If you ask which faction in the Ninja World is most persistent in the development of Kekkei Genkai and forbidden techniques?
There is only one answer: Kumogakure.
Of course, their development method is: if they can't steal it, they take it by force.
Many small Ninja groups in the Ninja World have suffered greatly because of this, and of course, the Great Ninja Villages have not escaped their clutches either. The most typical example is Konoha's Hyuga incident.
Iwagakure's goal, on the other hand, is much more simple and unadorned.
To seize some farmland.
The western region of the Land of Fire happens to be located in the very center of the entire Ninja World continent. It has the most plains and the most fertile soil in the entire Ninja World.
The annual grain production is enough to feed the entire population of the Land of Fire, with even surplus left over to sell to other countries.
This makes the Land of Earth, with its karst terrain throughout, severe soil erosion, widespread rocky desertification disasters, and fragile ecosystem, drool with envy.
Every year during poor harvests, they would hold their bowls and chopsticks, crouching at the border of the Land of Fire, staring longingly at their bountiful harvest.
"Let's go." Darui walked at the front, commanding the march with high-spirited enthusiasm.
The massive Kumogakure forces set aside their vehicles, briefly gathered, and then advanced, crossing the mountain before them and heading straight for Konoha's encampment.
The Kumogakure's Ninjas looked bold and uninhibited, tall and sturdy, fighting bare-chested, with many having 'thunder' character tattoos on their arms. Most were dark-skinned and wore white, sleeveless combat vests.
The leading gray-haired, afro-headed gang leader Darui, charged at the forefront, leading by example.
The other Kumogakure's Ninjas howled like savages from a primitive tribe out on a hunt, following him in a charge.
Tactics?
Those don't exist!
Rushing in recklessly to overwhelm the enemy in one wave, or getting overwhelmed in one wave themselves… that's the best tactic!
Don't be a coward, just fight!
"What a bunch of reckless brutes."
After receiving the intelligence, Kitsuchi stood up from the commander's seat at the headquarters and waved his hand. "Move out!"
The sharp signal whistle for departure sounded. Kurotsuchi, beside him, dashed out in a flash, leaving this old father to cover his forehead wearily and sit back down in his chair.
Rushing outside the headquarters, Kurotsuchi formed hand seals. Her massive Chakra transformed into Earth Release formulas, patting them onto the many Ninjas who had long been ready and waiting, lifting them free from the bonds of gravity to fly into the sky.
Inside Konoha's encampment, the Aburame Clan of the Reconnaissance Unit had already transmitted the intelligence back to the headquarters. Shikaku ordered Inoichi to communicate the orders to the entire force to prepare for battle.
Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Sakura walked up onto the city wall, their gazes cast toward the distant, continuously spreading tide of dark-skinned burly men, and the Iwagakure Explosive Corps, wearing white cloth garments, flying in the sky.
"Sigh, these wild, untamable bastards!"
Kakashi reached for his forehead protector, preparing to open his Sharingan.
"Everyone is fighting for survival. There's no such thing as civilization versus barbarism." Jiraiya reached out to stop Kakashi's action. "First, let the young Ninjas get accustomed to the battlefield. Order the Fire Release Ninjas to attack the Kumogakure forces first."
Kakashi was startled, then pointed to the sky. "What about the Explosive Corps up there?"
"Why not ask the wonderful head of the medical unit?"
Jiraiya, completely at ease, leaned back against the vines beside him and raised his thumb to point backward at Sakura, who was pruning the branches and leaves of the flowers.
It is common knowledge in the Ninja World that you kill the healer first when starting a team fight.
How capable a Medical-Nin who charges to the front lines under such circumstances must be is generally proven only through the bloody lessons of their enemies.
"Interesting. I was just thinking I'd like to catch up with Kurotsuchi!"
Sakura patted the dust off her hands and stood up. "Remember to take a picture of Sasuke's face when he wakes up and sees his brother. I want it as a collector's item!"
Waving to the two, the girl leaped backward off the city wall. Immediately, a night bird spread its black wings, grabbed her shoulders from below the wall, and flew into the sky.
"Tsk, tsk, a demon!"
Jiraiya watched Sakura's retreating figure and couldn't help but click his tongue.
Kakashi, arms crossed, stood behind him and nodded in agreement, while silently mourning for his other disciple.
Boom!
The sound of explosions accompanied by tremors. The shaking of the city wall made the two commanders of the frontline forces frown.
Looking down, they discovered that the Kumogakure's Ninjas had somehow already reached the base of the Earth Release wall.
With a slight crouch, the lead Ninja, Darui, erupted with lightning from his body, then launched himself upward. Behind him, the other Ninjas lit up with Lightning Release as well, running up the surface of the wall.
"Order the Fire Release Ninjas inside the bastions to release their Ninjutsu!" Jiraiya frowned and ordered Kakashi.
The command was transmitted from the top to the ears of the various stationed Ninjas. Many Ninjas poked their heads out from the protruding star-shaped angular sections, spewing flames downward.
Multiple clumps of flame, ignited by Chakra, intertwined and fell toward the attackers below. An unending wave of heat spread outward.
"Mere flames!"
The lead Ninja, Darui, didn't even bother to dodge. Lightning burst across the ground, weaving an invisible layer of armor.
The Kumogakure's Ninjas behind him gathered their lightning together, forming a sharp ram, stabbing straight toward Jiraiya at the top of the wall.
"Heh, heh, quite an idea!"
Jiraiya propped his chin with his prosthetic arm. His eyes reflected the lightning, but his face still wore that relaxed and composed expression.
"Jiraiya-sama, I must remind you, they're about to reach the cavities. If we don't act soon, there will be casualties!" Kakashi gripped the receiver in his hand tightly, his expression grave.
"Don't rush, don't rush..."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, calculating the distance of Kumogakure's charge step by step.
Just as the Ninjas in mid-air stepped on a burning vine, he suddenly looked up and shouted to Kakashi behind him, "Now!"
At Jiraiya's command, countless hidden compartments opened on the towering city wall. The liquid stored inside was released, instantly covering the entire wall surface.
The texture of their footing changed instantly. The previous output frequency of the Chakra the Ninjas had been using with their Ninja footwork techniques to cling to the wall could no longer remain stable. Many Kumogakure's Ninjas slipped, causing their charging momentum to stall.
Darui, readjusting his Chakra footing on the wall, touched the liquid on the earthen wall, sniffed it, and identified its type. "This is... oil?"
"No, young man, this is a lesson!"
Amidst the pungent odor of the spreading oil, a low but magnetic voice came from the top of the city wall.
Darui looked up and saw the commander-in-chief of the Konoha allied forces standing at the top of the wall, his chest puffed out, his hands forming the Tiger seal.
—Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!!!
The fiercely burning flames not only ignited the toad oil on the wall, but also set the vines Sakura had released on the outer perimeter of the wall ablaze, turning them into burning torches that crashed down onto the Kumogakure's Ninjas.
The orange-red flames fell. The scorching hot air filled their lungs. Many Kumogakure's Ninjas fell into the blazing inferno below, becoming the first casualties of this brutal war.
On the other side, in the misty, cloud-wrapped sky.
The girl standing on the back of the giant black crow tilted her head back slightly, striking a pose as she lightly touched her vermilion lips with the back of her hand. Her emerald pupils looked teasingly at the Iwagakure's Ninjas before her.
"Long time no see, Kurotsuchi-chan~"
"Haruno Sakura!!!"