Whoosh.
A breeze swept through, and the smoke and dust gradually dissipated.
Rasa's miserable and battered state caught everyone's eyes. His cheeks and hair were caked in soot, and a deep scar, sliced to the bone, stretched from his chest down to his abdomen. The skin surrounding the wound was densely covered in charred black spots—the unmistakable marks of high-temperature burns.
"That's it, Fourth Kazekage," Shisui said, looking at him with an expressionless, calm gaze. "You have no chance of winning this war."
"Rasa!" Chiyo, standing not far away, caught sight of her Kazekage's wretched condition, and her composure wavered.
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"
Seizing the opening, Might Guy launched a flying kick, sending the puppet protecting Chiyo hurtling backward. Wooden parts shattered and flew everywhere.
Konan quickly captured a photo of the scene and sent it to the group with a brief explanation.
Book Artist: "A reversal? It actually turned around?"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Is Uchiha Shisui already this powerful?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "He has mastered the power of the Void; it would be strange if he wasn't this strong."
Shark Face: "Indeed. Mastering Hollowification is like evolving from a ninja—a mere human creature—to an entirely new stage. And for Shisui-san, this is only the beginning."
At that moment, on the edge of the Land of Fire's battlefield.
A massive, bottomless ravine had opened before Hoshigaki Kisame. Beside this trench, dozens of ninjas wearing Konoha headbands lay scattered in a chaotic mess. Most had lost consciousness; only a few remained awake.
Click.
Kisame sheathed Samehada across his back and turned to leave. But before he departed, he cast a lingering glance over his shoulder.
Did he find me?
Uchiha Fugaku, lying paralyzed on the ground, took a ragged breath as a chill ran down his spine. Why? Why was this happening?
It was just Kirigakure—how could such an extraordinary existence stand before them? With a single strike, a dozen elite ninjas, himself included, had been wiped out. The most unsettling realization was that the opponent had let them live.
Fugaku knew this clearly. If the man had intended to kill with that attack, not a soul would be left standing. Even if he had activated Susanoo, he doubted he could have resisted such overwhelming power.
And if they possessed such a force, why didn't they simply crush Konoha's blockade?
This was what Fugaku couldn't comprehend. It was abnormal—utterly unnatural. It felt as if this wasn't a war at all, but a game being played by this Kirigakure ninja, a game meant to force the Konoha forces to remain pinned to this specific battlefield.
Damn it! What the hell is going on? Fugaku felt a crushing sense of powerlessness, as if a gargantuan shadow were looming over his head.
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Iwagakure has begun its advance."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Wow, they really know how to pick their moment! Why now of all times?"
This is an Actor: "Spies."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Ah, that's very likely! Since Iwagakure knows Konoha has spies in their village, their own spies must be active within Konoha as well!"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "An Ran-san, you're truly amazing. You guessed it so easily."
Konan's face was filled with admiration. She hadn't provided any clues this time, yet he had deduced the existence of the spies out of thin air. It was as if he were physically there.
Shark Face: "..."
Kisame was speechless. Silly girl, that wasn't a guess! He's already there, and he's your boss!
Boom.
Another thunderous explosion erupted from Konoha's west gate. A soot-covered Sarutobi Hiruzen and the injured Fourth Raikage staggered, staring each other down.
"You're truly something else, Third Hokage!" A spark of manic energy lit the Raikage's eyes. "You deserve the title of 'Shinobi no Kami.' Even at your age, you can still withstand a battle of this intensity."
"Even as time passes, the Will of Fire within this old man will never fade." Hiruzen took a deep breath, his wrinkled face set in a solemn mask. "For the sake of Konoha, I will stop you, no matter the cost!"
"Ha, the Will of Fire?" the Raikage snorted, his voice dripping with derision. "Breaking into another village to steal their Tailed Beasts—is that the manifestation of your Will? Stop making me laugh, you bastard!"
"Are you attempting to shift the blame?" Hiruzen asked calmly, his expression unwavering. "Since you have colluded with Danzo to invade Konoha, perhaps you should find a more palatable excuse."
"Bullshit! I've never laid eyes on a 'Danzo' in my life!" the Raikage roared. He raised a lightning-clad fist and lunged.
"Lightning Straight!"
Hiruzen stiffened, a sudden realization dawning on him. "Wait, Fourth Raikage! What did you just say?"
However, before he could finish his thought, an Anbu fighting a Kumo ninja nearby suddenly abandoned his opponent. He raised his blade and drove it toward Hiruzen's back in a brutal betrayal.
Splurt.
Bright red blood sprayed into the air. Hiruzen managed to twist away from the Raikage's frontal assault, but the Anbu's backstab caught him off guard. The blade left a jagged, deep gash across his back.
"Oh? You can even avoid your vitals at a moment like this?" An aged voice drifted down from high above. "You are truly worthy of your name, Sarutobi."
That voice...
Both Hiruzen and the Raikage looked up. A short, elderly figure was floating in the air above them.
"The Tsuchikage of Iwagakure?"
"Ohnoki?!"
"Lord Tsuchikage." The treacherous Anbu member removed his mask and knelt respectfully before the old man.
"You did well, Iwakawa," Ohnoki nodded slightly, waving his right arm. "Next, it is our turn. Follow the plan. Begin!"
"Kill them all!"
"Whether they are from the Sand, the Cloud, or Konoha—slaughter everyone you see! Leave no survivors!"
"The final victory belongs to Iwagakure!"
The roar of battle pierced the sky. Clad in crimson uniforms and Iwagakure headbands, a swarm of Hidden Rock ninjas poured into Konoha like a rising red tide.
"So that's it... that's how it is!" Hiruzen's face turned ashen as he roared in fury, "Was this all your plan, Ohnoki?"