Two days later, two forces from the Village Hidden in the Cloud, led by the Third Raikage and his son, A, respectively, cut through the Land of Rice Paddies and the Land of Hot Water like two sharp knives, launching their invasion of the Land of Fire.
The well-prepared Konoha forces met them head-on, and the first large-scale battle erupted.
The Legendary Sannin of Konoha, who had made their names in the Second Great Ninja War, once again displayed their incredible power, leading the Konoha shinobi to intercept the Land of Lightning's fierce offensive.
In the Land of Rice Paddies, the Third Raikage single-handedly faced Jiraiya and Tsunade, forcing both of them into Sage Mode without falling into a disadvantage.
However, the forces under the Third Raikage's command suffered a major setback.
Two young Konoha shinobi, like a pair of indestructible axes, sliced through the Cloud-nin forces, leaving them scattered and disorganized.
One of them was Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki. Having trained in senjutsu alongside Tsunade, he displayed even greater talent than his sister, mastering Sage Mode a full year earlier.
In that same year, Nawaki was promoted to jonin.
In his first taste of war, Nawaki, utilizing his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, became a terrifying weapon on the battlefield—a man who would slay gods and buddhas alike who stood in his way—earning him the title "Red Beast."
The other was Jiraiya's student, Minato Namikaze.
A commoner by birth, he mastered the Second Hokage's signature technique—the Flying Thunder God Technique—through his own genius, becoming the fastest man on the battlefield. He reaped lives like grass, earning the moniker "Yellow Flash."
Faced with such overwhelming power, even the elite of the Cloud-nin could only become stepping stones for these two to make their names.
In stark contrast to the great victory in the Land of Rice Paddies, Orochimaru's forces in the Land of Hot Water were being crushed by the equally young A-B Combo and the Eight-Tails jinchuriki. Their defensive line was pushed back again and again, forcing them to request reinforcements from Jiraiya's front.
Minato Namikaze and Nawaki were redeployed to the Land of Hot Water to face the A-B Combo and the Eight-Tails jinchuriki respectively, and the battle immediately fell into a stalemate.
Land of Water, Village Hidden in the Mist.
Among the Five Great Shinobi Countries, the Village Hidden in the Mist was the most mysterious.
Ever since the era of the Second Mizukage, the village had implemented a policy of "closed-door isolation," strictly forbidding outsiders from entering or leaving.
Even the face of the Third Mizukage had rarely been seen by outsiders.
While the Cloud and Konoha were locked in a fiery battle, the Mist Village had also quietly prepared for war.
At this moment, in the Third Mizukage's chambers, Yagura Karatachi, who had a baby face, wore an expression of grief.
"Master..."
"Yagura, don't look so weak. Everyone dies eventually. I'm just leaving a little earlier than most."
The Third Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, struggled to lift his arm, parting the mosquito net and placing his hand on his disciple Yagura's head.
Through the gap in the netting, one could clearly see the Third Mizukage's handsome but pale face.
"I understand, Master," Yagura nodded, forcing a resolute expression onto his face.
"Fortunately, I have finally lived to see this day. The Land of Lightning couldn't resist making a move on Konoha first. This way, I can use this body, eroded by the blood-stain disease, to create this rare opportunity for the Mist Village."
The Third Mizukage coughed twice, composed himself, and said solemnly, "After I die, you will be the Fourth Mizukage of the Village Hidden in the Mist. I entrust the village to you."
"Master, rest assured, I will protect the Mist Village!" Yagura said earnestly.
"Mm, your master believes in you."
The Third Mizukage looked at the old man standing behind Yagura and said softly, "Genji, there isn't much time. Let's begin."
"Sigh, yes!" Genji called over several young shinobi, who carried the Third Mizukage into a ritual formation.
After a dazzling flash of light, a bit of color returned to the Third Mizukage's face, no longer deathly pale.
He clenched his fists, feeling the long-lost power flowing through his body, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Lord Mizukage, the Hozuki clan's kinjutsu will restore your body to its peak condition. However, the chakra you mold will consume your life force. When all your chakra is depleted, you will..." Genji said grimly.
"This is more than enough." The Third Mizukage walked out of the bedroom with a vigorous stride and onto the plaza outside.
Yagura and Genji followed closely behind him.
In the plaza, thousands of people had been waiting quietly for a long time.
Facing the Mist-nin below, the Third Mizukage said only one simple sentence: "Follow me, and we will break into Konoha!"
"Yes, sir!"
Dozens of large ships, carrying a massive number of Mist-nin, rode the wind and waves, arriving at the coastline of the Land of Fire, near the Land of Waves.
There, Sakumo Hatake and his elite unit had long been waiting.
Among them were a large number of Hyuga and Uchiha clan shinobi, their red and white eyes being powerful tools against the Mist Village.
Upon spotting the Land of Water's fleet, Sakumo decisively had a signal for reinforcements sent to Konoha.
With their numbers alone, they couldn't hold off the Land of Water's main force for long.
Sakumo shouted, "Before reinforcements arrive, we must hold this line! We will not allow a single Land of Water ninja to invade our country!"
"Yes, sir!" the crowd responded with determination.
Strangely, under the detection of the Byakugan, the Land of Water's fleet stopped in the distance, and only a single person walked across the water towards them.
"Who is that guy? Is he a messenger?"
"Mm, possibly."
"No matter who he is, we cannot let our guard down."
"Right!"
Soon, they could see the person's appearance clearly.
Sakumo thought for a moment, then, holding his short sword, walked alone onto the beach, stopping ten meters away from the man.
"I am Sakumo Hatake. Who are you?"
The Third Mizukage stood on the water's surface, gazing at Sakumo Hatake, and nodded. "So, you are Konoha's White Fang. You look as remarkable as they say."
"I am the Third Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki. Cherish your final moments."
"The Third Mizukage? A member of the Hozuki clan?" A bad premonition suddenly surged in Sakumo's heart. This was not good.
On reflex, lightning flickered under his feet. He held his short sword and charged towards the Third Mizukage like a flash of white light, his lightning-infused blade slashing down.
However, he was a step too late.
Before the Third Mizukage had even finished speaking, he slammed his hands together. The chakra in his body surged wildly, and the seawater beneath his feet began to spin rapidly, creating a waterspout that enveloped him, blocking Sakumo's slash.
But his jutsu didn't end there. On the originally calm sea, dozens of enormous water dragons suddenly shot up, charging towards the shore with unstoppable momentum.
"Water Style: Great Tidal Wave Jutsu!"
Sakumo's pupils contracted, and he roared, "Get back, now!"
Unfortunately, it was too late.
The terrifying water dragons crashed onto the defensive line on the shore, transforming into thousands upon thousands of water arrows capable of piercing stone, covering the entire sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Blood stained the earth red.
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