The battle raged like a deadly tug-of-war, the frontline shifting violently between both sides.
As time went on, though, the clash between their techniques slowly pushed the battle line toward Iwagakure's side.
With the reinforcements brought by Seiki, the Konoha forces had already gained numerical superiority.
"Damn it, they truly remain unaffected!" Onoki's face darkened.
He had known all along that his side was outnumbered, but when the gap wasn't significant, morale played an extremely important role.
Unfortunately, he still miscalculated.
Those Konoha ninjas weren't merely pretending to be calm—they genuinely had high morale.
In that case, those who were suppressed from the start of the battle could only temporarily retreat.
And retreating was a risky move—if their formation fell apart, Konoha would seize the chance for a brutal counterattack.
"Dammit, we'll have to let them get the first strike!" Onoki inwardly sighed, knowing this wasn't an ideal decision, yet he had no choice but to make it. "Have all units scatter backward, break apart into individuals, and enter one-on-one combat mode!"
However, Onoki found no way to make it happen, for Konoha obviously wouldn't allow it.
Since they had gained an advantage in group warfare, they should continue pushing this strength forward.
Seiki decisively gave orders, "[Wind Release], [Fire Release], [Water Release], and [Lightning Release] units—push forward completely and intensify offensive pressure! [Earth Release] units will follow behind to protect the attacking forces at the front!"
With the Yamanaka clan's Tōshin no Jutsu transmitting commands, Konoha's communication speed was clearly more efficient.
Almost simultaneously with Iwa's retreat, the Konoha forces launched coordinated attacks toward the direction where the enemy's retreat was most concentrated.
In an instant, powerful ninja techniques rained down like a storm, completely submerging that area. Watching this unfold, Onoki's eyes flared with fury as if his anger could boil stone.
Yet there was nothing he could do—no matter how powerful Dust Release (an advanced kekkei tōtra technique) was, it couldn't rival an overwhelming torrent of thousands of combined ninja techniques. He could only watch helplessly as activity in that area gradually faded away.
Meanwhile, as the Allied Forces concentrated fire, other Iwagakure shinobi finally caught a brief respite.
When the bombed-out zone became completely silent, the remaining Iwagakure shinobi successfully completed their dispersal.
At this point, the situation roughly saw the Allied Forces occupying the map's center, while Iwagakure shinobi scattered across various corners of the battlefield.
Under these circumstances, continuing concentrated firepower would only waste chakra too quickly.
Therefore, Seiki quickly issued orders through the Yamanaka clan's jutsu, commanding all forces to switch to squad-based operations.
Seeing now that the Allied Forces had also switched to small team tactics, the Iwagakure shinobi, who had been holding back their anger, could no longer contain themselves.
Clang! Clang!
The red-armored jinchuriki of the Five-Tails activated his steam form, charging wildly through the crowd like a train before directly rushing toward Seiki at full speed.
Naturally, Seiki wouldn't be injured by such an attack—he lightly pushed off the ground and leapt backward just in time.
Huff… huff…
Han came to a sudden stop mid-charge in a mid-stride halt, his thrusters releasing a burst of steam behind him.
"I am Iwagakure's strongest taijutsu specialist, Han. I've heard your taijutsu is strong too—let's test each other out!"
Seeing the other person raise his thumb toward him, Seiki shot an odd glance. Those specializing in taijutsu were definitely not normal!
"Sorry, but if you can't use the Tailed Beast Ball, you should look for someone else to fight!" As Seiki spoke, he leaped toward Roshi, who used Lava Release.
From what he knew, Han rarely entered Tailed Beast Chakra Mode.
In other words, it was better to prioritize sealing the Tailed Beast's chakra from Roshi first.
"I've actually been ignored—and by this old man Roshi no less!" Han immediately showed a deeply wounded expression.
Roshi burst into loud laughter instead. "Haha! This kid indeed has good taste, knowing I'm stronger than you!"
As he spoke, Roshi immediately entered his Lava Release Chakra Mode. Molten lava dripped from his body and made sizzling sounds as it hit the ground.
"Now feel my volcanic passion!"
Seeing Roshi charging toward him like a moving volcano, Seiki quickly retreated. He had no interest in engaging in taijutsu battle against a lava-covered opponent.
[Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!]
Because of water's inclusive nature, Seiki prioritized Water Release over his other two elemental techniques before developing his Kekkei Genkai.
Watching the mighty waterfall pour down from the sky, Roshi looked confused. "Aren't your intelligence reports wrong? They said you aren't skilled at Five Elemental Techniques!"
Seiki stood atop the waterfall. "It's true that I'm not skilled in the Five Elemental Techniques—I only dabbled in them."
Roshi smirked. "Yeah right! You just pulled off an A-rank Water Technique—who do you think you're fooling saying you're not skilled in elemental jutsu?"
"However, don't think you can relax just because you use Water Release! Water may counter Fire, but it doesn't necessarily counter Lava too!"
[Lava Release: Scorching Flow Fist!]
A river of molten lava surged upward, violently colliding with the waterfall. In an instant, the resulting steam carried extreme heat.
The next moment, Roshi emerged from the mist, his right fist covered in lava, delivering a powerful punch downward at Seiki.
Hot airwaves surged; even the air he breathed into his lungs burned scorchingly.
"If Water Release doesn't cut it, what do you say about Ice Release?"
[Ice Release: Blizzards!]
Seiki opened his mouth, exhaling frigid freezing breath that instantly turned Roshi's lava-covered fist into stone.
Deprived of its high temperature, Seiki fearlessly punched Roshi away.
Boom!
As a Jinchuriki with high stamina and thick defense, Roshi certainly wouldn't fall so easily, quickly standing back up soon after.
"Why do you also know Ice Release?" Roshi asked shakily, whether from cold or shock wasn't clear.
Seiki replied naturally, "I fused wind and water chakra to create Ice Release. What's so weird about that? You invented your own Lava Release, didn't you?"
Though Iwagakure had bloodline clans with Lava Release, Roshi wasn't part of any of them.
Upon hearing Seiki's words, Roshi appeared extremely frustrated.
Of course it's strange!
He had learned this Kekkei Genkai only after consulting the Four-Tails and spending over a decade mastering it!
Finally, Roshi stammered out, "Wait—you're supposed to be a Medical Ninja, right?"
Seiki sighed. "I've learned every bit of Medical Ninjutsu there is in the village. Since I had nothing better to do, I figured, why not mess around and try creating a [Kekkei] (a special bloodline limit combining three chakra natures)."
Hearing that, Roshi's flowing magma-like body actually quivered. Is this ninja world even salvageable anymore? When will ordinary ninja ever stand a chance?
Onoki, secretly watching the fight, nearly jolted in shock. Could this brat actually be aiming to develop Kekkei Tota?
Although history has only recorded one person besides his teacher achieving it, this kid's talent and potential were overwhelming. He wouldn't even be surprised if the kid summoned [Wood Release] out of nowhere the very next second.
Thinking thus, Onoki made up his mind firmly: "Absolutely cannot let him live! Even if I have to use [Dust Release] to ambush him, I must eliminate him!"
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