At the edge of the Fire Country's coastline, while Konoha ninjas clashed fiercely with Mist Village troops, two other fronts erupted into chaos. Almost simultaneously, the Cloud Ninjas and the Iwa Ninjas launched their own offensives.
At the border of the Moon Kingdom, nearly two thousand Cloud Ninjas marched aggressively towards the Hot Springs Kingdom's border.
Boom!
As the army reached the foot of a cliff, a deafening sound echoed through the mountains. Cracks spread across the cliff face, and moments later, the entire side collapsed. Massive rocks tumbled down, blocking the advance of the Cloud Ninja army.
Swish!
Two lightning-fast figures darted forward from the Cloud Ninja camp, appearing beneath the falling rocks.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Explosions reverberated as the massive boulders shattered into countless fragments.
A and Killer B glanced upward, spotting nearly a hundred Konoha ninjas standing atop the cliff. The ninjas swiftly formed hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"
Hundreds of enormous fireballs descended like a fiery storm, blotting out the sky above the Cloud Ninja army.
Ssss!
A web of crackling lightning surged from the Cloud Ninja ranks, clashing against the incoming fireballs. The roar of the explosion shook the landscape for miles.
In the chaos, a streak of lightning burst from the army below, racing up the cliff. A's Lightning Release Armor crackled as it absorbed the attacks, instantly regenerating any minor damage. His speed, among the fastest in the ninja world, propelled him upward at a blinding pace.
But as he ascended, a flash of white light cut through the air above him. A gleaming blade, sharp as a fang, descended toward him.
Boom!
Sakumo, his blade charged with lightning, met A's upward charge. Their clash erupted with a force rivaling the most potent ninjutsu. Both fighters were repelled, landing with wary eyes locked on each other.
"Konoha's White Fang..." A muttered, his voice tinged with respect. "Your reputation is well-deserved—you can match my speed!"
Though A had encountered Sakumo before, this was their first direct confrontation. Unlike Orochimaru and Tsunade, who were formidable in their own right but struggled to counter his speed, Sakumo's precision and reflexes made him a rare match.
Their brief exchange gave way to a lull in the explosions below. Suddenly, a crimson tail of chakra lashed out, clearing debris as it surged toward the cliff.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!"
"Lightning Style: Thunder Blade!"
From above, Orochimaru's hands became a blur as he unleashed a rapid succession of ninjutsu. Lightning chakra, shaped like feathers but razor-sharp, combined with wind chakra, creating a devastating assault. The barrage rained down relentlessly.
Killer B paused, his six-tailed cloak whipping around him as he deflected the attacks with ferocious sweeps of his chakra tails.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each clash carved gaping holes into the cliffside and ground below. Killer B raised his gaze, deflecting another wave of attacks.
Despite injuries from his last battle with A and Killer B, Orochimaru proved why he was one of the fabled Sannin. From a distance, his mastery of hand seals and precise timing turned the tide in Konoha's favor.
At the Cloud Ninja army's front, C saw his comrades struggling and rushed forward to aid them. But before he could act, Tsunade leaped from the cliff, her powerful punch carving another section of the cliff away.
Boom!
Enormous boulders crashed down, scattering the Cloud Ninja ranks. Amid the chaos, Tsunade descended into their camp.
Crash!
The ground fractured beneath her mighty blow, throwing Cloud Ninjas off balance.
"Enough of this!" C's voice roared as he charged toward Tsunade.
But Tsunade was ready. Though unable to match his speed, her instincts and strength gave her the upper hand. She evaded his attack and retaliated, hurling a Cloud Jonin into C's path.
C caught the injured ninja and glared at Tsunade with dark eyes.
"You're the ones overstepping your bounds!" Tsunade retorted. "Last time, you fled like cowards. Now, you dare to challenge us again?"
Her words hit their mark. The Cloud Ninjas had indeed suffered a devastating loss in their last encounter, losing a hundred elites and retreating to regroup. Now, Konoha sought to exploit their weakened position, holding the line and protecting the Fire Nation.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Grass, on a vast grassy plain, 1,500 Konoha ninjas stood unwavering against an Iwagakure force nearly twice their size.
"The enemy numbers about 2,700," a Hyuga ninja reported to Jiraiya after scanning the battlefield.
Jiraiya nodded grimly, turning to Minato. "We also have 800 ninjas not on the front lines. Don't get overconfident, kid."
Minato smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Sensei. I'm not alone in this."
He gestured to Aburame Shibi, who stood silently beside him. Then, with a glint of determination in his eyes, Minato stepped forward.
"Let's meet their commander."
In a flash of yellow light, Minato vanished, speeding toward the Iwagakure camp.
"Someone's coming!"
An Iwagakure sensor ninja tensed, scanning the battlefield. "His speed... I can't track it!"
"Namikaze Minato," murmured a towering figure at the front of the Iwagakure army. His eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of golden light streaking toward him.
Unfazed, the man formed a series of hand seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Spike Collapse!"
The ground trembled violently, and jagged spikes erupted, forcing Minato to halt his advance. He deftly dodged the spikes, his golden figure reappearing amidst the chaos.
"What incredible Earth Style ninjutsu!" Jiraiya exclaimed, watching from afar. Even among the elite, few could manipulate terrain with such precision and power.
Minato's eyes locked onto the burly man leading the Iwagakure forces.
"The son of the Third Tsuchikage,... Kōdo."
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