Despite the thick fog ahead, the Mist Ninjas continued launching feint attacks. To make the illusion of pressure believable, they accepted notable casualties in the process.
Yet, the much-anticipated Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost remained completely motionless-there was no response from him at any point in the battle.
At the same time, the scene within the borders of the Whirlpool Country was peaceful and undisturbed, as if the raging war beyond those edges couldn't reach past the coastline at their feet.
Uzumaki warriors stationed along the front line threw detonating tags with lively energy. Many were so caught up in the act they started training young boys to do it too-treating it with the excitement of sport rather than the urgency of war.
Compared to that, Watermelon Mountain's failure to take action looked incompetent.
"Damn Whirlpool Country. Damn Uzumaki Clan. And damn Watermelon Mountain-what the fuck is that bastard doing just sitting there? A simple task and he's fucking it up."
"That's right. The Whirlpool Country isn't even that big-anyone strong enough to resist us should already be dead. We've had them surrounded for days, and he's done nothing. When he gets back, I'm reporting his ass to the Mizukage."
Their voices overlapped in frustration. Every few seconds brought another insult or complaint about Watermelon Mountain's leadership. Rumors about his supposed laziness started twisting into strategies on how to take credit away from him entirely.
None of them realized he'd already died charging forward hours ago-his broken body left somewhere along the battlefield his peers now mocked from afar.
Zi from the Ice Clan was leading this mission. He finally put an end to their shouting with two words and one glance.
"Enough. Lord Mizukage will decide what to do with Watermelon Mountain later. Right now, we're here to break Whirlpool's defenses."
With that reminder, they moved on from empty talk and shifted focus back onto preparation and tactics.
Terumi Ken stepped forward with his own suggestion soon after.
"Lord Zi, waiting isn't working. I say we charge directly. This country has no true fighters. If we cross that beach-we'll win."
Zi respected Ken's mindset. People willing to act quickly often rose to power faster than those too cautious to move. Unfortunately-for Water Country ninjas-action invited criticism before praise.
"Charge? Easy for you to say. You see those detonating tags? Over two hundred dead already-and they're not running out anytime soon. Some of us get blown apart at the edge of the fog. Go ahead and charge if you want-I'm not doing it."
Mutters of agreement followed immediately after that response. A few other higher-ranked shinobi also pushed off the risk onto others now that someone had volunteered first.
Ken clenched his jaw but saw where things stood and backed off before pushing again.
Zi shut everything down with one sentence yelled over them.
"That settles it!"
Everyone turned to face him directly as he continued without hesitation.
"We're not waiting for Watermelon Mountain anymore-we'll clear our own path instead!"
Zi raised one hand and pointed straight ahead.
"The Ice Clan will lead at the front! Everyone else-follow."
No ninja there wanted to look cowardly after that declaration-especially when someone else was taking on the most dangerous part of the mission first.
"Yes, Lord Zi!"
Boom!
"Water Release: Waterfall Technique!"
Waterballs burst out from the mist and slammed toward the Uzumaki line. Several people were caught off guard and thrown back by the blast of water and steam bursting through their ranks.
Despite being A-rank ninjutsu, it wasn't strong enough to cause serious injuries on its own-but that wasn't what it was for this time.
"It broke our line!"
Uzumaki Yilong's shout shattered whatever calm had held them together before. Their formation had slipped because of overconfidence earlier-now too many had bunched up together and gotten caught at once by the attack.
By the time Yilong recovered himself, he spotted figures stepping out through billowing fog along the beach-all of them beautiful "girls" slowly approaching without sound.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Detonating tags exploded again-line after line was set off by pressure triggers rigged across kilometers of sand. Fire bathed everything in front of them for minutes straight until visibility shattered behind bright flashes and falling debris.
Both sides were separated instantly-the beach now served as nothing but death ground filled with erupting bursts shaking every inch of terrain beneath their feet.
As the Whirlpool defenders tried reorganizing behind smoke cover, their trap tags finally ran out-and sea fog lifted entirely without warning.
"KILL!"
Mist Ninjas screamed in unison and charged at full speed under moonlight-their clothes ripped by explosions but their pace undeterred by fire or blood now drying on their uniforms.
They looked rabid-inhuman-driven by hatred and rage alone.
Panic set in across Uzumaki forces immediately. Talismans flew from every direction but missed wildly-none of their aim held true under heavy stress now-and even damage output plummeted from lack of coordination between squads.
They tried overcompensating with volume-but that only lasted two minutes before silence returned across their wall of firepower.
When it stopped-the Mist Ninjas grinned wide with jagged teeth showing through smoke-blackened mouths.
Jie jie jie...
Another charge came-but this time with nothing stopping them in return.
"Don't panic. Hold your ground! Our home's behind us-we have to protect it!"
Uzumaki Ichiryu's words echoed down his side of the battlefield-but those words didn't matter when armless shinobi rushed toward them while laughing wide-eyed through cracked teeth-and smiling while they bled out through open wounds that should've kept them down long ago.
Most Uzumaki broke immediately into full retreat or outright collapsed from fear alone by that point.
Watching them falter again, Yilong gritted his teeth hard enough that blood ran down his chin unnoticed.
"Is this really our fate...? Are we truly finished here?"
Thunder cracked against the edge of the horizon next-with no clouds above to justify it-and then five voices sounded just as loud:
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
"Fire Release: Hardheaded Blaze!"
"Wind Release: Suppression Edge!"
"Water Release: Water Curtain Dome!"
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
All five techniques tore across every visible path on the beach at once-splitting terrain again right down middle-cutting Mist Ninjas away from Uzumaki survivors just seconds before spears connected with anyone defenseless in front lines.
Yilong stumbled backward in shock as chakra shockwaves cracked trees around him on accident alone. He spotted five figures now launching into clean tactical formations ahead-and recognized who they were instantly.
"If he doesn't leave now... he'll die for sure…"
Kakuzu looked over toward Ichiryu and chuckled dryly as he spoke again-just loud enough for him alone to hear it clearly through ringing ears and swirling mist around them both-
"You're not built for this fight, Uzumaki brat-go now while someone else does your job for you."
"O-okay!"
Yilong bolted after that-no hesitation left after seeing Kakuzu up close for once-while further behind him multiple Uzumaki had already turned their backs entirely to retreat toward city walls faster than ever before.
Kakuzu scanned the enemies who'd slipped past his barrage and laughed bitterly as they closed in on him without flinching once-
"Lord Akira… you really expect way too fucking much from me sometimes."
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