Half an hour later.
At the eastern side of the Blackstone Outpost.
Close to the coastline, hundreds of Konoha ninjas were divided into three groups, forming a semicircle. They crouched behind cover, silently waiting for the enemy's arrival.
The entire defensive line was eerily quiet. Apart from the occasional sound of waves crashing on the shore, only faint breathing could be heard.
In stark contrast, the rear was slightly chaotic.
Here, groups of lower- and mid-level ninjas were busy transporting supplies from the outpost. They moved kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, and more—everything one could imagine for a battle. Clearly, Konoha had prepared thoroughly for this confrontation.
Time ticked away.
After an indeterminate amount of time, someone suddenly shouted, "They're here!"
Hearing this, everyone jolted to attention, their nerves stretched taut as they stared intently at the sea ahead.
A single Mist warship emerged from the bay and entered their field of vision, followed by a second, then a third.
In total, more than a dozen Mist warships appeared on the water.
Immediately, a Hyūga clan ninja activated their Byakugan to observe the number and strength of the enemy aboard each ship. The findings were promptly reported to Sano Nobuhisa and the other commanding officers for consideration.
In the ninja world, while battles between shinobi often relied less on elaborate strategies than those of ordinary armies, the importance of intelligence could not be overstated.
Yet in this world, where power resided overwhelmingly in the individual, even the most precise intelligence often made little difference. When someone was outmatched, the outcome remained unchanged.
For this reason, ninja battles often devolved into chaotic brawls.
Groups of two or three would take on their own opponents. The fight would only end when one side's numbers had dwindled significantly.
It was a brutal, primal form of combat.
Standing high in the air, Seimei quietly observed the battlefield below.
As the Mist warships drew closer, several Konoha jonin suddenly dashed out from their defensive line and onto the water.
Simultaneously, they performed a series of hand seals and unleashed their jutsu—Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave!
While their individual chakra reserves paled compared to someone like Kisame Hoshigaki, their combined effort was formidable.
A towering wave, more than ten meters high, rose abruptly and surged toward the Mist warships at incredible speed.
If struck, even the sturdiest warships would be reduced to splinters.
Would the Mist ninjas allow that to happen?
Of course not.
Before the wave could get close, three Mist ninjas leaped off their ships.
They quickly formed hand seals, crouched low, and pressed their palms to the surface of the sea, shouting in unison: "Ice Release: Ice Sealing Technique!"
These were no ordinary shinobi; they belonged to the Snow Clan, inheritors of the Ice Release kekkei genkai.
With their jutsu, a layer of ice spread outward from their palms, rapidly extending until it intercepted the oncoming wave.
The moment the ice and water made contact, the massive wave froze solid, halting mid-air like a colossal sculpture.
But they weren't finished.
The ice continued to expand, stretching all the way to the shoreline.
Taking advantage of the frozen surface, a large contingent of Mist ninjas disembarked and sprinted across the icy pathway toward the beach.
Attempts by Konoha to intercept them were thwarted by the frozen wave sculpture, which obstructed their line of fire.
Thus, the Mist ninjas advanced unscathed, drawing ever closer to the shore.
From his vantage point, Seimei shook his head slightly.
Ultimately, Konoha's response time was too short. Although they had managed to assemble their forces, their preparations left much to be desired.
In contrast, the Mist's seamless coordination revealed meticulous planning.
This initial exchange left Konoha at a disadvantage.
But this was only the beginning. The outcome would depend on how each side adapted.
Realizing their attack had failed, the Konoha jonin withdrew behind their defensive line.
As the Mist ninjas passed the frozen wave, a shout rang out: "Now!"
Immediately, a barrage of kunai rained down from behind the defensive line, streaking toward the advancing Mist ninjas like a deadly storm.
The Mist ninjas retaliated by hurling their own kunai while some began forming hand seals to unleash Water Release: Wild Water Wave, a jutsu designed to harass and disrupt the enemy's formations.
The jutsu's effect was minimal—none of the Konoha ninjas sustained any injuries.
But it served its purpose: distraction.
The battle continued.
As the second wave of attacks concluded, the distance between the two sides shrank further.
Now, explosive tags were being attached to weapons before being hurled into the fray.
The intensity of the conflict escalated sharply.
Many shinobi failed to dodge in time and either perished or were grievously wounded.
The air was filled with the sounds of explosions and anguished cries.
Spurred by the mounting casualties, the combatants grew even more ferocious.
The sharp whistling of flying projectiles filled the air. Explosive tags detonated one after another, their deafening blasts shaking the battlefield.
Fireballs erupted, their heat distorting the air and adding to the chaos.
The intense heat and shockwaves caused by the explosions began to weaken the ice created by the Snow Clan. Cracks spread across the frozen surface.
This added some difficulty to the Mist's advance but failed to halt it entirely.
The frontline Mist ninjas, at minimum, were chunin level. Each was proficient in water-walking techniques and remained undeterred by the crumbling ice.
Ultimately, they reached the shore.
Now, the distance between the two forces was less than ten meters—a mere instant for shinobi.
The true battle commenced.
Mist ninjas surged into Konoha's defenses, clashing with the defenders in fierce melee combat.
At such close quarters, explosive tags became a liability.
The risk of harming oneself or allies was too great.
Now, it came down to pure skill and strength.
"Attack!"
A Konoha jonin's shout galvanized his comrades. One after another, Konoha ninjas emerged from their defensive positions, charging into the Mist's ranks.
The battlefield devolved into utter chaos.
The sharp clang of weapons rang out incessantly, interspersed with cries of pain and shouts of determination. Both sides fought like men possessed, their only thought to bring down their enemy.
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