[Earth Release: Earth Stone Grinder!]
The rock layers created by the Earth Release squad of the Shinsengumi ninjas crushed the ninja frogs trying to charge out, leaving them battered and bruised.
Immediately after, under the command of the Jonin Officer, the Fire Release squad joined forces to perform a ninjutsu.
[Fire Release: Inferno Blast!]
A torrent of raging flames surged forth, guided by the Hyuga ninja's Byakugan, accurately bombarding the spots where the frogs were about to surface!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Intense explosions and scorching flames erupted, instantly flipping over the already slightly soft ground, exposing the struggling frogs desperately trying to escape from the crushing rocks.
Caught off guard, the frogs were burned red all over, their skin cracking and peeling.
"You know what—if we threw in a bit of salt and pepper, these frogs might even taste better than the skewered frog legs back home!"
An Akimichi clan ninja from the Shinsengumi licked his lips unconsciously and said instinctively.
"Maybe. But they *can* talk… Then again, they might just beg you to season their last bite right before they croak."
Beside him, a sadistic Uchiha ninja immediately replied with an extremely dark joke.
"Eww! Gross!"
The whole group of Shinsengumi ninjas shuddered collectively.
But judging by how relaxed they looked, things must've been going pretty smoothly.
After all, in terms of both training level and individual combat strength, the Shinsengumi ninjas were elite warriors under Hyuga Soushu's command—each one an expert possessing secret techniques. Naturally, they didn't take these frogs that had already completely fallen into their encirclement seriously at all.
"Don't get careless!"
But the Jonin Officer serving as temporary commander still gave them a verbal reminder, just in case his subordinates would sustain casualties due to negligence in the upcoming battle.
"There are nine bases being handled simultaneously now. We mustn't show any weakness!"
"No worries! So long as they're not crippled or dead on the spot, we'll definitely bring 'em back alive!"
Meanwhile, the accompanying medical ninjas confidently patted their chests and assured everyone.
"What's the progress?"
Hyuga Soushu, stationed at Hakone Prefecture city headquarters overseeing the entire operation, asked the messenger ninja beside him.
"According to intelligence reports, our task forces have successfully blocked eight out of nine entrances. There was only one point where the frogs escaped through the cave entrance..."
The messenger ninja answered immediately.
He hesitated before finishing—after all, by its scale alone, that failed base should've been where Mount Myoboku's frogs gathered the most.
"A success rate of eight out of nine? That's still quite impressive indeed!"
Hyuga Soushu remained unfazed and casually praised before waving this messenger ninja away.
"Soushu-kun…"
However, Mahiru Uchiha, who was also fully armed, appeared somewhat uneasy. "The way this intelligence arrived is just too suspicious..."
As her words fell, the ears of all the attendant ninjas at the main base immediately perked up.
Indeed, nine Ninja Frog bases were discovered nearly simultaneously by weak Genin patrol teams. Each base had a Ninja Frog croaking on the surface—an eerie and suspicious occurrence that was obvious even without needing to think twice.
Putting everything else aside, one thing was clear—there was another hidden force working against the Mount Myoboku Ninja Frogs, even if they hadn't shown themselves… or maybe weren't even human.
"No big deal. Right now, our top priority is to handle one matter before moving on to others."
Hyuga Soushu gently held Mahiru Uchiha's hands and softly said, "Nothing worth doing ever does. We'll have to take it one step at a time."
"Mm."
Mahiru Uchiha nodded sweetly, snuggling even closer into Hyuga Soushu's chest.
As for the servant ninjas who had been watching—whether intentionally or not—took immediate action once the intimate moment ended, quickly speeding up their work using secret techniques to gather updates from all operational units.
The truth was, Soushu had spoken those words partly to reassure the other ninjas who also had doubts in their hearts.
After all, enemies—visible or hidden—weren't terrifying. What truly scared them was the unknown—just how many more hostile forces lurked beneath the surface, and whether they were even human at all!
"First and Fourth Bases cleared!"
"Second and Third Bases cleared as well!"
"Fifth through Eighth Bases cleared, with casualties reported at the Eighth Base operation team!"
Before long, reports came flooding in and were swiftly delivered before Hyuga Soushu.
"What about the tracking progress at the Ninth Base? Tell everyone to pick up the pace!"
Instead of commenting on the already cleared operation teams, Soushu immediately turned his attention to the Ninth Base where the Ninja Frogs had fled and pursuit had begun.
"Reinforcements have arrived. The chase is currently underway."
A servant ninja responded promptly.
Hyuga Soushu gave a slight nod, then closed his eyes briefly to rest.
"Report back once the escaping Ninja Frogs are blocked off!"
Seeing this, Mahiru Uchiha immediately issued orders on his behalf.
"Yes, sir!"
The servant ninja bowed respectfully and left at once.
This was one of those rare times when Soushu himself was actually getting ready to act in person.
After all, he wanted to see firsthand just how much power the legendary Holy Place, Mount Myoboku, really had.
It was simply because the operations at the previous eight bases went too smoothly that made it unnecessary for Soushu to get involved in such minor affairs.
"Jiraiya! Let's just face those scum head-on!" shouted the Red-skinned Ninja Frog as he fled through the dense forest alongside Jiraiya. "We can't keep running forever—they've got agents coming at us from every direction!"
"No way. We'd stand absolutely no chance if we engaged them directly!" masked Jiraiya immediately rejected the suggestion while encouraging him further: "Keep going. We'll soon escape this place!"
"But how could things turn out so strangely?! How could they suddenly find our hiding places?!
The Red-skinned Ninja Frog's heart was in chaos. He glanced behind as he spoke.
From both the rear and left flank of the fleeing Ninja Frogs, groups of ninja were chasing with full effort.
Although the escaping Ninja Frogs were probably capable of defeating a unit of pursuing ninja forces in terms of basic strength, they dared not turn back to fight at all. They feared that even a brief skirmish would delay their escape, allowing the encirclement to complete formation, trapping them inside with no chance to flee.
"Maybe some mysterious faction is supplying intelligence to those Byakugan users!"
Jiraiya had no proof, but he went with his gut feeling anyway.
"It could be those dirty snakes from Ryuchi Cave!"
The Red-skinned Ninja Frog growled between gritted teeth.
Although the conclusions drawn by the human and frog were incorrect, their reasoning process was correct.
"I don't think so," Jiraiya replied hesitantly.
After all, his best friend Orochimaru was Ryuchi Cave's contract summoner. Despite always verbally bickering, the two actually got along quite well—at least never resorting to actual conflict.
At that moment, another group of approximately a hundred ninja appeared ahead in the fleeing path of the Ninja Frogs.
"Charge forward!"
The Red-skinned Ninja Frog roared furiously, ready to accelerate into attack.
"No!"
Jiraiya immediately shouted an order: "Turn right!"
"You—"
Startled and angry, the Red-skinned Ninja Frog didn't hesitate, immediately leaping to the right.
"No time to waste!" Jiraiya explained briefly as he went.
Although there were still over a hundred Ninja Frogs, if they engaged in battle, it would likely take too much time to eliminate the blocking enemies quickly.
Once delayed, they'd definitely end up completely surrounded—crying for heaven and begging for earth, yet finding no salvation.
After all, they were now deep within the heart of Hyuga Soushu's domain. Who knows how many ninja might join the hunt?
"Honorable Lord Soushu!"
In the central command post of Hakone Prefecture city, a servant ninja rushed in urgently, waking up Hyuga Soushu who had been resting with eyes closed.
"The Ninja Frogs that escaped from the ninth outpost have been successfully driven toward the designated encirclement zone. Please give your orders!"
"Have all combat units taken position?"
Hyuga Soushu opened his eyes and slowly stood up.
"All forces are fully assembled and concealed!" The servant ninja immediately answered.
"Is there any special individual present?"
Hyuga Soushu picked up his long-unused Torch Pole weapon, striding toward the door.
"There is a man among the Ninja Frogs, but due to disguise, his identity couldn't be identified!"
The servant ninja quickly responded: "Not even the Byakugan could penetrate the deception completely!"
"Well then, it must be close enough."
Hyuga Soushu decided not to pursue further identification. Anyway, capturing these Ninja Frogs would reveal everything soon enough.
This time, to eradicate the nine Ninja Frogs' underground bases that had suddenly been exposed, Hyuga Soushu had mobilized nearly three thousand ninjas for this operation. While only a few were engaged in direct combat, plenty of blocking forces had been stationed around the perimeter—their purpose was to block all possible escape routes and ensure a smooth "capture the frogs in a jar" operation.
"Jiraiya, why don't you use Reverse Summoning Technique to retreat back to Mount Myōboku first?"
Just as the Ninja Frogs began turning to flee, the Red-skinned Ninja Frog suddenly said, "I have an indescribable ominous feeling."
"I feel it too," Jiraiya replied,
But he ignored the Red-skinned Ninja Frog's suggestion to flee.
"We traveled from Mount Myōboku on a long journey here, so we can't leave using Reverse Summoning Technique. But your situation is different—you could be taken away over long distances by the two Sages."
The Red-skinned Ninja Frog continued persuading him.
"No need."
Jiraiya answered concisely.
"Why are you being so hardheaded?" The Red-skinned Ninja Frog sighed with some emotion—but even more touched.
"Worst case, I can just summon the two Sages to fight with us. With them helping, who could possibly stop us!"
Jiraiya said casually, "And even if we face enemies we can't resist, the two Sages can withdraw first, then take me away later!"
"Alright." The Red-skinned Ninja Frog grinned widely while his belly rose and fell excitedly—he was clearly quite thrilled.
At that moment, however, Jiraiya suddenly came to an abrupt stop atop a treetop!
The following Ninja Frogs couldn't stop in time and collided into one another in chaos.
"What happened?"
The Red-skinned Ninja Frog had barely asked when he also sensed the anomaly.
It was too quiet!
Not even a trace of living presence could be sensed!
Gradually realizing something was wrong, the group of Ninja Frogs quickly scattered into a combat formation.
"We're already boxed in."
With a sigh, Jiraiya started forming hand seals and reminded the others: "You hold the line first—I'll summon the two Sages right now!"
Right at that moment—
[Fire Release: Dragon Fire Dance Jutsu!]
From both left and right flanks, several Uchiha ninja suddenly leapt forth. They exhaled long dragon-shaped flames toward the cluster of Ninja Frogs!
[Water Release: Wall of Water Formation!]
Though caught off guard, the Ninja Frogs timely activated their water-based technique in attempt to intercept.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Yet ordinary Water Release techniques remained no match against the Uchiha clan's Fire Release.
After smashing through the wall of water, the fire dragons swiftly surged into the mass of Ninja Frogs, scattering their tightly organized ranks and sending them fleeing chaotically.
[Ninja Tools Barrage!]
Then came a dense hail of kunai.
"Watch out!" Jiraiya barely had time to bellow.
Immediately afterward, explosive tags attached to those kunai detonated simultaneously, catching the unprepared Ninja Frogs in explosions that left them stunned and disoriented.
[Summoning Technique!]
After completing preparations, without hesitation Jiraiya slammed his palm onto the treetop and summoned Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima!
By this time, more than half of the hundred or so Ninja Frogs had already been killed or wounded in what seemed like two simple attacks. Even the surviving Ninja Frogs bore various injuries.
"Damn it!"
The red-skinned Ninja Frog gritted its teeth.
It never expected that the Ninja Frogs of Mount Myoboku would show such a massive gap in combat effectiveness compared to an organized ninja force!
Keep in mind, every single Ninja Frog under its command was no weaker than a chunin-ranked ninja in individual strength!
"This is…"
The two sacred elders perched on Jiraiya's shoulders were equally stunned.
But there was no time for deep thought. Immediately, they clapped their hands together and began gathering sage chakra.
"So it *is* you."
Hyuga Soushu, holding his Torch Pole weapon, stepped leisurely out from the hidden barrier.
Immediately afterward, the pre-prepared barrier dissolved. A large squad of ninja surged forth, quickly forming an airtight encirclement zone.
Jiraiya made a rough estimate at a glance and figured the number exceeded a thousand.
Ninjas are fast and agile by nature, but pulling off a thousand-man ambush this quickly? That's some serious discipline.
"Jonin Jiraiya, please stop concealing your identity any longer."
As he spoke, Hyuga Soushu carefully observed the two old frogs perched on Jiraiya's shoulders. "After all, since the two sages have already revealed themselves, hiding your identity is meaningless now."
"You sure do know your stuff."
Interrupted Senior Fukasaku, perched on the left shoulder.
"Heh!"
Hyuga Soushu snorted coldly, then waved his hand.
[Sealing Technique: Shin Mu Jeong Gai!]
A group of Uzumaki ninja simultaneously activated their targeted barrier.
In an instant, the two sacred elders immediately felt the difficulty of drawing natural energy skyrocketing, while the concentration of natural energy in the air rapidly decreased!
In other words, they would be forced into a vacuum area devoid of natural energy, having no choice but to rely solely on their own sage chakra for battle!
This would inevitably directly reduce the two sacred elders' endurance in combat!
"I've long heard that Mount Myoboku is one of the three great holy places. I finally get to witness it firsthand. I just hope it lives up to its reputation!"
Hyuga Soushu smirked and raised his arm forward.
"Attack!"
More than a thousand ninja roared in unison and unleashed their prepped jutsu!
"So it's not gonna be a straight-up showdown after all!"
Jiraiya and the two sacred elders were greatly startled.
They had assumed that Hyuga Soushu had appeared specifically to challenge them alone, never expecting a full-scale team assault!
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