The Hand of God Creates the Strongest Hidden Mist Village

Chapter 169 Konoha is on the verge of exploding

The Land of Grass.

Located in the buffer zone between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, the country is long and narrow, with many hills and grasslands, and has been a battlefield for the two major powers for many years.

At this moment, the shadow of war is looming over this war-torn land.

The war between Konoha and Iwagakure has lasted for two full years.

From the initial border skirmishes to the later all-out war, both sides deployed tens of thousands of ninjas on this land and engaged in countless fierce battles.

After the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, although Iwagakure's supply lines were severely damaged, they still maintained the initiative on the battlefield thanks to the Dust Release of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, and the numerical advantage of the Iwagakure army. They pressed forward step by step, continuously compressing Konoha's defenses backward.

After Kirigakure defeated Konoha, Iwagakure seized the opportunity, relentlessly pursuing and attacking, and completely taking control of the battlefield!

now.

Inside the front-line command post at the Hidden Stone Village battlefield, in the Leaf Village's position.

The makeshift command post was located on the back of a hill. The walls, reinforced with earth magic, were several meters thick, and the top was covered with camouflage netting and vegetation. From the air, it blended in with the surrounding terrain.

Several high-ranking Konoha ninja sat around a table, their expressions grave. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat at the head of the table, his face etched with exhaustion. Sparks flickered in his pipe, and through the swirling smoke, his brows were tightly furrowed, as if bearing the weight of the entire village of Konoha.

Orochimaru stood beside him, equally exhausted, with blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his arm, clearly having just been through a fierce battle.

Nara Shikaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and other high-ranking officials of Konoha gathered together, their faces filled with solemnity.

On the sand table, the markers representing the enemy's and our own positions are intertwined, with the red markings already approaching the core area of ​​Konoha's defense line.

"Battle report just sent back from the front."

Nara Shikaku put down the scroll in his hand and said in a low voice, "The third position has fallen. Huang Tu personally led the demolition squad to blast open our defenses, and the Iwagakure army then broke in. Of the three hundred ninjas stationed there, one hundred and twenty were killed, eighty were seriously wounded, and the rest with minor injuries retreated. The enemy's losses are estimated to be no more than seventy."

The command post was deathly silent.

Since the ceasefire on the Kirigakure front and the Third Hokage personally led reinforcements to the Land of Grass, Konoha's defenses did indeed stabilize for a time. However, Iwagakure's offensive was too fierce, and Onoki, that old fox, was incredibly cunning, always managing to find weak points in the defenses and deliver heavy blows.

After the Kannabi Bridge was destroyed, Iwagakure's supply lines were indeed severely damaged, and Amegakure also pulled back and forth several times, which to some extent restrained Onoki.

However, Onoki, relying on his Dust Release and the ferocity of Iwagakure, quickly forced open a new supply route. Although the efficiency was lower, it was still enough to keep the army running.

On the other hand, Konoha had ample supplies, but suffered heavy losses in manpower.

The disastrous consequences of fighting on four fronts finally became fully apparent at this point.

"How's Danzo doing?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly opened his mouth and asked.

Nara Shikaku took out another scroll and handed it to Sarutobi Hiruzen: "The situation on Danzo's side is not too bad. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, combined with Danzo's powerful Wind Release, managed to block the attacks of the two Jinchuriki, but that's all they managed."

"Is it blocked?"

Upon hearing this information, the people present breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Three days ago, the Iwagakure army pressed in, and under Onoki's Dust Release, they were unstoppable. The two Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails both entered their full Tailed Beast transformations, causing Konoha to suffer repeated defeats.

At the critical moment, Danzo, along with Kushina, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, descended from the heavens and single-handedly blocked the attack of the two Jinchuriki, giving Konoha a much-needed respite.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was overjoyed and intended to take this opportunity to launch a counterattack against Iwagakure. However, the Sunagakure forces stationed at Kannabi Bridge made some unusual moves, forcing Hiruzen Sarutobi to send some of his troops to reinforce the Sunagakure battlefield defenses.

As a result, all they could do at this point was continue to hold the front line and drag things out.

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, the Third Hokage, who was over fifty years old, looked much older than his actual age. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were so deep they could trap flies, and his eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he hadn't had a proper rest in a long time.

"Shikaku, tell me the information you analyzed."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was hoarse and deep, yet it still carried the authority of someone who had long held a high position.

Nara Shikaku nodded, got up and walked to the sand table, pointing to several key marked points.

"According to current intelligence, the Hidden Stone Village has deployed approximately 8,000 to 10,000 troops along the Grass Country front. They are personally commanded by the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, and include the explosives unit led by Kyoto and two Jinchuriki (the Four-Tails, Rōshi, and the Five-Tails, Han) under his command."

And an elite force consisting of over eighty Jonin and hundreds of Chunin.

He paused, then continued.

"Our forces, including the reinforcements brought by Lord Danzo, total about four thousand men. Although supplies are sufficient, continuous fighting has led to low morale and numerous wounded, leaving us with less than three thousand soldiers actually capable of fighting."

"The troop strength difference is close to three to one."

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Nara Shikaku's voice was calm, but his words made everyone present feel breathless.

Three to one!

Such a disparity in troop strength would be an insurmountable chasm on the main battlefield. Moreover, the enemy also had Onoki, a Kage-level powerhouse with the Kekkei Tota Dust Release, and two perfect Jinchuriki.

"Shikaku, you mean—"

Hiashi Hyuga frowned, his pure white eyes filled with seriousness.

"What I mean is, we have no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation," Nara Shikaku bluntly stated. "Iwagakure currently holds an absolute advantage. They can slowly wear us down, using their numerical superiority to gradually erode our defenses. And we can only passively defend and wait for reinforcements."

But where are the reinforcements now?

While the situation on the Cloud Village side remains deadlocked, the Sand Village side is itching to make a move; they have already played all the cards they can!

The entire command room fell into dead silence. After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally looked at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru, how's the situation on your end?

Orochimaru, who had been silent all along, raised his head, his golden vertical pupils gleaming with a hint of weariness in the dim light.

"On the main battlefield, I can still hold on. But my summoned beast—it's almost done for."

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"That brute Huang Tu led a demolition squad specifically targeting my Wan She. They fought five battles in three days, and Wan She was blown up four times. If it weren't for his thick skin, he would have been killed long ago."

Even so, Manda is now badly injured and refuses to come out again.

Orochimaru paused for a moment: "If Iwagakure launches another large-scale attack tomorrow, I might not be able to stop the yellow earth."

Silence fell once again in the command center.

Orochimaru's summoning beast, Manda, was a crucial force for Konoha in its fight against the Iwagakure Explosion Team on the main battlefield. That creature was incredibly tough and fast, capable of rampaging across the battlefield and tying down large numbers of enemy troops.

Although Orochimaru can summon other giant snake summons, their strength is nowhere near that of Manda.

Now, even the giant snakes are too scared to come out after being bombed, which shows how fierce the battle is.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time before slowly picking up his pipe and taking a deep drag.

"No matter what, the defense line must be held."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable firmness.

"If even we retreat, the Land of Fire behind us will be wide open. At that time, it will be tens of thousands of people who suffer, and everything we are protecting that will be destroyed."

"Shikaku, pass down the order: all units are to enter a state of high alert, increase night patrols, and prevent Iwagakure from launching a surprise attack. At the same time, notify the rear to mobilize as many supplies and reinforcements as possible, even if they are just genin, to fill some gaps."

"Hiashi, keep the Byakugan active around the clock to monitor the movements of Iwagakure's main forces, especially the locations of Onoki and the two Jinchuriki. Report immediately if any unusual activity is detected."

"Orochimaru, you—try your best to appease Manda. That guy may have a bad temper, but we'll need him in a pinch."

Everyone readily accepted the order.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the crowd again, his gaze lingering for a moment on each tired yet resolute face.

"Gentlemen, I know you are all exhausted. I am too. But that's how war is; if you don't hold on, the enemy will trample over you."

"Hold on a little longer. As long as we can hold off Iwagakure until winter, until their supplies run out, we'll have a chance to turn the tide."

"yes!"

The crowd responded in unison, their eyes still burning with fighting spirit despite their exhaustion.

After the order was given, everyone left.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained in the command post.

He stood alone in front of the sand table, gazing at the jagged markings, a hint of bewilderment flashing in his eyes.

Before his eyes, figures involuntarily appeared: Shinnosuke's, Jiraiya's, and the two figures, one red and one blue.

First Master, Teacher —

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, shook his head, and banished these useless thoughts from his mind.

As the Hokage, he had no right to dwell on past memories.

He had to hold on, for Konoha, for the Land of Fire, and for the ninjas who trusted him and followed him.

Outside the window, night had enveloped the entire battlefield.

In the distance, the faint sound of war drums could be heard coming from the Hidden Rock Camp, each beat like a death knell.

The next morning.

As dawn broke, the attack by Iwagakure began.

This time, it was more intense than ever before.

Onoki personally oversaw the central command.

On either side, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Rōshi, and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, Han, had fully transformed into their tailed beast forms. The two enormous tailed beasts roared and, like two moving mountains, crushed towards the Konoha positions.

Behind them, Huang Tu's demolition squad was ready and poised to engage in battle at any moment, blasting through Konoha's defensive fortifications.

"kill!"

Onoki's aged yet powerful voice resounded throughout the battlefield.

Tens of thousands of Iwagakure troops surged toward Konoha's position like a tidal wave.

On Konoha's side, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was ashen, but he did not back down.

"Let's fight!"

Thousands of Konoha ninja simultaneously formed hand seals, unleashing a barrage of ninjutsu upon the Iwagakure army.

The battle instantly intensified.

Orochimaru stood on the flank of the position, his golden vertical pupils fixed on the rock giants that kept appearing in the distance. These were created by the Iwagakure masters using the Gangli Shiki technique.

But now that Manda is gone, he can only rely on his ninjutsu and taijutsu to hold on.

But how long can he hold out against such a fierce offensive?

"Orochimaru-sama! The demolition squad from Huangtu is here!"

A member of the Anbu ninja rushed over, his voice filled with anxiety.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance.

As expected, Huang Tu led over a hundred elite Iwagakure soldiers skilled in Earth Release: Explosion, like a sharp dagger, straight into the weak point of Konoha's position.

Wherever they went, the ground was blasted into countless deep craters, and defensive fortifications were torn to shreds like paper.

"This is troublesome—"

Orochimaru licked his lips, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

He took a deep breath and quickly formed hand seals.

"Spiritual communication!"

Bang!

A large, grayish-brown snake appeared on the battlefield.

"roar!!"

The moment the giant serpent appeared, it hissed and roared as it charged toward the distant earth giant.

The colossal serpent's massive body smashed through the leading rock and earth giants, sending debris flying and dust billowing everywhere. It opened its blood-red maw, unleashing a torrent of venom that corroded even more enemies.

However, this is just an appetizer.

"Earth Release: Earthquake Core!"

The deep, resonant sound of loess echoed across the battlefield as hands slammed violently into the ground.

Rumble!!!

The earth trembled violently, and a section of land on the flank of the Leaf Village's position instantly rose up, forming an earthen wall tens of meters high.

Immediately afterwards, those raised clods of earth suddenly exploded!

They're from the Iwagakure Blast Team!

The Iwagakure Explosion Squad possesses an extremely terrifying Explosion Release technique, making them incredibly lethal on the battlefield and a formidable weapon of mass destruction.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions erupted continuously on the Konoha battlefield as countless Iwagakure Explosives Squad C detonated their own Earth Release techniques, turning the entire area into a living hell.

The giant snake summoned by Orochimaru was the first to be hit, struck head-on by several explosions. Its massive body was overturned, emitting a mournful hiss, and blood rained down.

"Damn it—"

Orochimaru's face turned ashen.

Without the Ten Thousand Serpents, ordinary spirit serpents simply cannot last long on this battlefield of Haibie.

He rapidly formed hand seals, unleashing the Snake Clone Technique. Several venomous snakes shot out from his sleeves, biting at the approaching Iwagakure ninja. At the same time, his main body retreated swiftly, dodging the ensuing explosions.

But Huang Tu had clearly set his sights on him.

"Orochimaru! Today is your death day!"

Huang Tu's rough voice was like thunder. He himself had led a team of elite explosive ninjas through the chaotic battlefield and was heading straight for Orochimaru!

He swung his arms, and each time he struck the ground, it triggered a violent explosion that shattered everything around him.

Orochimaru kept dodging, his golden vertical pupils filled with seriousness.

He was not afraid of a lone patch of yellow earth.

But Huang Tu was followed by hundreds of explosive ninjas. Those guys worked together seamlessly, their earth-escape techniques linked together, creating a continuous barrage of explosions that gave him no chance to retaliate.

"Spiritual communication!"

Bang!

Another giant serpent was summoned, attempting to block the path of the loess.

"Earth Release·Yellow Spring Marsh!"

With a single slap of Huang Tu's palm, the earth instantly turned into a swamp, swallowing the giant snake whole.

Immediately afterwards, several Jonin from Iwagakure around them formed hand seals, and thick pillars of earth shot into the sky, directly blasting the giant snake into a bloody mess.

"Tsk."

A flicker of anxiety flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.

He won't last much longer if things continue like this.

That giant snake is temperamental; it was badly damaged in yesterday's explosion and refuses to come out today. Ordinary giant snakes are simply easy prey for the Demolition Team C.

In the distance, Hiruzen Sarutobi was engaged in a fierce battle with Onoki, their Dust Release and the clash of the five elemental ninjutsu creating a terrifying shockwave, leaving him no time to provide support.

Danzo and Kushina were also on the other side, tightly bound by the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails, unable to break free.

At this moment, Orochimaru alone could hold up the flank defense.

"This is really intense, Iwagakure and Konoha."

On a cliff in the distance, two figures stood on a boulder, looking down at the battlefield with awe.

With his arms crossed, Makoto Kujira squinted at the land below, which was covered in blood, flames, and explosions, his face showing a leisurely, spectator-like expression.

Hozuki Mangetsu stood beside him, his eyes wide with shock.

He had seen the battlefields of Kirigakure and Konoha, and witnessed Jiraiya's summoning beasts and the elite Uchiha clan, but the scene before him still made his heart pound.

A massive battle involving tens of thousands of people!

What a magnificent scene that was!

The ninjas, densely packed and numerous, fought like ants on the battlefield. The flashes of ninjutsu rose and fell, explosions rang out continuously, and screams, roars, and the clanging of metal intertwined to create a symphony of war.

Especially the most intense battles in the center of the battlefield.

The clash between the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Third Tsuchikage Onoki, the collision of the five elemental ninjutsu, the Dust Release, caused violent chakra fluctuations with each exchange, and no one dared to approach within hundreds of meters.

The four-tailed beast jinchūriki, Rōshi, and the five-tailed beast jinchūriki, Han, are two fully transformed tailed beast monsters frantically attacking Konoha's defenses. Every claw strike and every roar takes the lives of several Konoha ninjas.

Blocking their way were Danzo's elite Root Force troops, and a woman with flowing red hair and surging Nine-Tails chakra.

Uzumaki Kushina!

Back in Kazama and Yagaya, Makoto Karatachi rode this very thing and utterly destroyed Konoha!

"Brother Cheng, are we just going to stand here and watch?" Manyue couldn't help but swallow. "Wouldn't that be a bit too arrogant?"

"Arrogant?" Makoto Koji glanced at him. "What are you afraid of? They're at least five kilometers away. They're having a good fight. Who has time to care about us?"

"Besides, so what if we're discovered? We're reinforcements!"

"Reinforcements?"

Mangetsu was taken aback. "Whose side are you on, Konoha or Iwagakure?"

"Konoha, of course," Makoto Karatachi said matter-of-factly. "We received two hundred million ryo from the daimyo of the Land of Fire, how can we not work?"

Full Moon's lips twitched.

Two hundred million taels—that is indeed a huge sum of money that would tempt any ninja.

But the problem is—

"We're really helping Konoha. I thought you would treat the Fire Country Daimyo the same way you treat the nobles."

"That's different," Makoto Karatachi said casually. "When we go to the nobles, we're extorting them—no, we're legitimately collecting protection money—but it's different with the daimyo. Besides, if those bumpkins from Iwagakure really defeat Konoha, Kirigakure will be next. It's a matter of mutual dependence, isn't it?"

"—Then why didn't you come immediately? Why did you go to the Land of Waterfalls instead?"

"Full Moon muttered to herself."

Not bad.

After leaving the Land of Fire, Makoto and his companion did not go directly to the Land of Grass. Instead, they first went to the Land of Waterfall before returning.

I have no other reason to feel ashamed.

Kakuzu has some in stock!

After Kakuzu was completely defeated by Amaterasu, he was not actually completely dead. He still had a heart, which was sent into the Kamui dimension by Makoto Karatachi using Kamui.

The Earthly Grudge Yu had no secret treasures, only a heart, yet it still didn't die.

Originally, Makoto intended to finish him off directly, but who knew that Kakuzu was quick-witted enough to pay for his life.

One hundred and fifty million taels!

In order to hunt down Makoto Karatachi's head, which was worth 150 million ryo, Kakuzu ultimately paid 150 million ryo himself to preserve his last heart and buy his own life!

Without saying much, Gouju Cheng turned his gaze back to the battlefield, fixing it on the figure on the flank being frantically attacked by the Demolition Team C.

Orochimaru!

One of the legendary Sannin, the cold-hearted Orochimaru!

All the giant snakes he summoned had perished, leaving him to rely solely on his agility and ninjutsu to barely evade the relentless bombardment from the demolition team. Each explosion grazed his body, and the slightest misstep could result in severe injury or even death.

The loess soil was like a tireless beast, relentlessly pursuing the demolition squad and relentlessly biting them.

"Tsk tsk, that's really pathetic."

"Brother Cheng, since we're going to help, when are we going to make our move?"

"Don't rush, let's think about it some more." Makoto Goji hummed a strange little tune: "Although we received the money, there's a fundamental difference between reinforcements arriving and turning the tide."

"Besides, if more people die on both sides, it will be beneficial to us, won't it?"

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