The Konoha forces slowed their pace, concealing their presence, and advanced cautiously.
Only two people continued to speak in the group—Uzumaki Kōrin and Hyūga Seisō—responsible for relaying updates on the enemy's position.
"The Amegakure forces haven't moved. Looks like they've locked in their formation and waiting to strike when we're tired."
"Ahead is a large natural depression. They've likely fortified that area. I scanned it briefly—no traps in sight, so we shouldn't need to worry about that."
"Two thousand meters out. At around one thousand, they'll likely sense us. Everyone, get ready."
Upon hearing this, Hoshiyomi exchanged glances with the other three. Then Orochimaru stepped forward and said:
"Change formation. Ninjutsu assault squad, gather around me and prepare to weave hand signs."
Jiraiya followed up immediately:
"Melee combat squad, follow me. Prepare for shuriken throws and close-quarters combat."
Tsunade also gave her instructions:
"Medical squad and special protection squad, all gather in the center of the formation. Prepare for healing and defense."
In just a short time, the marching formation—which had previously placed the strong up front and weaker members in the rear—was completely restructured. Once the reformation was complete, Hoshiyomi took a look, nodded, and turned to Hyūga Seisō:
"Keep an eye on the movements of the Amegakure shinobi. The moment they become aware of us, alert us immediately.
We need to inflict maximum damage with the first wave."
Seisō's temple veins bulged as his Byakugan flared. After swallowing two of Tsunade's custom-made soldier pills, he replied:
"Fifteen hundred meters… one thousand. They've noticed us! Be ready!"
This time, Seisō's warning wasn't even necessary—Hoshiyomi, at the very front, could already faintly see the massed Amegakure forces ahead.
He subtly signaled a downward slash—full-speed assault, prepare to strike.
On the enemy side, if not for Hanzo's sharp sensory skills, their nearly-useless sensory team still wouldn't have detected Konoha's presence.
The disparity in tactical discipline between the two sides was stark.
Both began generating clear chakra signatures, but the initiative was unmistakably Konoha's.
The Konoha shinobi were extremely precise with their spacing—when Amegakure prematurely launched waves of ninjutsu into empty space, the Konoha squads didn't even flinch, simply closing the distance at full speed.
The moment they entered effective range, the squads sprang into action. The melee combat squad on the perimeter began forming hand seals.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Massive earth walls erupted ahead, cleanly blocking the scattered long-range jutsu launched by the enemy.
At the same time, the ninjutsu assault squad began their offensive:
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Lightning Release: Grinding Gale!"
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"
Konoha's shinobi unleashed a barrage of elemental jutsu, each with a different nature. Yet rather than canceling each other out, the jutsu complemented one another, creating a perfectly synchronized elemental onslaught.
Amegakure's defense jutsu mostly relied on Water Release, so the nitial combination of wind and fire didn't do massive direct damage. But it had a different purpose: to drain their water-release counters and generate a huge amount of steam.
The scalding mist singed many Amegakure shinobi on the periphery, but more importantly, it shrouded the battlefield, cutting off the enemy's line of sight to Konoha's second wave.
Still unaware of the situation's gravity, the Amegakure forces, having just blocked the first wave, were already forming seals for a counterattack—completely unaware that death had already raised its scythe.
Suddenly, a crackling surge of electricity split the air.
The Land of Rain's already damp atmosphere had grown even more saturated after the opening attacks. Into this wet environment, Konoha released the Lightning Release: Grinding Gale—spreading a powerful electric discharge across a wide radius.
At the same time, the ground split as a torrent of mud from Earth Flow River surged forward, catching numerous shinobi off-guard in the obscuring mist and dragging them off their feet.
Both sides had been advancing while casting jutsu. Now, as the front line fell, those in the rear stumbled forward—screams and cries filled the air. Countless Amegakure shinobi were trampled to death by their own allies.
Even those who managed to stay standing were immobilized by the muddy ground.
Then came a barrage of Great Flame Bullets, searing through the mist. The intense heat not only incinerated enemy shinobi but also baked the muddy river into a hard, clay-like surface—trapping the remaining enemies in place.
The already-mired Amegakure shinobi were now locked down entirely—turned into nothing more than sitting targets.
Jiraiya's melee combat squad closed in swiftly, and a wave of thrown weapons instantly ended the lives of countless enemies.
As for Amegakure's own offense?
The first volley missed due to misjudged range.
The second was blocked by Earth Flow Wall.
The third barely caused any casualties—
And before they could unleash a fourth wave, Konoha's coordinated combo had already left them scorched inside and out.
Amegakure's front line crumbled.
Many didn't even understand how they had died—taken down by an invisible, coordinated strike.
Some who finally grasped the situation had already lost their nerve. The Amegakure formation was in total chaos.
Against Jiraiya's closing assault squad, they were completely helpless.
In just the first clash, over 150 Amegakure shinobi were killed or incapacitated. Nearly a third of their forces lost combat capability in a single exchange.
The shock of it left them utterly dazed.
Even Hanzo stood momentarily frozen.
Sure, he knew Konoha was powerful. But in his previous skirmishes with this group, their combat strength hadn't been this overwhelming.
Such intricate ninjutsu coordination—he had never witnessed it before. If he had, there's no way he would've let his subordinates die in vain.
Which meant… these four brats had been holding back the whole time?
Tch...
Even Hanzo of the Salamander felt a chill in his heart.
After all the battles he had won, Konoha still had another gear? What kind of terrifying mindset was this?
Was Konoha truly unstoppable?
For a moment, doubt filled his heart—an involuntary feeling that he could no longer fight on.
But Hanzo quickly recovered his composure.
No... not Konoha. It's just those four.
As long as I eliminate them, Konoha can't keep up this momentum forever.
The casualties had already piled up. Now, retreat was impossible. At the very least, he had to take those four with him—to avenge his fallen subordinates.
Only by killing them could he claim a tactical victory, strike fear into Suna and Iwa, and buy time for Amegakure to recuperate.
He couldn't retreat.
Not now.
He had to kill these four kids—in the name of the "Demi-God" of the Shinobi World.
His eyes regained their icy gleam as he looked at the battlefield's four rising stars and declared coldly:
"You four brats—you're more impressive than I gave you credit for.
But you've also made the mistake of pissing me off.
Today, I'll bury you here... as offerings to my fallen men."