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The continuous mountain range between the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth.
At this moment, this perpetually neutral, scenic land had completely become the frontline of war.
Boom!
Rumble!
Deafening explosions, like rolling thunder, echoed endlessly through the mountains.
The soaring flames dyed the gloomy sky red.
"Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
Jiraiya stood atop a giant toad, his white hair wildly flowing.
He formed hand seals, his chest swelled suddenly, and then he opened his mouth to spit out a ball of fire!
The flames met the toad oil, instantly transforming into a terrifying sea of fire covering an area of over a hundred meters.
Carrying terrifying high temperatures, it swept toward the Iwagakure stone fortress!
Above the fortress, more than a dozen Iwagakure shinobi slammed their hands onto the city wall, roaring furiously.
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Wall!"
Buzz!
The earth trembled.
In front of the fortress, one thick earth wall after another rose from the ground!
A total of five earth walls, layered one upon another, stretched like mountains before the sea of fire!
Boom!
The sea of fire crashed into the first earth wall, producing a deafening roar.
Rocks crumbled, and smoke billowed.
The first earth wall shattered instantly upon impact with the sea of fire.
But immediately following were the second, the third... When the sea of fire finally lost its power and faded away, the fifth earth wall still stood stubbornly. Though it was covered in cracks, it was ultimately not broken through.
"Tch!"
Jiraiya clicked his tongue, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face. "Continue the attack!"
"Yes!"
Before the Iwagakure side could catch their breath, dozens of giant fireballs, each over twenty meters wide, slammed violently into the stone fortress!
The terrifying high temperature caused the air to ripple.
However, when the flames died down and the smoke cleared.
The fortress, built entirely of dark brown rock, was completely unharmed.
A visible chakra barrier covered the entire fortress.
Mysterious formulas flowed across it, completely blocking the massive fireball jutsu that was powerful enough to instantly melt steel.
"Tsk, these Iwagakure shinobi have no other skills, but they are first-rate at hiding like turtles!"
Seeing the attack was useless, Jiraiya pouted, and beneath his casual expression was deep seriousness.
Beside him, nearly a thousand Konoha shinobi were ready for action, their faces filled with surging fighting spirit.
"Jiraiya-sama, shall we go for another round?" a Konoha jonin asked.
"No rush." Jiraiya waved his hand. "First, send in the wind release squad, and thin out this turtle shell for me!"
"Yes!"
The order was given.
Hundreds of Konoha shinobi skilled in wind release formed hand seals at the same time.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Whoosh!
The fierce wind howled, gathering into a visible white wave that slammed violently into the Iwagakure fortress's defensive barrier.
The barrier's light flickered intensely, humming loudly, as if it could shatter at any moment.
"Now! Fire release squad, full attack!"
Rumble!
Dozens more giant fireballs, amplified by the fierce wind, were several times more powerful than before, crashing down like an overwhelming tide onto the shaking barrier!
The momentum shook the heavens!
Flames and wind waves twisted together, almost swallowing the entire fortress.
However, inside the fortress, everything was orderly.
Iwagakure commander Kitsuchi was calmly watching the situation outside.
"Reporting, Lord Kitsuchi! Konoha's attack is fierce, and the barrier's energy use has reached thirty percent!"
"Why are you panicking!" Kitsuchi said without turning his head. "Strengthen the barrier squad. Our goal is defense. As long as we hold, victory is ours."
He suddenly waved his hand. "Barrier squad, maintain energy output!"
"Defense squad, prepare Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
"Their chakra won't last much longer. As soon as their attack slows, immediately repair the barrier!"
"Yes!"
Kitsuchi's orders were carried out without fail.
Inside the fortress, hundreds of Iwagakure shinobi sat cross-legged, their hands on the ground, continuously channeling their chakra into the barrier's core.
There was no panic on their faces.
Holding firm and not attacking was what the Tsuchikage had instructed before their departure.
When Konoha attacked, they defended.
When Konoha retreated, they rested.
Even if there was an opportunity to invade the Land of Fire, they would not go out.
Just defend!
The purpose was to prevent the Land of Fire daimyo from having an excuse to personally step in.
This was the overall strategy set for this war by Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage!
Build strong fortifications and fight a war of wearing down the enemy!
Use the Land of Earth's most prized defense to slowly drain the opponent!
Indeed.
Konoha's relentless ninjutsu bombardment continued for nearly an hour, achieving nothing but dimming the barrier's light a bit.
And the Iwagakure shinobi, except for those performing earth release defense, were all maintaining the stability of the barrier.
"Jiraiya-sama, this isn't working!" a Konoha jonin said anxiously.
"All sorts of large-scale ninjutsu have been used, but the enemy is holed up in the fortress and won't come out to fight us."
Another person agreed. "That's right, we attack, they defend. When we stop, they rest too."
"They're like a stone in a toilet, stinky and hard!"
Looking at the fortress across from them, as steady as a mountain, Jiraiya's brow furrowed.
This earth-shaking attack was, from the beginning, a feint.
A feint designed to draw out Iwagakure's main forces and create an opportunity for Minato's surprise attack.
That's why he didn't spare chakra, immediately using various large-scale ninjutsu to bombard them, creating a grand show.
But he didn't expect Iwagakure's response to be so... shameless.
Only defending, not counterattacking.
This tactic was utterly disgraceful.
"These guys are afraid of the daimyo making a move." Jiraiya understood in his heart, then felt a headache. "Cease attack! All personnel retreat ten miles and rest!"
"Yes!"
As the order was given, Konoha's attack suddenly stopped.
The shinobi retreated like a tide, leaving behind only a scorched earth ravaged by ninjutsu.
Seeing Konoha retreat.
The Iwagakure shinobi inside the fortress also immediately stopped their chakra flow and began to seize the time to rest.
Everything went strictly according to plan.
In the distant mountain forest.
Jiraiya watched this scene, his mood growing heavier.
He knew that Onoki, that old fox, had seen through their intentions.
It was probably impossible to draw out Iwagakure's main forces with this feint.
The frontal battlefield had fallen into a stalemate.
"Jiraiya-sama, what do we do next?" Kakashi's figure appeared silently beside Jiraiya.
He had just returned from checking another battlefield, his expression equally serious.
"What else can we do?" Jiraiya sighed, pulled out a sake gourd from his clothing and took a big gulp. "We can only fight a messy war."
"On the frontal battlefield, we can only slowly wear them down."
"The one who can truly decide the outcome of this war..."
Jiraiya's gaze swept over the towering mountains, directed toward the heart of the Land of Earth.
Minato Namikaze was heading there.
Kakashi followed Jiraiya's gaze. He knew what the other was referring to.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya-sama." Kakashi's voice was very confident. This was what he had witnessed firsthand since the Third Great Shinobi War.
"Minato-sensei will definitely bring back good news."