At this moment, Uchiha Gen was advancing with the main force alongside his teammates, while also diverting a portion of his attention to check the system.
This mission was unlike any he had faced in the past.
[Large-scale war mission detected. War campaign instance activated.]
[Mission Rating: ???]
[Mission Completion Conditions: Victory in the campaign and successful survival.]
[Special Reward: War campaign treasure chest. Quality depends on war contribution.]
[Item: War campaign treasure chest. Description: Guaranteed to draw a rare item card of the corresponding quality from the chest.]
Because of its massive scale, the system had classified this campaign as a dungeon.
A dungeon, as the name suggested, was a place for grinding experience.
In the game designs Gen had participated in during his previous life, these kinds of events were usually benefits given to players on special occasions like holidays; certain special cards could only be drawn from these specific treasure chests.
If he obtained a high enough evaluation rating, the experience gained would be equivalent to completing several missions of the same level.
He was currently at level twenty-eight, not far from level thirty.
If he could complete this successfully, he might surge past level thirty in one go and earn a guaranteed chance to draw a blue Character Card.
That would be his first blue Character Card.
"I just don't know what the prerequisite is for the system to open a war campaign instance in this world."
Uchiha Gen gazed at the Hidden Sand camp appearing at the edge of his vision and came to a halt along with the main force.
With his current strength, it was unlikely he could achieve a perfect evaluation rating, so he could only try his best to secure a blue-tier reward.
In the distance, the Hidden Sand camp was built against the terrain of the hills, turning the entire ridge into an indestructible fortress.
"The Reconnaissance Squad still hasn't detected any intercepting forces."
"The Sand must be concentrating all their troops for a desperate defense."
"Earth Release Squad, prepare to clear all traps ahead!"
"Other Ninjutsu Squads, prepare for support!"
In just a few moments, the command at the front had already issued orders.
One by one, Earth Release ninjas wearing Konoha uniforms stood at the very front, their hands forming seals in unison before pressing them against the ground.
"Earth Release: Multiple Moving Earth Core!"
The ground trembled as it rose upward, while chunks of rock shattered, occasionally triggering sporadic explosions.
These were the hidden traps being destroyed.
However, upon reaching the front of the Hidden Sand line, the Earth Release lost its effect.
The ground and structures there were different from the rocky soil elsewhere; they were made entirely of stone bricks and engraved with sealing runes that blocked the influence of chakra.
To break through, they could only launch a direct assault.
Meanwhile, the Hidden Sand was not about to take a beating without fighting back.
A massive, layered net of wind, formed through the cooperation of countless Sand ninjas, surged toward the Konoha forces.
"Wind Release: Great Net!"
"Fire Release Squad! Wind Release Squad, assist!"
Uchiha Gen and Sarutobi Enjun dashed forward, their hands forming seals.
Under the command of the lead ninja, they and the other Konoha ninjas opened their mouths and spat fire toward the sky.
Orochimaru had trained them well in combined Fire Release ninjutsu.
As a Special Jonin who had mastered Fire Nature Transformation, Gen was a key member of the Fire Release Squad in this area.
He was responsible for using Shape Transformation to guide the flames of the other members.
Soon, the ninjas of the Wind Release Squad blew out powerful gusts, fanning the flames forward.
The fire turned into a sea of red that surged toward the Hidden Sand positions like a flood.
The two sides traded blows, unleashing one combined ninjutsu after another, wantonly destroying the terrain.
In Gen's eyes, this scene bore a resemblance to the Fourth Great Ninja War in the original timeline, where the Allied Forces besieged the Ten-Tails.
Although that future war involved more ninjas and more powerful combinations, this battle of the Second Great Ninja War was not to be underestimated.
With at least six to seven thousand ninjas in total, the combined techniques of the two great villages were devastating.
Small ninja villages without a deep foundation would find it impossible to organize such large-scale warfare tactics.
Collective power and extraordinary might were perfectly fused at this moment.
To stop such an attack single-handedly, one would need to be at least a Kage-level powerhouse.
And even then, if a Kage-level ninja got bogged down in a war of attrition, they could still die.
However, this wave of powerful ninjutsu exchanges was merely an appetizer before the true clash.
Konoha wanted to use destructive techniques to split the terrain and destroy the Sand's defensive works.
Meanwhile, the Sand was trying to deplete Konoha's chakra and use their home-field advantage to force mistakes.
Success depended on the quality of the ninjas, the resources of the villages, and the tactical command of the leaders.
On Konoha's side, Orochimaru was in charge.
In terms of all-around mastery of the five elements, only Hiruzen Sarutobi was currently stronger than Orochimaru.
"Lady Chiyo, should we use that now?" a Sand Jonin wearing a white turban asked.
"No... wait a little longer."
"It will be most effective if used later."
"Tell them to deplete more of Konoha's strength, then we can let them in to fight," Chiyo said coldly.
Behind her, ten human puppets of various forms, clad in white robes, stood quietly.
This was the treasure of the Hidden Sand, the masterpiece of the ancestor of puppetry, Monzaemon—the Chikamatsu's Ten Puppets.
Further behind them stood a solitary small house covered in sealing runes.
No one dared to approach it except for a few ninjas from the Sealing Squad.
On the battlefield, the Konoha side had already gained the upper hand under Orochimaru's command.
"Water Release Squad, prepare!"
"Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!"
The surging flood crashed against the stone walls, instantly making them teeter on the verge of collapse.
Under the cover of the army's ninjutsu, several ninjas from the Akimichi Clan used the Multi-Size Technique to enlarge their bodies.
They exerted all their strength to push down the high walls.
One by one, Konoha ninjas holding weapons trod on the water, turning into a torrent charging toward the enemy.
"Follow me closely, maintain formation, and don't get separated!"
Uchiha Gen unsheathed his Sengoku Ninja Sword, red light flickering in his Sharingan, as he instructed his teammates.
"Yes!"