"What? Chizan, what did you just say?"
Chomei suddenly felt a bit hard of hearing. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"I said, people like him... it's better if they die here. Otherwise, it's too terrifying."
"As long as he's alive, Kumogakure's momentum will never weaken."
"Kumogakure's traditions are more admirable than any other shinobi village. As the Raikage, they always fight on the frontlines."
"Look at my Hokage. He sits in his office all day, stares into a crystal ball... tsk tsk. Now look at their Raikage."
"No comparison. Just no comparison."
Gekko Chizan sighed repeatedly, praising the Raikage while also taking a jab at the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, far away in Konohagakure, who was watching intel.
Sarutobi Hiruzen: I @#!@￥!%
I was on the battlefield before you were even born, brat!!!
"So what do you plan to do? Ambush him?"
Gekko Chizan shook his head, scoffing at Chomei's suggestion.
"Why should I ambush him? Do you think Iwagakure will just let him go?"
"Even if they can't hurt him, don't forget—he's still human. His stamina has limits."
"Ten thousand people... even if they just wear him down, it'll kill him."
Chomei looked down at the Iwagakure shinobi who had completely surrounded the Third Raikage, and nodded.
"Then what should we do? We can't just sit and watch, right?"
In response to Chomei's doubt, Gekko Chizan flashed his signature sinister smile.
"Of course not. Since the Raikage is already holding back Iwagakure's forces for his men..."
"Then let's help Iwagakure a little more."
Through the insect eyes of Gekko Chizan, he could see the Kumogakure troops retreating not far from the battlefield.
At the sight, Gekko Chizan turned sharply and rushed straight toward the retreating Kumogakure forces.
On the vast open plain, aside from a few rocky hills, there was no cover.
If not for the Third Raikage staying behind, most of the Kumogakure shinobi would have died here in this open field.
"If the troops he's protecting get attacked, I wonder if this man of iron will falter."
"Hehehehehe..."
Chomei cried out in admiration.
"Chizan, you're seriously messed up, tsk tsk. Go on then, take my chakra—you fight, I'll watch the show!"
As chakra surged into him, Gekko Chizan grinned even wider.
"Damn it! Move faster! Once we get out of this open field, we'll be safe!"
A Kumogakure captain was urging his team to retreat faster.
They had split into three squads, about 200 people each. As long as they retreated safely, the Raikage could also fall back.
But little did they know, a ghost on the battlefield was silently approaching.
"Hehe... Let's begin..."
"Crystal Release! Mirror Shadow Clone Technique!"
Suddenly, dozens of transparent crystal mirrors appeared around the 200-man Kumogakure squad. If you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't even notice their presence.
Then, multiple figures stepped out from the mirrors simultaneously.
Each one had the same face, all wore Iwagakure forehead protectors, and each held a long blade made entirely of crystal.
Gekko Chizan was cunning. If he was going to attack, of course he'd make Iwagakure take the blame.
"Ambush! Iwagakure's caught up!"
"Defensive positions!"
"Wa—guh!"
A Kumogakure shinobi had just shouted a warning when a blade pierced his chest. Blood instantly stained the transparent blade red.
"Damn it! Everyone stay alert! We're under attack!"
Death descended on this squad as if from nowhere.
"Damn it! Lightning Release! Ground Surge!"
Electric currents spread out rapidly over the ground toward the clones.
But to everyone's shock, the clones didn't dodge. The thunder crackled and struck, but the clones were completely unharmed.
Gekko Chizan stood at the back of the formation, letting out a cold chuckle at the sight.
"Mirror Shadow Clones are made of crystal—extremely hard. A little electricity is nothing."
"Crystal Release... Ugh... Naming things really isn't my forte."
"Forget it, let's call it... Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles."
"Crystal Release! Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles!"
Gekko Chizan extended his hands, palms facing each other, and a massive crystal quickly formed between them.
With chakra flowing into it, the crystal expanded outward until—
Boom!
The crystal shattered, and the shards transformed into countless senbon raining down like death.
There were too many to count.
The Kumogakure shinobi nearest to him were instantly pierced like pincushions.
The faster ones managed to react in time.
"Defend!"
"Invisible attack incoming!"
"Earth Release! Earth-Style Wall!"
A Kumogakure jōnin quickly formed hand seals, raising a massive earthen wall that blocked many of the crystal senbon.
"Aaaagh!!!"
"What the hell is this?!"
But many Kumogakure shinobi were still struck by the attack, and screams echoed throughout the ranks.
The shrill cries sounded especially sweet on the open plain.
The sudden disturbance immediately drew the attention of both the Iwagakure troops and the Third Raikage.
But their reactions were completely different.
Iwagakure's side grew excited—they thought it was their troops attacking the enemy.
The Third Raikage, however, was furious. He had thought that by holding off the enemy, his men would escape. He hadn't expected them to still fall under attack.
"Damn it! I won't let you have your way!"
"Die!"
His Lightning Armor flared even more violently. In an instant, the Third Raikage was completely covered in lightning, becoming a walking engine of slaughter.
"Hmph! A cornered beast still fights!"
"Everyone, spread out! Use ranged attacks to wear him down!"
Kakkō gave the order immediately upon seeing the Raikage enraged.
Iwagakure's shinobi quickly adjusted their formation, widening their distance from the Third Raikage and launching ranged attacks.
Shuriken, explosive tags, and all kinds of jutsu were unleashed one after another.
They managed to trap the Third Raikage in place by sheer force.
But the Third Raikage was no pushover either. With his body, known as the strongest shield, he started charging through the encirclement.
The battle quickly became deadlocked.
Meanwhile, Gekko Chizan's slaughter continued.
Between the clones' assault and Chizan's area attacks, over thirty Kumogakure shinobi had already fallen.
And the casualties were still rising.
"Chizan, kid—why aren't you using stronger attacks?"
"If it's really not enough, let me use some scale powder. One breath and they'll all drop!"
Chomei was getting anxious.
Because aside from the clone attacks, all Chizan was doing was tossing out crystals—some shaped like shuriken, some like senbon, and some even like giant Fūma shuriken.
"Chomei, you don't get it. This is a perfect training opportunity—I'm not wasting it."
"My Crystal Release still needs serious polish. Watch closely now—I'll show you a dragon!"
"Crystal Release! Soaring Dragon in the Sky!"