The battlefield had transformed into a vision of hell. Thick smoke choked the air while flames consumed everything in their path. The acrid stench of blood mingled with burning flesh, creating a nauseating miasma that clung to every surface.
Countless lives had already been extinguished in this valley, their final screams and desperate wails echoing off the rocky walls. Bodies littered the ground in grotesque positions, some still twitching in their death throes, others frozen in their last moments of terror.
This was a war where neither side could afford to retreat.
Konoha Village refused to accept defeat, while Iwagakure hungered for victory with even greater desperation.
The clash between Jiraiya and Loess had begun without fanfare, but its impact rippled across the entire battlefield. Where these two titans fought, other shinobi instinctively gave them a wide berth, knowing that to interfere would mean certain death—and might cost their commander the victory.
"Fire Release: Giant Flame Bomb!"
Jiraiya's chest expanded as he gathered chakra, then expelled a massive quantity of oil refined from his chakra reserves. In the same fluid motion, he ignited the oil with a spark of fire chakra, transforming it into a devastating inferno that roared toward Loess.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"
Loess slammed his massive fist into the ground, channeling earth chakra through the point of impact. The ground responded instantly, erupting upward to form a wall of compressed stone and earth that stood between him and the incoming flames.
"BOOM!"
The flaming projectile collided with the earthen barrier in a spectacular explosion. Debris and burning oil scattered in all directions while thick smoke billowed outward, obscuring the battlefield in a gray haze.
Jiraiya's fire technique possessed far greater destructive power than standard Fire Release jutsu, thanks to the combustible oil that fueled it. However, Loess had earned his reputation as one of Iwagakure's finest Earth Release specialists. The defensive wall he'd erected wasn't merely durable—it was reinforced with multiple layers of compressed earth, making it nearly impenetrable.
The result of their jutsu collision was a perfect stalemate, neither technique overwhelming the other.
"Whoosh!"
Under the cover of smoke and dust, Loess had already begun his counterattack. The massive jonin moved with surprising speed for his size, closing the distance to Jiraiya in seconds. As he burst from the smoke screen, his right arm was already drawn back for a devastating strike.
"Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique!"
Loess's entire right arm had transformed into solid stone, dramatically increasing both its weight and durability. The air itself seemed to part before his punch, creating a whistling sound as the rock-encased fist hurtled toward Jiraiya's face.
The Toad Sage's reflexes saved him. He launched himself backward in a graceful leap, narrowly avoiding the initial strike. But Loess pressed his advantage, pursuing relentlessly. Even as Jiraiya sailed through the air, his hands were already forming seals.
"Ninja Art: Lion's Mane Technique!"
Jiraiya's distinctive white hair suddenly erupted into motion, growing and spreading at an impossible rate. Like a lion's mane caught in a violent wind, countless strands extended outward, each one as strong as steel cable. The hair whipped through the air before converging on Loess, wrapping around his limbs and torso in an inescapable embrace.
The technique's true power revealed itself as the hair began to constrict. Each strand pulled with crushing force, threatening to slice through flesh and bone like razor wire.
"Poof!"
A cloud of smoke erupted where Loess had been bound, revealing a splintered log in place of the Rock jonin.
Substitution Technique!
Jiraiya's eyes widened in alarm, but it was too late. The ground behind him exploded as Loess emerged from his underground hiding place, his rock-covered fist already in motion. The punch connected solidly with Jiraiya's back, launching him forward like a ragdoll.
"BANG!"
The Sannin's body carved a deep furrow through the earth as he tumbled uncontrollably. His momentum carried him through several large trees, each one splintering on impact, before he finally came to rest in a crumpled heap.
A satisfied smirk crossed Loess's face as he surveyed his handiwork. But his moment of triumph was short-lived. An enormous shadow suddenly blotted out the sun above him, growing larger by the second.
A massive toad plummeted from the sky, its bulk aimed directly at Loess's position.
"Summoning Technique: Crushing Toad Drop!"
"BOOM!"
The impact shook the entire valley. The ground cratered beneath the toad's weight, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Dust and debris erupted in a massive cloud while chunks of earth rained down like hail.
At the last possible moment, Loess had thrown himself sideways in a desperate roll. It wasn't graceful—more like a "lazy donkey roll" as some might call it—but it saved his life. He scrambled to his feet, breathing hard, and instinctively touched his cheek. His hand came away bloody.
More concerning was the burning sensation across his back. His evasion hadn't been quite fast enough, and the toad's impact had sent debris slashing across his body.
"The Great Toad Sage Jiraiya has arrived!"
Standing atop the massive toad's head, Jiraiya struck a dramatic pose. His theatrical declaration and smug grin were clearly designed to irritate his opponent—and judging by Loess's scowl, it worked perfectly.
The smile hadn't disappeared from the battlefield; it had simply changed owners.
Loess glanced toward where Jiraiya's body had fallen moments ago, only to find empty ground. The "Jiraiya" he'd struck had been nothing more than a shadow clone, dispersed upon impact.
"Let's go, Gamahiro!"
"Oh yeah!"
The massive toad drew twin katana from the sheaths on his back. Lightning seemed to crackle along the blades as Gamahiro raised them high. Wind howled around the weapons as they descended toward Loess with crushing force.
"Perfect!"
Far from retreating, Loess planted his feet firmly and drew upon his connection to the earth. Power flowed up through his legs as both arms transformed into solid rock. He raised them above his head just as Gamahiro's swords came crashing down.
"CLANG!"
The collision produced a sound like thunder. Spider-web cracks spread from Loess's position as the ground beneath him pulverized under the tremendous pressure. Dust swirled upward, and when the wind caught it, the powdered earth revealed that Loess had been driven several inches into the ground.
"He blocked it?" Jiraiya exclaimed from his perch atop Gamahiro's head.
Despite the overwhelming force bearing down on him, Loess had caught both massive blades with his rock-covered arms, holding them at bay through sheer strength.
"This power is incredible!"
Loess slowly raised his head, revealing a fierce grin. This was the strength the earth granted him! As long as a shinobi of Iwagakure stood upon solid ground, they would never fall! This was his ninja way—his Will of Stone!
"CRACK!"
Gamahiro didn't relent. The toad warrior poured more strength into his attack, trying to overwhelm Loess's defense through pure force.
"HAH!"
Loess's response was a roar of defiance. Chakra surged through his body like a raging river. His arm muscles bulged grotesquely as he called upon reserves of strength that seemed impossible for a human to possess. Inch by inch, he began pushing Gamahiro's swords back.
"Why do some people have such monstrous strength?" Jiraiya muttered, suppressing an involuntary shudder as unpleasant memories surfaced. He shook off the distraction and began forming hand seals at rapid speed.
"Your opponent is me!" Loess bellowed.
With a tremendous effort, he wrenched his legs free from the earth and heaved upward, completely deflecting Gamahiro's swords. The giant toad stumbled backward, his balance compromised.
The disruption affected Jiraiya's seal formation, but Loess had already spotted the hand signs—Fire Release seals.
"Fire Release: Toad Oil—"
"Earth Release: Moving Earth Core!"
Loess's counterattack came faster than Jiraiya's technique. His palms slammed against the ground, sending a massive pulse of earth chakra into the terrain. The ground beneath Gamahiro suddenly buckled and rose, catapulting both toad and sage away before Jiraiya could complete his jutsu.
"Earth Release: Rock Shuriken Barrage!"
Without pause, Loess formed another series of seals. The scattered rocks around him transformed into razor-sharp projectiles that launched toward Jiraiya and Gamahiro like a meteor shower. The stone shuriken tore through the air with lethal velocity, whistling as they flew.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
Jiraiya's white hair responded instantly to his chakra, growing and hardening into a protective shell around his body. The improvised armor deflected most of the incoming projectiles with metallic pings.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
Gamahiro's defense was more active. The toad's twin swords became a blur of motion, creating an impenetrable barrier that deflected every projectile that entered his range. Sparks flew as stone met steel in a deadly dance.
"THUD!"
Jiraiya and Gamahiro landed heavily but maintained their fighting stances, facing Loess across the scarred battlefield.
Should I use that technique? Jiraiya wondered, his mind racing through possibilities. Without it, defeating Loess quickly seemed impossible.
His eyes swept across the larger battlefield, and what he saw made his heart sink. Rock shinobi vastly outnumbered the Leaf forces. Each Konoha ninja faced overwhelming odds, with some fighting desperately against ten or more enemies simultaneously. The numerical disadvantage was crushing their defensive lines.
We can't afford any more delays. If this continues, Konoha's losses will be catastrophic.
They had made plans before the battle, but Jiraiya couldn't be certain that Naraku would arrive in time. What if something had delayed him? What if he couldn't make it at all?
Making his decision, Jiraiya brought his hands together in a meditative pose and lowered his head. "Gamahiro, buy me some time! I need to enter Sage Mode!"
"Leave it to me!" The giant toad adjusted his grip on both swords, his bulbous eyes fixed warily on Loess.
From Loess's perspective, the situation was ideal. Unlike Jiraiya, he felt no pressure to end this quickly. The Rock jonin had observed the same battlefield conditions and reached the opposite conclusion. As long as he could keep Jiraiya occupied, Iwagakure's numerical superiority would ensure their victory.
His objective was simple: stall Jiraiya for as long as possible.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield...
"Hah... hah... hah..."
Hatake Kakashi's chest heaved with exhaustion. Beside him, Might Guy, Sarutobi Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, Yamashiro Aoba, and other Konoha shinobi struggled to catch their breath. They stood in a defensive circle, surrounded by an overwhelming mass of Rock ninja that seemed to grow larger with each passing moment.
"If Naraku doesn't arrive soon," Asuma gasped between labored breaths, "he'll be collecting our corpses instead of reinforcing us."
Before he could finish his grim prediction, a low rumble echoed across the valley. It started as a distant whisper but quickly grew into rolling thunder that seemed to come from the sky itself.
Then they saw it—a crimson comet streaking across the heavens, leaving a brilliant trail of light in its wake. The blazing projectile curved downward, its trajectory aimed directly at the heart of the battlefield.
"BOOM!"
The impact was cataclysmic.
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion