The continuous mountain range between the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth.
At this moment, this usually neutral and scenic land had completely become the frontline of war.
Boom.
Rumble.
Deafening explosions, like rolling thunder, echoed endlessly through the mountains.
The rising flames dyed the gloomy sky red.
"Fire Release, Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
Jiraiya stood on top of a giant toad, his white hair blowing wildly.
He formed hand seals, his chest expanded, and then he spat out a massive fireball.
The flames met the toad oil, instantly transforming into a terrifying sea of fire stretching over a hundred meters.
Carrying scorching heat, it swept toward the Iwa stone fortress.
Above the fortress, more than a dozen Iwa shinobi slammed their hands onto the wall, roaring.
"Earth Release, Multiple Earth Flow Wall!"
Buzz.
The ground trembled.
In front of the fortress, one thick earth wall after another rose up.
A total of five walls, stacked together, stood like mountains before the sea of fire.
Boom.
The sea of fire slammed into the first wall, producing a deafening blast.
Rocks crumbled, smoke surged.
The first wall shattered instantly, but the second and third followed, one after another. When the sea of fire finally weakened and dissipated, the fifth wall was still standing. It was covered in cracks, but it had not been breached.
"Tch."
Jiraiya clicked his tongue, displeasure flashing across his face. "Continue the attack."
"Yes."
Before the Iwa side could even catch their breath, dozens of giant fireballs, each over twenty meters wide, crashed toward the stone fortress.
The scorching heat made the air ripple.
However, when the flames died down and the smoke faded.
The fortress, built entirely from dark brown stone, remained unharmed.
A visible chakra barrier enveloped the entire structure.
Mysterious runes glowed across its surface, completely blocking the Super Great Fireball Jutsu that could melt steel.
"Tsk, these Iwa shinobi are useless at everything except hiding like turtles."
Seeing the ineffective attack, Jiraiya pouted, but beneath his joking expression was deep seriousness.
Beside him, nearly a thousand Konoha shinobi were ready to charge, their faces burning with fighting spirit.
"Jiraiya-sama, shall we go for another round?" a Konoha Jōnin asked.
"No rush." Jiraiya waved his hand. "Send in the Wind Release squad first. Thin out that 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 winds howled, converging into a visible white wave that slammed violently into the fortress's barrier.
The barrier flickered intensely and hummed, as if on the verge of collapse.
"Now. Fire Release squad, full attack."
Rumble.
Dozens of giant fireballs, amplified by the strong wind, became several times more powerful and fell like a crashing tide onto the trembling barrier.
The shockwaves shook the heavens.
Wind and fire intertwined, almost swallowing the entire fortress.
Inside, however, everything remained orderly.
Iwa commander Kitsuchi observed the situation calmly.
"Reporting, Kitsuchi-sama. Konoha's offensive is fierce, and the barrier's chakra consumption has reached thirty percent."
"Why panic?" Kitsuchi said without looking back. "Reinforce the barrier squad. Our mission is to defend. As long as we hold, victory is ours."
He waved his hand. "Barrier squad, maintain chakra flow."
"Defense squad, prepare Earth Release, Earth Flow Wall."
"Their chakra will not last. Once their attacks slow, repair the barrier immediately."
"Yes."
Kitsuchi's commands were executed precisely.
Inside the fortress, hundreds of Iwa shinobi sat cross-legged with their hands on the ground, continuously channeling chakra into the barrier core.
There was no panic.
They had only one order from Onoki before coming here.
When Konoha attacked, defend.
When Konoha stopped, rest.
Even if there was an opening to invade the Land of Fire, do not step out.
Just defend.
The purpose was to prevent the Daimyo of the Land of Fire from having a reason to intervene personally.
This was the overall strategy set by Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage.
Build strong fortifications and fight a war of attrition.
Use Iwa's strongest advantage, defense, to slowly wear down the enemy.
Indeed.
Konoha's relentless barrage lasted nearly an hour, achieving nothing besides dimming the barrier slightly.
Except for the Earth Release defenders, all other Iwa shinobi were maintaining the barrier.
"Jiraiya-sama, this isn't working." A Konoha Jōnin spoke anxiously.
"We have used all kinds of large-scale Ninjutsu, but the enemy is holed up and refuses to come out."
Another added, "Right, we attack and they defend. When we rest, they rest too."
"They're like a stone stuck in a toilet, stubborn and disgusting."
Staring at the fortress across from him, as steady as a mountain, Jiraiya frowned.
This powerful attack was meant to be a feint.
A feint designed to lure out Iwa's main force and create an opening for Minato's surprise assault.
That was why he used so much chakra and immediately launched large-scale Ninjutsu to create a huge commotion.
But he did not expect Iwa's response to be so shameless.
Only defending, refusing to counterattack.
This tactic was beyond dirty.
"They're afraid Daimyo-sama will make a move." Jiraiya understood, and a headache followed. "Cease attack. Everyone fall back ten li and rest."
"Yes."
The order went out.
Konoha's offensive halted instantly.
The shinobi retreated like a receding tide, leaving scorched earth behind.
Once Konoha retreated.
The Iwa shinobi inside also immediately stopped their chakra output and began resting.
Everything proceeded exactly according to plan.
In the distant forest.
Jiraiya watched the scene, his mood heavy.
He knew that Onoki, that old fox, had already seen through their intentions.
It would be impossible to lure out Iwa's main forces with this tactic.
The frontal battlefield had entered a stalemate.
"Jiraiya-sama, what do we do next?" Kakashi appeared silently beside him.
He had just returned from another battlefield, his expression equally grim.
"What else?" Jiraiya sighed, pulled a sake gourd from his robe, and took a big swig. "We fight a messy war."
"On the frontlines, we can only wear them down slowly."
"The one who can truly decide the outcome of this war..."
Jiraiya looked toward the towering mountains, eyes fixed on the depths of the Land of Earth.
Minato was heading there.
Kakashi followed his gaze. He knew what Jiraiya meant.
"Do not worry, Jiraiya-sama." Kakashi's voice carried firm confidence, something he had learned since the Third Great Ninja War.
"Minato-sensei will definitely bring back good news."
(To be continued.)