As Elder Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, gazed upon the battlefield—scarred and horrifying beyond measure—he couldn't shake a faint premonition stirring deep within.
After all, as one of the few surviving outsiders who had personally crossed paths with both Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha and somehow lived to tell the tale, Onoki had always carried himself with arrogance. He'd spent years studying those two legendary figures—even though, in the end, he'd never really managed to make anything come of it.
Still, over the years he had gathered plenty of records and intelligence, especially regarding Wood Release techniques and the Mangekyo Sharingan. In those areas, the information he possessed probably wasn't inferior to what a Three-Comma Uchiha Jonin might know.
"No way..."
Onoki swallowed hard, deliberately crushing the terrifying thought forming in his mind.
Yet no matter what, people are always reluctant to face reality.
Especially when it came to Wood Release—the technique said to be capable of quelling chaos itself—it was simply impossible for such power to appear in the hands of just the Third Mizukage of Mist!
"Wuu wuu wuu—"
Once again, the Coalition Force's horns blew, and as they shifted into a defensive stance, the ninja split into units under the command of their Jonin Officers, swiftly beginning coordinated hand seals for their jutsu.
"So it *is* him!"
As the thick chakra-infused mist obscuring the Bloodline faction's camp gradually dissipated, Hyuga Soushu locked his gaze onto the Third Mizukage standing proudly atop the highest point of the enemy headquarters, exuding an air of supreme confidence.
Even with his Byakugan, from such a distance it was difficult to pierce through the Third Mizukage's disguises and concealments. But now that the ninja forces had pressed close to the perimeter of the Bloodline faction's camp—now less than five hundred meters away—Soushu focused his ocular powers and managed to detect several abnormalities about the Third Mizukage.
Most obvious were several large chakra nodes on his body, from which strange, life-sustaining chakra was constantly flowing into him.
Beneath the earth, too, there was a strange sense of pulsation—an indistinct haze that blurred his vision and interfered with the Byakugan's penetration.
This must be the last trump card prepared by either the Third Mizukage—or more likely, the disguised Madara Uchiha!
"The Six Paths Demonic Statue… or maybe even the remains of the God Tree itself!"
The moment this legendary artifact crossed his mind, Soushu felt his heart ablaze with desire!
An object capable of granting true immortality! Not even an ancient dragon like Zulong could resist such temptation!
Therefore...
"It's mine!"
Soushu firmly believed there was no force in this world immune to overwhelming numerical superiority.
Moreover, while the aged Madara might possess some strength, it was certainly nowhere near the peak he had achieved during the Fourth War after returning from death and regaining his youth.
Even if he could unleash a powerful surge using White Zetsu or the power of the God Tree, so long as the Coalition Force was willing to push themselves beyond limits, Madara would eventually exhaust himself completely!
"Prepare Earth Release jutsu!"
Since Mist ninjas specialized most in Water Release, the most effective counter was undoubtedly Earth Release.
And indeed, among the Coalition Force stood a group of ninja hailing from Iwagakure, experts renowned for specializing in Earth Release techniques.
[Earth Release: Earth-Splitting Turning Palm]!
With the combined efforts of the Iwagakure ninja stepping forward, deep bottomless cracks appeared on the ground, rapidly spreading toward the Bloodline faction's camp.
Hyuga Soushu's plan was straightforward—if there were things hidden underground, create earthquakes and fissures to expose them!
Next,
[Earth Release: Earthquake Core Bomb!]
After the first technique's crack reached the Bloodline faction's camp, the Coalition Force's Earth Release ninjas performed a second technique together.
This time, they directly created a ten-meter-deep moat around the camp's perimeter through ninjutsu!
It was to prevent the creatures hiding beneath the Bloodline faction's camp from infiltrating the ninja force's camp through secret earth techniques.
After these two large-scale combined Earth Release techniques, the Iwagakure ninja temporarily stepped back, and the Fire Release ninja squad from Konoha began preparing to take their turn.
[Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!]
Immediately afterward, under the coordinated efforts of the Fire Release ninja, countless pillars of flame roared toward the Bloodline faction's ninja camp.
But when facing Fire Release attacks, the Hidden Mist lineage demonstrated its advantage.
[Water Release: Wall of Water Formation!]
Wall after wall of water quickly emerged, blocking the fire attack.
However, the coalition wasn't simply composed of Fire Release users.
[Lightning Release ninja, step forward!]
Under the jonin's orders, teams of ninja skilled in Lightning Release immediately stepped forward and swiftly executed techniques!
[Lightning Release: Falling Thunder!]
Although merely a low-level C-ranked technique, the characteristic of water conducting electricity never changed.
Especially with water puddles spreading everywhere in the Bloodline faction's ninja camp, it directly enhanced the Lightning Release chakra's spread!
[Ahhhh!]
With the lightning striking down, continuous screams instantly erupted from within the Bloodline faction's camp.
Although the diffused Lightning Release wouldn't be fatal due to its paralyzing effect, it was certainly enough to keep those ninja scrambling for a while.
Following this, the Earth Release ninja began a new round of techniques.
[Earth Release: Open Ground Birth Trench!]
Through the joint effort of several Iwagakure jonin, suddenly small pits burst open within the Bloodline faction's camp, followed by rapid ground collapse and subsidence, subsequently transforming into a volcanic eruption.
[Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!]
The soil, gravel, and even creatures lurking underground were violently spewed outward!
Carefully observing the direction of the camp, Hyuga Soushu pierced through the heavy mist with his sharp eyes, precisely capturing the moment when that strange existence hiding at the edge of vision didn't erupt along with the volcanic fury but instead quietly revealed fragments of itself as the underground space was abruptly emptied.
An indescribable chakra fluctuation, like a thick curtain gently lifted by an invisible hand, exposed part of the wooden monster's body. Its outline became even more mysterious amid alternating light and shadow, stirring the imagination.
What the heck is this!
Onoki, floating midair, also caught sight of the fleeting strange creature—or perhaps it was a wooden statue!
But before anyone could get a good look, the wooden monster suddenly shifted and sank even deeper underground.
"Could it be… that guy?"
Still shaken from the shock, Onoki couldn't help but glance toward Hyuga Soushu, who was issuing commands from the heart of the Allied Forces' Central Army. His expression kept shifting.
Now he was certain—Hyuga Soushu must have known something deeply concealed, something no one else knew. Otherwise, why would he resort to such a slow and clearly useless earth-fire combination assault?
But even if it was indeed a Wood Release technique, Onoki couldn't identify which specific jutsu had created that thing.
After all, that wooden monster's form and chakra fluctuations were nothing like typical Wood Release creations such as wooden dragons or humanoid constructs.
Even more pressing—who the hell had given the Third Mizukage, the leader of Mist, access to a secret technique so desperately sought after across the entire Ninja World?!
"Forget it!"
Gritting his teeth in determination, Onoki made a ruthless decision—to wipe everything out using his ultimate technique!
Without hesitation, he handed over command of the Left-wing Ninja Force to an Iwagakure Jonin, then activated his Light and Heavy Rock Technique, lifting himself high into the air while he began gathering chakra for his secret move!
This was Iwagakure's most powerful secret technique—an incomparable Kekkei Tota Dust Release jutsu!
Originally developed by the Second Tsuchikage and later perfected by Onoki himself, this devastating technique fused wind, fire, and earth chakra natures, wielding power unmatched anywhere in the Ninja World!
Though it came with numerous limitations and required a lengthy preparation phase that left him vulnerable to interruption, at this point, with his mind in turmoil, Onoki was beyond caring.
"Has that old skeleton found something?"
Onoki's archenemy, the Third Raikage, had also noticed his strange behavior. However, since he had remained on the battlefield overseeing combat and lacked an elevated vantage point, he hadn't spotted the sudden abnormalities that had surfaced within the Bloodline Faction's camp.
Yet knowing Onoki—the overly cautious old fox—that he would risk using his last-resort trump card meant whatever he'd discovered had to be extremely serious!
"There's not even a trace of tailed beast chakra either..."
The Third Raikage focused his sensing ability for a moment but detected nothing unusual, leaving him puzzled.
Just then, combat orders arrived from the Central Army to the Right-wing Ninja Force under the Third Raikage's command, so he set aside these concerns for now and turned his attention to directing tactical coordination.
A relentless storm of ninjutsu rained down on the Bloodline Faction's camp, while [Ninja Tools Barrage] blotted out the sky like a hailstorm, turning the battlefield into an iron jungle.
Faced with such overwhelming assaults, the Bloodline Faction's counterattacks grew weaker and weaker.
They were already low on supplies, and with nonstop, high-intensity fighting, even simple defense became unbearable. At times, they barely swallowed their Military Rations Pills before being forced to expend more chakra intercepting attacks, giving the pills no time to take effect.
Under these conditions, even the toughest Bloodline Faction ninja couldn't last long.
"Why are we stuck taking hits without being able to strike back again?!"
Raiga Kurosuki roared in fury, yet no matter how much he cursed and shouted, their completely suppressed situation showed no sign of changing.
"There he goes again, spacing out!"
Meanwhile, another swordsman named Biwa Juzo was also filled with resentment.
For nearly an hour of relentless ninjutsu bombardment, the Third Mizukage, seated high atop the camp's vantage point, appeared completely detached and indifferent, ignoring all the chaos and suffering unfolding within the camp.
Such indifference was deeply demoralizing.
Earlier, the Third Mizukage had singlehandedly wiped out the Coalition Force just as they were about to breach the camp. Yet after such a long time had passed, even if he had suffered heavy chakra consumption, surely he should have recovered at least somewhat by now!
Besides, counterattacking wouldn't have been difficult at all.
After all, on either flank stood two Kage-level figures, causing the Bloodline faction ninjas to tremble in fear.
"Lord Madara."
A Mist Anbu agent disguised as White Zetsu quietly appeared behind Madara Uchiha and reported in a low voice: "The Toad from the coast is still locked in a stalemate with Sanshouo Hanzo's ninja force, and so far, no decisive breakthrough has been achieved."
"A bunch of useless trash!"
Madara scoffed coldly.
Initially, he had assumed the so-called Summoned Beast Holy Place—those who claimed to save the ninja world—would possess extraordinary capability. Yet surprisingly, even after so much time had passed, they hadn't managed to defeat merely two thousand auxiliary troops!
"Huh?"
Suddenly, the White Zetsu shivered slightly—an indication that it had received intelligence transferred by another White Zetsu—"They've begun preparing for a close-range offensive!"
"I see! Let them come then!"
Madara raised his head and glanced at the sky, paying no heed to the Coalition Force's attack formation.
At present, the only immediate threat was the ninjutsu currently being prepared by Onoki, floating high above.
Besides, unless Hyuga Soushu was a complete fool, he'd wait until Onoki's Dust Release showed real results before launching any melee assault. There was no need to rush.
"Oh right, how many corpses have been collected so far?"
Madara asked a crucial question.
"Approximately enough to fill three pits!"
Since White Zetsu wasn't good with numbers, several underground caves had already been prepared secretly before the battle, each able to hold about a thousand bodies.
There might have been minor discrepancies in the count, and the earlier Earth Release attacks had damaged some corpses, but overall, the supply was still more than enough.
Even though ninjas from the Bloodline faction were devoted and reliable, ultimately, they were still ordinary humans. If the true face of the Third Mizukage were revealed, those deceived Mist ninjas might not immediately defect, but their loyalty would certainly begin to erode.
Therefore, compared to that, White Zetsu, despite their stupidity, remained absolutely loyal existences.
Especially with the Bloodline faction nearing complete annihilation, Madara needed high-quality corpses more than ever to create elite-tier White Zetsu for future use.
Furthermore, after unintentionally producing a consciousness avatar known as Black Zetsu, Madara had conceived a new plan. However, this plan relied heavily on ensuring the Six Paths Demonic Statue brought along this time could be adequately protected.
"Tobi!"
Madara called.
"Yeah!"
Another White Zetsu emerged behind Madara, theatrically bowing with a silly grin.
"How are things looking on your end?" Madara asked casually.
No matter how Tobi responded, he would extract its power to use for the secret technique anyway.
"You won't die, huh?" Madara chuckled playfully.
"Hmm," Madara Uchiha nodded before ordering the first White Zetsu. "Quickly move all those bodies immediately! If they get destroyed by Dust Release, we'll suffer a huge loss!"
"It's already being moved. Don't worry, Lord Madara!" the White Zetsu replied cheerfully before leaping down and sinking into the soil below.
"This feels off somehow," Kushimaru Kuriarare frowned as he quietly observed every movement of the Third Mizukage.
As an experienced Mist jonin, he knew some lip-reading techniques, but something strange occurred when he watched the Third Mizukage and his two Anbu seemingly communicating—none of the three had made any audible sounds at all.
In times like these, was there anything that needed hiding or shouldn't be seen?
Kushimaru glanced down at the earth beneath his feet, frowning even deeper.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
After carefully preparing undisturbed for some time, Onoki finally completed his ultimate Kekkei Tota secret jutsu!
A translucent rhomboid chakra construct appeared between his palms, aimed directly at the Third Mizukage below!
Then, accompanied by another roar from Onoki, a massive hazy beam of light sliced through the sky!
[Wood Release: Great Forest Wall!]
Immediately, Madara Uchiha grabbed Tobi, pinned him against his body, then channeled chakra and shouted.
Instantly, twisting vines exploded outward, forming a dense wooden shield that completely intercepted the Dust Release attack!
"Ahh!"
Midair, Onoki nearly fell from the sky in fright!
"Wah!"
The entire Coalition Force stared in shock as the wooden forest summoned via Wood Release appeared out of nowhere.
This was Wood Release—the legendary technique wielded by Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage of Konoha, to bring peace to a war-torn world and build the mightiest hidden village in history!
How could such a technique even exist in the hands of a mere Mizukage?
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
The intense dust beam ferociously struck the impenetrable wooden shield, instantly causing thunderous booming that echoed through heaven and earth. The explosion sounded as if the sky itself had cracked apart, deafening and shaking every inch of space.
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