On average, a ninja lost their life every second—whether it was a Cloud Village shinobi or a Konoha ninja.
With a loud bang, the massive earth-style sphere at the center of the battlefield exploded.
"This old man's tough as hell. Hey, Cloud Village—who exactly is this guy to you?"
Senju Hideki brushed off his slightly battered armor and tossed the round object in his hand aside.
Yūhi Shinku was supporting Mitarashi Shishō. He had been viciously ambushed by Yoru-san earlier, and now one of his arms was basically unusable on the battlefield.
"Yoru… Yoru-sama…"
The Cloud Village ninja's eyes split with rage.
"Yoru-san…"
That was A.
While retreating earlier, he had spotted Toroi and followed him back into the fight. It was because of him that Toroi had been able to lead his squad here so quickly.
But no one expected him to be taken out by a Konoha ambush.
Now, both the first and second squad commanders of the Cloud Village were either dead or incapacitated.
Even with the Cloud Village's elite forces—and even though no one was thinking of retreating—their overall combat strength inevitably dropped.
Meanwhile, Konoha forces saw Senju Hideki make such a domineering entrance, the dazzling Senju clan crest blazing behind him—
Their morale skyrocketed.
For a moment, they actually suppressed the stronger Cloud Village forces head-on.
"Well, well, isn't that the future Raikage? Still haven't run away? See that little dark-skinned kid? That's the future Raikage—hit him hard!"
As soon as Senju Hideki said this, the surrounding Konoha ninja's eyes turned red with excitement.
Killing the future Raikage—what kind of merit was that?!
...
At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared behind A.
"Konoha jōnin Gekkō Raku—your head, future Raikage, is mine. Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon."
Three afterimages charged toward A.
"Lightning Release: Living Body Transformation, Stage Two. Lightning Release: Hell Stab."
A flash of lightning.
The other two illusions shattered instantly, and with a single strike, the jōnin's heart was crushed.
"A, if you can't handle it, get off the battlefield. The Yotsuki clan doesn't need trash like you."
"It's a lord of the Yotsuki clan! Follow him!"
"It's Yotsuki Ei-sama, the Third Raikage's younger brother! Charge with Ei-sama!"
A snapped back to his senses immediately.
He had actually been dragging his teammates down.
"Everyone… from now on, don't worry about me. If I die on the battlefield, it just means I wasn't good enough."
"Super Strength: Rock Fist."
"Hell Stab."
With a thunderous crash, Senju Hideki and Yotsuki Ei collided and then immediately retreated.
"Oh? Didn't you say no one needed to help you? Then what was that just now—someone interfering for you?"
Senju Hideki grinned strangely.
"It is what it is. Definitely not a person, though."
Yūhi Shinku replied.
"Shinku, how can you say that? Clearly it's the future Raikage going back on his word—what does that have to do with that powerful Cloud ninja?"
Mitarashi Shishō, though down an arm, was just as sharp-tongued as ever. Otherwise, why would Yoru have singled him out for a sneak attack among the three?
A's face turned red and green.
He had just tried to act tough—only to be humiliated immediately.
"A, they're messing with your head. Can't you see that? Stay calm. Those evil Senju ninja just bully the young. What kind of skill is it to pick on an eleven-year-old?"
"I'm twelve, and he's eleven. That's not really unfair, is it?"
"What?! You're only twelve?! An evil Senju like you can't be allowed to live! Lightning Release: Piercing Four Fingered!"
"Hey, hey—what kind of skill is it to bully a twelve-year-old? Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Walls!"
"For the sake of eliminating a future threat to the Cloud Village, we will do our duty! Lightning Release: Piercing Four Fingered!"
"As expected of you scheming adults—you get to say whatever you want. Earth Release: Rock Charge!"
A massive, spiked gauntlet formed around Senju Hideki's arm, spinning as he charged straight at Yotsuki Ei's attack.
The inspiration for this move came from the Inuzuka clan's Secret Technique: Fang Passing Fang.
The two techniques collided violently—one a straight, piercing thrust, the other a rapidly spinning drill-like charge.
Their clash erupted with a sharp, deafening roar.
"Illusion Technique: Tree Binding Death!"
A felt as if vines were wrapping tightly around his body.
"Damn it! Do you think I'm really that weak?! Lightning Release: Lariat!"
The chakra surrounding A surged to another level.
He shattered Yūhi Shinku's genjutsu and charged straight at him.
A bolt of lightning struck from above while flames burst from the ground below, forcibly interrupting A's attack.
"Gan, thanks."
"Nothing. This guy's tough. Why were you so careless just now?"
The one who came to assist was Kurama Gan. His genjutsu, which manipulated the five senses, was truly difficult to deal with.
"I saw how easily Hideki handled it and thought I could do the same… didn't expect this at all."
"Don't get cocky. A man known as the future Raikage was never going to be easy to handle."
"I know, Gan. Still… Hideki really is strong. We're about the same age, but he's dealing with the future Raikage like it's nothing."
"That's the future head of the Senju clan you're talking about. Who did you think he was?"
Kurama Gan's tone carried deep pride—a pure Senju loyalist.
...
While the battle raged intensely here—
On Shikaku's side:
"Formation Twenty!"
"Explosive Tags Formation!"
"Mind Body Disturbance Technique!"
"Shadow Imitation Technique!"
Dodai's heart skipped a beat.
Damn it—who exactly is their target?!
"Super Expansion Technique: Human Bullet Tank!"
Akimichi Chōza activated his Super Expansion Technique and charged straight at Dodai like a rolling boulder.
"Lava Release: Rubber Wall!"
A rubber-like substance appeared, bouncing Chōza straight back.
Chōza immediately canceled the technique.
"Shikaku, that yellow substance—it's extremely elastic, almost like rubber!"
"Lava Release, huh? A bloodline user from the Stone Village. What did the Cloud Village offer you to fight so hard for them? Tell me—Konoha can offer double."
Shikaku shouted loudly, trying to subtly shake the enemy's morale.
"Hmph. Just cheap tricks from a Nara. I am a true Cloud Village shinobi—what reward would I need?"
"Dodai-sama, watch out!"
A sword-wielding Cloud ninja suddenly slashed away another Cloud ninja who was rushing at Dodai.
"Yamanaka clan technique, huh? Thanks—ah—"
Before Dodai could finish thanking him—
A white flash of a blade cut across his back.
"Earth Release: Rock Spikes!"
Dodai counterattacked, sharp stone spikes piercing through the sword-wielding ninja's abdomen.
"Dodai-sama… be careful…"
With that, the ninja breathed his last.
Only then did Dodai notice the shadow that had disappeared beneath the feet of the previously struck ninja—
And finally understood.
"So… the one who was controlled by the Yamanaka technique… was you all along."