Bloody Valley
A black shadow flickered across the rocks beneath the pale moonlight.
Chen Xing crouched behind a massive boulder at the foot of the mountain, his presence completely restrained.
A Celestial ninja appeared beside him and reported in a low voice, "Celestial Shadow-sama, our messenger hawk has confirmed it. Sunagakure's main force has reached within ten kilometers. More than fifteen hundred ninja."
"They finally came," Chen Xing said calmly as he opened his eyes.
A faint pressure radiated from him, causing the reporting ninja's heart to tighten.
"Fifteen hundred…" Chen Xing murmured. "Sunagakure really is desperate."
The ninja hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Celestial Shadow-sama, even with an ambush, facing this many enemy ninja could lead to heavy losses—especially if reinforcements arrive—"
Chen Xing raised a hand, stopping him.
"This won't turn into a head-on clash," he said flatly. "Notify everyone. Once the enemy fully enters the center of Bloody Valley, we strike."
The ninja vanished at once.
Chen Xing had chosen Bloody Valley for a reason.
The valley was wide, but surrounded by steep mountain paths. Of the three exits, two were already sealed by Celestial forces. The final route—the one Sunagakure would enter from—would be blocked the moment the ambush began.
Once trapped, retreat would be impossible.
This was not a battle of numbers.
It was a slaughter prepared in advance.
---
Sunagakure Main Force — Entering Bloody Valley
For ninja, ten kilometers passed quickly.
Before long, the black mass of Sunagakure forces poured into Bloody Valley like a living serpent.
An elite jōnin at the front asked respectfully, "Captain, do we proceed directly to Wild City, or wait for further orders from the Kazekage?"
The commander shook his head and pointed toward the direction of Maple Rain Forest.
"The Kazekage's instructions are clear. We move through the forest first, then strike Wild City. All Celestial forces there are to be wiped out."
None of them knew—
The moment they stepped into Bloody Valley, their fate was already sealed.
---
The Ambush
"Now."
Chen Xing's voice echoed sharply.
In an instant, dozens of figures burst from concealment.
"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Explosive ninjutsu tore through the formation.
Sunagakure was thrown into chaos.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
"Wind Release—counterattack!"
Veteran ninja reacted quickly, raising defenses and launching retaliatory jutsu.
The valley erupted.
Explosions shattered the ground, rocks flew, and shockwaves tore craters into the earth.
Screams rang out.
"My leg—!"
"Damn it, it's an ambush!"
"Hold formation! Fight back!"
The first wave crippled dozens, though few were killed outright.
Then—
Chen Xing leapt into the air.
His hands formed seals with blinding speed.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
BOOM!
White smoke exploded outward.
A massive red lizard slammed into the center of the battlefield, its bulk crushing the ground beneath it. The earth split open, and a deep crater formed instantly.
Several Sunagakure ninja were flattened on impact.
"Impossible—summoned beast?!"
"A giant lizard?!"
"So this is the Celestial Shadow's trump card…"
Panic spread rapidly.
Against ordinary targets, large summons were vulnerable—but only if their defenses could be broken.
This creature's hide was thick, its chakra dense. Even elite jōnin would struggle to injure it quickly.
Celestial ninja erupted with renewed morale.
While Sunagakure hesitated—
The trap closed.