"Kitsuchi!"
Huang Tu stared in utter disbelief at the figure of Jing Hang standing atop the cliff wall.
Impossible! How could he be here? This place is nearly three thousand kilometers away from Sunagakure!
For a moment, Huang Tu was gripped by an inexplicable sense of dread.
Jing Hang paid no attention to the astonished gazes of the Iwagakure shinobi. Standing atop his Iron Truth-Seeking Orb, he floated gracefully into the battlefield's skies.
The western wind howled, billowing Jing Hang's white cloak. He stood there with his arms crossed, a confident smile playing on his lips. Five massive Iron Truth-Seeking Orbs orbited slowly around him. By now, the sun had risen high, and the cloudless sky allowed its brilliant rays to shine directly through Jing Hang's figure, casting an ethereal glow onto the ground below. To the Iwagakure shinobi, it seemed as though Jing Hang himself was radiating divine light, like a god descending from the heavens.
Before the eyes of over ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi, Jing Hang floated steadily toward the Third Raikage.
"Brother, I'm late, but I made it just in time. Here, open your mouth."
Jing Hang carefully supported the Third Raikage's shoulder, retrieving a small vial from his ninja pouch. Twisting off the cap, he tipped out a pill and gently placed it into the Raikage's mouth.
The Third Raikage weakly swallowed the pill. He was too drained to speak but managed to force a strained smile at Jing Hang.
Hmm, this stuff isn't bad! The Third Raikage felt a warm current spreading through his abdomen, and his depleted chakra reserves seemed to show faint signs of recovery.
Wow, this guy's heavy. Jing Hang, half-dragging and half-lifting, managed to place the Third Raikage onto one of his Iron Truth-Seeking Orbs.
"Wait!"
Huang Tu's voice rang out sharply as he saw Jing Hang preparing to leave. His mind raced.
Just moments ago, the Third Raikage was within his grasp. Jing Hang's sudden appearance had completely disrupted his plans, leaving him in a precarious position. Iwagakure had paid a steep price for this encirclement—nearly a thousand shinobi lay dead on the battlefield. And now, just as they were about to claim the victory of slaying the Third Raikage, this cooked duck was about to fly away right in front of his eyes?
Huang Tu's gaze shifted to Jing Hang, who stood alone. His thoughts began to settle. Perhaps he could use the overwhelming numbers of his forces to pressure Jing Hang into surrendering. If that failed… well, then there was no need to hold back. One Kage or two—it made no difference. The grudge between Iwagakure and these two villages was already irreconcilable. He might as well go all the way. Even if it meant sacrificing another thousand shinobi, this was a rare opportunity to eliminate the top-tier powerhouses of both villages. At worst, he could later offer some concessions to Konoha to secure an alliance. Iwagakure would still have room to maneuver against Sunagakure and Kumogakure.
"Lord Kazekage, this is a war between Iwagakure and Kumogakure. What business do you have interfering?" Huang Tu called out loudly.
Jing Hang cast a cold glance at Huang Tu and replied, "What of it? I'm here to save him. Is that not allowed?"
"You may leave, and I won't stop you. But he stays," Huang Tu said, pointing at the Third Raikage, who was now seated on the Iron Truth-Seeking Orb.
"That's not going to happen. I'm taking him with me. If you have a problem with that, then draw the line and let's settle this," Jing Hang declared boldly.
The Third Raikage, now partially recovered, managed to sit upright. Though he still couldn't speak, his disdainful gaze was fixed on Huang Tu.
"Then you won't be leaving either!" Huang Tu growled through gritted teeth.
"Hahaha!" Jing Hang threw his head back and laughed. Then, raising his fingers to his lips, he let out a sharp whistle that echoed throughout Zheyan Gorge.
Suddenly, countless heads appeared along the left cliff wall. Clad in white headscarves and white combat uniforms, the figures were unmistakably Sunagakure's regular forces. They covered the mountainside like a dense swarm. A cursory glance revealed at least four to five thousand troops. Among them, a large banner fluttered in the wind—Sunagakure Regular Army, Second Division.
What the hell were the Anbu doing?! An entire division of Sunagakure shinobi had mobilized, and there hadn't been a single report about it!
Huang Tu was utterly dumbfounded. The situation on the battlefield had shifted dramatically. While Iwagakure still had over ten thousand shinobi, they were already exhausted after three days and nights of grueling battle against the Third Raikage. Facing the fresh and fully prepared four thousand troops from Sunagakure, victory was far from guaranteed.
If this battle continued, regardless of the outcome, the losses would be catastrophic. Even a pyrrhic victory would be unacceptable. Sunagakure's regular army boasted four divisions. If they sought retribution, the consequences would be dire—and that wasn't even considering the inevitable retaliation from Kumogakure.
And then there was Jing Hang, a top-tier powerhouse who was arguably even more troublesome than the Third Raikage. His speed nearly matched the Raikage's, and his Iron Sand techniques were devastating in their area of effect. If a fight broke out, Huang Tu wasn't confident that he could stop them.
Jing Hang, however, showed no such hesitation. He urged the Iron Truth-Seeking Orb forward, carrying the Third Raikage into the air.
"Stop! Do you think you can come and go as you please, treating Iwagakure like it's nothing?" Huang Tu roared.
Jing Hang didn't even pause. He continued ascending, heading toward the Sunagakure forces on the cliff.
"If you want a fight, then fight. Stop wasting my time!" Jing Hang shouted back, his tone dripping with disdain.
The over ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi could only watch helplessly as Jing Hang flew away.
One Iwagakure shinobi, unable to contain his frustration, hurled a kunai at Jing Hang. The act seemed to jolt the others awake, and in an instant, a storm of kunai and shuriken filled the sky, blotting out the sun in a spectacular display.
"No!" Huang Tu shouted, trying to stop them. Throwing metal weapons at Jing Hang was like handing him ammunition!
But it was too late.
Jing Hang smirked and raised his hand toward the incoming projectiles. Instantly, the kunai and shuriken froze mid-air.
"Well, you started this. Don't blame me for what happens next. Magnet Release: Myriad Blades Return to the Sect!"
A sharp glint flashed in Jing Hang's eyes. The suspended weapons all turned, their blades now aimed at the Iwagakure shinobi below.
"Go!"
With a flick of his wrist, Jing Hang sent the weapons hurtling back toward their owners.
Chaos erupted among the Iwagakure forces as they scrambled to defend themselves. The air was filled with the clanging of metal as shinobi frantically blocked the incoming projectiles. Despite their efforts, many fell, struck down by their own weapons.
Jing Hang chuckled disdainfully. If he'd brought more troops or had more time, he would've thoroughly crushed these fools.
Before long, he reached the Sunagakure forces.
"Retreat!" Jing Hang commanded, and the Sunagakure shinobi began withdrawing in an orderly fashion.
And just like that, it was over.
All of Iwagakure's efforts had been for nothing. Not only had they failed to capture the Third Raikage, but they had also suffered heavy casualties. After all that effort, they had gained nothing but frustration.
Huang Tu was left seething with anger and disbelief.
At that moment, a shinobi approached, bowing respectfully before Huang Tu.
"Lord Huang Tu, I bring news from the Anbu. Sunagakure's Third Division, stationed at the Moon Lake New Area, and the Fourth Division, stationed at Laowan Camp, are gathering at the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth. Their intentions are unclear."
"What?"
Huang Tu's suspicions deepened. Why was Sunagakure mobilizing troops now? Were they planning an invasion? A rescue mission? Both possibilities seemed plausible, yet something about the situation felt off.
"All available shinobi, listen up! Form battle formations and pursue them! We cannot let these Sunagakure shinobi escape the Land of Earth!" Huang Tu roared, his resolve hardening.
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