Chapter 286: Soldier Against Soldier, General Against General
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Blinding white beams shot down from the sky, forming a massive cubic pillar of light that precisely engulfed an entire area ahead.
BOOM—
Everything within the light's reach was instantly disintegrated. Whether it was solid rock, rushing water, or the summoning beasts that the Mist Ninja had prided themselves on, all were as fragile as paper before the unstoppable Dust Release.
The river's surface within the light's boundaries was entirely stripped away, leaving behind a gaping void.
A sensory ninja, who had narrowly avoided being struck by the beams, let out a sigh of relief as he gazed at the remains of a sea shark that had been completely disintegrated. He glanced gratefully toward the sky, but the clone that had used Dust Release didn't even spare him a glance and turned to leave.
"..."
Their recently improved cooperation left no room for pleasantries. As long as it didn't affect the battle, it was tolerable.
With a helpless sigh, the sensory ninja exchanged looks with a comrade two meters away and continued advancing.
The Mist's new strategy of turning battlefields into oceans had left them no room to retreat; they had to fight hard.
After all, they couldn't just stand by and watch as the Mist took over the capital of the Land of Earth.
In recent history, seeing a great nation's capital fall to foreign forces had only happened twice—once during the civil war in the Land of Fire and once when the Land of Wind was partitioned.
Both times, the fall of a great nation's capital had signaled regime change. To the shinobi world, the fall of a great nation's capital had become a harbinger of a nation's collapse, and most Iwagakure ninja weren't eager to experience that firsthand.
Only a few summoning beasts had been unlucky enough to be caught by the Dust Release, as the number of clones capable of using it was limited. But as the clones moved, they attracted the attention of powerful Mist ninjas.
Dodging a massive ice spear, Clone No. 2 turned toward the direction of the attack.
"Ice Release, from the Yuki clan?"
"Your Dust Release doesn't seem as strong as that old Onoki's," said Yuki Rin with a playful smile as she walked across the icy surface of the water. Wherever she stepped, the water beneath her froze into a thin layer of ice.
"It's more than enough to deal with you," Clone No. 2 sneered. He cast a quick glance at his comrades, who were surrounded by strong Mist ninjas from the Hozuki, Yuki, and Kaguya clans, his expression darkening.
If not for the emergence of three Mangekyō Sharingan users from the Uchiha clan, the Mist's bloodline and secret technique clans could rival those of Konoha.
Combined with their strategic use of marine resources, the Land of Water had become the strongest nation in the ninja world, second only to the Lands of Snow and Fire.
Had they surrendered to Onoki too soon?
---
On another front, where there were no Dust Release clones to quickly deal with summoning beasts, Iwagakure's forces found themselves at a standstill.
The battlefield grew even more tense and oppressive as deafening roars echoed through the air.
Massive summoning beasts—sea snakes, whales, crabs—rose from the depths of the sea.
"—ROAR!"
And it wasn't just these colossal creatures. Smaller aquatic beasts, like sharks and snakes, swarmed from all directions, flooding the battlefield.
Their collective roars bore down on Iwagakure's forces like a tangible weight. Some ninjas instinctively stepped back, swallowing nervously.
"How does the Mist have so many summoning beasts?"
"Not just the sheer numbers but such massive beasts..." Looking at the densely packed sea creatures covering the river, Kitsuchi's face grew grim.
"This will be a tough battle," he muttered.
"Summon the golems to clear a path! Ninjas who can use Lightened Boulder Jutsu, assist the golems! Chakra cannons—don't stop firing!" Kitsuchi barked orders.
Previously, they had ceased using chakra cannons to avoid friendly fire during the skirmishes. But given the current situation, chakra cannons were essential for creating a path forward.
Suddenly—
"Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
Before Kitsuchi's words had even finished echoing, a thousand small sharks formed from chakra leaped from the water, lunging at him.
They tore into what appeared to be Kitsuchi's body, only for dirt and soil to spill out—just a clay clone.
From his position on a Mist warship, Kisame Hoshigaki raised an eyebrow at the sight. Quickly dodging a rock spear that shot at him from a blind spot, he chuckled, "Impressive, Iwagakure's number two. It seems taking you down won't be easy."
Emerging from the water, Kitsuchi locked eyes with Kisame. "The tailless tailed beast—Hoshigaki Kisame?"
This was trouble. On the water, he didn't stand much of a chance against Kisame.
"Earth Style: Rock Pillar Spears!"
Without hesitation, Kitsuchi took to the air, simultaneously forming hand seals. Sharp rock pillars shot out of the ground, aiming directly at Kisame.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!" Kisame quickly countered, forming a massive water dragon that collided with the rock pillars, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
Water splashed and rocks shattered as the two fighters created their own isolated arena on the water's surface, keeping others from interfering.
---
While Kitsuchi clashed with Kisame, Iwagakure's golem corps advanced to the frontlines. Together with earth-style users, they began "reclaiming land from the sea," creating footholds to combat the Mist's aquatic advantage.
But the Mist ninja weren't standing idly by. With wave after wave of water-style jutsu, they maintained control over the battlefield, even pushing the ocean's edge closer to the Land of Earth's capital, trying to shift the terrain to their advantage.
As time passed, the tide of battle began to shift. Finally, an Iwagakure ninja managed to set foot on one of the Mist's warships, even if only for a moment.
This fleeting achievement was enough to signal a turning point—some of Iwagakure's forces had broken through the wall of summoning beasts.
Yagura, observing from the mist, caught sight of the advancing Iwagakure ninja and coldly ordered, "Fire!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
A storm of kunai and shuriken rained down from the warships like a torrential downpour.
The Iwagakure ninja, advancing under the cover of chakra cannon fire, were caught off guard by the sudden assault. Some failed to react in time and were struck down by the sharp projectiles.
Blood splattered. Agonized cries echoed across the battlefield as injured Iwagakure ninjas fell into the water, their bodies sinking beneath the waves, their blood staining the river red.
However, the majority of the Iwagakure forces pressed on. Reacting quickly, they used kunai and swords to deflect the incoming projectiles or dodged nimbly to avoid fatal blows.
"Charge!"
A voice rang out as an Iwagakure ninja shouted an order.
As they neared the warships, the Iwagakure ninjas suddenly surged forward, leaping onto the decks like arrows released from their bows, crashing into the Mist ninjas waiting for them.
"Kill!"
The two sides clashed in fierce close combat. Kunai and shuriken flashed through the air, while ninjutsu and taijutsu collided in chaotic bursts. Blood and sweat mixed as the battle raged on, the air filled with shouts, screams, and explosions.
It was soldier against soldier, general against general.
"Earth Style: Rock Spears!"
An Iwagakure ninja swiftly formed hand seals, summoning jagged rock pillars that shot toward a Mist ninja.
"Water Style: Water Wall!" The Mist ninja reacted just as quickly, raising a sturdy wall of water to block the attack.
BOOM—
The rock spears and water wall collided, creating a powerful shockwave that sent the Mist ninja staggering backward into the water.
Both sides suffered casualties, their bodies sinking into the crimson-stained waters.
War, in its brutal indifference, cared little for allegiances. Blood poured from open wounds, dying the river an ominous red.
(Chapter End)