Chapter 285: Fierce Battle
"Since it's uncontrollable technology and taboo, it should never have been attempted, let alone handed over to others."
Some Iwa ninjas couldn't help but cast complex glances at Onoki and the clones behind him.
The clone rebellion weighed like a heavy stone on everyone's hearts, and Onoki, as the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, was undoubtedly directly responsible for this incident.
Hearing this, a flicker of complexity crossed Onoki's face, but under the scrutinizing gaze of the clones, he quickly calmed down.
"Lord Mu, you've been resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation, losing your self-awareness. The current you is nothing more than Hyuga Fuji's puppet."
Of course, Onoki could tell that Mu was alive, but at this moment, he had to attribute Mu's words to being under control.
Mu's presence alone was a blow to Iwagakure's morale. If he openly declared his allegiance to Hyuga Fuji, it would completely shatter the fighting spirit of the Iwa ninjas, potentially leading to defections.
Onoki couldn't allow that to happen.
"Your words and actions now are the result of being manipulated. Hyuga Fuji wants to break our will through this tactic, but we won't let him succeed."
Onoki's voice rose, filled with unyielding determination, "Lord Mu, you were the pride of Iwagakure, our former spiritual pillar. We won't be swayed by your words, and we won't let you down!"
Mu gave Onoki a long look, then burst out laughing in anger, "Then why don't you come and test whether I'm being controlled?"
With that, his figure disappeared from sight.
Onoki's eyes narrowed, "Sensor ninjas, keep track of Lord Mu's position at all times!"
"Yes!"
The sensor ninjas among the clones quickly responded, spreading out and focusing intently to detect chakra fluctuations in the area.
"Lord Onoki, behind you!"
""Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!""
Upon hearing the alert, Onoki turned, simultaneously casting Dust Release with Mu, who had appeared before him.
Two brilliant beams of light cut through the sky, illuminating the entire battlefield.
The Dust Release beams collided mid-air, sending ripples of energy outward, tearing the ground, scorching the air, and seemingly splitting the sky in half.
Their battle was like a signal. The tense atmosphere on the battlefield erupted with this strike.
Yagura, who had long lost interest in talking, coldly ordered, "Attack!"
The main and secondary cannons of the warships aimed at Iwagakure's direction, their barrels glowing with intense light. At Yagura's command, the ships roared, launching massive fireballs and energy beams that streaked across the sky toward Iwa's defenses.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Hundreds of Iwa ninjas quickly cast Earth Release, raising massive earth walls from the ground to block the incoming fire.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of violent explosions shook the earth walls, sending dust and debris flying. Fire and light flared as the defensive barriers shimmered.
Seeing this, Kitsuchi didn't back down, commanding loudly, "Counterattack!"
From Iwagakure's side, their cannons fired back in unison.
After issuing the command, Kitsuchi jumped off the platform, joining the Iwa ninjas on the ground to form seals.
"Earth Release: Earthquake Slam!"
This was a combined Earth Release technique performed by hundreds of Iwa ninjas. With their coordinated efforts, the ground began to tremble violently, as if a dormant beast was awakening.
Meanwhile, Kirigakure's fleet sailed down the river, their cannons booming as they attempted to suppress Iwa's counterattack. But just as they concentrated their firepower on Iwa's defenses, the ground beneath them began to quake violently.
"What's happening?" Kisame, standing on one of the ships, frowned as he sensed the intensifying tremors beneath his feet.
"The river! The river is splitting open!" a nearby Mist ninja shouted.
"What?" Kisame immediately leapt to the edge of the ship, peering down. The once-calm river surface was splitting open as if cleaved by an invisible blade. Water cascaded down the newly formed chasm, creating two massive waterfalls.
As time passed, the fissure widened. Clearly, Iwagakure intended to bury some of the ships in the chasm.
But would this method work?
Kisame smirked coldly and joined the Mist ninjas on the ship in forming seals.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A vast amount of water, enough to create an ocean on land, was poured into the abyss. The thousand-meter chasm quickly filled, stabilizing the warships once more.
Seeing this, Kitsuchi wasn't discouraged. He raised his hand and swung it downward.
"Attack!"
Amid the roaring cannons, countless Iwa ninjas charged from the land toward the ships, flooding toward the enemy like a tide.
"Use the Hidden Mist Technique!"
Yagura commanded coldly.
He had never intended to rely solely on the warships to force the Land of Earth into submission.
Ninjutsu was the foundation of a ninja's survival and combat. Abandoning their specialty for clunky chakra cannons to fight Iwa ninjas would be tantamount to cutting off their own arms—utterly foolish.
With their capture of large summoning beasts and the advantage of being a coastal nation, Kirigakure had accumulated extensive experience in battles near the sea and rivers. Their Water Release techniques were unmatched, and Iwagakure was no match for them in this terrain.
At Yagura's command, thousands of Mist ninjas cast the Hidden Mist Technique. A dense fog rose from the sea, quickly spreading across the battlefield. The mist, seemingly alive, enveloped the area in moments, obscuring visibility and transforming the once-clear battleground into a murky maze.
Silhouettes flickered faintly within the fog, but their exact positions and movements were elusive.
"Stay alert!" Kitsuchi immediately warned, realizing the shift in the situation.
With so many ninjas casting the technique simultaneously, and the battle taking place over the river, the fog wouldn't dissipate easily.
Iwa ninjas found their comrades and advanced cautiously.
The Hidden Mist Technique was Kirigakure's signature jutsu, severely limiting the enemy's vision and sensory abilities. Mist ninjas could exploit the fog for stealth and ambushes.
Given that the Second Tsuchikage had been a rival of the Second Mizukage, Iwagakure's knowledge of fighting in Kirigakure's domain wasn't inferior to Konoha's.
But times had changed, and none of the Iwa ninjas had expected Kirigakure to one day attack their home directly, with even Lord Mu, once an adversary of the Second Mizukage, now counted among their enemies...
The world was full of surprises.
As the mist spread, a strange noise emerged from beneath the river.
"Be careful! It's Kirigakure's summoning beasts!" a sensor ninja shouted.
His warning seemed to disturb something. The river surface suddenly rippled violently, as if a massive creature was stirring below.
The next moment, water sprayed everywhere as several giant summoning beasts leapt from the river, pouncing on the terrified sensor ninja.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
(End of Chapter)
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