A hundred-meter-long blade descended from the sky like a hot knife through butter, piercing straight into the earth.
The surrounding Stone Ninja spontaneously combusted, falling from the cliffs with blood-curdling screams. Those directly struck by the Rising Sun Blade were the luckiest; before they could even feel pain, they were instantly incinerated into charcoal by the golden flames, shattering into countless pieces upon impact with the blade.
BOOM!
As the long blade pierced the earth, cracks expanded in all directions. Red light surged beneath the surface, and with an eruption of golden flames, countless plumes of magma soared into the sky. Black smoke billowed, turning the area into a living purgatory.
Surviving Stone Ninja lost their footing in panic, screaming as they tumbled into the massive fissures, only to be spat back out by the erupting magma. When they hit the ground again, nothing remained but charred limbs.
"Damn it! Get away from the golden flames! Use Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
In the rear command post, Mahiru's eyes threatened to split from rage. Dozens of Jonin teams rushed toward the battlefield, pressing their hands to the ground in unison to cast Mud Walls. Over a dozen walls of varying sizes rose, attempting to create a foothold in the magma-filled purgatory.
Unfortunately, despite the good intentions, everything the golden flames touched melted. The newly raised Mud Walls collapsed instantly, splashing magma everywhere.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Rampart."
The Stone Ninja units combined their techniques once more, continuously raising towering rocks to resist the golden flames. A massive amount of magma fell upon the battlefield, and black smoke filled the air.
"This flame must be a Bloodline Limit. Konoha's reinforcements won't be many. Have you seen how many people there are?"
"I... I see them. It looks like there's only one. Yes, just one person!"
"Supporting alone? How arrogant!" Mahiru roared. "Full army, charge! Konoha is out of men. Kill that one reinforcement and break through the defense line in one go! Invade the Land of Fire!"
"Kill them! Kill them all!"
"Fire can't burn through thick rock! The advantage is ours!"
"He's just one person! Everyone, attack at once!"
Countless heads emerged from the scorched plains. Hundreds of figures charged forward with their arms trailing behind them; even the purgatory of fire ahead couldn't stop the momentum of the Stone Ninja's charge. Mahiru led the way, a massive amount of chakra erupting from his body as he struck with a palm from mid-air.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Split."
The earth trembled and rose before splitting down the middle, tilting and collapsing to either side. Magma bubbled up from below, attempting to fill the gap.
"Now's our chance!"
Various Earth Style jutsu were cast recklessly, carving a path of attack through the magma.
Patter.
Makiya landed within the Konoha defensive position, controlling the flames to bypass the base facilities. He looked up at the six stunned survivors. "I am Makiya Uchiha. How many of you are still alive?"
Hamaki Mimura reacted immediately, his expression a mix of grief and relief. "Reporting to Makiya-sama, six of us are still combat-capable. There are twelve seriously injured in the base, and the others... the others have all perished."
In reality, the medical ninja on the defense line had all been killed. The twelve seriously injured had only received basic first aid to stop bleeding; their survival was now entirely in the hands of fate.
"Understood. Take the wounded and retreat immediately. Fall back to the secondary defense line and wait for reinforcements. Leave this place to me."
"But, my lord..."
"No 'buts'. Follow your orders!" Makiya's expression was stern.
The Stone Ninja's attacks had long since destabilized the cliff's foundation. The cliff face below was riddled with holes and large-scale collapses. Now, with Makiya's blade piercing the surface and causing volcanic eruptions, the cliffside defense position was already teetering on the brink of collapse.
"Yes!" In the ninja world, strength was everything. Although Makiya was young, his entrance had suppressed everyone with sheer power. Hamaki Mimura chose to obey, calling his comrades to move the wounded.
"Please be careful, my lord. The enemy is an elite unit led by the Stone Jonin Mahiru. They are fearless and will launch suicide attacks to create openings!"
"I know." Makiya nodded. Ohnoki of the Stone Village truly had a way of governing. Although the Stone Village wasn't the wealthiest or the strongest militarily, their entire ninja force followed orders strictly and was highly disciplined. Their willingness to sacrifice their lives for the village rivaled the brainwashing effect of the Will of Fire.
In large-scale army operations, without an outlier ninja, the Stone Village would have a high chance of winning.
However, this was a world of the extraordinary—this was Naruto. Without some Otsutsuki bloodline, one couldn't hope to make it far.
Looking down on the battlefield, the Stone Ninja had already reached the foot of the position. Makiya formed hand signs and created eleven shadow clones. Two went to help Hamaki Mimura transport the wounded and provide treatment, while the original body and the nine remaining clones leapt into the air together.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation" x10
A golden sea of fire descended from the heavens, instantly dominating the entire sky. Immense heat radiated outward, causing low-level Chunin and Genin to spontaneously combust. Screams rang out one after another.
"Earth Style: Earth Armor."
"Earth Style: Petrification."
The Stone Ninja covered themselves in thick rock armor, while some petrified their bodies to increase their heat tolerance. However, this was only a temporary measure. The surviving Stone Ninja immediately began forming hand signs.
"Earth Style: Great Mud Wall."
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears."
Towering walls rose once again, shielding the mass of Stone Ninja. The sea of fire crashed into the walls, seeping through cracks and turning a dozen unfortunate souls into human torches.
Countless smaller walls rose in succession, adding layers of protection to isolate the heat. Sharp earth spears emerged from the outer side of the walls, shooting toward Makiya through the molten magma.
Flames surged around Makiya's body as he dodged the earth spears. Sensing a massive amount of chakra erupting beneath him, he reached out his hand, and a two-meter-long golden fire blade appeared in his palm.
"Earth Style: Mountain Sandwich Technique!"
This was a giant jutsu cast collectively by all the Stone Ninja, blanketing the entire battlefield in one go.
The vast purgatory plains trembled violently. Two massive semi-circular mountain masses suddenly rose, sandwiching all of the Makiyas in between. Black smoke and dust were carried high into the air as the mountain masses moved with incredible speed. The semi-circular peaks collided with each other, sending intense vibrations through the surrounding area via shockwaves.
"Is it over?"
"It must be. This move can even suppress a Tailed Beast."
"Hmph. Reckless Konoha ninja."
Mahiru's brow furrowed. He had a bad premonition. He hurriedly shouted, "Stay alert! Keep channeling chakra to increase the pressure!"
As if confirming Mahiru's fears, a terrifying surge of chakra erupted from within the mountains. Mahiru's eyelids twitched. He had only felt this kind of fluctuation from Lord Han. Could the opponent be the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?
But how was that possible? Wasn't Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki a woman?
A glint of firelight appeared at the seam where the mountains met, growing brighter and brighter. The rocks began to glow red from within, and a massive amount of magma poured from the cracks. Ten figures wrapped in golden flames burst out of the mountains, landing right in the middle of the Stone Ninja's formation.
Makiya held the two-meter-long golden fire blade, swinging it casually. The mud walls in front of him melted down the middle, splitting in two. The Stone Ninja hiding behind them burst into flames, a vertical line appearing between their brows as their bodies fell apart to either side.
A barrage of earth spears attacked from behind. Makiya neither dodged nor moved; the sharp spears melted in mid-air, their magma dripping to the ground.
Makiya swung his fire blade, scattering sheets of golden flame. Every obstacle was thoroughly melted. The Stone Ninja were like clay chickens or pottery dogs, completely unable to resist.
Normally, a shadow clone would dissipate upon taking damage. But with the flames protecting them, weak attacks were nothing but a joke. The ten figures, cloaked in fire, galloped recklessly through the crowd. With every swing of their blades, they claimed countless lives.
Hamaki Mimura and the others had settled the wounded at the secondary defense line. They had intended to recover some chakra and return to help, only to see golden flames soaring into the sky. Huge chakra fluctuations erupted one after another; the battle had reached a fever pitch. That battlefield was not a place they could step into; rushing in blindly would likely only cause trouble.
"What are you standing around for? Help stop the bleeding," Makiya's shadow clone called out, his palms glowing with green light.
"Ah, yes, coming!" Hamaki Mimura and his companions exchanged glances, knowing that another legendary figure was about to emerge from the village. To possess such strength at such a young age—in time, the name Makiya Uchiha might become even more famous than the Sannin.
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