Faced with this nearly world-shattering strike, Anya remained expressionless. Her Mangekyo Sharingan activated as the blade-like pupils within her eyes rotated. Black chakra surged from her body, and a dark spectral figure began to take shape.
The Susanoo was the ultimate power sealed inside the Mangekyo Sharingan — her only choice now.
Just as the mighty Susanoo — the legendary warrior spirit of the Uchiha — was about to fully form, Anya's gaze shifted slightly, a look of ease passing across her face before she promptly dispelled the technique.
**BOOM... BOOM...**
A tremendous explosion erupted where Anya had stood. After the blast cleared, nothing remained upon the ground — even the surrounding walls had vanished as if they'd never existed.
Everyone who saw it was stunned beyond words. Was this truly the power of a Kage-level warrior? It was terrifying. The morale of the Konoha ninja plummeted to freezing lows.
Haku, watching from the sidelines, felt his head spin and his body freeze — he couldn't breathe for several moments.
At that moment, Inoichi's voice echoed into several minds: "Relax, Captain is fine. I can sense his chakra."
Sure enough, the moment Inoichi finished speaking, two figures appeared beside the Tsuchikage at the same time.
"Katon: Gōka Messhitsu!"
"Fuuton: Daitoppa!"
The massive fireball rapidly expanded under the wind's influence, its blazing flames recklessly spreading their claws to completely engulf the airborne Tsuchikage. The air became filled with scorching heat, rising flames consuming him entirely.
"He actually survived." The Tsuchikage thought in disbelief, quickly raising a thick earthen wall in front of himself while rocketing upward.
"Hmph. Trying to escape? Minato, assist me," Anya coldly snorted.
"On it."
Before the Tsuchikage could react further, suddenly a kunai materialized in front of him, then two figures flashed forward. Blinding sword light screamed toward him, bringing the hush of certain death.
[Sword Art: Draw Technique]
The fully charged Drawing Technique combined with Minato's Flying Thunder God created an astonishing coordination that unleashed this deadly blow against the Tsuchikage.
The Tsuchikage's eyes darkened with fury. Concentrating chakra into his right arm once more, he activated his Rock Fist Jutsu again, causing a huge stone fist disproportionate to his form to collide with the incoming blade.
The life-risking strike between them sent both combatants flying backward violently, splashing droplets of blood through the air — none could tell whose it was.
Using the force from being thrown back, the Tsuchikage didn't hesitate at all, directly fleeing toward his faction's rear lines — clearly retreating. He already learned through his own ninja that their rear command post had been destroyed and couldn't afford to continue fighting.
Anya's backward-flying figure was steadily caught by Minato, who safely brought them both down using the Flying Thunder God.
Watching the Tsuchikage retreat into the distance, blood trickled from Anya's lips as sharp pains coursed through her body. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Good timing. The Tsuchikage is really strong."
Facing that powerful Dust Release attack, Anya honestly wasn't confident she could have resisted it using just Susanoo.
Minato nodded in agreement, "Indeed. Onoki, the Two-Plate Scales, is known for his might. One-on-one, there isn't a single ninja in the Ninja World who dares claim victory over him."
"Let's chase them down," Anya said. "They're retreating."
Anya quickly judged the situation on the battlefield. With the command center destroyed and Tsuchikage retreating after being injured, there was no way he could effectively fight in a short time. Minato, wielding the Flying Thunder God technique, was now an invincible force on the battlefield. Don't let this chance slip away.
"But, your body?" Minato understood what Anya had done with her final attack. Although she had successfully wounded the Tsuchikage, he hadn't been helpless either—the recoil from his Rock Fist attack had left Anya completely numb. She was in a severely weakened state. It was mutual damage, neither gaining an advantage. Without Minato holding her up, she could barely stand.
Anya smiled and said, "Don't forget, I'm still a Medical Ninja. These minor injuries will recover quickly. Go, don't miss this opportunity."
"Alright." Saying nothing further, Minato vanished using the Flying Thunder God.
Without Minato's support, Anya could no longer hold back her pain and spat out a mouthful of blood. Weakly, she half-kneeled on the ground, internally chuckling bitterly. Never did she expect that the Third Battle had just begun yet already brought such a difficult fight. It seemed she shouldn't underestimate others anymore. Having gained the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan, she had become too confident. If it were during the Second Battle, she would never have dared to confront someone like this head-on.
"Are you alright?"
Haku's voice entered her mind as Anya commanded, "I'm fine. You all cooperate with other Konoha ninja for pursuit. Find isolated targets to kill. If encountering formidable enemies, retreat and find others."
"Yes."
The pursuit battle reignited. Seeing this familiar sight from midair, the Tsuchikage felt as though he'd been pulled into a memory of the war during the Second Battle—the same outcome, but this time the opponent was younger and even more destructive.
The command personnel were almost simultaneously assassinated. That yellow-haired figure filled countless Iwa ninja with dread. The Anbu ninja who fought him was just as terrifying—no one would probably survive three strikes in close combat.
Despite his resentment, the Tsuchikage finally gritted his teeth and issued the final order midair: "Retreat."
The battle lasted a full day until both sides were exhausted enough to stop, leaving behind only scattered corpses, ruined land, and deep-seated hatred between them.
Itachi Uchiha appeared on the battlefield. A young Itachi watched the intense battle between both sides, deeply shaken by its brutality. Life here seemed so fragile—people alive one moment, then dead the next.
After the battle, Itachi Uchiha walked alone through the battlefield, looking at the corpses on the ground, pondering something while standing motionless.
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Water… does anyone have water?" A weak voice came from a fallen ninja lying on the ground.
Itachi Uchiha immediately ran over and gave water to this ninja.
After drinking the water, the Iwa ninja was about to thank him when he saw Itachi Uchiha's ninja tools. His eyes suddenly turned fierce, and he raised his kunai to kill Itachi.
Itachi remained expressionless. He countered by drawing his kunai and cutting the throat of the Iwa ninja.
Fugaku, who had been following Itachi Uchiha from afar, arrived here and looked at this Iwa ninja emotionlessly.
Itachi couldn't help but ask, "Dad, why is this ninja trying to kill me? I haven't done anything."
"Because this is war. It's not a fight between individuals, but a clash between two hidden villages. That's why strangers engage in meaningless battles. That's the way of the ninja. Listen, Itachi, remember this moment well."
After instructing Itachi, Fugaku's gaze unconsciously shifted to where Anya had been standing. He had seen the entire battle with the Tsuchikage earlier and now recognized her immediately. Only Anya could possess such stunning [Sword Art]. He never expected she would have grown that strong.
As clan head, doubts about his own strength stirred within him. But when he looked at Itachi, a smile formed on his lips. He believed that one day, his gifted son Itachi would outshine every other member of the Uchiha clan.
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