Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, three days went by.
Above the Land of Rain.
Four Sky Castles floated in a square formation, each extending a stone slab pathway from its entrance, forming a central platform.
Amidst the clustering of the various village leaders and the gaze of countless Shinobi, the Third Hokage walked towards the platform.
Arriving at the platform, Hiruzen looked around.
On the four Sky Castles, the entrances, windows, rooftops… every place facing this direction was crowded with people, each looking at him with eyes full of anticipation and fear.
War… everyone was familiar with it.
But precisely because they were familiar, they were afraid.
Even if their side had absolute superiority, even if they had absolute confidence of winning, it had nothing to do with whether they could survive on the battlefield.
Those whose strength wasn't enough to dictate their fate on the battlefield could only leave it to fate.
However,
A crisis was also an opportunity.
Gaining merit on the battlefield, then obtaining fame, status, wealth… whether in wars of active aggression or protecting one's homeland, all who headed to the battlefield held such thoughts.
Therefore, while worried and afraid, they were also anticipating.
And this mood, through their eyes, was seen clearly by Hiruzen.
"Everyone…" Hiruzen took a deep breath and said. "Six years ago, Sunagakure took advantage of Konoha's war with another country to loot a burning house, forcing Konoha to sign a series of unequal treaties. Afterwards, after Konoha fulfilled the treaties, they overturned the table, almost destroying Konoha. Immediately after, they raided Kirigakure and destroyed Kumogakure on unjustifiable grounds…"
"If it were just this, everyone could still hold to the concept of peace being precious and forgive him."
"But Sunagakure not only showed not the slightest restraint, instead openly expanded their armaments, attempting to conquer the Shinobi World with absolute force… If we allow them to continue expanding, it won't be long before the entire shinobi world is no match."
"Sunagakure's ambition is perfectly clear. Their past behavior has already proven everything. If we don't stop them now, by the time they become so strong that even a united Shinobi World is no match, it will be doomsday where we lose our place to live."
"Everyone, think of your family, friends, think of the happiness you possess!"
"Then think again, all you possess being burned away by Sunagakure's flames of war. Do you wish for such a future to become reality?"
"No!"
"No!"
"No!"
"No!"
From the four Sky Castles, deafening shouts responded.
Hiruzen's wrinkle-filled face managed a smile.
He pressed his hands down as if to quiet them. Seeing them quiet down, he continued, "Everyone, I know everyone has had gaps or even deep-seated hatred in the past. However, this time it's the Allied Shinobi Forces. Past enemies have become comrades. If you cannot let go of preconceptions, perhaps everyone will die on the battlefield, and the future no one wishes to see will also become reality."
"Therefore, I want you to at least in this war, treat each other as comrades, not enemies. At least in this war, set aside past preconceptions and cooperate together."
"Only then can we face the future together!"
"Only then can we be invincible in battle!"
"Only then can we win this war!"
"Everyone, do you choose victory or letting the unwanted future become reality? You choose!"
"Victory!"
"Victory!"
"Victory!"
"Victory!"
Mountain-toppling, sea-roaring shouts resounded through the clouds.
Hiruzen, and all the leaders, revealed smiles.
"So impressive!" Hashirama stood by the window, said happily. "Tobirama, this disciple of yours is truly impressive!"
"Little Saru displayed talent surpassing mine from childhood. Having such ability is also natural." Tobirama said as if it were natural, but his slightly upturned corners of his mouth still betrayed his pleased mood. Unfortunately, Hashirama watched out the window from beginning to end, not noticing this.
He said with an excited expression. "War is the place where feelings are most easily nurtured. After this war, everyone will surely be able to abandon past grudges. At that time, the Shinobi World will welcome true peace!"
"True peace, huh…"
Tobirama fell silent.
He didn't think so.
Perhaps there would be a long period of peace after this war, but true peace… does it truly exist?
"All forces, advance!"
Amidst the wave of morale soaring like a dragon, Hiruzen seized the moment to issue the command.
"Ooh!!!"
The wave of sound rose higher and higher. The Sky Castles emitted a humming sound, preparing to advance towards the Land of Wind.
At that moment, dazzling light pierced the clouds, blinding people. Energy columns as thick as bowls like judgment light fell from the sky.
"Not good!"
Hashirama thought inwardly. Tobirama even grabbed Hashirama's shoulder, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to Hiruzen's side.
And Hashirama had just finished forming seals. "Wood Release: Quintuple Wooden Pillar Wall!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
Thick, hard wooden beams sprouted from the ground, forming one round wall after another above everyone.
The next second, the judgment light descended.
That powerful defense, capable of deflecting a Bijudama with a single layer, now with five layers stacked, seemed like paper as it was instantly pierced and continued downward with undiminished force, impacting the Amegakure below.
Instantly, energy spread, sweeping in all directions.
The irresistible shockwave was like raging waves swallowing everything.
The light from the vast energy blooming seemed to outshine even the sun in the sky, leaving only a vast expanse of whiteness between heaven and earth. Even sound was swallowed.
Everyone couldn't see, couldn't hear, only feeling uneasy and anxious from the last thing they saw.
Finally, sound returned.
The rumble of vibrations was incessant.
Then, vision also returned.
The central platform was gone, only the severed ends emitting hot steam from vaporization.
They looked down. The originally steel metropolis with towering buildings was obscured by billowing smoke and dust. The parts revealed at the edges were scorched earth emitting hot steam.
"Could it be!?"
"No way!"
"It can't be!"
Seeing this, everyone seemed to think of something, all showing incredulous expressions.
Some high-ranking individuals turned pale.
"It's the Chakra Cannon! Activate the defense barrier!"
"Watch out for enemy attack!"
Shikaku shouted loudly, but the Shinobi who had lost their leaders, except for Konoha's, didn't execute immediately. Instead, they were like headless flies each doing their own thing.
Some shouted their leader's names, some called out to trusted people. But the five Jinchuriki needed to activate the defense barrier… Nii Yugito, Han, Roshi, Kushina, and the previous Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, Meia… they were all elite among elites, experts among experts.
Even encountering such a sudden situation, they didn't panic, very calmly activated the defense barrier.
The four Sky Castles flickered with electric light, then burst forth with yellow transparent domes. These merged in mid-air into a single gigantic energy dome that enveloped all Sky Castles.
The next second, the judgment light descended again!
The gigantic light beam impacted the energy dome, rippling out circles of ripples. The peerless impact spread, blowing away the clouds.
A massive shadow in the high sky loomed over the Sky Castles.
Even though they had their own Sky Castles, seeing a continental plate floating overhead, stretching as far as the eye could see, the Allied Shinobi Forces still felt shocked.
The two were simply not on the same level.
"Hum…"
Under the bombardment of the light beam, the energy dome vibrated intensely.
However, even though it vibrated intensely, it was as stable as a mountain, showing no signs of cracking.
A few seconds later, the energy vanished, the sky cleared.
Everyone in the Allied Shinobi Forces couldn't help but sigh in relief.
The five Jinchuriki injecting Chakra by the defense barrier heaved a huge sigh of relief.
To withstand that one strike, they had consumed one-fifth of their Chakra. Only they, personally supporting the Chakra, knew how powerful that last strike was.
"Don't relax! Be careful of the next wave of attacks!"
"Yes!"
Although worried about the leaders hit by the first shot, now wasn't the time to be distracted. They could only trust in the First Hokage's strength to rescue the leaders in such a crisis.
…
"Orochimaru, quickly summon the past Kage! The leaders' fate is unknown right now. Only the Kage of each village can command effectively!" Shikaku found Orochimaru and quickly stated his idea.
Hearing this, Orochimaru didn't waste words and directly began summoning.
In fact, the past Kage had been summoned yesterday, and they had been briefed on the relevant intelligence.
But Shikaku wanted Orochimaru to break through into the Mechanical City during the attack, then summon them directly in the enemy's heartland for an unexpected effect, so they had been sent back to the Pure Land.
No one expected the enemy would strike first, attacking first.
"Damn it! Why didn't our Sensor Shinobi discover anything?" Shikaku angrily clenched his fist.
…
"Kazekage-sama, the second shot was blocked!"
Round Table Conference Room.
The messenger reported the battle results to the room converted into a command center as soon as possible.
"Understood."
The Third Kazekage nodded, looking at everyone. "As expected, the enemy already had preparations to counter the Chakra Cannon."
Ryuji had seized the Chakra Cannon from Kumogakure five years ago. If the enemy dared to initiate war without means to deal with such a strategic weapon, it would undoubtedly be a path to death.
Therefore, including the Kazekage, everyone was not surprised by this result.
"Continue firing. The Chakra Cannon's power is genuine. Even if the enemy has preparations, it won't be easy!" Ryuji said calmly. "If we can't break this barrier, then in this war, the enemy will be in an invincible position."
"Execute according to Ryuji's command!"
"Yes!"
Receiving the Third Kazekage's command, the messenger immediately went out to relay the command.
Mukai said, "The Chakra Cannon's Chakra Storage is only enough for five shots. If the Chakra Cannon cannot even break the defensive barrier, how should we respond?"
A weapon of such great power as the Chakra Cannon also had unimaginable Chakra Requirements.
Although they had the infinite energy of the Dragon Vein as support, the recharging process was too slow.
This was basically an emergency-use weapon, impossible for conventional warfare use.
Mukai's words caused everyone concern.
But Ryuji still had a smiling expression on his face. "If the Chakra Cannon can't even destroy the defensive barrier, then it serves them right that they're unlucky."
"Huh?"
Hearing Ryuji's words, everyone was stunned for a moment, then looked at each other.
'Did Ryuji say it backwards?'
'If we cannot break the enemy's defensive barrier, they cannot deal with the enemy, and Sunagakure would have no possibility of winning.'
'Why would such a situation be the enemy being unlucky?'
But Ryuji's following words made them understand.
"If the Chakra Cannon can't even break the defensive barrier, then I'll have to use my trump card early, and the war will end like child's play!"