Even though Otogakure's strength was now a far cry from its former days, boasting powerhouses like Orochimaru, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito Nii, Nagato, and Konan, they were still overwhelmed. The sheer number of ninja sent by the Land of Water was staggering.
To protect the village's civilians, Orochimaru, Nagato, and the others couldn't unleash their full power, leaving them stuck defending the heart of Otogakure while safeguarding the people.
"I'll say it one last time: the daimyo of the Land of Water is dead set on claiming your ten pagodas. If you know what's good for you, surrender now, hand over the pagodas, and turn over that little punk who injured our ninja. Otherwise, I'll send every last civilian in Otogakure to hell alongside you!"
"Exactly! You lot might be strong enough to fend us off, but can your civilians survive? If you want to save their sorry lives, hand over Kazama and the pagodas now, or else…"
"Or else what?"
Just as the Land of Water's ninja were shouting their threats, Kazama appeared in a flash.
"Boss! That's the punk!"
The small-time leader from the Land of Water, whom Kazama had spared earlier, sneered the moment he saw him. He turned to the commander of the ninja army, piling on the accusations. "This kid's called Kazama. Don't let his age fool you—he's crazy strong. He humiliated our Land of Water ninja, stole our siege weapons, and even called you a filthy mongrel bastard!"
With the lackey's exaggerated tale, the commander of the Land of Water's army flew into a rage.
"Kazama, you little brat! Not only are you defying the orders of our daimyo, but you've injured our forces and insulted me, the commander! I don't care if you beg on your knees a hundred times—there's no forgiving you!"
"You lot? Think you're in a position to 'forgive' me?"
Kazama burst out laughing at the commander's threats. In his eyes, this so-called army from the Land of Water was nothing but ants.
"You cocky little punk, laughing when you're about to die? Open your eyes and look! We've got hundreds of thousands of troops! I'm gonna skin you alive and grind your bones to dust! Attack!"
The commander's orders rang out, but the ninja army didn't charge as expected. Instead, they froze in place.
Embarrassed, the commander turned to yell at his troops, but the moment he did, he too stood paralyzed.
A horde of ghostly soldiers and generals—ten thousand strong—had appeared, surrounding the ninja army. The sight of these spectral warriors terrified the Land of Water's ninja, leaving them trembling and helpless.
These tens of thousands of ghostly figures were, of course, conjured by Kazama's newly acquired Kyukoku Kinzoku Fire.
In just a few breaths, the once-arrogant Land of Water ninja army was completely annihilated by the ten thousand ghostly soldiers.
"Bansho Ten'in!" (Universal Pull)
With a flick of his hand, Kazama yanked the loudmouthed lackey from earlier right to him.
"What happened to all that trash talk? Come on, keep going!"
The lackey was utterly petrified, stammering apologies and groveling at Kazama's feet, begging for mercy.
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