Noticing the subtle shift in Minato's expression, Aburame Shibi adjusted his sunglasses and asked, "Did you sense the target?"
Minato nodded, his demeanor calm but serious. "Yes. It seems the Iwagakure ninja are moving faster than we anticipated."
Shibi frowned beneath his high collar. "Based on the chakra signatures ahead, there are likely over 800 Rock Ninja within the Land of Fire. Even for you, that number might be too much to handle alone."
A faint smile played on Minato's lips. "Which is why we need to thin their numbers first."
As he spoke, Minato's sharp senses detected two chakras violently clashing several hundred meters away. His gaze grew focused. "Jiraiya-sensei is engaging them. We're counting on him to hold the front."
In an instant, Minato and Shibi vanished, leaving nothing but a swirl of leaves in their wake.
"Boom! Boom!"
A thick earthen wall rose swiftly, blocking Jiraiya's barrage of needle-like hair strikes. Of the three walls erected by Kōdo, only the last one remained standing, riddled with cracks.
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "To defend against my Needle Jizo at this speed… and to summon that massive boulder to pin down Bunta… This kid's mastery over Earth Release is remarkable."
Kōdo, the son of the Third Tsuchikage, stood calmly amidst the chaos. His earth-style techniques were as formidable as the legends suggested. Jiraiya couldn't help but draw comparisons. In terms of raw earth-style prowess, he's not far from that old man, Onoki.
Before Jiraiya could strategize further, Kōdo launched his next move. "Earth Release: Earth Lance!"
Sharp stone spikes erupted from the ground, racing toward Jiraiya. The Sannin leapt into the air with practiced agility, narrowly avoiding the attack. Kōdo followed immediately, his massive frame moving with surprising speed as he swung a chakra-reinforced punch.
The sheer force of the strike caused a loud whistling sound. Jiraiya's sharp eyes caught the faint dark sheen of chakra coating Kōdo's fist.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
Clasping his hands together, Jiraiya's white mane extended and coiled tightly around him, forming an impenetrable defense. Kōdo's punch landed, sparks flying as individual strands of hair snapped under the immense pressure.
"Tough hair," Kōdo muttered, shaking his stinging fist. "But even steel can be broken."
Jiraiya smirked. "Let's see how you handle the offensive."
With a swift change in hand seals, Jiraiya's hair shifted from defense to attack. The strands extended outward, morphing into lion-shaped constructs that lunged toward Kōdo.
Caught off guard, Kōdo raised his arms to block. The hair-lions clamped down viciously, their ferocity forcing him back a step. The battlefield was momentarily obscured by the dust and debris kicked up by their clash.
When the dust settled, Kōdo stood firm, his body encased in a layer of rock. He brushed off the remnants of Jiraiya's attack, his expression calm but wary.
"Not bad," Jiraiya said, recalling his hair with a flick. "But if you're busy defending yourself, you won't have time to command your troops."
Kōdo's eyes widened slightly. He glanced at the Iwagakure forces, realizing that their hesitation had allowed the Konoha forces to regroup. Without his leadership, the Rock Ninja had refrained from using large-scale Earth Release techniques, fearing collateral damage.
Jiraiya's strategy was working. Every second he held Kōdo back gave Konoha an opportunity to regain control of the battlefield.
"You're as tenacious as the rumors say, Jiraiya of the Sannin," Kōdo said with a sigh. "But surely you realize that sheer numbers are on our side. With nearly three thousand Iwagakure ninjas against your fifteen hundred, this battle is already decided."
Jiraiya's grin widened. "Decided? I think you're underestimating Konoha's will. Minato's victories against Sand and Cloud have inspired a fighting spirit that numbers alone can't crush."
Kōdo's expression darkened at the mention of Minato Namikaze. The Fourth Hokage's exploits had become legendary, and his reputation as the "Yellow Flash" was enough to unnerve even the most seasoned shinobi. Yet, as Kōdo scanned the battlefield, he noticed Minato's conspicuous absence.
"Where is he?" Kōdo demanded. "Where is Minato Namikaze?"
An Iwagakure sensor ninja stepped forward, their voice tinged with urgency. "Sir! Within a hundred meters, there's no trace of Minato Namikaze's chakra!"
"What?!" Kōdo's voice rose in alarm. His gaze shifted back to Jiraiya, whose smug expression only deepened his unease.
"If you think Konoha entered this battle unprepared, you're in for a nasty surprise," Jiraiya said, his tone light but his words carrying a heavy weight.
Far from the main battlefield, deep within a dense forest on the border of the Land of Grass, a group of Iwagakure ninjas advanced swiftly. Their leader, a sharp-eyed shinobi, gestured for his squad to press forward.
"Once we cross this forest, we'll enter the Land of Fire," he said, his voice filled with cruel anticipation.
As they moved deeper into the woods, the air around them seemed to ripple faintly. The leader paused, sensing a subtle shift, but dismissed it as paranoia. They continued, leaping from branch to branch with unwavering focus.
Without warning, two figures materialized on a massive tree at the heart of the forest. Aburame Shibi staggered slightly, adjusting to the disorienting effects of Minato's teleportation technique. Beside him, Minato crouched low, his fingers lightly brushing the ground.
His sharp blue eyes scanned the area, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Fifteen targets," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
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