Spring, Year 64 of Konoha.
Land of Earth.
Before the endless stretch of barren mountains lay a vast, open wasteland.
Rain rarely fell here. Vegetation was sparse, and a casual sweep of the wind could send dust and sand billowing across the sky.
Yellow-brown rocks were scattered all across the road, forming a landscape unique to this harsh land.
A group of Iwagakure ninja hid inside the fortifications they had long since constructed, sitting together as they ate lunch.
Someone suddenly asked, "Do you think those Konoha guys are really going to attack?"
The moment those words were spoken, the previously drowsy group immediately perked up.
"I think they're just bluffing. If they really wanted to go to war with us, why would they release the news in advance and give us time to prepare?"
"Exactly. They're definitely trying to drain our money, manpower, and food supplies. The more we scramble around, the more we fall into their trap. Too bad Lord Tsuchikage doesn't seem to have seen through it."
"Yeah. We've got thirty thousand troops gathered at the border. Even if we do absolutely nothing, the daily cost is astronomical. Maybe Lord Tsuchikage really is getting old."
"Right, and he even said something like, 'If the enemy seems too strong, retreat immediately'..."
"I don't think Konoha is bluffing. Don't forget, the Uchiha clan are all born arrogant and overbearing. Them doing something like announcing a war in advance honestly wouldn't be that strange."
"No need to overthink it. We're not weaklings like those Sunagakure cowards who only know how to play dirty. If Konoha dares to come, we'll make sure they never recover from it!"
"Wait... have you all forgotten the battle in the Land of Birds?"
Everyone immediately fell silent, unable to respond.
What they had experienced on the battlefield in the Land of Birds was something they never wanted to remember for the rest of their lives.
Only after a long while did someone snort coldly and say, "The battle in the Land of Birds was fought on unfamiliar ground. We weren't familiar with the terrain there. But this time, we've already built a complete defensive line in advance!"
"If the enemy wants to break through our defenses, they'll have to pay a terrible price!"
But just as he finished speaking, someone suddenly frowned.
"Quiet for a second. Do you feel that? Is the ground shaking?"
At those words, everyone immediately held their breath and focused.
Only then did they notice that the water inside the cups on the table was rippling nonstop, and from the distance came a faint, heavy rumbling.
"Something's happening!"
The Iwagakure ninja immediately poked their heads out and carefully looked into the distance.
In the next second, their eyes widened violently!
Across the vast wasteland, countless figures were charging rapidly toward their position.
From where they stood, it looked like a boundless black flood was surging toward them with an unstoppable, crushing momentum.
"Enemy attack!"
"ENEMY ATTACK!!!"
Signal flares exploded continuously in the sky, and the Iwa ninja inside the bunkers all swallowed nervously.
Yuzuru Uchiha...
He had really come!
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"Yuzuru, let me lead the main assault this time. I'll slaughter those Iwagakure bastards until they cry for their fathers and mothers."
The Third Raikage crossed his arms over his chest, his expression brimming with excitement.
Back in the Land of Birds, the ninja force under his command had been surrounded by Ōnoki. If Yuzuru Uchiha hadn't sent reinforcements ahead of time, his entire army might have been wiped out under the enemy's siege.
Now that he finally had a chance for revenge, of course he wanted to charge to the very front and kill to his heart's content.
Beside him, Orochimaru extended his long tongue and licked his lips before volunteering, "Yuzuru, I think I should take the main assault instead. I've modified my body for so long, but I still haven't had the chance to truly test my current combat power."
With Yuzuru Uchiha's full support, Orochimaru's research had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Not only did he possess the most advanced experimental equipment in the ninja world, but all kinds of rare materials were available to him in abundance.
Mangekyō Sharingan, Hashirama and White Zetsu cells, bloodlines from various Kekkei Genkai...
He had transplanted all of them into his own body.
At this point, he had long wanted to see just how powerful he had become.
But just as Orochimaru finished speaking, Uchiha Shisui, who stood beside him, smiled and said, "Both of you are already legendary powerhouses. I think it would be better to leave this opportunity to us younger people."
"We're at exactly the age where we're hungry to build merit."
After Shisui spoke, Uchiha Obito, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, and the others all voiced their agreement.
Who, in the recklessness of youth, had never dreamed of making a name for themselves in a single battle and shaking the entire ninja world?
Now that the opportunity was right in front of them, none of them wanted to waste it.
Listening to the arguing around him, Yuzuru Uchiha's gaze swept across every face in turn.
Minato Namikaze, Hatake Sakumo, A, Killer B, Sasori, Pakura, Kakuzu, Nagato, Yugito, Tsunade, Kushina, Karura, Might Guy, Fugaku Uchiha...
With so many top-tier fighters, this lineup was practically on par with the luxurious force of the Allied Shinobi Army during the Fourth Great Ninja War in the original story.
And on top of that, there were one hundred thousand ninja troops patched together from the Land of Lightning, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Fire...
Using all of this to deal with a single Land of Earth was honestly overkill.
But the army of a king should crush its enemies with overwhelming, invincible force, openly and directly!
At that thought, Yuzuru Uchiha smiled and cut off the argument, issuing his command directly.
"Enough arguing. In a battle this rich, what's the point of splitting into main assault and support? All of you, attack together. You're all the main force!"
Hearing that, the Third Raikage burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahaha... Yuzuru, you still have a temper that suits me."
"We'll do it your way... We're all the main force."
"KILL THEM!"
As soon as the Third Raikage finished speaking, he immediately charged out with his subordinates.
Seeing that, Orochimaru, Uchiha Shisui, A, Hatake Sakumo, and the others refused to be outdone and likewise led their own subordinates toward the Iwagakure ninja.
Every single one of them took the lead personally, charging ahead of all their men.
That alone caused the hundred-thousand-strong allied army's morale to soar.
"Lord Third Raikage is at it again! Hurry up, everyone, or we're going to get left behind!"
"Damn it, I've been a Konoha ninja for decades, and I've never once experienced commanders personally leading the charge like this. No wonder you Kumogakure bastards fought so fiercely back in the day. We really didn't lose unfairly!"
"Don't even start. We Sunagakure ninja had it even worse. Having this kind of safety and confidence from so many powerful people fighting on the battlefield with us is just too damn satisfying."
The hundred-thousand-strong allied army shot forward like dozens of arrows loosed from their strings, and in the blink of an eye, they smashed straight into the carefully prepared defensive line of the Iwagakure ninja.
The slaughter began from this very moment!