The Mount Myoboku Ninja Frogs, personally led by Jiraiya, had been locked in fierce combat with the Intercept Unit commanded by Sanshouo Hanzo for what felt like an eternity.
As the battle dragged on, their relatively undisciplined nature and lack of unwavering determination to fight to the death became increasingly evident.
Notably, the Ninja Frogs of Mount Myoboku were bound by deep and complex familial ties. In the beginning, when the battle cry rang out, these blood bonds acted as sparks igniting the flames of vengeance. When a Ninja Frog fell defending kin, it often ignited even stronger resolve in the survivors to fight on.
Yet as the war raged on and the casualties mounted, this initial passion fueled by kinship gradually eroded under the harsh realities of war.
Faced with the ever-approaching shadow of death, even the bravest Ninja Frogs couldn't help but feel fear creeping in, starting to show hesitation and fall back. The fearless courage they once held gave way to a desperate will to survive and a primal fear of the unknown.
Though disappointed with the Ninja Frogs' performance, Jiraiya suppressed his frustration and kept shouting encouragement, hoping to rally them into completely crushing Sanshouo Hanzo's Intercept Unit.
However, the greatest difference between ninja and Summoned Beasts doesn't lie solely in individual strength—it lies in discipline and the willpower to endure losses.
Although the Mount Myoboku Ninja Frogs were generally strong and individually outmatched the Coalition Force ninja in the Intercept Unit, once those Coalition forces formed large-scale coordinated formations, the gap widened dramatically.
Adding insult to injury, Sanshouo Hanzo occasionally unleashed his personal Summoned Beast, Ibuse Poisoning, spewing massive clouds of poison gas that drove back wave after wave of assaults from the Mount Myoboku Ninja Frogs. Therefore, despite being utterly exhausted, the Coalition Force still held a remarkably solid defense line.
[Should I use Sage Art right now…?]
Faced with the situation, Jiraiya hesitated.
Naturally, the Sage Arts of Mount Myoboku were his ultimate trump card—his only asset to rival the forces of Hyuga Soushu.
But using Sage Art came at an enormous cost. If he failed to defeat the enemy before him within a certain time, Jiraiya himself would be placed at an even greater disadvantage.
After all, Sanshouo Hanzo was long known as a "semi-god." Before he personally entered the fray and unleashed his full power, Jiraiya couldn't be sure whether he could overcome him.
Thus, the battle dragged on in a tedious war of attrition, and Jiraiya could do nothing but watch helplessly as the morale and fighting spirit of the Mount Myoboku Ninja Frogs were waning fast.
But just as time passed, Jiraiya suddenly received devastating news—
"Bad news! Mist deserters have appeared on the southern front!"
A messenger frog hastily bounded up to Jiraiya and cried urgently, "Also, those Hyuga clan lackeys are chasing this way too!"
"You—"
Jiraiya nearly choked with rage.
Reporting urgent military intelligence wasn't the problem—but shouting it out loud so recklessly would cause serious damage to the Ninja Frogs' already fragile battle morale!
Jiraiya felt his heart drop as the Ninja Frogs huddled together in anxious whispers.
"Victory!"
The triumphant coalition of ninja erupted into cheers.
However, Hyuga Soushu, observing from the cave's edge, made no move to acknowledge his subordinates' celebration or pursue the trail of the Six Paths Demonic Statue.
Since even the Byakugan, known for its penetrating vision, failed to detect even a trace of the statue, it was evident that White Zetsu had already taken the mysterious statue into hiding, concealing it without a single clue left behind.
The pair of Mangekyo Sharingan eyes, forcibly removed from Madara Uchiha's eye sockets, were stored carefully inside a special vial. Those deep, gem-like eyes seemed to hold infinite secrets and power, and were safely tucked away by Hyuga Soushu.
Meanwhile, Third Raikage and Onoki landed on either side of him. Though their expressions remained calm outwardly, their minds churned with shock and disbelief.
Though they couldn't fathom the strange technique behind the bizarre Chakra Dragon, both Kage-level warriors agreed on one thing: the moment the Chakra Dragon bit him, Soushu's life force had indeed vanished completely.
The sheer extremity and shock of this reversal struck like a thunderclap, pushing the two veterans close to breaking point as their minds struggled to accept the impossible twist.
While victory was priceless, it was the power to defy death itself that truly captivated them. This was especially true for Onoki.
"Congratulations," Onoki took the initiative to break the silence with words of praise: "After today's battle, there will be no more forces to defy order within the Ninja World."
"That may not be the case. What about the so-called Holy Place, Mount Myoboku, opposing us?" Hyuga Soushu raised his right hand high, waving to the celebrating ninjas beneath him as he replied. "Humans were always meant to rule the Ninja World—we have no need for outsiders meddling in our future."
"Very true." Though lacking much knowledge about Mount Myoboku, Onoki and Third Raikage both nodded in agreement. After all, in the current climate of overwhelming triumph, Soushu was unstoppable, and there was little reason to argue over minor details like this.
With this victory, the Land of Water had lost nearly all its elite forces—it was now helpless as a lamb, ready to be carved up among the victors.
As a flood of grim news poured in relentlessly from the south, the seed of retreat quietly growing within Jiraiya became increasingly difficult to suppress. He well understood that if he chose to withdraw at this very moment, all previous efforts and sacrifices made by the Ninja Frogs would be completely wasted.
Yet despite his reluctance, Jiraiya could not ignore the brutal reality—delaying time further would not reverse destiny; instead, it would only cause more Ninja Frogs to fall bloodied on the battlefield. Their sacrifices would yield nothing but deeper pain and despair, forever unable to reach the distant glimmer of victory, still far beyond reach.
So, after the third urgent report arrived through the communication frog, Jiraiya began issuing orders for his ninja frogs and the Coalition Force's intercept units to disengage and gradually retreat back into the ocean.
These ninja frogs had also made their way all the way from Mount Myoboku. Of course, no one had unlimited chakra. Maintaining such a massive army of ninja frogs through the Summoning Technique alone was impossible, so even during their retreat, they could only rely on their racial advantage to dive deep and escape.
"Huff..."
Sanshouo Hanzo finally allowed himself a breath of relief.
His Intercept Units were already at their limit. Except for a few reserve units, most of the ninjas were completely exhausted, continuing purely out of willpower and with the aid of secret medicinal potions. Therefore, even though the ninja frogs' retreat was chaotic and disorganized, Sanshouo Hanzo simply watched them leave without bothering to stage a pursuit or fake attack.
After all, the casualties suffered by his Rain Village water ghost unit were equally devastating. They were no longer capable of continuing the battle.
Land of Water...
He stared at the ruined beachheads and felt a swirl of emotions in his chest.
Although news of victory from the central islands had yet to reach him across mountains and rivers, he could be certain, based on experience, that the Coalition Force personally led by Hyuga Soushu had achieved great success. Otherwise, how could those strange-looking ninja frog units possibly retreat in such panic, abandoning hard-won gains and hastily evacuating the battlefield, leaving behind nothing but chaos.
Yet the real challenge was only beginning — it wasn't about strength, but the depths of human ambition and greed. With the smoke of war clearing, the next phase would become a complicated game of dividing up the spoils.
The reason Sanshouo Hanzo, along with Kumo and Iwagakure, was willing to dispatch their ninja forces and travel far across oceans to the Land of Water was certainly not merely to uphold justice. The real motive lay in the promise made by Hyuga Soushu — to divide up 70% of the Land of Water among all participating factions.
However, the greatest question remained whether Hyuga Soushu would actually fulfill his promise, and if he did, just how large a share each side would eventually receive.
"Lord Hanzo!"
At that moment, a Yamanaka clan ninja rushed over hurriedly, respectfully holding out a victory report from the Coalition Force's Central Command Post, his voice barely concealing his excitement. "Great news has arrived! Our forces have achieved total victory; the Bloodline Faction's Ninja Force, under the command of the Third Mizukage, has been utterly crushed. Lord Soushu commands us immediately to deploy our forces and seal off every waterway, swearing to cut off all escape routes for the Bloodline Faction ninjas!"
"Good!"
This news wasn't unexpected for Sanshouo Hanzo. Keeping his face calm, he immediately obeyed the order, rapidly redeploying his reserves to rebuild an unbreakable defensive line along the beachhead.
Meanwhile, he recalled the warships previously withdrawn to avoid unnecessary engagements, ordering them once again to form an airtight patrol net across the sea surface, determined to trap the enemy in an inescapable predicament.
As the dust settled.
Hyuga Soushu entered the ruined camp of the Bloodline Faction's Ninja Force with his troops and established his headquarters inside the enemy's former command tent.
Now, the most important task ahead was to discuss exactly how to divide the spoils of the Land of Water.
Having arranged the interception units, Sanshouo Hanzo hurried southward to attend a secret gathering with the Third Raikage, Onoki, and representatives from each participating faction—all eagerly anticipating the monumental feast about to begin.
"The 30th District of the Land of Water, formerly under the Suiton's control, shall be reclaimed by the New Mist and restored to its former glory!"
Once all faction representatives had arrived, Hyuga Soushu began demarcating territorial boundaries, starting with the domain of the New Mist Ninja Clan Alliance.
"We have no objections."
The Suiton Clan Leader and Hozuki Elder voiced no disagreement.
After all, the New Mist had been able to restore their village and retain current territories largely due to the intervention forces from the Ninja World mainland. Without that aid, they would either have been driven into the sea by the Bloodline faction or wiped out completely. Given the Coalition Force's overwhelming strength, even those inwardly displeased dared not show it.
"The southern tip of the eastern islands of the Land of Water will belong to the Rain Ninja Village."
Next, Hyuga Soushu circled another region on the map, offering a generous gift to Sanshouo Hanzo.
Geographically, this southern tip of the eastern islands was the farthest from the mainland. Even so, its territory and territorial waters covered nearly one-third of the Land of Rain—its richness far surpassing the barren Rain country—so Sanshouo Hanzo certainly had no complaints.
"The northern end of the eastern islands along with some central islands would go to Kumo."
Hyuga Soushu then reassured the Third Raikage.
The Third Raikage raised no objection either.
Although in terms of troop deployment, battlefield achievements, and casualty figures, Kumo had contributed significantly more than the Rain Ninja Village, Sanshouo Hanzo had single-handedly commanded the Ninja Force to block the Bloodline faction's southern reinforcements and repel sudden attacks from Mount Myoboku's Ninja Frogs—an accomplishment impossible to ignore. Thus, though slightly disappointed, the Third Raikage had little room for complaint.
"The Northern Islands will fall under Iwagakure control, jointly cleansing the remnants of the Bloodline faction together with the New Mist."
Then naturally came the allocation for Iwagakure.
Onoki expressed neither approval nor disapproval.
Even if he attempted negotiations, success was unlikely, so he preferred silence and accepting reality.
Besides, gaining exclusive control over an island region was no small gain for Iwagakure.
"The western islands will be placed under joint administration by the Ninja Clan Capital Corporation, with specific shares to be determined at the upcoming Ninja Clan Assembly."
"The southern islands will come directly under Hyuga Clan governance."
"Beyond the headquarters-controlled area administered by the New Mist within the Central Islands, the remaining islands will serve as jointly administered neutral territories overseen by all participating forces."
Thus, the grand banquet dividing up the Land of Water slowly drew to a close—so epic in scale that it would be etched into history. Yet the victory of this campaign extended far beyond the elimination of the Bloodline faction. It struck like a sharp blade, tearing apart the long-standing stable order among the Five Great Countries and Five Great Ninja Villages, instantly shattering what little harmony remained.
The Land of Water—an entity once known—had now become little more than a name on the map, replaced instead by the rise and proliferation of numerous emerging ninja powers.
This transformation was undeniably an upheaval of the old order.
At the heart of this storm were the noble Daimyo families, who had barely maintained their prestigious facades in days gone by and now suffered the most direct impact.
As news swept across every corner of the Mainland - Ninja World, a crisis of confidence unlike anything before erupted, followed swiftly by waves of panicked bank runs.
Ordinary citizens and wealthy merchants alike sprang into action, rushing toward the major currency exchange houses to convert the paper money clutched tightly in their hands into solid, reassuring Gold Kan coins—the ultimate safeguard against an uncertain future. Meanwhile, the Golden Certificates originally issued by the Ninja Clan Capital Corporation, once only circulated within specific regions, unexpectedly became the hottest "hard currency" second only to gold itself. This shift revealed just how deeply the people distrusted both the current money system and those in power.
Ultimately, all of this stemmed from the fragile nature of the order framework jointly established by the Daimyo and hidden villages—its weakness now fully exposed. The final veil that had hidden the fragility of this fragile peace was now mercilessly ripped away.
And with the sudden collapse of the monetary system's authority, a profound transformation and restructuring were already stirring beneath the surface across the Mainland - Ninja World.
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