The battle between the Konoha ninjas and the Iwagakure ninjas resumed. Since the Iwagakure ninjas gradually adapted to the bombardment of the exploding cannons, each battle became longer and longer. It was not easy for either side to defeat the other.
Initially, the Konoha ninjas had a significant advantage, but after Onoki, Roshi, and Han, three ninjas of extraordinary caliber, entered the fray, things began to change. The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, still had the Hokage to contend with, but there weren't many who could deal with the other two Jinchuriki.
Roshi and Han were both Jinchuriki capable of using a portion of their Tailed Beast's power. Although they hadn't reached the level of perfect Jinchuriki, they were not beings that ordinary humans could contend with.
In later generations, only the S-rank rogue ninjas of the Akatsuki organization, who were among the best in the entire ninja world, could individually deal with these Jinchuriki, and even then, they often relied on specific counter-measures, which speaks to the Jinchuriki's immense power.
If not for this, Jinchuriki would not have become the ultimate weapons of a ninja village. Although they did not become the power group that balanced the Five Great Nations as Hashirama Senju had imagined, they became a formidable military force, second to none in war.
The battle began, and the Konoha ninjas quickly brought out their exploding cannons, unleashing a dense barrage of "ammunition" towards the Iwagakure ninjas. The Iwagakure ninjas, already prepared, used Earth Release to construct trenches and other defensive fortifications to block the cannon fire. Simultaneously, they transmitted Earth Release chakra underground into the Konoha ninja's positions, intending to overturn the entire area.
However, the Konoha ninja unit's sensory ninjas detected this beforehand and ordered others to use ninja tools based on Lightning Burst Tags, throwing them into the center of the battlefield. The instantly spreading lightning-style chakra severed the previously connected earth-style chakra. Although it didn't completely stop the Earth Release, it prevented large-scale ground upheaval.
At most, there was a tremor, and countless cracks appeared on the ground, but both sides' positions remained intact, and their attacks continued. This was the normal state of affairs for both sides once the mid-stage of the battle was reached.
The turning point of the war occurred when one side began to run out of steam. For instance, at this moment, as the Konoha ninja unit's firepower gradually thinned, a figure leaped from the Iwagakure ninja's position to a high ground.
It was an Iwagakure ninja clad in heavy armor, completely unlike the typical ninja who prioritized speed and light combat. In Konoha, only ninjas from the Akimichi clan would wear such attire due to their large and heavy physiques, combined with their strong frontal combat capabilities, which made this method effective.
Why was this Iwagakure ninja dressed like this? Previously, the Konoha ninjas didn't fully understand, but later they did. Upon seeing this individual appear, the commander in the Konoha ninja's position began shouting orders.
At this moment, the heavily armored Iwagakure ninja began to move. Powerful chakra surged from his body. This materialized chakra was not something just anyone could achieve; it required a ninja of immense strength with deep mastery of nature transformation to accomplish it.
The chakra surrounding the Iwagakure ninja was almost pure white, like a hazy mist. Immediately after, this "mist" began to react violently, gushing out in all directions. From a distance, it brought to mind the sensation of surging steam.
The Iwagakure ninja directly lifted a giant rock, many times his size. His body seemed like a drop in the ocean compared to this rock. It was unclear where he got such immense strength, but he unhesitatingly hurled the rock, and its speed was astonishing!
It was as if the air itself was about to burst. The rock flew at high speed towards the Konoha ninja's position, and under intense pressure, countless cracks appeared on its surface before it shattered into dense fragments, like "cannonballs" of rock, falling into the Konoha ninja's position.
Even though they had seen it more than once, the Konoha ninjas still found it difficult to deal with. If it were just large rocks, it wouldn't be as big of a problem, but the biggest issue was the dense fragments after it shattered. Such a wide-ranging attack couldn't be easily blocked.
The Konoha ninjas quickly took cover. With a series of loud crashes, half of their position immediately collapsed. From the outside, the destructive power was no less than a concentrated bombardment from the exploding cannons.
That Iwagakure ninja was Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, a master of the Boil Release Kekkei Genkai. His Boil Release could generate intense heat, making it impossible to approach, and simultaneously, he could use the power of boiling to instantly amplify his chakra's energy reaction, thereby unleashing immense strength.
In principle, it bore a strong resemblance to the superhuman strength of the Senju clan. It was precisely because of this that Han could lift such a massive rock and hurl it with such astonishing speed.
Previously, the Iwagakure ninja's long-range Earth Release attacks were either too slow and were shattered mid-air by concentrated fire, or lacked sufficient power; even if fast, they were still intercepted by the Konoha ninjas. Even covert underground attacks were cut off by the "landmines" of Lightning Burst Tags, leading to uncoordinated power and an inability to achieve their intended effect.
Han's physically-based "Earth Release" attack was initially not widely accepted, but it was later discovered to be the most effective method.
The rocks hurled by Han after boosting his strength with Boil Release, even after shattering, had astonishing impact force and incredible speed. Coupled with the wide-ranging bombardment caused by their inevitable fragmentation, if the exploding cannon support was insufficient, the Konoha ninjas would find it very difficult to defend against it with their own strength. Therefore, whenever the exploding cannons faltered, Han would step forward.
Han's attack did not stop. He hurled another giant rock. The Iwagakure ninjas' Earth Release could easily create the "ammunition" he needed. After three consecutive throws, the Konoha ninja's position was on the verge of collapse, and more than half of their exploding cannons were destroyed.
"Good," Han turned to look at someone below. "Now it's your turn."
"Go easy on me, don't throw me around so much. Even with the chakra cloak protecting me, it still hurts a lot," the Iwagakure ninja below grumbled, speaking as he leaped up from below.
"If you're not afraid of being shot down mid-air by the Konoha ninjas, weren't the previous attacks destroyed mid-air by the fast-reacting Konoha ninjas' concentrated ninjutsu because they weren't fast enough?" Han said, grabbing the Iwagakure ninja's body with both hands.
"Even so... Ah!" Before he could finish speaking, the Iwagakure ninja was flung out by Han, letting out a cry of surprise in the air.
A Konoha ninja saw a red dot rapidly expanding in the distance and quickly called out to his comrades nearby, shouting, "Watch out, the Jinchuriki is coming!"
Shortly after his voice faded, the red figure slammed heavily into the ground. As it hit, a scorching, lava-like chakra surged out in all directions. The Konoha ninjas dared not approach for a moment; only those skilled in Water Release ninjutsu attacked the fallen figure.
"Tch, Han, that bastard, he really doesn't hold back at all." The person clicked his tongue, then abruptly waved his hand. Deep red chakra, like a barrier, blocked the Water Release attacks, merely generating a large amount of steam that made the skin of those nearby feel as if it were blistering.
The one thrown by Han was another Jinchuriki, Roshi, the Four-Tails, a master of the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai. Ordinary Water Release was simply insufficient to counter his Kekkei Genkai.
Roshi stood his ground, enveloped in deep red chakra, which coalesced into the shape of a tail behind him, swishing back and forth. This was a power only Jinchuriki could use, the first form of Tailed Beast Transformation, where Tailed Beast chakra condenses around the body to form a chakra cloak.
Roshi shook his slightly dizzy head, looked at the Konoha ninjas in all directions, bared his teeth, and charged towards them, causing an impact like a volcanic eruption, with scorching lava surging skyward.