After a grueling rush, they arrived near the battlefield and were met with a grim sight—the ground was strewn with bodies. The surrounding terrain was pockmarked with craters and deep pits, while entire stretches of grassland had been reduced to scorched wastelands by powerful jutsu. Thousands of ninja engaged in chaotic combat—such a scene was rare even during the Second Great Ninja War. No one dared stay still for even a heartbeat; standing still meant death.
Leading this Konoha offensive was none other than the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze. Over the past three years, he had matured greatly. Compared to before, he now appeared much more heroic and imposing. The only thing that remained unchanged were his clear, azure-blue eyes.
Standing atop Gamabunta, he surveyed the entire battlefield with furrowed brows. Overall, the situation favored Konoha. Mainly, Konoha ninjas' mastery over various techniques made their coordination far more versatile than Iwa's earth-focused specialists. However, faced with the enemy's overwhelming numbers, both sides were locked in a stalemate—back and forth, fighting fiercely. The battlefield had become a meat grinder. People fell dead constantly, spilling blood that stained the land red.
Smoke billowed everywhere as the blood-red evening glow gradually faded. Both sides stood locked in an intense standoff.
[FIRE RELEASE: GREAT BLAZE INFERNO!] A massive fire technique exploded right in the center of the battlefield, sending up towering columns of black smoke. This further scarred the already battered landscape and created new divides.
Next, a whirlwind-like technique soared into the air. Ninja caught within it were sucked in and swept away, scattering like water droplets. [WIND RELEASE: PRESSURE DAMAGE!]
Piercing screams became more frequent around the ninja who had just unleashed the Wind Release technique. Having already used his final attack, he too vanished beneath countless incoming assaults. Teeth clenched tightly, neither side would retreat even an inch, making the battle increasingly brutal.
This was exactly what Anya's squad witnessed as they arrived on the scene. All four of them were stunned at the first sight of such a massive war spectacle.
Anya, having experienced war before, reacted first and issued orders, "Inoichi, help me connect with Minato."
"Yes, Captain."
Activating the secret technique of the Yamanaka clan, Anya's voice directly reached Minato's mind: "Minato, it's Anya. You've hesitated to act—is there some concern holding you back?"
Hearing Anya's voice while in extreme anxiety, Minato happily replied, "You're here—that's great! Yes, Tsuchikage has remained hidden. His Dust Release brought us tremendous losses just days ago. Now, I've been searching for him constantly. Unless he appears, I cannot get involved."
"Dust Release, indeed formidable."
Back in the Second War, the Tsuchikage's Dust Release nearly killed White Fang (Kakashi Hatake's father). Entering the Third War, his proficiency with Dust Release must have certainly improved further. Not to mention that in the upcoming Fourth War, through brief memory recordings, during the Five Kages' battle against Madara, he was the most effective of all the Kages—an undeniable power.
Looking at things now, the Third Hokage (Hiruzen Sarutobi) must have carefully considered the current battlefield conditions. While Dust Release's strengths and weaknesses are evident, facing Minato's speed, Tsuchikage's Dust Release could be considered completely countered. But so long as he wouldn't make a move, Minato couldn't intervene either.
Anya made a quick decision. "With such a large-scale operation, the enemy must have a command center. Minato, do you know their location?"
Minato possessed the Flying Thunder God Technique, allowing him to operate freely on the battlefield without fear of threats—an advantage clearly unavailable to the enemy.
"I can make an educated guess."
"Then there's no problem. Have you removed the Flying Thunder God marker you placed on me earlier?"
Only now did Minato recall the marker he had set three years ago when preparing to rescue Anya. Slightly embarrassed, he replied, "I forgot. The marker is still there."
"As long as it remains, we'll switch places. I will take command here while you destroy the enemy headquarters."
"Understood."
Both were decisive individuals. After finalizing their plan, Minato vanished using the Flying Thunder God Technique, arriving beside Anya, then immediately activating the Flying Thunder God — Second Step, appearing atop Gamabunta next.
Gamabunta noticed this and muttered, "Minato, not just anyone can stand on my head."
Minato chuckled nervously, about to offer reassurance when Anya spoke up, "Its summoning time is almost up anyway. He should return now. I'll take over from here. Don't worry."
Saying this, Anya bit her finger and formed hand seals. [Summoning Jutsu!]
A massive slug, Katsuyu, appeared on the battlefield. As one of the Sannin's summoned beasts, Gamabunta instantly recognized Katsuyu. Eyeing Anya curiously, he then fired a ninjutsu toward the direction of the Iwa ninja before vanishing in a puff of white smoke.
Nodding at Anya, Minato said, "This place is in your hands."
Trusting each other completely, they exchanged glances, conveying everything wordlessly before Minato vanished.
Looking down over the battlefield, Anya ordered the giant slug, "Split up. Tend to the lightly injured and speed up their chakra recovery."
Katsuyu asked thoughtfully, "What about the seriously wounded? Are you not treating them?"
"My chakra isn't enough to heal all the ninja. Those heavily wounded are already unfit for battle. Healing them would be pointless." Anya's words were brutally realistic.
Katsuyu grasped the implication immediately—this was a commander unlike Tsunade in every way. If Tsunade were here, she'd insist on healing everyone—no exceptions. But you couldn't deny that Anya made a valid point.
The giant slug began splitting into numerous smaller slugs, dispersing across the battlefield. With Katsuyu's support, the balance of battle began to shift ever so slightly.
Watching from concealment within the clouds above, the Tsuchikage clearly noticed this development. Although puzzled by Konoha's sudden change of commanders, opportunity had arrived. Quickly accelerating, he reached directly above Anya and unleashed his attack toward the enormous slug below: [Dust Release] - Outer Domain: Annihilation!
Combining Wind, Fire, and Earth natured chakra, he launched an elliptical translucent barrier from his hands. Emitting a blinding white light, the technique hurtled downward like an unstoppable force.
The instant the Tsuchikage approached, Anya sensed danger. Instantly shouting orders at the slug, she commanded, "Split completely—evacuate this area now!"
"Got it!" In an instant, the giant slug fragmented into smaller ones, vanishing from the spot.
Anya, already prepared, tightened her grip on the sword, her body poised and ready.
At the very moment Tsuchikage unleashed his Dust Release.
Anya coldly murmured to herself, "I've been waiting for you."
The masked Anya activated her Mangekyo Sharingan, her left eye shut as blood trickled from her right. The full power of the technique was unleashed. Combining Time Acceleration with the Shifting Body Technique, Anya appeared before the Tsuchikage in an instant. Her sword drawn.
[Sword Art: Draw Technique.]
The long-prepared sword light carved an elegant arc through the air, with all surrounding vitality absorbed into this single strike. Endless destruction and killing intent burst forth at that instant. Such a breathtaking slash was like a glint of cold light grazing the skin, or a sudden gust rippling across still water.
At that moment, the Tsuchikage felt death's presence drawing near.
The sword left behind a curved trail of bloody light in midair...
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