The scale was unlike anything Hatani had ever seen.
Since transmigrating into this world, this was his first time witnessing a large-scale ninja conflict. He had assumed that even "massive" battles would essentially be a series of small-squad skirmishes.
He had clearly underestimated the organizational power of the Five Great Nations.
On the battlefield, once the initial probing phase ended and the true fighting began, techniques weren't traded by individuals, but by companies of dozens or hundreds.
Perhaps the individual strength of these ninja wasn't legendary, but the sheer spectacle of a hundred people unleashing the same jutsu simultaneously was enough to leave Hatani breathless.
Specifically, the sight of Konoha's ubiquitous Fire Style specialists coordinating with Wind Style users was a terrifying display of synergy.
Hatani realized that if he were caught in the middle of that, he would have no choice but to burn his Blink Dagger just to survive. Under the enhancement of the wind, the flames covered an area of over a thousand square meters. Even a Substitution Jutsu would be useless; the fire was so widespread and long-lasting that any ninja reappearing within the radius would simply be roasted alive.
However, if Iwa lacked for anything, it wasn't ninja proficient in Earth Style—and Earth Style was the king of defense.
"Earth Style: Ten-Thousand Mile Earth Wall!" x 50
Facing Konoha's offensive, fifty Iwa shinobi stepped forward in unison. A massive barrier of earth rose from the ground, looking like a "Great Wall of Despair" that effectively checkmated the surging flames. Even as the fire, bolstered by the gale, slammed into the stone and sent tongues of flame leaping dozens of meters into the air, it could not breach the defense.
Konoha had anticipated this. As the Earth Wall rose, another hundred ninja stepped forward to rotate out the Fire Style company.
"Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!" x 100 "Lightning Style: Earth Flash!" x 50
This time, they utilized the conductivity of water to counter the earth.
While Konoha possessed relatively few Lightning Style users compared to their Fire Style ranks, the concentration was enough. A focused bolt of lightning shattered a massive breach in the Earth Wall—an opening that the waiting Kenjutsu unit immediately charged toward.
But Iwa was prepared. Just as the swordsmen reached the breach, intending to cut through and decimate the Iwa defense squad, several stone slabs hurtled toward them.
The lead Jonin, Hayama Shirakumo, didn't dare take them lightly. He immediately unleashed a Vacuum Sword to slice the projectiles from a distance. But the moment his wind blade touched the stone, the slabs detonated like triggered landmines.
"Dammit! It's the Explosion Corps! Stay sharp!"
Cold sweat drenched Hayama's back as he screamed a warning to his subordinates.
An instant later, another slab flew in, colliding with the half-destroyed remains of the first. In a thunderous roar, a violent explosion erupted, sending a scorching heatwave and a massive concussive force directly into Hayama and his unit.
Bang!
The heat and shockwave slammed into Hayama, but his body instantly dissolved into a flurry of swirling leaves. Under the intense heat, the leaves withered and ignited before being scattered by the blast.
It was Hayama's unique Leaf Substitution.
He had sensed the danger just in time to escape, but the dozen or so Chunin around him weren't so lucky. Some failed to spot the trap; others simply lacked the speed to get clear. A series of agonized wails rose from the dust. The three men at the front were vaporized instantly. Others suffered horrific burns or were struck by flying shrapnel, though the heat was so intense that their wounds were cauterized before they could even bleed.
Those still capable of movement scrambled backward, desperate to retreat.
But Iwa hadn't exposed their elite Explosion Corps just to let them walk away.
"Earth Style: Earth Stone Bamboo Shoot!" "Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!" "Earth Style: Rock Pillar Prison!"
The Iwa vanguard immediately launched a barrage of jutsu to pin down the retreating swordsmen. Even if they couldn't kill them outright, they intended to stall them.
Iwa's own Kenjutsu unit had already mobilized, intending to coordinate with their Ninjutsu squads to wipe out Konoha's swordsmen in one fell swoop.
"Dammit."
Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't expected Iwa to leave such an intentional opening as a lure. Seeing Hayama's unit about to be surrounded and slaughtered, he cursed under his breath and signaled to the White Fang.
"Sakumo, take the remaining swordsmen and get them out of there!"
"Orochimaru!" Hiruzen called out next. He knew the Kenjutsu unit alone would struggle to break through Iwa's layered defense. "Lead the Ninjutsu companies and provide cover for Sakumo."
Orochimaru moved instantly, his eyes flickering with a cold, vengeful light. Having suffered a significant setback at the hands of Ohnoki recently, he was more than happy to start collecting some interest from the Iwa ranks.
The battle turned white-hot in an instant. Both Hiruzen and Ohnoki kept their eyes locked on the field, a contest of patience. As the "Kage," they could not move until the decisive moment arrived.
Sakumo Hatake led the charge, the first to breach the gap. Most of the Kenjutsu ninja were his old subordinates from the campaign against Suna—men he had a deep bond with.
"Target Sakumo Hatake! Full power, fire!"
The Iwa vanguard immediately shifted their focus away from Hayama and toward the White Fang. On the battlefield, you shoot the horse to drop the rider; you kill the king to break the army.
"Earth Style: Split Earth Turning Palm!"
A deep fissure tore through the ground, racing toward Sakumo. Such an obvious attack couldn't catch him; wreathed in flickering lightning, Sakumo blurred to the side.
"Earth Style: Antlion Hell!"
Iwa had counted on the dodge. The Split Earth Turning Palm had been a feint to force Sakumo into a specific position—directly into their trap.
The moment Sakumo's feet touched the ground, the earth turned into a soft, swirling vortex of sand, dragging him down. As he prepared to use a Body Flicker to escape, the ground—previously as soft as putty—suddenly twisted and hardened, locking his legs in a vice grip.
"Earth Style: Rock Theft Staff!" "Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!"
The trap was sprung. Even as Sakumo's feet were being entombed, the follow-up Ninjutsu were already mid-flight.