rushed into Sōgen’s tent.

Jiraiya, Hōzuki Mangetsu, Hyūga Hiashi, Aburame Shibi, Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Shisui, Nara Suzaku, Nara Shiosui, and Zabuza Momochi—just about all the key figures gathered in the tent.

"Time is tight, so I’ll get straight to the point. If you have questions, ask them when I’m done," Sōgen said bluntly, scanning the group. Seeing no one object, he continued, "I’ve just received intelligence that the Cloud Ninja have launched a massive attack. Our frontline troops have already engaged them. Based on the information we have, it’s likely they’ve thrown everything they have at us. Some have already spotted the Fourth Raikage and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki. Although this wasn’t part of our original plan... it’s clear that if the Cloud Ninja lose this battle, there’s a good chance there won’t be any more major conflicts. So, this is the final showdown!"

No one questioned the logic of Sōgen’s assessment.

From the moment Ōnoki chose to side with the Leaf, Cloud’s chances of victory had dwindled. Although Sōgen had always believed Cloud couldn’t win, not everyone shared his confidence. Before the Uchiha reinforcements arrived, the Cloud forces had been advancing rapidly, causing many in the Leaf to lose hope. Instead of defeating the Cloud Ninja, they wished for a quick peace to end the war.

But now, things had changed. At least, many of the Hot Water Village ninjas in the camp firmly believed in Leaf’s inevitable victory. The capture of the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki had significantly boosted morale for both the Leaf and its allies. With the arrival of Jiraiya and Hōzuki Mangetsu, this confidence only grew stronger.

"Lord Hokage’s Advisor, we haven’t received any updates from the Iwa ninjas yet," Nara Suzaku pointed out.

After the conflict in the Grass Country ended, Jiraiya had led his army east to aid Sōgen in the Land of Hot Water. Iwa, after choosing to ally with the Leaf, was also determined not to come away empty-handed. Under Ōnoki’s leadership, the Iwa forces advanced east as well, but unlike Jiraiya’s land route, they went north, taking to the sea with plans to strike Cloud from behind.

"That’s unexpected," Sōgen replied calmly. "But I don’t think the Iwa forces will come down the coast of the Land of Hot Water to join us. Their target might be the Cloud Village itself, not the elite troops here."

He pointed at the map with his bamboo staff. The distance from the ports of the Land of Earth to the western coast of the Land of Lightning was not much greater than the distance to the northern coast of the Land of Hot Water. Furthermore, the Cloud forces stationed in the Land of Hot Water were their elite, with the Fourth Raikage and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki present. The Cloud Village, by comparison, might be an easier target.

Nara Suzaku remained silent.

When Iwa first declined to take the land route with Leaf, there were suspicions that they had other plans. As one of the key figures in the Leaf-Iwa alliance, Suzaku had to raise the issue now, just in case any future cooperation problems with Iwa fell on his shoulders.

"Of course, that’s just my guess. We won’t know for sure until Iwa makes a move. But either way, since the Cloud Ninja have brought the fight to us, we can’t avoid it. Jiraiya-senpai, do you have any objections?" Sōgen asked.

"None," Jiraiya replied decisively.

Nara Suzaku seemed to want to say something but chose silence after assessing the room.

"How about you two, Mangetsu, Zabuza?" Sōgen asked the Mist commanders.

"We’re pros at killing," Hōzuki Mangetsu grinned, showing his sharp, shark-like teeth.

"Good!" Sōgen snapped the bamboo staff in his hand with a sharp crack. His eyes turned crimson, and his intense killing intent filled the tent.

"If there are no objections or questions, that’s it. Get moving! Remember, our frontlines are already engaged with the Cloud Ninja. Follow the plan: I’ll lead the charge, and you follow behind to sweep them away."

With that, Sōgen kicked over the table in front of him and strode out, pushing through the crowd.

As he stepped outside, his massive red Susanoo appeared, carefully avoiding the tents and the running ninjas as it strode toward the northeast.

The group of leaders who followed him out watched the Susanoo charging northeast, and without a word, they all sprang into action.

...

"Lord Jiraiya, isn’t this a bit rushed? The original plan was for us to launch a preemptive strike," Nara Suzaku said, walking alongside Jiraiya.

Throughout the brief meeting, Jiraiya had raised no objections.

"What’s the problem? Just turn the attack into a counterattack," Jiraiya replied, glancing at Suzaku without expression. "Or are you saying you think we need to wait for Iwa to coordinate with us before we can engage Cloud in the final battle? I know you want Iwa to play a bigger role in the battle, and to be blunt, that would make your contribution look better. But remember, defeating Cloud is what’s most important. Don’t let other concerns cloud that goal."

"... My apologies, Lord Jiraiya. I let my personal feelings get in the way," Suzaku forced a smile.

Inside, though, he was filled with frustration. It wasn’t so much that he cared about his own credit. The reason he had pushed Jiraiya to challenge Uchiha Sōgen was because, on the surface, it made sense to give Iwa a more prominent role in the battle.

But deeper down, Suzaku didn’t want the Uchiha to continue dominating the battlefield.

If things kept going this way, Sōgen’s influence would only grow. When the war ended, even the Hokage might struggle to control the Uchiha. Although the Hokage hadn’t said it outright, Nara Shikaku had sent a letter subtly suggesting that something should be done to limit Sōgen’s growing power.

At this point, no one doubted that the Leaf would once again emerge victorious, just as they had in previous ninja wars.

So now, the main conflict had subtly shifted from external to internal. Even though Sōgen had been a crucial supporter of Chōza Akimichi’s bid to become Hokage, as the victories mounted, Akimichi began to worry that his Advisor might be becoming too powerful.

Thus, Suzaku’s maneuvering.

The delays in launching attacks on the Cloud were partly due to Sōgen’s obsession with studying the Banana Palm Fan, but also because of Suzaku and others' political moves. They had been stalling, hoping for good news from Iwa’s sea expedition, planning to strike together, and avoid further boosting Sōgen’s prestige.

Unfortunately, no plan can account for every variable.

No matter how carefully Suzaku and his peers tried to delay, they hadn’t expected the Cloud Ninja to launch such a massive offensive! In the ninja world, strategy isn’t always the answer.

Otherwise...

The Nara clan had long been the rulers of the Hidden Leaf Village, no longer just in a supporting role.

Jiraiya wasn’t particularly concerned with all the village's political scheming. He had little interest in the constant power struggles, understanding some things clearly while others were more obscure. But as long as it didn’t harm the village, he couldn’t be bothered to intervene. Right now, he just wanted the war to end as soon as possible.

Compared to the dull and tedious task of war, he’d much rather travel, write, and search for the Child of Prophecy. Of course, he’d also check in on Naruto’s growth from time to time.

Uchiha Sōgen’s decision was exactly what Jiraiya wanted!

Unlike the Hidden Leaf's internal power struggles, the situation within the Hidden Mist Village was much simpler. Both Mangetsu Hozuki and Zabuza Momochi had their own agendas, but their shared love for battle and bloodshed was one of the few things they had in common as Mist ninja. The recent battle with the Hidden Stone ended too quickly, though, which meant fewer losses for the Mist Village.

However...

Just as Mangetsu and Zabuza were getting into the fight, the conflict with the Stone Village abruptly came to an end.

"Zabuza, are you going to take command?"

"Don’t kid around, Mangetsu. You’re our leader. Abandoning your post isn’t something you should be doing."

"You bastard, you know I’m in charge, yet you still dare to defy my orders?" Mangetsu was quite displeased. "Besides, don’t you aspire to become the Mizukage? Shouldn’t you be honing your skills in commanding armies during battle?"

"Cut the nonsense. By the time Mei Terumi steps down, there’ll be plenty of younger candidates vying for the position. What chance do I have to get in line?" Zabuza sneered, steadfastly refusing to be swayed by Mangetsu’s attempts to convince him.

This offensive, or rather counter-offensive, had a clear strategy.

Sōgen divided his forces into several units, each commanded by different leaders. He led the charge himself using his Susano’o to break through the enemy lines, with the rest of his troops fighting individually behind him. Though it appeared disorganized, ninja warfare often played out like this, fragmented across many fronts.

Naturally, Mangetsu and Zabuza were in command of the 1,300 Mist ninja.

The two, eager for a bloody battle, argued over who should take command.

Finally, unable to reach an agreement, they decided to settle it with a game of rock-paper-scissors. Zabuza, disappointed at his loss, had to suppress his bloodlust, while Mangetsu was nearly jumping for joy, his beautiful, purple, crystal-like eyes brimming with bloodthirst.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Fugaku joined forces. Their unit consisted of fewer than 1,000 elite ninja, centered around the Uchiha clan, all highly skilled. They were assigned a special mission: to target the Hidden Cloud's top fighters and guard against any surprise attacks.

If necessary, both Shisui and Fugaku could enter battle with their Susano’o.

"Elder Fugaku, I’ll leave the command to you."

"Leave it to me."

Unlike the bloodthirsty pair of Mangetsu and Zabuza, Shisui and Fugaku worked together in a calm, collected manner. With just a simple exchange, their strategy for the next battle was decided.

Fugaku frowned slightly, feeling a nagging concern.

Quietly, he asked, “Shisui, do you think leaving the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki at the camp is really safe? This time, he’s been left behind, and most of our top fighters have gone out to battle, leaving only a small force of Hot Springs Village ninja to guard the camp."

To be honest, Fugaku thought, the Hot Springs ninja had been easily beaten by even regular Cloud ninja. If the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki were to go berserk or if someone tried to steal him, it would be like handing him over on a silver platter.

“Elder Fugaku, trust Sōgen. The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki is his prize, and no one can take advantage of him.” Shisui’s confidence was unshaken.

Unlike Fugaku, Shisui had a deep understanding of his good friend Sōgen’s personality after working with him on several big operations. Sōgen never gave anything away and always made sure to come out ahead.

“But…”

Fugaku still felt uneasy.

“Elder Fugaku, don’t forget our eyes. Whether it’s a Tailed Beast or a Jinchuriki, it doesn’t matter. Honestly, even if the Eight-Tails escapes, what difference does it make? We’ll just capture him again,” Shisui said, completely fearless.

Having dealt with Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts many times, Shisui had come to see them as just another part of life. With the Mangekyō Sharingan, whether it was a Tailed Beast or a Jinchuriki, they were no more than a meal for him. Plus, they had three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan among them!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 208: Dance to Your Heart’s Content!*

Under the gloomy sky, the deep crimson Susanoo rampaged across the battlefield, towering like an immovable mountain, dominating the view of all who watched. It stood out so strikingly, filling the hearts of the Konoha ninja and their allies with excitement and hope, while simultaneously casting a shadow of fear over the Cloud ninja.

Even the battle-hardened Cloud ninja weren’t mindless machines devoid of fear.

Once the fervor of battle was shattered, the Cloud ninja, now calmer, became acutely aware of the looming threat of death. If their sacrifice could secure honor and ensure the safety of their families, many would still be willing to fight to the end. But when the value of their deaths was diminished, how many would truly throw themselves into such peril?

The sight of Susanoo drained the morale from the Cloud ninja, as though snow melting under the blazing sun.

The Fourth Raikage clenched his fist.

"Earth Release Unit, follow me."

At his command, a senior Cloud jonin shouted orders, leading a pre-assembled force to directly confront the massive Susanoo striding toward them. Driven by their commander’s orders and their belief in sacrificing for the village, the Cloud ninja overcame their fear and advanced.

*Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!*

*Earth Release: Ant Hell!*

*Earth Release: Flowing Earth River!*

Chakra was spent as if it were limitless. Special powerful food pills were swallowed, each one potent enough to extract chakra worth three or four regular pills, though their side effects were equally severe, even fatal. But no one cared about the aftermath right now. When they were chosen to face Susanoo, they knew one foot was already in the grave, and they might soon meet the Sage of Six Paths in the afterlife.

The terrain ahead was forcefully altered by their techniques. The once-solid ground capable of supporting both Susanoo and tailed beasts became unstable and soft. As Susanoo stepped forward, its foot sank into the earth, causing its massive body to stumble slightly before regaining balance, its posture now slightly tilted.

On the forehead of Susanoo stood Uchiha Sougen.

He glanced down at the handiwork of the Cloud ninja. He had to admit, they had timed their Earth Release techniques well. If they had struck a second earlier, he wouldn't have stepped in; a second later, and he would have already passed.

However—

"You still don't get it! Without the blood of the Sage of Six Paths, you can’t play in the shinobi world!" Sougen blinked, and in an instant, Susanoo’s blade sliced through the air, so fast that the Cloud ninja preparing a massive combination jutsu barely had time to react.

The blade carved a deep gash through the land, reducing the Cloud ninja to scattered fragments of flesh and bone, mixed with the soil. In the aftermath, only blood-stained earth and half-buried, shattered bones remained, a sight so horrifying it made one's scalp tingle.

Not even a whole body left behind.

That’s what it means to die without leaving a trace.

According to their plan, the Earth Release team was supposed to slow down Susanoo’s advance, allowing the Water and Lightning Release units to launch a combined assault. The Fourth Raikage would then seize the moment to break through Susanoo’s defenses and strike at Uchiha Sougen, Uchiha Shisui, or Uchiha Fugaku.

This was the Cloud ninja’s strategy: simple, direct, but the best they had. Ideally, they would have sent a jinchuriki to fight, but the unstable mental state of Yugito made that risky. One wrong move could deal a devastating blow to the morale of the Cloud forces.

So, Raikage A kept Yugito in reserve, a hidden trump card.

As long as Yugito stayed out of the fight, the Cloud ninja could at least hold onto the belief that they still had a fallback plan.

But trying to stop a behemoth like Susanoo without a jinchuriki meant heavy casualties. There was no need to calculate the potential losses; simply looking at the devastation caused by rampaging Eight-Tails or Two-Tails in the past was enough to make anyone shudder.

In the end, Raikage A chose this approach, knowing that the lives of hundreds of Cloud ninja were expendable compared to the value of their jinchuriki—or more precisely, their tailed beasts. With the Eight-Tails already lost, losing the Two-Tails would turn this southern campaign against Konoha into an outright disaster.

To be honest,

Since Killer Bee was captured, there had already been murmurs within the Cloud ninja ranks about retreating. Konoha had displayed overwhelming strength, and continuing this battle seemed futile. But A had crushed those voices with an iron fist.

Of course, he knew brute force wouldn’t work forever, so he proposed an alliance with the Stone ninja, explaining their plan to rescue the Eight-Tails jinchuriki. This had restored some unity within the ranks, and today, the assault began in earnest.

But now,

Watching his Cloud ninja reduced to bloody remnants by Susanoo's sword, and then replaced by another wave of ninja rushing to fill the gap, Raikage A’s mind wavered. Perhaps he was unwilling to admit that this campaign to attack Konoha had already failed. Was he simply making excuses to send his loyal subordinates down a path of near-certain death?

"No, I can’t lose focus now!"

A furrowed his brow, nearly knitting his face into a scowl. He suppressed the intrusive thoughts, forcing himself to acknowledge that there was no turning back. No matter how grim the road ahead, he had to see this through to the end.

Perhaps, just maybe,

Tsuchidai and the others would surprise him!

A cleared his mind of distractions, resolidified his resolve, and continued to command his troops with calm confidence. Layer upon layer of traps were laid, as if a spider weaving its web to ensnare prey—though this particular prey was far larger than any spider could hope to catch.

To Uchiha Sougen, however, these Cloud ninja were the prey, not him. The Fourth Raikage, not far off, was a tempting bait dangling just within reach.

And so,

The deadly hunt—where hunter and prey were no longer distinguishable—began.

…

On another part of the battlefield, Uchiha Itachi and Kaguya Kimimaro had finally stopped fleeing. Reinforcements had arrived just in time. Though still outnumbered, they were no longer at risk of being surrounded. Facing two or three enemies at a time was routine for Konoha ninja by now.

For geniuses like Uchiha Itachi, fighting while outnumbered was a lesson they had long since mastered.

There was nothing to fear.

"There’s nothing to worry about,

Nothing worth fretting over!

All you need to do is dance here and now, with all your might!

Let the Uchiha blood burn wildly, the black tomoe in his eyes spinning rapidly. Every time he makes eye contact with someone, they are pulled into eternal sleep. The small blade in his hand continuously slashes the throats of the Cloud Ninja, its swift edge feeling as if it had been kissed by death itself!

'Too slow!'

Uchiha Itachi muttered softly.

His body leaped once again, meeting an enemy descending from the treetops midair. The enemy averted his gaze, not daring to look into Itachi’s eyes, and instead thrust a long sword crackling with lightning toward Itachi’s chest, hoping to use its length to kill him first.

However, just as Itachi had said, the enemy’s seemingly swift movements were agonizingly slow under the gaze of the Sharingan. Itachi even noticed the explosive tag burning behind the Cloud Ninja. It was a shadow clone!

'Wah—Wah—!'

The lightning-clad sword pierced through Itachi’s chest, but instead of blood spurting, a murder of crows screeched as they scattered. In the moment of the Cloud Ninja’s shock, the explosive tag detonated, a burst of brilliant flames blossoming in the sky!

The real Cloud Ninja, hidden in the shadows, furrowed his brows.

'A clone? When did he do that?' He hadn’t seen Itachi make a clone at any point.

'When you blinked.'

The reply from above sent cold sweat trickling down the Cloud Ninja’s face. He kicked off the ground, trying to dart out from behind the tree. However, a small blade from above pierced through his right ear and out through his jaw, its bloodstained tip gleaming.

The blade was withdrawn, and the Cloud Ninja, no longer supported, fell, becoming yet another fresh corpse on the vast battlefield.

Uchiha Itachi held the blood-dripping blade, paying no mind to wiping it clean—it wasn’t necessary, as it would soon be stained again. He turned his gaze toward Kimimaro, who was locked in fierce combat with three Cloud Ninja. Kimimaro’s upper body was bare, and his pants were in tatters.

Sharp white bones protruded from his body, making him look like a walking porcupine. Despite being outnumbered, he showed no sign of being at a disadvantage.

There was no need for Itachi to worry about his safety!

'Whoosh!'

A giant shuriken flew toward Itachi. He swiftly crouched, and the massive weapon sliced through the tree behind him, a tree so large it would take five or six people to wrap their arms around it. The tree’s crown, along with half the trunk, crashed down, forcing Itachi to step aside to avoid being crushed.

At that moment,

A sharp sound cut through the air from behind him. Itachi quickly turned to see another massive shuriken, shaped like a square, flying straight at him. His eyes narrowed, and his blade crackled with electricity as he timed his strike perfectly, channeling a burst of chakra to deflect the shuriken. The weapon, which was large enough to cleave him in two, whizzed past him, narrowly missing.

Though it seemed to take long, this all happened in an instant.

'Magnet Release Ninja—Toroi?'

Itachi recognized the Cloud Ninja who had attacked him with the square-shaped shuriken. His father, Uchiha Fugaku, had warned him about dangerous enemies, and Toroi’s name was among them.

There were quite a few Magnet Release users among the Cloud Ninja,

But Toroi was the most famous. His unique square-shaped shuriken and masterful use of Magnet Release had earned him quite a reputation on the battlefield.

Itachi recognized Toroi so quickly because Fugaku had regretted not killing him in the last war, leaving a strong impression on Itachi. He hadn’t expected to encounter him today.

'Kid, if you don’t want to die, just surrender! Lord Raikage said he’d prefer to capture a genius like you alive, but once I get serious, I can’t hold back...'

Toroi didn’t finish his sentence.

His words were interrupted by the shuriken Itachi hurled at him. Words were pointless—actions spoke louder!

Toroi wasn’t angered. He simply threw his own square-shaped shuriken. However, to his surprise, his shuriken didn’t knock down Itachi’s two small shuriken. Instead, they collided in midair, changing their trajectory and shooting toward him from both sides.

'Uchiha shuriken technique, huh? This won’t work on me.'

The shuriken were just inches away, but Toroi remained calm. With a flick of his fingers, two large square shuriken embedded in the ground flew up, deflecting the small shuriken like shields.

'Playing with tools? I’m an expert in that!'

The Cloud Ninja lacked a sample of the One-Tail Shukaku for their Magnet Release research, so they stuck to the traditional method of magnetizing objects to control tools in battle. Compared to the Sand Ninja’s varied 'Sand Techniques,' their style was a bit more straightforward.

They could only control a limited number of metal tools, unlike the Sand Ninja, who could command an endless amount of sand.

But the fact that they maintained this tradition meant it still had its merits. Otherwise, Toroi wouldn’t have made a name for himself using Magnet Release.

Without even looking at Itachi, Toroi raised his hand,

And a series of square-shaped shuriken flew into the air.

Four massive square shuriken hovered above, shooting toward Itachi at breakneck speed. It was as if they were guided by some tracking system—they relentlessly pursued him no matter how he tried to evade them.

(End of chapter)"

Chapter 209: Stepping Stone and Growth

“Is it magnetism?”

After multiple swift movements and evasions, Uchiha Itachi couldn't shake off the persistent shuriken-shaped projectiles that relentlessly followed him. Observing the way the projectiles changed their trajectories in an unnatural manner, Itachi realized the truth. He suddenly threw his small short sword toward Toroi, who stood not far away.

The shuriken followed, as if pulled by the sword.

“I see. So, you can indirectly add magnetism to objects. No wonder... it’s quite a troublesome ability,” the young man calmly revealed the hidden secret.

“Just troublesome? Uchiha brat, your arrogance is truly irritating!”

Toroi, with his eyes slightly lowered, extended his hand. The small short sword thrown by Itachi flipped in midair, as if it had been tamed, and gently placed its "paw" in Toroi’s open palm. Toroi gripped the handle, rather than the sharp blade that could easily cut through a cow's leg bone.

The shuriken, which had been chasing Itachi, parted like a stream of water around Toroi and landed gently by his side.

“If you think my magnet release is just a 'troublesome' ability, then let’s see if you have the power to resolve it, Uchiha brat.” Enraged, Toroi swung his arm, and the shuriken-shaped projectiles once again shot toward Itachi.

But that wasn’t enough for Toroi.

He pulled out a scroll and summoned more than 20 smaller shuriken-shaped projectiles, launching them all at once. These were custom-made for him, not because their shape enhanced his magnet release, but simply because he liked them.

Four large shuriken and more than 20 smaller ones were about the limit of what he could control. In terms of manipulating objects, Cloud Ninja’s research on the magnet release bloodline limit still couldn’t compare to Sand Ninja’s.

Under the Second Kazekage’s leadership, magnet release saw rapid development, culminating in the Third Kazekage’s mastery of the "Iron Sand Technique." This technique, combining offense and defense, allowed the Third Kazekage to soar through the sky and earned him the title of "Strongest Kazekage." He famously stirred up sandstorms in the desert during the Second Shinobi World War.

The current Fourth Kazekage also relies on his unique "Gold Dust Technique" to stabilize the situation in Sunagakure, which nearly collapsed during the Third Shinobi World War.

In comparison, Toroi’s magnet release was far less impressive.

But that didn’t mean Toroi was weak. As a well-known expert in Kumogakure, he may have followed a more traditional path, but he had trained his magnet release to this level, launching a ferocious shuriken storm.

Having lost his small short sword, Uchiha Itachi pulled out a kunai.

However, the magnet release allowed Toroi to indirectly magnetize objects upon contact. Once Itachi’s kunai touched the shuriken, it became a magnetic source that attracted more shuriken. If Itachi didn’t want to be pierced by the relentless projectiles, he would have to discard the kunai.

And so it went, over and over, until Itachi ran out of kunai from his tool pouch. He still had reserves in a scroll, but with the constant chase, there was no chance to pull out the scroll, unlock its seal, and retrieve more weapons—a complicated series of actions under these circumstances.

Yet, even after using up his kunai, Uchiha Itachi remained calm.

While running, he formed hand signs with one hand, and in this waterless environment, he summoned clear, compressed water that spun rapidly, clearly packing a destructive force.

*Water Style: Water Fang Bullet*

This was the jutsu Itachi unleashed.

In the Uchiha clan, fire-style chakra is a universal trait. Some members also possess a second nature, usually lightning or earth, with wind and water being rare. Uchiha Itachi was one of those rare cases, naturally possessing both fire and water chakra natures, which do not synergize well.

The whirling Water Fang Bullets knocked away many of the shuriken, keeping Itachi from being cornered. Unfortunately, the jutsu lacked the power to destro Toroi’s custom-made shuriken, only managing to temporarily divert their trajectory.

As for attacking Toroi directly with the Water Fang Bullet…

It was futile. Toroi was a jonin, not just any ordinary one who climbed the ranks through experience. Besides his magnet release, Toroi had also mastered the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, showcasing agility worthy of a jonin.

Landing a decisive blow with the Water Fang Bullet wouldn’t be as easy as it seemed.

In ninja battles, it’s rare to see opponents immediately use jutsu. Taijutsu, or hand-to-hand combat, is far more common. This is partly to conserve chakra, but also because attacks can easily miss without first restricting the enemy’s movement.

Ninjas are defined by their extreme destructive power and mobility, but their defense is often their weakest point. In simple terms, ninjas are high offense, high speed, low defense, which is why their fighting style tends to focus on taijutsu, with ninjutsu and genjutsu reserved for finishing moves.

“Uchiha brat, all you do is run? Your taijutsu is better than I expected, but all it does is buy you a bit more time.”

Toroi kept moving.

Magnetic control had its limits. The farther the objects were from Toroi, the harder they were to control, and the more chakra it consumed. He had to stay mobile, both to keep his tools within range and to evade counterattacks.

“There’s a limit to how far you can control your magnetic power, isn’t there?”

Uchiha Itachi suddenly spoke.

“You’ve noticed? So what?” Toroi remained calm.

When Itachi had quickly seen through the indirect transmission of magnetism, Toroi realized the young Uchiha was sharp. He wasn’t surprised that the distance limitation had been figured out, but he wasn’t worried either. Knowing the secret didn’t change the outcome.

“Haven’t you noticed yet? Even though you’ve been looking down this whole time.”

Uchiha Itachi sighed, seemingly disappointed.

Toroi frowned, looking down at the rippling water beneath his feet, created by Itachi’s Water Fang Bullet. The murky puddle reflected the cloudy sky above and Toroi’s own serious face.

Is it a bluff?

Toroi couldn’t see anything wrong.

Just then, a small shadow appeared on the water’s surface—an indistinct reflection of a crow. Though the image wasn’t crystal clear, its outline and its eerie, crimson eyes were unmistakable.

“Damn it!”

Seeing the crow’s red eyes, Toroi’s heart sank. He instantly realized he had been careless. The puddles formed by Itachi’s jutsu had been the real trap all along. After noticing the distance limitation of the magnetism, Itachi had set up this trap, gradually luring Toroi into it, and he had walked right into it without realizing.

It was, indeed, brilliant.

Fury and frustration surged through Toroi, but it was already too late.

Before he was pulled into that inescapable illusion, the only emotion left in his mind was a deep admiration. Even though it was just a kid, the sheer talent completely won him over. There was nothing to be angry about, and nothing to feel unwilling about either. Losing to such a genius didn't feel unfair at all!

In fact, you could even say...

Being a stepping stone for a true genius to rise to fame might be a unique kind of honor.

Genjutsu : Dragon Sleep Technique

Through the summoned crows as a medium, Uchiha Itachi connected his gaze to Toroi’s through the reflection in the unclear water surface. Silently, he cast the Dragon Sleep Technique, easily capturing Toroi's consciousness and plunging him into a deep slumber. With a splash, Toroi collapsed into the puddle.

The shuriken chasing Uchiha Itachi lost its direction and instantly dropped to the ground.

“Phew! Glad it worked!”

The young boy quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

It was his first time successfully casting an illusion through two layers of mediums. Though he had imagined something like this during training, back then, with just his two-tomoe Sharingan, his eye power wasn’t strong enough to pull off such a sophisticated move!

He reached into his ninja pouch, pulled out a shuriken, and threw it.

With his shuriken-throwing skills, which had already peaked during his time at the Ninja Academy, there was no way he would miss. The shuriken struck Toroi in the back of the neck with precision, and blood gushed out. Judging from the depth of the shuriken and the speed and volume of the bleeding, unless Toroi was immortal, there was no way he could survive.

Uchiha Itachi quickly moved forward.

He pulled out a scroll, sealed Toroi's body inside it, and retrieved his small blade from Toroi’s hand.

This fierce battle...

had finally come to an end!

The final outcome left many onlookers stunned. The Konoha ninjas, who were about to rush in to rescue their young genius, were both shocked and overjoyed. An 11-year-old Uchiha Itachi had actually killed Toroi, the famous Cloud ninja known for his Magnet Release ability? It felt like a dream!

The Cloud ninjas were just as shocked.

The ones who had blocked the Konoha ninjas from aiding Itachi felt no joy, only indescribable disbelief! Toroi, defeated by a mere child from Konoha? Even if that child was an Uchiha! The worst scenario they had imagined was Toroi failing to capture Itachi and him escaping. That was it!

They never imagined Toroi would lose to a kid!

And so quickly, too.

From the start of the fight to its end, only a little over six minutes had passed.

“Itachi, you...”

Kimimaro’s eyebrows lowered slightly.

The feeling of "competitiveness" quietly filled his heart. After spending time with Uchiha Itachi, the arrogance he once felt from being called a genius by Orochimaru had long since faded. Without even realizing it, he had begun to see Uchiha Itachi as his rival!

If he couldn’t surpass Itachi, how could he ever hope to defeat Uchiha Shisui or Uchiha Sougen and return to Orochimaru’s side?

“I won’t lose to you!”

The boy muttered to himself, his emerald eyes burning with determination!

Dead Bone Pulse: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets

Taking a hit just to create an opening, Kimimaro fired bone bullets from his fingertips, piercing the bodies of the Cloud ninjas, causing small bursts of blood to splatter. The unlucky Cloud ninja fell to the ground, filled with confusion. He hadn’t noticed the extra layer of bone beneath Kimimaro’s skin where he had slashed him.

That layer of bone had shielded Kimimaro from the full force of the blade, so it only tore his skin without cutting into muscle or blood vessels. His fighting ability wasn’t significantly hindered. It wasn’t just Uchiha Itachi who was improving; Kimimaro was also growing stronger at an unbelievable pace!

“Damn it!”

C, who had been watching the whole fight, looked pale. Toroi had been a massive disappointment. To think he got killed by some Uchiha brat—it was a complete embarrassment to Cloud Village! Still, in his heart, C now harbored a deep fear of Uchiha Itachi, and a growing desire to capture him.

This kind of genius was invaluable.

If they couldn’t capture him, they would have to destro him. Dealing with Uchiha Sougen and Uchiha Shisui was already bad enough. If another one like Itachi rose up, it would be hopeless!

“Squads 6, 9, 11, and 12, prioritize capturing that Uchiha brat. If capture fails, eliminate him,” C ordered, sending all the mobile forces at his disposal toward one target—Uchiha Itachi!

*Chapter 210: Lava Release and Hiramekarei*

In this battle, the Cloud ninja went all out. To maximize their numerical advantage, they launched a full-scale attack, covering all fronts without focusing on any particular point. Their strategy spread out their massive forces over a battle line that stretched more than 30 kilometers.

Without doing this, they wouldn't be able to fully utilize their advantage in numbers.

Ninjas' high mobility meant they couldn’t just cluster together for a brawl. Take the battle between Uchiha Itachi and Troy as an example; they were constantly on the move. Eventually, Troy was lured into a trap and captured.

This is just one case. Similar battles were happening across the long front line.

Unless there was a vast power gap between combatants, allowing a quick victory, most ninja duels—especially between those of similar strength—could span several kilometers. This was true even if they followed a curved path, and if the fighting stretched out in a straight line, the battlefield could get unmanageably long.

Not to mention Susano'o.

Using Susano'o, Soen dominated the battlefield, single-handedly suppressing over a thousand Cloud ninja under the direct command of the Fourth Raikage. He operated within a five-kilometer radius, essentially making that entire zone his playground. Ninja warfare often involved fighting over vast, open areas rather than engaging in narrow, head-to-head encounters.

The terrain of the Land of Hot Water, mainly hills and plains, made it easy for Cloud ninja to attack from any direction. The Fourth Raikage personally led part of his forces to block Uchiha Soen, while Cee led another unit targeting Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro. Elsewhere, other elite Cloud ninja were battling the Konoha forces.

Even Todai, usually kept in reserve as a strategist for the Raikage, was fighting on the front lines.

*Lava Release: Rubber Ball*

Todai's Lava Release formed a pale yellow rubber ball, encasing an unconscious Konoha ninja from the Hyuga clan. The ball left openings for the ninja's nose and mouth to ensure they didn’t suffocate.

"That's the fifth one," Todai exhaled.

The captured Hyuga ninja was carried away by the Cloud forces, joining four other rubber-encased captives being held in the rear, as living captives couldn't be sealed in scrolls.

Todai’s Lava Release, a bloodline limit unique to his lineage, was responsible for these rubber prisons. Unlike the Lava Release used by Iwagakure, which took a different form, Todai’s version created and controlled rubber as a battle tactic.

Though its offensive power wasn’t particularly high, this didn't mean it was useless. Todai’s Lava Release was highly versatile, providing defense, binding, and even counterattacks. He adapted its properties based on the situation, efficiently defeating one enemy after another. The only noticeable downside was its lack of raw destructive force.

For example, the *Lava Release: Rubber Ball* could be used both defensively and to restrain opponents, making it invaluable for capturing enemies alive—an essential goal in this battle.

"Lord Todai, would you like to take a break?" one of his subordinates asked.

Their group had been in continuous combat, with Todai personally defeating five Konoha jonin—one from the Hyuga clan, one from the Inuzuka clan (accompanied by their dog), another from the Nara clan, and two from smaller Konoha families.

Despite the intensity of these battles, Todai only showed slight signs of fatigue, with sweat forming on his brow and his breathing heavier but still controlled. He was clearly still capable of fighting.

Todai shook his head. "Now’s not the time for rest. We haven't caught any big fish yet. These small fry won’t help us trade for the Eight-Tails." He was still looking for more valuable targets. Ideally, he wanted to capture seven or eight Uchiha clan members, which would give him leverage for negotiations with Uchiha Soen.

But so far, he hadn’t encountered a single Uchiha.

Just as he was considering whether to join Cee in the pursuit of Uchiha Itachi, a new opponent appeared before him. This one had white hair, violet eyes, sharp teeth, and pale skin that looked as if it had never seen the sun. What caught Todai’s attention the most was the forehead protector.

It wasn’t from Konoha—it was from Kirigakure.

"Looks like I’ve found a big fish," Todai muttered to himself.

The new arrival was Hozuki Mangetsu, wielding the sword *Hiramekarei*. He grinned menacingly, tightening his grip on the sword. His pale hands revealed prominent veins as he prepared for battle. Todai quickly realized this wasn’t an ordinary opponent.

Capturing enemies alive was much harder than simply killing them—a fact every ninja knew.

“... Hiramekarei? The prodigy of Kirigakure, Hozuki Mangetsu?” Todai recognized the name.

“Tch!” Mangetsu’s grin faded, and he clicked his tongue in irritation. “So you know who I am… how annoying.” He hated fighting against smart opponents like Todai, who always kept a sharp mind during battle to avoid falling into traps.

Knowing his sword and his family’s secret techniques meant Todai probably already knew most of his moves, or at least suspected them. Mangetsu would have to assume Todai had studied him.

As Mangetsu’s alertness rose, Todai found himself in a bit of a dilemma. He had read about Hiramekarei and the Hozuki clan in old documents, and knew that Mangetsu had inherited the twin sword. But that was the extent of his knowledge. Information on Kirigakure had always been scarce, and knowing Mangetsu had Hiramekarei was already impressive.

Todai could only make educated guesses about Mangetsu’s abilities based on historical records.

The real extent of Mangetsu’s skill, however, would have to be discovered during the fight.

“Take this!” Mangetsu, impatient as any young warrior, made the first move.

And that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Being aggressive wasn’t always a weakness.

“First strike doesn’t always lose,” as the saying went. Mangetsu attacked swiftly, swinging Hiramekarei at Todai. Hiramekarei, despite being called a twin sword, was a single weapon. No—actually, it was two swords fused together into an odd shape. Though it wasn’t as long as the Executioner’s Blade, it was much wider.

It had no sharp edge, with smooth, rounded sides. When both swords were combined, the weapon resembled a flounder, which is likely why it was named *Hiramekarei*.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!”

Dozens of pale blue chakra needles shot out in an instant, turning Todai into a human pincushion!

[Blood Mist Sword Technique: Bone Extraction]

This was the technique used by Mangetsu Hozuki.

Hiramekarei’s ability was quite unique. After absorbing enough chakra, it could launch chakra-based blades, cannons, or spikes for both close-range and long-range attacks. It was the only sword among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's weapons capable of long-range strikes.

At this moment, Mangetsu was using Hiramekarei’s power for a lightning-fast assault, so swift that Todai couldn’t react in time! However—

Todai wasn’t an opponent that could be taken down so easily.

“A substitution, huh?”

Despite being pierced by chakra needles all over his body, Todai didn’t bleed a single drop. It was clearly not the real body. The next second, as his chakra balance was disrupted, Todai transformed back into a light-yellow rubber figure, collapsing limply to the ground.

Simultaneously, a dark-gray fist erupted from the ground, smashing into Mangetsu’s right ankle!

Unlike most of the Cloud Ninja, Todai had inherited the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, which gave him the natural ability to control both fire and earth chakra types. Interestingly, he had learned lightning chakra later on in his training. As one of the most intelligent figures in the Hidden Cloud Village, Todai had focused intensely on honing his Kekkei Genkai since childhood, and along with it, he had trained both his fire and earth techniques to extremely high levels!

His mastery of the Earth Release’s subterranean stealth techniques was a testament to his incredible skill.

Before Mangetsu could realize it, Todai had already switched places with his substitution, leaving behind the clone to draw Mangetsu’s attack while the real Todai hid underground, waiting for the perfect moment to strike!

The punch landed squarely on Mangetsu’s right leg, causing him to stumble. His leg below the knee was shattered — literally, in a physical sense — bursting into a spray of water. However, the water quickly flowed back, reforming Mangetsu’s right leg.

“Hiramekarei: Release!”

Despite his leg being shattered and reformed, Mangetsu didn’t let it affect his counterattack. Hiramekarei released a bright chakra sphere that slammed heavily into the ground, shattering the bedrock and forming a massive crater.

Hiramekarei’s destructive power was on full display.

Unfortunately for Mangetsu, Todai wasn’t an easy target.

Having refined his Earth Release Hardening Technique to a high level, Todai was able to partially withstand the blow from Hiramekarei and successfully escape, reappearing next to the rubber dummy that had been riddled with chakra needles.

And so, the first round of their clash came to an end.

Both had tested each other with probing attacks and realized that their opponent was more troublesome than expected. Mangetsu raised an eyebrow; Todai’s Earth Release skills were formidable. However, what concerned Mangetsu more was the hidden trump card Todai had yet to play—the five spheres lying just a short distance away!

Mangetsu had no intention of becoming the sixth target, or worse, being killed outright!

But still...

A fight where he could potentially lose or even die had its own unique thrill, didn’t it? Sure, battles that guaranteed victory had their fun, but after experiencing too many of those, they tended to get a little dull. Sometimes, you needed a change of pace!

A smile appeared once again on Mangetsu’s face.

In contrast, Todai’s forehead creased even further, and his gaunt face took on a grim expression. Hiramekarei’s power and versatility were exceedingly dangerous. Coupled with the Hozuki Clan’s famous Hydrification Technique, physical attacks were ineffective against Mangetsu. That rendered most of Todai’s Earth Release techniques useless.

Moreover, because of water’s fluidity... even using Lava Release would likely have trouble pinning Mangetsu down.

“Lightning Release, then?”

Todai recalled that the documents mentioned the Hozuki Clan’s Hydrification Technique was countered by Lightning Release. Lightning would paralyze the Hozuki’s body, preventing them from fully liquefying. However, that was the extent of the weakness—it wasn’t enough to guarantee Mangetsu’s defeat. On top of that, Todai wasn’t as proficient in Lightning Release as he was in Earth and Fire techniques.

Earlier, Todai had used his Hardening Technique to enhance his punch’s power. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to use Lightning Release for a sneak attack; it was just that he couldn’t use both Earth Release Stealth and Lightning Release simultaneously. Lightning Release chakra naturally counteracts Earth Release chakra, making them impossible to use together, at least not at Todai’s current level of mastery.

So, he had to use the Hardening Technique to test whether Mangetsu had mastered the Hydrification Technique—and the result was not promising. Mangetsu’s mastery of the technique was far beyond Todai’s expectations. Not only was he nearly immune to physical attacks, but his rapid recovery was also astonishing.

Against such an opponent, if he couldn’t land a critical blow and end the fight instantly, a prolonged battle would lead to his defeat!

Todai had already come to this realization.

“Hey, Cloud Ninja, what’s your name? You’re a decent opponent. Tell me your name!” Mangetsu asked, casually holding Hiramekarei and not rushing to seize the initiative in the second round. Instead, he questioned Todai. Although Konoha had provided a list of Cloud Ninja elites, Mangetsu hadn’t had time to read through it before the Cloud Ninja attacked.

So, he had no idea who Todai was.

“I’ll tell you my name when you stop bouncing around.”

Todai wasn’t cooperating at all. As a cautious man, he wouldn’t reveal his name so easily. He understood all too well that a name was a key—it could connect to hidden secrets. Knowing someone’s name could expose a chain of secrets, even if most were superficial. But who’s to say there wouldn’t be unexpected revelations?

“Such a boring personality!”

Mangetsu smirked.

Then, Hiramekarei swung, and once again, shining chakra needles flew through the air.

(End of Chapter)