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Just moments ago, Kurotsuchi arrived with her elite team, their presence commanding attention. Her sharp gaze locked onto the battlefield ahead, where five Iwa Ninjas stood in formation. In front of them, Inoiki stood eerily still, his sword stabbed into the ground, his expression calm—almost indifferent—as he watched the remaining Iwa warriors.
Before Kurotsuchi could react, she felt the weight of another presence. Across the battlefield, Kakashi and the Konoha ninjas had spotted them. The tension in the air was palpable as both sides stared each other down, each assessing the situation, neither making a move.
Kurotsuchi hesitated. She assumed, at the very least, that Inoiki wouldn't attack the Iwa ninjas in front of them—not now, not with her arrival. Surely, he would wait. The battle, if there was to be one, would only begin after negotiations.
She was just about to call out to the five Iwa ninjas, to order them to retreat to her side—
Then, chaos erupted.
Before she could even form the words, the Iwa ninjas suddenly turned on each other. One after another, they stabbed their own comrades, their movements frantic, desperate—unnatural. Their blades sliced through flesh, their shocked cries drowned by the sickening sound of steel meeting bone.
Kurotsuchi's breath hitched. What the hell was happening?!
And then, the last remaining Iwa ninja stood, trembling, horrified—before his own sword wrenched itself free from a fallen comrade's body and turned against him. It hovered for a mere second, as if savoring the moment—before plunging straight into his heart.
There was no doubt.
This wasn't a breakdown of discipline. This wasn't fear turning them against each other.
This was Inoiki's power.
With nothing but his Psychokinesis, he had orchestrated the slaughter of an entire squad without lifting a finger.
Kurotsuchi's hands clenched into fists. A cold chill ran down her spine.
For the first time, she truly understood the terrifying force standing before her.
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It all happened in an instant.
Kurotsuchi's eyes widened in shock as she watched her comrades cut each other down like puppets on invisible strings. This isn't real. This can't be real.
Rage overtook her disbelief. "WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING?!" she shouted, her voice sharp with desperation.
But it was already too late.
The last of the five Iwa ninjas collapsed, their lifeless bodies strewn across the battlefield. Silence followed, heavy and suffocating. The Konoha ninjas, though hardened warriors, stared in stunned confusion. None of them had seen exactly how it had happened, but they all knew—this was Inoiki's doing.
Then, without warning, Inoiki staggered.
A sharp breath escaped him as he clutched his head, his body tensing in pain.
Kakashi was by his side in an instant, steadying him with a firm grip. "Inoiki, are you alright?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
For a moment, Inoiki remained still, his fingers pressing against his temple. Then, he straightened, exhaling slowly.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the discomfort. "It was my first time using my new technique—'Mind Mirage.' It gave me a slight headache, but I'm good now."
Kakashi studied him for a moment before nodding.
Meanwhile, Kurotsuchi could only stand there, fists clenched, watching as the nightmare unfolded before her.
Kurotsuchi unclenched her fists, her expression hardening as she turned slightly toward the Iwa ninjas behind her. Her voice was cold, unwavering.
"Send the signal. Gather every remaining Iwa ninja. We're attacking—Inoiki and these Konoha shinobi will not leave here alive."
The Iwa ninjas nodded in unison. The Jonin among them swiftly pulled out a flare and fired it into the sky. A brilliant red streak cut through the air, visible from miles away—a call to arms.
Across the battlefield, the signal was seen by the surviving Iwa forces. Despite the devastation caused by Inoiki, Kakashi, and the Konoha team, nearly 150 Iwa ninjas remained.
Half of them were already converging toward the base's center, drawn by earlier distress signals. The other half, who had been holding their positions, now sprang into motion, moving toward the source of the red flare.
Meanwhile, on the Konoha side, Kakashi and the remaining shinobi readied themselves. Their gazes locked onto Kurotsuchi and her elite team of twenty—each one battle-hardened, the weakest among them still at Chunin level.
The air grew heavy with anticipation.
The battle was inevitable.
And it was about to begin.
Inoiki watched as both sides prepared for battle. Sensing the growing anticipation, he raised a hand, his voice calm but firm.
"Stand down. I'll handle these people myself. Focus on the Iwa ninjas coming our way—more are heading here after the signal was sent."
Kakashi met Inoiki's gaze, assessing his confidence, then gave a nod of agreement. Without hesitation, he stepped back to stand with the Konoha ninjas.
The Konoha shinobi, though skilled warriors, couldn't help but feel that Inoiki's declaration was overconfident—reckless, even. But they held their tongues. Kakashi had already made it clear: Inoiki was the leader of this mission. If he believed he could take on Kurotsuchi's elite squad alone, they had no choice but to trust his judgment.
Kakashi, however, knew better. He had seen firsthand the true extent of Inoiki's abilities. If anyone could back up such confidence, it was him.
On the other side, the Iwa ninjas exchanged glances, momentarily thrown off by Inoiki's boldness. Was he arrogant or simply insane?
For Kurotsuchi and her team, though, this was the best possible outcome. If Inoiki wanted to fight alone, he was making their job easier.
And they would make him regret it.
In an instant, a sky-blue aura erupted around Inoiki, enveloping his entire body in a radiant glow. His hair lifted, swaying as if caught in an invisible current of energy. Against the darkness of the night, his form shone even brighter, an ethereal beacon in the battlefield.
The tension in the air thickened.
One of the Jonin in Kurotsuchi's team stepped forward, his voice sharp and commanding. "Everybody, step aside!"
He weaved hand signs swiftly, slamming his hands onto the ground. "Earth Release: Golem Technique!"
The earth rumbled beneath them as a massive stone golem rose from the ground, towering at nearly twelve feet—twice the Jonin's height. With a deep, guttural roar, the hulking creature swung its enormous fist straight at Inoiki, aiming to crush him in a single blow.
But Inoiki barely flinched.
With a simple flick of his hand, he created a 'Psychokinetic Barrier'—an invisible force field materialized in front of him just as the golem's fist came crashing down. A thunderous impact shook the air as stone met an unseen resistance.
Cracks splintered across the barrier's surface, but it held firm.
Inoiki didn't even glance at the golem. His focus remained elsewhere.
Then, without hesitation, he lifted off the ground, soaring effortlessly into the sky before diving straight down—toward the heart of the Iwa formation.
Kurotsuchi's eyes widened in realization.
"Form up! Now!" she barked.
In perfect synchronization, the Iwa ninjas shifted into a circular formation, leaving the very center open—the exact spot where Inoiki was about to land.
It wasn't just a formation.
It was a trap.
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