The Sand ninjas desperately wanted to help, but the Leaf currently held a significant numerical advantage.
Furthermore, the terrain around Shiraishi was a desolate wasteland; the sheer scale of his battle with the Third Hokage, Jiraiya, and Gamabunta had forced everyone else to retreat to avoid the crossfire.
Facing the Leaf's encirclement, Shiraishi's expression remained indifferent. As he gripped his silver blade, the biting cold produced by the Black Mist erupted like shattering layers of ice.
Countless ice blades shot forth. One Leaf Jonin used a kunai to block the projectiles, only to see a Dimensional Hole warp the space and project the silver blade, piercing his heart in an instant.
Poof!
In a split second, the ninja's body turned into a pile of mud and smoke. The timing of the Substitution Jutsu was nearly seamless, proving this ninja was among the top combatants of the Leaf's elite.
These fifteen Jonin, coordinating with Jiraiya and the Third Hokage, were the finest warriors the Leaf had to offer. While none were Shiraishi's equal in a one-on-one fight, their collective tactical discipline made them incredibly dangerous.
The fact that the ninja could react fast enough to substitute against a Dimensional Hole assassination spoke volumes about their caliber.
Despite surviving, the Leaf ninja felt a cold sweat down his back. "Maintain distance! Watch the movements of the six rings!"
They understood now: Shiraishi's Space-Time Ninjutsu relied on those rings for coordinate shifting. Whether it was the user or a weapon, anything could be swapped. Now that they had gathered intel on the mechanics, the Leaf's counter-strategy became much more effective.
Shikaku Nara's shadow was slowly creeping deep into the ground, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Meanwhile, in mid-air, a pair of silver wings manifested on Shiraishi's back, from which he unleashed a dense barrage of silver feathers.
Magnet Release: Wings of Iron Sand.
This technique involved compressing metallic sand at high density to form giant avian wings, firing iron feathers as long-range projectiles.
Shiraishi's silver needles were infused with Black Mist energy and electromagnetic fluctuations, designed to paralyze anyone they touched. They moved faster than the naked eye could track, each feather possessing tracking capabilities.
The lethality was limited, but the range was vast—perfect for a war of attrition.
However, the Third Hokage rejoined the fray. He used an Earth Release technique to neutralize the feather barrage, and Shiraishi realized he was running out of time.
No matter how strong "Black Mist" Shiraishi was, he was still one man. Against a literal army of the world's strongest elites, even god-like power had its limits.
After a shockwave from an explosion, Shiraishi—defending with his silver sand—sustained his first wound: a shallow cut on his cheek from a successful sneak attack by the Third Hokage.
Watching from the sidelines, Shikaku Nara muttered, "To die against a lineup like this... Black Mist Shiraishi has earned his name in history."
Yet, the more dire the situation, the calmer Shiraishi became. As his feathers scattered in all directions, they left behind small clusters of magnetic sand on the ground, which began to glow with black runes.
Jiraiya and the Third Hokage unleashed their respective jutsu, shattering Shiraishi's wings. As he fell vertically, his silver blade danced with exquisite technique, clashing against Hiruzen's staff and Jiraiya's Taijutsu.
Though fighting a junior two-on-one was technically a blow to their pride, the Third Hokage was a pragmatist. At this stage, there was no retreat; a victor had to be decided.
Pinned at the center of a whirlwind of attacks from the two Sannin-level masters and supported by a hail of jutsu from the surrounding Jonin, Shiraishi grew increasingly exhausted. His silver sand defenses were being whittled away.
Ebizo was frantic. Shiraishi was losing ground. If this continued, he would eventually fall to the Leaf's "battle of attrition" strategy. Shiraishi had achieved feats that shocked the world, but the cost could not be his life.
"Ebizo, you're distracted!" Danzo shouted, firing a Wind Release blade. Ebizo spat blood as he used chakra threads to form a defense, continuing their stalemate.
Danzo knew his job was simple: keep the Sand's leadership—Rasa, Karura, Ebizo, and Ryoko—from reinforcing Shiraishi.
Karura, clashing with Hyuga Tenmon, noticed her husband Rasa's eyes flickering with hesitation. Her heart sank. This was a moment of life and death for the Hidden Sand; why did he still harbor such heavy selfishness?
"Shiraishi!" Yashamaru, a member of the Kazekage's guard, tried to break through multiple times, but he was pinned by a swarm of Leaf ninjas. A consensus had formed among the Leaf: Black Mist Shiraishi must die here.
His earlier display of power had terrified them. In the young Shiraishi, they saw the shadow of Madara Uchiha. The ninja world could not allow a second Madara to rise—especially one not born of the Leaf.
The silver sand grew sparse. The ground beneath Shiraishi had been decimated by various nature transformations. This was the reality of ninja combat: the more cards you show, the easier you are to counter. After facing Hiruzen and Jiraiya, most of Shiraishi's tricks were laid bare.
Information is the ultimate weapon. Shiraishi retreated a few steps, using a Water Encampment Wall to block an advance.
His Regeneration Core eyes calculated frantically, seeking an opening for one last Sand Gathering technique.
If I can just gather sand one more time, I can finish that jutsu...
But the Leaf's attacks were too dense. As Shiraishi cut down an elite Jonin, Hiruzen's staff shattered Shiraishi's shoulder. As his arm hung limp, Shiraishi spun his blade into an electromagnetic whirlwind, decapitating another Leaf Jonin.
Two elite kills, yet the situation remained grim.
Suddenly, the earth rumbled. To the surprise of both sides, a blood-stained, disheveled Ryoko Yamaji stepped into the center of the killing field.
Danzo was stunned. According to his intel, the head of the Yamaji family would never help Shiraishi. Their blood feud was supposed to be irreconcilable. Yet, here she was.
Ryoko, whom Shiraishi had saved earlier and who had been recovering in the shadows, had returned without hesitation. A Leaf ninja lunged at her, but she ignored the kunai piercing her chest to drive her chakra threads through the attacker's throat.
A massive vortex of sand rose. As her blood dripped onto the parched earth, Ryoko activated the Yamaji family's ultimate forbidden jutsu. The sand became violent and frenzied.
The Leaf ninjas showered her with kunai, but her body seemed to merge with the storm itself, becoming indestructible. The final forbidden technique of the Yamaji clan: merging one's life force with the sand to create a Forbidden Desert of Death.
As long as the caster's will persists, the storm will not vanish.
Ryoko Yamaji had no complex motive for helping Shiraishi. At the end of the day, she was a ninja of the Sand.
As her consciousness faded, she saw the faces of those she loved: her mother, her uncle, and her favorite teacher... Sasori.
I hope you're never lonely again... teacher!
As she died, a single tear turned into a grain of sand and fell into Shiraishi's hand. The weight of it was immense.
Ryoko's final sacrifice allowed Shiraishi to gather enough sand to restore his chakra. Simultaneously, the black runes he had planted earlier erupted with brilliant light.
Hundreds of silver pyramids burst from the ground, floating upside down in mid-air. From their tips, flickers of cyan flame began to burn.
The Third Hokage's eyelids twitched. His survival instinct screamed at him. Those cyan flames felt terrifying... and lethal.
Fear, cold and sudden, surged into the hearts of every Leaf ninja on the field.
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