The battle between Konoha and Kumogakure erupted into full chaos.
A Konoha shinobi was surrounded from both sides by two Kumogakure captives who had broken free from their restraints.
He barely dodged a whip kick, but before he could react, another kunai pierced his back, leaving him defenseless.
At that critical moment, a shadow dropped from above.
"Konoha Hurricane!"
A fierce kick struck the attacker's temple, sending the Kumogakure shinobi flying.
Another spinning kick followed, forcing back the second one.
The newcomer quickly dragged his injured comrade behind him.
"Can you still move?"
"Cough, cough... not dead yet!"
"Damn it, don't overact!"
"I was careless, that's all!"
"..."
Their exchange was quiet, almost drowned out by the chaos of the battlefield.
"All units, counterattack! Hold the line!" A Konoha Jōnin wearing glasses barked orders. An Inuzuka clan shinobi beside him had already charged forward with his ninken.
"Fang Over Fang!"
Man and beast spun into twin tornadoes, crashing into the Kumogakure ranks and tearing two captives apart.
But a thick lightning whip lashed out, striking the ninken on its back, and it let out a heart-wrenching cry.
"Bastard!" The Inuzuka's eyes turned blood-red with fury.
He elbowed his attacker away but was immediately kicked in the stomach by another captive, rolling across the dirt.
"Shadow Imitation Jutsu!"
At the last second, a shadow stretched out, freezing two Kumogakure captives in place.
"Well done!" An Akimichi clan shinobi roared, his body expanding instantly as he activated Human Bullet Tank, crushing the immobilized captives into pulp.
But more prisoners had already broken through the defensive line.
A Hyuga clansman's veins bulged around his eyes, his Byakugan scanning every movement on the battlefield.
While striking a captive's Chakra points with Gentle Fist, he shouted, "Left flank! Three targets with strong Chakra signatures!"
Before he finished speaking, a comrade behind him had already completed his hand seals. "Fire Release, Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
"Water Release, Water Wall!"
A massive fire dragon roared forward, only to be blocked by a water wall raised by three Kumogakure shinobi.
The high temperature instantly vaporized the water, shrouding the battlefield in dense fog.
"Oh no, be careful!"
From within the mist, several lightning-charged kunai shot out silently.
Puff. Puff.
A few Konoha shinobi failed to dodge in time, their thighs and shoulders pierced as they groaned in pain.
A medical ninja rushed forward, green light glowing in his palms as he tried to stop the bleeding.
But before he could finish, a figure burst from the fog, heading straight for him.
Another Kumogakure captive who hadn't broken his seal went berserk, throwing himself forward as a human shield, using his shackles as a weapon. He tackled the medic, sacrificing himself to open a path for his freed comrade.
The medic narrowly avoided a fatal wind blade, but his legs were suddenly grabbed by the shackled captive.
The Kumogakure shinobi from the fog was already upon him, lightning flashing in his hand as he aimed for the medic's heart.
"You won't succeed!"
A kunai flew from the side, colliding with the lightning glow.
The blade gleamed coldly, slicing through the enemy's chest, leaving a deep, bone-deep wound.
The fight had entered its most brutal stage.
Watching their freed comrades battle fiercely against Konoha, the remaining two thousand Kumogakure prisoners went mad with desperation.
They struck their Seals over and over, but no matter how hard they tried, the cursed symbols wouldn't budge.
They watched helplessly as the few who had broken free were quickly overwhelmed by reinforcements.
One captive was pinned by three Konoha shinobi and, after a brief struggle, was pierced by a kunai through the chest. His dying scream cut through the night.
That cry tore through the hearts of all the prisoners.
They couldn't wait any longer.
"So what if we don't have Chakra!"
A tall Kumogakure shinobi roared like a beast, dragging his chains as he lunged at the nearest Konoha guard. "We still have our fists! We still have our teeth! We—ah!"
Before he could finish, a Great Fireball exploded in his face.
His body turned to ash before it hit the ground.
His death drove the rest into madness.
They dragged their shackles, grabbed stones, sticks, anything they could find, and charged like wild beasts toward Konoha's defensive line.
A brutal, chaotic, blood-soaked riot erupted in full force.
From above, Hiruzen watched calmly.
Everything was unfolding exactly as planned.
Now, it was his turn.
"The Kumogakure captives, unrepentant!" Hiruzen's voice rang across the camp, filled with grief and authority.
"For the safety of the Land of Fire, to prevent further harm to innocent civilians!"
"In the name of the Third Hokage, I order..." His tone hardened, dripping with killing intent. "All captives are to be executed on sight. Leave none alive!"
"Yes!"
Thousands of voices roared in unison, morale surging like wildfire.
Hiruzen's hands blurred through seals. His movements were so fast that only afterimages remained.
"Earth Release, Swamp of the Underworld!"
He slammed his palm onto the ground.
The solid earth instantly turned into a vast swamp.
Dozens of Kumogakure prisoners at the front sank instantly, the suction pinning them in place.
"Fire Release, Great Fire Annihilation!"
His chest expanded as he inhaled deeply, then he exhaled a sea of flames that spread across the entire front line.
A towering wall of fire surged forward, burning everything in its path.
Lightning clashed with flame, exploding into a storm of light and sound.
But Hiruzen's fire was stronger, devouring the lightning completely.
The flames consumed the dozen Kumogakure trapped in front, reducing them to nothing but blackened, twisted corpses.
A Kumogakure Jōnin with bloodshot eyes screamed in rage. "Lightning Release, Lightning Dragon Jutsu!"
A thunderous dragon burst forward, striking toward Hiruzen.
"Water Release, Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
Hiruzen's voice was calm as he countered. Torrents of water roared from his palms, forming a massive waterfall that crashed against the lightning dragon.
For a brief moment, lightning flared within the waves, then disappeared completely under the surge of water.
The flood didn't stop. It swept the Kumogakure Jōnin and a dozen others away, smashing them into a distant cliffside.
The sound of breaking bones echoed. When the water receded, only a smear of blood remained on the rocks.
"Wind Release, Continuous Violent Waves!"
Emerging from the rising steam, Hiruzen opened his mouth and unleashed several spinning wind blades.
They moved silently, slicing through the throats of several Kumogakure trying to ambush him.
"Lightning Release, Black Panther!"
He pressed one hand to the ground, summoning a black lightning panther that leapt from his palm.
The creature dashed across the battlefield at blinding speed, every pounce leaving another burnt corpse behind.
Large-scale jutsu of five different elements alternated seamlessly in his hands. Every move was a killing strike, displaying the terrifying mastery of the Professor of Ninjutsu.
Hiruzen's display of power ignited the Konoha forces.
Their attacks grew fiercer.
And the Kumogakure resistance crumbled completely.
(To be continued.)
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