Looking at the carvings of the successive Kage on the earthen wall, the allied Ninjas fell into an eerie silence.
While no explicit rule forbade damaging the likeness of a 'Kage', it was better to be safe than sorry. What if a Kage's disciple or relative held a grudge?
Given the average cultural level of Ninja, such things were hard to predict.
Setsuna was also speechless, 'Did you think we're in North Korea, the portraits of the leaders can't be damaged?'
He couldn't be bothered with such things. With one punch, the wall separating the two sides crumbled with a roar.
"Sigh, it seems even the method Father taught is useless," Kitsuchi sighed inwardly, but his eyes held unwavering determination. Facing the ten-thousand-strong allied forces, he did not retreat a single step.
"You cowards who only dare to launch sneak attacks! Face me!" Kitsuchi roared, hoping to draw all the fire onto himself.
Perhaps worried that Setsuna would fly into a rage and kill, Rasa hurried forward to offer a strategy. "Commander-sama, perhaps we could capture him and use him to threaten Onoki, forcing him to declare war on Kumogakure and Kirigakure. If Iwagakure can be brought to our side, this war could be ended prematurely."
Setsuna shot Rasa a sidelong glance, 'Did he really think I was a murderous demon?'
Setsuna appeared before Kitsuchi like lightning. With a light tap of his finger, Kitsuchi, who was already at the end of his strength, collapsed to the ground.
"Everyone has worked hard. Begin treating the wounded."
As Setsuna's words fell, the allied forces erupted into cheers of joy.
"Haha, I can't believe we won so easily!"
"All thanks to Commander Setsuna's leadership."
Initially, when they learned they would launch a night attack on the enemy camp right after joining forces, many Ninja had felt resentful, believing Setsuna didn't value their lives and only sought glory for himself.
But after the battle, they found the victory had been incredibly easy.
Setsuna alone had attracted most of the enemy's firepower. They just had to follow behind and launch Ninjutsu.
They wouldn't mind a few more wars this easy.
"To defeat Iwagakure so simply..." Rasa felt somewhat dazed. When he was still the Kazekage's candidate, he had often considered Konoha and Iwagakure as hypothetical enemies. But even in his wildest dreams, he had never imagined crushing Iwagakure so effortlessly.
'Rather than striving hard yourself, it's better to choose the right side.' Rasa felt he had discovered the true secret to victory. His gaze towards Setsuna's back grew intensely fervent. 'Just follow behind him.'
'My power is still insufficient,' Minato sighed inwardly. While Setsuna fought the two Jinchuriki alone, he could offer almost no help. His kunai probably couldn't even pierce the Jinchuriki's Chakra Cloaks.
'If only I could use a Tailed Beast Bomb too… wait, I could develop a seal-less Ninjutsu similar to the Tailed Beast Bomb!" Minato's eyes brightened. 'I can ask Kushina for advice.'
Meanwhile, in an underground cavern within the Land of Grass.
A withered old man, looking as if a strong wind could blow him over, sat cross-legged. He was observing the battle on the surface through his [Telescope Technique].
"So this is Chiaki Setsuna? Hmph, he's still far from being the God of Ninja." Madara snorted coldly, but a rare look of seriousness was in his eyes.
Although the boy was far inferior to his and Hashirama's prime, he was only 14 years old. When Madara was 14, he hadn't even awakened his One-Tomoe Sharingan.
"With this brat's power, he might truly be able to end the wars of this era. That won't do. Without the nourishment of destruction, how can the Uchiha bloom the flower of despair?" The elderly Madara frowned slightly. But in his current physical state, if he appeared before that brat, he'd probably be killed with a single punch.
Using Genjutsu control? That's also troublesome.
Setsuna's vitality was as freakish as Hashirama's, likely another monster with immensely powerful Yang Release. Yang Release's physiques possessed a certain resistance to Yin Release Genjutsu… a lesson he had learned through bloody, tearful experience from numerous attempts to influence Hashirama with Genjutsu.
After pondering for a moment, Madara called for a White Zetsu.
Madara placed his right hand on the White Zetsu's left shoulder, preparing to inject his will, "From today, I will bestow upon you a new identity."
The White Zetsu let out a strange cry. "Yohohoho! My body feels strange, Madara-sama! Is this what humans call the urge to defecate? Are you injecting your big… into my body-"
"Silence!" Madara's forehead vein bulged. He had been too lenient with these White Zetsu before. How dare they speak of such filthy things in his presence!
The moment Madara lost his temper, a black shadow seeped up from the ground into the White Zetsu's body, merging with the will Madara was injecting.
Unaware of the anomaly, Madara said solemnly, "You are my will, Black Zetsu. From this day forward, you will carry out my plans in my stead. Make the Rinnegan mature. Make the Uchiha produce one who can inherit my will."
Black Zetsu's lips curled upwards. "Yes, Madara-sama."
…
By noon, Onoki had received the news of his army's defeat.
Reading the battle report, Onoki's back seemed to bend a little more.
"Tsuchikage-sama, we failed to protect Commander Kitsuchi, and we burdened him to cover our retreat." Han's expression was full of shame.
"It's not your fault. I understand the terror of Chiaki Setsuna better than you. As the commander, Kitsuchi failed to predict the enemy's actions, that was his dereliction of duty. If his useless body can redeem such losses, at least he hasn't sullied Iwagakure's name." Onoki waved his hand dismissively.
Although he often clashed with Onoki, hearing him say this made Roshi feel somewhat guilty himself. "Tsuchikage-sama, I will find a way to rescue the Commander."
"You go rescue him? And then get captured yourself?" Onoki shook his head.
"Tsuchikage-sama, I suspect they won't harm the Commander," Han said methodically. "Konoha could even tolerate Sunagakure's sneak attack. They will likely use the Commander as a hostage to threaten us into withdrawing from the alliance, or even turn around and attack Kumogakure and Kirigakure."
Onoki nodded. "That is a very real possibility."
"Then what is your opinion?" Han seemed somewhat tempted. The pressure of facing such a monster was immense.
Onoki sighed. "This is our last chance to suppress Konoha. If we miss it, and Chiaki Setsuna grows to his peak like Senju Hashirama's level, the entire Ninja World will live under his shadow. After all, our era lacks an Uchiha Madara to fight Senju Hashirama to the death."
Han frowned. "But even the current Chiaki Setsuna is incredibly difficult to deal with. I even suspect he wasn't using his full power against us."
Roshi grumbled, "If we can't restrain him, there's no way to fight the subsequent battles. The moment he appears, our morale plummets to the bottom."
"Don't worry just yet. I already have an idea." Onoki narrowed his eyes, "If we can get that [Demigod of the Ninja World] to join us, we might just be able to restrain Konoha's [God of Ninja]."