On another battlefield in the western sector of the Iron Kingdom, the sounds of desperate combat created a symphony of violence that echoed through the mountainous terrain. The clash of weapons against weapons mixed with the explosive discharge of powerful ninjutsu techniques, creating an audio backdrop that spoke to the intensity and scale of the engagement taking place.
In one particular area of this sprawling battlefield, the landscape had been dramatically altered by the forces unleashed during the fighting. A massive artificial crater stretched across hundreds of meters, its edges scarred and blackened by repeated explosive techniques and earth-shattering impacts.
The rim of this enormous pit had become the primary theater where Sakumo and his elite forces were engaged in their life-or-death struggle against opponents whose legendary status made them among the most dangerous enemies in ninja history.
"Boom! Boom!"
The ground beneath the combatants' feet continued shaking with seismic violence as techniques of incredible power were unleashed without restraint. A rock giant measuring tens of meters in height rose from the earth with ponderous majesty, its massive stone fists launching devastating attacks that could crush buildings and reshape the landscape.
Faced with this kind of overwhelming assault that ordinary ninja would never dare to confront directly, Susanoo responded with equal force and determination. The ethereal fighter, wielding a scarlet longsword that seemed to burn with inner fire, swung its mighty arm to meet the incoming attack head-on.
The crimson blade emitted a brilliant flaming light as it connected with the rock giant's massive fist, cutting through the compressed stone like a heated knife through butter. The supernatural sharpness of the spiritual weapon destroyed the construct's arm completely, reducing tons of carefully shaped rock to rubble in a single strike.
Following through with devastating efficiency, the scarlet sword continued its arc and carved through the rock giant's torso, bisecting the enormous creature as easily as chopsticks might divide a bowl of rice porridge. The massive construct collapsed in two separate pieces, sending tremors through the battlefield.
However, even as this particular rock giant was being systematically destroyed, the ground beside its remains began to shake and crack with renewed violence. Almost instantly, another equally imposing giant began emerging from the earth, ready to continue the assault with fresh vigor and undimmed power.
"If this pattern continues, he'll eventually overwhelm me through simple attrition," Uchiha Yoruki observed grimly as he analyzed his tactical situation.
Even with his possession of the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan and the enhanced physical capabilities inherited from the First Hokage's genetic material, he found himself struggling against an opponent whose mastery seemed virtually limitless.
The First Tsuchikage was demonstrating the use of only a single earth-attribute ninjutsu technique, but the power and scale of his earth manipulation were sufficient to reshape the terrain at will. His chakra reserves appeared bottomless, and his control over geological forces bordered on the supernatural.
On the opposite side of the chaotic battlefield, standing directly in front of the legendary White Fang Sakumo and the storm-release specialist Darui, were figures that carried their own disturbing historical significance. In addition to the imposing presence of the Second Raikage, there were two other men whose appearances were remarkably similar despite their obvious differences.
The only immediately visible distinction between these two figures was their hair color – one sporting golden blonde locks while the other possessed silver-white hair that seemed to catch and reflect light in unusual ways. Most distinctively, both individuals bore the characteristic fox whisker markings on their cheeks that were identical to those displayed by Naruto.
"If the Second Raikage possessed his original consciousness at this moment, he would undoubtedly fly into an uncontrollable rage upon seeing these two particular opponents fighting side by side against him," Darui murmured with characteristic dry humor, his eyelids lowered in what might have been resignation or dark amusement.
The figures arrayed before them were none other than the infamous Kinkaku and Ginkaku – the Gold and Silver Horn brothers whose treacherous actions during the First Great Ninja War had left permanent scars on the relationship between Kumogakure and Konohagakure.
These two had been the rebel ninja who launched their surprise attack on both the Second Raikage and the Second Hokage during what should have been a peaceful alliance ceremony between their respective villages. Their betrayal had not only claimed the life of the Second Raikage but had also ultimately led to the death of the Second Hokage's younger brother in the chaotic aftermath.
There was no doubt that these two missing-nin from Kumogakure, who had committed acts of shocking betrayal that resonated through history, possessed individual power levels that placed them among the most dangerous opponents that any ninja could face.
Even more troubling was the fact that they still carried the legendary treasures of the Sage of Six Paths in their hands – artifacts whose power had been demonstrated throughout history and whose abilities could turn the tide of any battle.
The Seven Star Sword gleamed with supernatural sharpness, the Banana Leaf Fan rippled with contained elemental forces, and the Golden Rope writhed with binding energy that could capture even the most powerful chakra signatures.
"Hiss!"
Black lightning techniques intertwined and clashed in the air between the combatants as Darui found himself gradually being forced into an increasingly disadvantageous position. The superior experience and refined technique of his legendary opponent were becoming apparent with each exchange.
Obviously, his level of mastery over Storm Release techniques, while impressive by normal standards, could not match the perfected control that the Second Raikage had developed during his lifetime. The gap in skill and experience was proving decisive in their individual confrontation.
Meanwhile, Sakumo found himself in the unenviable position of single-handedly resisting the coordinated attacks of both Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers simultaneously. The legendary White Fang was demonstrating why his reputation had once struck fear into the hearts of enemies across multiple nations.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
His distinctive short blade, surrounded by a crackling aura of lightning chakra, collided repeatedly with the legendary Six Paths treasures in a shower of sparks and released energy. Each impact demonstrated the incredible durability and sharpness of his weapon, but also revealed the supernatural resilience of his opponents' artifacts.
Despite the legendary quality of Sakumo's blade and the tremendous force behind his strikes, no scratches or damage appeared on the ancient treasures wielded by his opponents. The disparity in equipment was becoming a significant factor in the developing engagement.
"This distinctive aura..."
Back at the Allied Forces Headquarters, Kushina felt her expression change dramatically as she processed the chakra signatures being transmitted through Yamanaka Inoichi's perception network. Her enhanced sensitivity to specific energy patterns had detected something that filled her with alarm.
"Nine-Tails chakra?!" she exclaimed with genuine shock and growing concern.
Through her intimate connection with the Nine-Tails and her years of experience as its jinchūriki, she had immediately recognized the familiar energy emanating from Kinkaku and Ginkaku's chakra signatures. The implications were deeply troubling from both tactical and personal perspectives.
She turned her worried gaze toward Minato, whose expression remained remarkably calm and composed despite the revelation that Nine-Tails chakra was present on the battlefield in enemy hands.
Of course, he was already aware that the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers had once attempted to hunt the Nine-Tails during their younger years. They had been swallowed by the great fox but had somehow survived the experience, instead consuming portions of the Nine-Tails' flesh and permanently absorbing its chakra into their own systems.
This absorption had granted them not only tremendous power but also extended lifespans and the ability to access limited versions of the Nine-Tails' most devastating techniques. They represented a unique form of pseudo-jinchūriki that existed nowhere else in ninja history.
On the current battlefield, Uchiha Yoruki possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan with its legendary ability to suppress and control tailed beast chakra through ocular genjutsu. Therefore, the presence of Nine-Tails chakra in enemy hands should not create insurmountable tactical problems for the coalition forces.
However, Minato's thoughts were focused on entirely different strategic considerations that went beyond the immediate tactical situation.
Because despite the intensity of the current fighting and the revelation of multiple legendary opponents, he had not yet detected any trace of Madara's distinctive chakra signature anywhere within the expanding battlefield network.
The legendary Uchiha's absence from the active combat zones suggested that he was pursuing objectives that went beyond simply overwhelming the coalition forces through direct confrontation. His strategy appeared more complex and long-term than simple military domination.
Minato suspected that Madara's true purpose was to delay the coalition's advance while using the chaos and confusion of the multi-front battle to search for the remaining Rinnegan and the other jinchūriki who possessed tailed beasts.
Before the war had officially begun, Minato had taken the precaution of hiding all the remaining jinchūriki in secure locations that should have been beyond Madara's ability to locate quickly. But the possibility that his enemy possessed intelligence gathering capabilities beyond what they had anticipated remained a source of serious concern.
"What exactly are they planning to accomplish?" he wondered grimly as he considered the various possible strategies that could explain their enemies' current behavior patterns.
Back on the active battlefield, the situation was about to escalate to an entirely new level of destructive potential.
"Boom!"
The entire earth suddenly shook with unprecedented violence as the First Tsuchikage prepared to demonstrate why he had been considered one of the most feared ninja of his generation. The ground within a radius of one hundred meters began cracking and splitting apart like broken glass.
In the process of this continuous geological fracturing, a massive object began emerging from the depths of the earth with ponderous inevitability. The very landscape was being reshaped by the application of chakra on a scale that defied normal comprehension.
At the edge of the expanding crack system, Uchiha Yoruki, still protected within his Susanoo's ethereal form, raised his head and managed to clearly identify the object that was rising from the shattered earth.
What emerged from the fractures was nothing less than an entire mountain – a huge rocky peak that had been somehow manipulated and lifted from its natural resting place through the application of earth-style ninjutsu on an unprecedented scale.
Standing on the summit of this relocated mountain, the First Tsuchikage maintained his hand seal configuration with the kind of focused concentration that indicated he was preparing to demonstrate the full extent of his legendary power.
"Crack!"
A sound like breaking stone echoed across the battlefield as the massive rocky mountain separated completely from the earth below and began rising into the sky. The entire battlefield trembled violently under the stress of supporting such tremendous geological manipulation.
Every combatant, regardless of their allegiance or current engagement, stopped fighting temporarily and looked upward with expressions of awe and terror. The sight before them transcended normal combat and entered the realm of natural disasters.
"This is..."
The allied ninja stared in complete shock as they processed what they were witnessing. Such a demonstration of power was like watching the forces of nature themselves being bent to serve a single individual's will.
At this point, the relocated mountain was suspended hundreds of meters above the battlefield, its massive shadow covering several kilometers of terrain. The implications for anyone caught beneath it when it fell were too horrifying to contemplate.
If this enormous projectile was allowed to crash down onto the battlefield below, the casualties would extend far beyond the immediate impact zone. The First Division would suffer devastating losses that could cripple their entire combat effectiveness.
"Rumble!"
The massive rocky mountain suddenly stopped its upward movement and began falling directly toward the battlefield below with increasing speed. The air itself seemed to explode from the tremendous forces involved as the improvised weapon descended like divine judgment.
All the ninja present, regardless of their experience or training, looked on with expressions of pure horror as they realized the scale of destruction that was about to be unleashed upon them.
"Ring!"
At that critical moment when annihilation seemed inevitable, the clear sound of a sword being drawn rang in everyone's ears with supernatural clarity. The note seemed to cut through the chaos and terror like a beacon of hope in the darkness.
A red rainbow that resembled living flame rose into the sky with breathtaking speed and beauty. The Totsuka Sword, manifested through Susanoo's power, began expanding rapidly as it ascended toward the falling mountain.
In the span of a single heartbeat, the ethereal blade transformed into a giant sword measuring tens of meters in length, its spiritual fire burning with intensity that seemed to illuminate the entire battlefield.
The next moment, this colossal weapon rushed upward and collided with the descending mountain in a contest between human will and geological force.
In the sky above the battlefield, the two forces met in spectacular fashion. The huge red sword penetrated the mountain from bottom to top without encountering any meaningful resistance, its supernatural sharpness allowing it to carve through solid rock as if it were made of paper.
At the summit of the rocky mountain, the First Tsuchikage demonstrated his legendary agility by leaping into the air just as his improvised weapon was being systematically destroyed. As soon as he vacated his position, the mountain beneath his feet was cleanly cut in half by the ascending blade.
The sword's light flashed repeatedly as it chopped through the massive projectile at different angles, each strike as precise and devastating as a meteor falling from the heavens. The coordinated assault transformed a single enormous threat into manageable fragments.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A series of relatively quiet impacts echoed across the battlefield, followed by one tremendously loud crash as the destroyed mountain broke into countless pieces and scattered across the terrain below. The threat had been neutralized, but the demonstration of power from both sides had been truly extraordinary.
Swish!
The flame-like rainbow of the Totsuka Sword first contracted back to its normal proportions, then immediately changed direction to pursue the First Tsuchikage who was still airborne and attempting to escape.
The speed of the Totsuka Sword was directly dependent on Uchiha Yoruki's visual tracking ability and the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan. As long as he could maintain clear sight of his target, the spiritual weapon could match or exceed any opponent's movement speed.
Although the First Tsuchikage was flying through the air with impressive velocity, he still could not achieve a speed sufficient to escape from the range of Yoruki's enhanced vision and targeting capability.
High in the sky above the battlefield, the Totsuka Sword pursued its target with relentless determination, the spiritual blade moving like a guided missile that could not be evaded or deflected.
"Slash!"
Finally, as the sword light completed its descent, the left arm of the First Tsuchikage was severed cleanly by the supernatural blade. Blood splashed across the sky as the legendary ninja suffered his first significant injury in the engagement.
The sight of their legendary opponent being wounded sent waves of amazement through the assembled coalition forces. Their expressions reflected deep awe mixed with renewed hope for victory.
After all, this was the legendary figure who had founded Iwagakure during the chaotic period of warring clans, a man whose name was written in the very foundations of ninja history. His power had shaped the course of multiple conflicts and influenced the development of an entire hidden village.
However, this seemingly invincible figure had actually been injured by a Konoha ninja whose name was not widely known outside his own village. The psychological impact was tremendous.
"Incredible..." one of the allied ninja whispered in amazement.
"I recognize him – that's Uchiha Yoruki from Konoha!" another fighter called out with growing excitement.
"Wait, the Uchiha clan? Wasn't this entire war started by Madara, who's also from the Uchiha clan?" a third voice asked with confusion and concern.
"Madara abandoned his village long ago and became a rogue ninja," came the immediate response. "Now all the remaining Uchiha clan members fight for the Fourth Hokage and the coalition."
"That's right – even Shisui the Teleporter serves as the Hokage's personal apprentice!" someone added with admiration.
All the assembled ninja looked toward Uchiha Yoruki, who stood at the edge of the massive crater, with expressions of newfound respect and awe. The demonstration of power they had just witnessed would reshape their understanding of what individual ninja could accomplish.
In the past, while the Uchiha clan had certainly been famous throughout the ninja world, they had also been known primarily for their alleged brutality and emotional instability. Their reputation had been mixed at best.
But on this battlefield of the Fourth Great Ninja War, ninja from all five major nations were witnessing firsthand the true power and dedication of the Uchiha clan when it was properly directed toward protecting rather than destroying.
The sight of Yoruki's Susanoo standing triumphant over the battlefield, having just saved countless lives through his intervention, would become a defining image that would be remembered and retold for generations to come.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing takes time, coffee, and a lot of love.If you'd like to support my work, join me at [email protected]/GoldenGaruda
You'll get early access to over 50 chapters, selection on new series, and the satisfaction of knowing your support directly fuels more stories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~