"Who is that?"
Although in a large-scale battle like this, most ninjas could only focus on the enemy directly in front of them, some powerful shinobi possessed the ability to step back mentally, observing the shifting tides of the battlefield with a broader perspective. Such ninjas existed on both the Cloud and Konoha sides.
Normally, a battle involving over three thousand ninjas would be unlikely to conclude quickly. However, the emergence of a powerhouse capable of inflicting massive casualties in a short time could significantly sway the outcome.
Li Anshi, having eliminated over thirty Cloud ninjas, including a Jonin, in less than thirty seconds since the initial clash, had torn a significant gap in the Cloud formation.
Numerous Konoha ninjas surged through the breach Li Anshi had created, inflicting considerable losses on the Cloud forces and steadily widening Konoha's advantage. Even Sagawa Yui, Kondo Kazuya, and Sakamoto Toshio managed to work together and kill a Cloud Genin.
Under these circumstances, if the Cloud side didn't want the battle lines to collapse entirely, they absolutely had to stop Li Anshi.
Thus, following their commander's orders, several Cloud Jonin began moving towards Li Anshi's position. Those already engaged with Konoha Jonin attempted to shift their fights closer to Li Anshi, even if they couldn't immediately disengage from their current opponents.
Naturally, the Konoha Jonin couldn't simply watch the Cloud ninjas achieve their goal. They desperately tried to block the Cloud Jonin's advance towards Li Anshi. Despite their efforts, several Cloud Jonin gradually closed the distance.
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
Finally, one Cloud Jonin reached the vicinity first. Forming hand seals while sprinting, he spat a high-pressure stream of water directly at Li Anshi.
"Watch out!"
A Konoha ninja who witnessed this immediately shouted a warning to Li Anshi.
Facing the Cloud ninja's attack, Li Anshi didn't dodge. Behind him stood numerous Konoha ninjas. If he avoided the Water Severing Wave, those behind him would be killed or severely injured by the high-pressure stream.
"Rasengan!"
Li Anshi raised his left hand. A chakra sphere the size of a small bowl materialized in his palm, directly smashing the incoming Water Severing Wave apart.
Then, chakra exploded from under Li Anshi's feet. Driving the Rasengan forward against the remaining force of the high-pressure water, he charged straight at the Cloud ninja. Before the Jonin's horrified eyes, Li Anshi slammed the Rasengan directly into his chest.
Schlick! Schlick! Schlick!
As the Rasengan made contact, the immense rotational force Li Anshi had contained within it erupted outwards. The sphere rapidly expanded, acting like a giant grinding wheel, instantly shredding the Cloud Jonin into pieces.
"Hiss—"
Every ninja who witnessed this couldn't help but shudder, their gazes towards Li Anshi filled with terror.
That was a Jonin!
Torn apart into a bloody mist so easily?
What kind of ninjutsu was that?
If they hadn't been mistaken, that Konoha ninja hadn't formed any hand seals at all.
A seal-less ninjutsu? That completely defied the fundamental principles of how ninjas used techniques.
"Asano!"
A Cloud Jonin cried out the name of the ninja Li Anshi had just killed, clearly indicating a close relationship between them. This Jonin then abandoned his own opponent and charged towards Li Anshi.
Li Anshi showed no mercy. A flying dagger slipped from his sleeve.
Swish!
Thwip—
Blood spurted. The charging Cloud Jonin stumbled forward a few steps before collapsing face-first onto the ground.
"Kaishima!"
Killing two Cloud Jonin in quick succession caused the remaining Cloud Jonin to look at Li Anshi with undisguised horror.
For ninjas, killing and being killed wasn't unusual. But failing to understand how someone killed was the most terrifying thing.
Thus, the remaining Cloud ninjas became much more cautious. They didn't immediately attack Li Anshi. Instead, they waited for the other Jonin to arrive, spreading out to encircle Li Anshi completely.
Six Jonin – a force capable of holding off even a Kage-level opponent for a short time. This clearly showed how seriously the Cloud side now regarded Li Anshi.
"Earth Style: Earth Prison Dome of Magnificent Nothingness!"
One of the Cloud ninjas behind Li Anshi completed his hand seals and slammed his palms onto the ground. Instantly, large amounts of earth surged upwards around Li Anshi, rapidly forming a solid dome and trapping him inside.
"Looks like these Cloud ninjas have learned their lesson..." Li Anshi wasn't surprised that they opened with a control-type ninjutsu.
Among ninjas, before achieving absolute overwhelming strength, intelligence was paramount.
The Jonin who had rushed over to attack him now were all battle-hardened veterans. From Li Anshi's previous two kills, they could deduce he possessed a powerful seal-less ninjutsu and some kind of secret technique involving thrown weapons. Therefore, even without verbal communication, these few Cloud Jonin had already formulated basic strategies for engaging Li Anshi.
"Rasengan!"
Trapped within the earth dome, Li Anshi didn't hesitate. A blue chakra sphere instantly formed in his right palm. He leaped upwards, slamming the Rasengan against the roof of the dome.
If Li Anshi remembered correctly, the Earth Prison Dome could also absorb the chakra of those trapped inside. If he didn't break out quickly, his chakra would be drained to the point where he might lose the ability to escape at all.
Boom!
As Li Anshi burst out from the top of the shattered dome, two Cloud Jonin had already finished their hand seals. The moment he reappeared, they unleashed their techniques.
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Two waterfalls merged into an even larger torrent, engulfing Li Anshi at its center, crashing down with immense force as if to pulverize him.
"Revolving Heaven!"
Li Anshi threw his hands upwards. Blue chakra erupted from his palms, forming a rotating shield of chakra that clashed directly with the descending waterfall.
Splash!
The deluge created by the two Jonin's Great Waterfall Technique turned a large portion of the battlefield into a temporary lake, the water spreading rapidly outwards. Ninjas from both sides, Cloud and Konoha alike, were swept away by the turbulent currents.
Bang!
Breaking through the waterfall, Li Anshi spread his hands, four flying daggers slid into the gaps between his fingers.
"Watch out!"
A ninja spotted the daggers in Li Anshi's hands and immediately shouted a warning. They remembered this Konoha ninja had used a secret throwing technique to kill Jonin Kaishima earlier.