The Iwa Ninja, who lost the leadership of the Tsuchikage, resisted fiercely against the Third Raikage, but they were still unable to cope with the strongest shield and spear ninja, and they were retreating steadily.
Tsuchikage was seriously injured and fell into a coma. Almost all the demolition troops were wiped out. Hundreds of combatants were lost one after another. In addition, a large amount of ore was looted from the territory of the Earth Kingdom. Kumogakure could be said to have returned with a full load this time.
Iwagakure is now in a state of disarray, and it is a good time for Kumogakure and his team to take action.
This is the thought in the minds of all the Kumogakure jounin.
"After occupying the next iron mine location, we must evacuate the Kingdom of Earth immediately."
The Third Raikage did not get carried away by the joy of victory, but conducted a calm analysis.
The troops he led were too deep into the Earth Kingdom and had already reached the hinterland of the Earth Kingdom. They successfully defeated the Tsuchikage Onoki, but it only caused temporary chaos within the Iwagakure Village. Since Ying can't govern for the time being, it's almost time to mobilize a large force to encircle and suppress him.
According to my own estimation, after attacking the next iron ore mine, it would be around the time when Iwagakure's large forces began to launch an encirclement and suppression campaign. The time was just right.
"Don't we have to attack Iwagakure directly, Raikage-sama?"
Some jounin were puzzled.
With Tsuchikage seriously injured, it should be the best strategy to mobilize more Kumogakure ninjas, declare war directly on Iwagakure and completely defeat Iwagakure.
"Our purpose is just to develop armaments, and then defend the country's borders to avoid Iwagakure's revenge. In addition, I also need Iwagakure and Sunagakure to weaken Konoha's power for us. Those who lose here will be lost from Konoha. More crazy looting back there.”
After all, the Kingdom of Earth is very far away from the Kingdom of Thunder. Whether by land or by sea, it takes a long distance.
As long as the top management of Iwagakure doesn't have a collective brain convulsion by then, they will definitely not make the decision to attack Kumogakure from afar.
"In addition, I have asked the three thousand Kumogakure ninjas to be dispatched over there. Counting the time, they should have arrived at the border of Yuno Country by now. In order to guard against the three thousand ninjas I sent there, Konoha will definitely disperse its forces again. I want to force Konoha to no longer have any reinforcements to go to the battlefields of Sunagakure and Iwagakure to provide support, and create opportunities for Iwagakure and Sunagakure."
When Sandai Ai said this, a faint light of lightning shone in his eyes.
"As expected of Lord Raikage."
The jonins of Kumogakure understood, and their eyes also shone with excitement.
The plan works.
As long as we continue to act according to this strategy, Kumogakure's replacement of Konoha's position will be just around the corner.
"At that time, I can abdicate with peace of mind and pass on the Raikage's position to the next generation."
The Kumogakure jonins were all startled when they heard the third generation Ai say such a thing again, but they quickly figured out the reason and regained their composure.
Their third-generation Raikage is already an old man over fifty years old. In the position of Raikage, he has at least twenty or thirty years.
Although their strength is still at a strong stage, many Jonin understand that their Raikage's power has actually declined somewhat.
As age increases, the decline in strength will become more obvious.
It is indeed time to step down and give way to someone more worthy.
In other words, after returning this time, I am afraid that the position will be handed over, and the subsequent war with Konoha will be a 'congratulatory gift' for the stable status of the Fourth Raikage.
Retiring with such success is a happy outcome for a ninja who has spent his entire life in the military.
The Kumogakure jonins have different thoughts. Although some are unwilling to abdicate so early as the Third Raikage, they also understand that this is the best development strategy for Kumogakure Village.
"No problem, let's set off now. There is only one last iron ore point left. We will return to the village immediately after finishing it."
The Third Raikage Ai looked up at the morning glow in the distance, and a new day began again.
The current Yunyin is like the newborn sun, shining brightly and full of vitality, and will emit stronger light and heat in the future.
◎
In the mine.
Kumogakure Jōnin put down his hand in the seal, wiped away the sweat and said: "I'm exhausted, but I'm finally done. In this way, the expected goal has been successfully achieved."
He put away the spread scrolls and held them in his hands with extreme caution, showing an sighing smile:
"It is indeed a treasure phantom left by the Immortal of Six Paths. It contains so much ore that it is not saturated."
"Of course, that's a mythical treasure that can even hold an entire tailed beast."
Another Kumogakure jounin also answered with a smile.
Inside Kumogakure, there are several ancestral pieces of the Six Paths Immortal Noble Phantasm.
One of the treasures called the 'Amber Pure Bottle' contains a vast and stable space inside. Unlike storage scrolls, the Amber Pure Bottle can accommodate everything, and even living people can be sealed in it.
When they couldn't find a suitable Jinchuuriki, the two and eight tails in their village were lucky enough to spend some time in the amber bottle.
A sealed container that can easily accommodate a tailed beast. You can imagine how surprising the volume and solidity of the space inside this Noble Phantasm are.
"But I didn't expect the amber bottle to have this ability. I remember it seemed that someone needed to respond before it would be sealed."
The accompanying Kumogakure Jōnin thought of something and said.
Kumogakure Jounin, who was using the amber purifying bottle, knew that his colleague who was accompanying him was a new Jounin, and he probably didn't understand the specific functions of the Six Paths Sage's Noble Phantasm, so he explained:
"Actually, it's not accurate. I need to respond that it's for living creatures. For dead things like iron ore, just use the external sealing technique and fill it inside. Many times, the village's war preparedness relies on amber purification bottles. transportation."
"It's so convenient."
The two came out quickly. Sandai Ai was waiting for them at the entrance of the mine, surrounded by Iwagakure ninjas who fell to the ground.
The third generation Ai finally sealed the scroll of the amber bottle and put it in his ninja tool bag to protect it himself.
About a few minutes later, all the Kumogakure jounin who were responsible for patrolling the surroundings also returned. Only a few people were injured, and most of them were safe and sound.
"Now that the matters here have been dealt with, we can safely return to the Kingdom of Thunder."
After Sandai Ai finished speaking, Kumogakure Jōnin also relaxed, and then he followed Sandai Ai with a solemn expression and started running towards the northeastern region of Earth Kingdom.
This route starts from the sea, bypassing the neutral country of Iron Country, and you can see the Kingdom of Thunder on the other side of the sea.
As long as they return to the Land of Thunder, no matter how angry the Iwagakure ninjas are, it will only be a powerless rage.
Just as they were thinking this, the Jonin in charge of perception in the team suddenly froze. Apparently, he used the Sensing Ninjutsu to sense that trouble was coming.
"Lord Raikage, about seven hundred Iwagakure ninjas appeared three kilometers behind us."
"Only 700 people? It's a little faster than expected, but it doesn't matter. With this number of people, I can disrupt their formation in only five minutes. You go first, and then I will leave the Kingdom of Earth via Route B."
The Third Ai turned his head slightly, then stopped running and gave instructions to his subordinates.
"Lord Raikage, you leave first, we will stay here to break up the rear."
All the Kumogakure jounin were obviously dissatisfied with the third generation Ai's decision.
There is no reason for the leader to stay behind in person while these little soldiers escape first.
"You can't. I can move faster. Don't worry about my safety."
The third generation Ai revealed a strong and majestic body, with explosive chakra and lightning shining from his body.
Entered the thunder escape chakra mode state.
There are only 700 people. With his thunder escape power, as long as he is not surrounded by more than 3,000 troops, it is not a big problem.
"But……"
The Kumogakure jonins were still worried about what might happen to the third generation Ai.
The third generation Ai took out the scroll that sealed the amber purification bottle of the Six Paths Sage's treasure from his ninja tool bag, and said to all the jounin: "I still have the amber purification bottle with me, so there is no need to worry that I will be in danger myself."
Seeing that Sandai Ai was determined, the Jonin knew that no matter how much they tried to persuade him, they could not change his determination, so they had no choice but to obey his orders.
Watching the accompanying Jonin leave, Sandai Ai, covered with lightning armor, immediately set off to run towards the rear, facing the pursuit force composed of 700 Iwa Ninjas who were catching up.
The leading Iwa Ninja is naturally a Jōnin level. In this unit, there is far more than one Jōnin. There are more than ten Jōnin, and together with hundreds of Chuunin, the combat effectiveness formed is absolutely impressive.
However, what they are facing now is the third generation Raikage, a ninja who is known as the strongest shield and spear.
When the Iwa Ninjas saw the lightning in front of them start to shine, the blue lightning had already knocked away more than a dozen Iwa Ninjas with an extremely powerful attitude before they could react, and rushed into the formation. Caused a commotion.
"Escape·Earth——"
Boom!
Before the Iwa Ninjas could release their ninjutsu, Sandai Ai had already knocked away the Iwa Ninjas who were about to perform the technique. The entire chest was shattered and bleeding profusely.
"Earth Release·Rock Iron Cannon!"
Although some of the Iwa Ninjutsu were not successfully performed and were defeated by the Third Ai, there were so many Iwa Ninjas that it was naturally impossible for the Third Ai to take care of all aspects.
Pebbles were spat out from the mouth. As they flew in the air, the finger-sized pebbles immediately grew in size and turned into heavy stones that were more than two meters tall and crashed into the body of Sandai Ai.
Sandai Ai raised his arm and waved, and the rocks shattered and flew away before his eyes.
Along with the dust and smoke, he disappeared in front of the rock ninjas. When he reappeared, the thunder chakra mode on his body bloomed further, and his hair stood on end.
The Thunder Chakra Armor turned into substance. The huge stone hit the Thunder Armor. It did not cause any injuries to the Third Raikage. Instead, it turned into an egg-on-stone scene. The stone that hit the Thunder Armor automatically shattered.
The third generation Ai ran rampant on the battlefield without saying a word. The rock ninjas could only see the lightning flashing continuously. After entering the most advanced thunder escape chakra mode, the third generation Ai's speed has exceeded the ability of human dynamic vision to capture. level.
"Earth Release·Split the Earth and Turn the Palm!"
boom!
Under the operation of the ninjutsu of an Iwagakure jounin, the earth directly collapsed.
Because the ground beneath his feet was unstable, Sandai Ai's legs lost their leverage, and his figure froze for a moment.
"Earth Release·Split the Earth and Turn the Palm!"
More and more Iwagakure ninjas are using Earth Release Ninjutsu.
In just a few seconds, the entire land of the barren hills seemed to have experienced a bad earthquake. The road was rugged and rugged. If it was not the flat area before, Sandai Ai could not move straight.
Understanding that the Iwagakure ninja planned to use this tactic to limit his speed advantage, Sandai Ai was not afraid. Even if his speed advantage would be reduced in this terrain, it was still not something that ordinary ninjas could catch up with.
What's more, his steel and flesh, which can fight tailed beasts in hand-to-hand combat, is the ultimate weapon that he is most proud of in his life!
"Earth Escape·Earth Flow Wall!"
Walls of earth were erected, surrounding Sandai Ai, and the Iwa ninjas began to retreat.
In the sky, a large number of stones hit the center surrounded by earth walls in a parabolic trajectory.
"It's just a rock iron cannon! It's so stupid, earth escape is useless against my thunder escape!"
The third generation Ai Leng snorted. The Tsuchikage of Iwagakure could not go into battle for the time being. These shrimp soldiers and crab generals knew how to use these unscrupulous tricks.
Seeing countless earth walls blocking his field of vision, Sandai Ai took a deep breath and concentrated a large amount of chakra on the fingers of his right hand.
With his thumb retracted, the remaining four fingers were as straight as swords, turning into the most powerful weapon in Sandai Ai's hand.
Four books in hand!
The lightning flashed, and Sandai Ai's figure continued to rush forward, using four fingers as weapons to pierce the earth wall, which was unstoppable.
The rumbling sound was endless in the ears, and the broken gravel hit the thunder armor, and then was bounced away neatly.
"Um?"
The chakra gathered on the four fingers disappeared, and the earth wall in front of him had not been reduced at all, which immediately aroused the vigilance of the third generation Ai.
Something's wrong! It's impossible for such a small number of people to create so many earthen walls! Sandai Ai thought to himself.
After thinking for a while, Sandai Ai immediately climbed up the tall earth wall in front of him. He stood on it and looked around, and was stunned for a moment——
Earthen walls stretching as far as the eye can see were erected, forming an extremely complex and huge maze terrain.
The Iwa Ninjas were hidden in the narrow maze passages, so it was impossible to determine how many there were.
Third Generation Ai felt something was wrong.
Although he didn't know what happened, there were definitely more than six or seven hundred Iwa ninjas appearing here at this moment.
"A trap? Boring."
Thinking that you can trap him in this way is really a daydream.
The Third Ai figured out the key. The seven hundred rock ninjas at the beginning were probably just a bait.
However, Sandai Ai did not feel that Iwagakure could keep him by doing this.
Since I know this is a trap, I just don't accept Iwagakure's provocation.
Therefore, using the top of the earth wall as a foothold, Sandai Ai kept jumping on it at a very fast speed, no longer paying attention to the provocations of the Iwagakure ninja here. At this time, as long as he retreated mainly, Iwagakure's boring trap would not be attacked. break.
Phew!
A large number of kunai flew from the narrow passages of the earth-walled maze.
It was not aimed at the third generation Ai, but released directly into the air.
Each kunai has a detonating talisman attached to it.
Such an unpredictable detonating talisman exploded in mid-air. The third generation Ai, who had jumped into the air, no longer had a foothold. Naturally, he could not dodge and could only let the explosive power of the detonating talisman affect him.
My chest immediately felt tight.
This attack is uninterrupted, and the kunai attached to the detonating talisman continues to explode.
Even if there is no need to deliberately aim at Sandai Ai, because the area is too wide, Sandai Ai cannot fly ninjutsu. Once he jumps into the air, he will inevitably be covered by the firepower of the detonating talisman and block his fall.
The third generation Ai was once again shot down by the explosive power of the detonating talisman. Of course, it is a bit exaggerated to say that he was shot down. He just deflected the original direction and fell into the narrow maze passage.
boom!
The moment it fell into the aisle, the ground was covered in the flash of detonation.
It is a mine bomb commonly used by the Iwagakure Demolition Force.
Immediately, Sandai Ai recognized what this explosive prop that detonated underground was.
It won't be extinguished by my thunder escape. Is it a mine that protects against lightning? A solemn look appeared on Sandai Ai's face. The situation seemed to be more serious than imagined.
These mine protection mines cannot be made in just a few days. They must be new mines that Iwagakure has already prepared.
After all, Iwagakure's bombs are based on earth escape and can be restrained by thunder escape. Over the years, it makes sense that mines have been improved to protect against thunder escape.
But why didn't I take it out during the previous battle, but why did I take it out now...
When Sandai Ai was thinking about this, a powerful voice suddenly came from the sky:
"Dust Escape·The Art of Original Realm Peeling!"
Sandai Ai felt the terrifying aura approaching him and immediately turned over to avoid it.
The sunken cylindrical hole was exposed, and the ground turned into blank, and the mystery evaporated.
Sandai Ai looked up and narrowed his eyes.
Where the sun was high in the sky, dozens of figures were floating and flying in the sky.
The leader was wearing ancient laminated armor. He was short in stature, and his gray hair and beard were evidence of his old age.
With a medical bandage wrapped around his waist, he put his hands in front of him and showed an extremely mocking and sarcastic smile to Sandai Ai.
It was Onoki, the third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure Village.
The ninja known as the 'Two Scales'.
Possessing a blood successor elimination that is more powerful than the blood successor limit - Dust Escape!
It also has the headache-inducing flying ninjutsu, and can disperse chakra, allowing the accompanying ninja to temporarily have the ability to fly.
Dozens of rock ninjas flying behind Ohnoki were an elite team composed of jounin and special jounin. They looked ferocious and stared at the third generation Ai fiercely.
"Ohnoki, you..."
Sandai Ai suddenly understood, as if he understood everything at once.
"You are really reckless, Lord Raikage. However, you should be glad that you are so reckless that you can stay alone to break up the rear, so your subordinates can escape... I originally planned to keep you all. Forget it. As long as I deal with you, the previous losses will be nothing."
"Do you think you can deal with me this way?"
Sandai Ai said coldly.
All of this was designed by Ohnoki.
The seven hundred Iwa ninja were just bait, making him think that he could quickly resolve the battle and evacuate the battlefield.
As long as he comes back to stop this force, it means falling into Iwagakure's trap.
"I know how strong you are, how terrifying your speed and strength are. But in the last battle, I have figured out your fighting mode. Although you are fast, you can only go straight. Although you are powerful, No matter how strong it is, it cannot destroy the strongest rock created by our Iwagakure!"
"Then come back and try it yourself! You bad old man!"
Sandai Ai made a deep voice and looked at Ohnoki without fear.
"I'm sorry, Raikage-dono, I have passed the age of competitiveness. Your stubbornness and overconfidence in your body and strength are the biggest failings of a Kage. Now try our newly developed Iwagakure Earth escape combined attack tactics."
Ohnoki smiled slightly, did not accept the other party's provocation, and rose vertically higher into the air, keeping a distance from Sandai Ai.
Just as Sandai Ai was about to say something, the attack had begun again.
Dozens of Iwagakure jounin did not attack the third generation Ai, but flew around the maze and began to arrange something.
The third generation Ai was wearing the thunder escape armor. At this time, he had no idea of fighting and just wanted to evacuate from the battlefield.
It would be very detrimental to him to delay like this.
But even so, Sandai Ai is still very confident in his own power, which is just a little troublesome at most.
"One consistent hand!"
Not intending to hold back, Sandai Ai used his strongest nintaijutsu - Ipponite.
Only one index finger of the right hand was bent, and the Thunder Release chakra was concentrated on this finger, maximizing the Thunder Release's thrusting ability.
The third generation Ai destroyed the earth wall with a terrible fear, ignoring the flying kunai detonating talisman, and just made a brave thrust in one direction.
Compared to land, he would be in more danger in the air where there was no leverage point.
"Oh, are you afraid of my Chen Escape?"
It seemed that he was aware of Sandai Ai's thoughts and used this stupid method to break through the encirclement. He was probably worried that he would be hit by his dust escape when there was no point of strength in the air.
Destroy everything covered, even the extremely hard Thunder Escape Armor will cause the same destruction.
For this kind of ninja who has the strongest shield and spear, the deterrent power of Chendu is self-evident.
"Only the last layer left..."
The hope of a breakthrough is imminent. As long as we escape from this maze, the next retreat will be smooth.
Sandai Ai thought so.
With lightning wrapped around his body, he flies towards hope.
Onoki then flew to the edge of the maze and shouted to the surrounding Iwa ninjas:
"We are the strongest rock, use all your strength! Let the earth be our arms!"
"oh!"
"Earth Escape: Earth Current City Wall!"
Everyone shouted together.
Onoki even used a quarter of his chakra on this ninjutsu.
Sandai Ai looked blankly at the huge rock wall that appeared in front of him.
It can be described as covering the sky and the sun.
It also blocked the sun on the other side.
A shadow fell.
It's not over yet.
The rock wall is still rising and steep.
Above, there are densely packed 'ants' walking around.
They are countless Iwagakure ninjas.
Sandai Ai could imagine the cunning and contemptuous smile of the Iwa ninja above.
As long as the third generation Ai runs towards the top, he will be attacked and blocked by them with ninjutsu. The people occupying the top have an absolute advantage due to their large numbers.
If he used thrusting moves such as the Ippon Hand to penetrate the immeasurably thick city wall, it would be a heavy burden for his fingers and consume more and more chakra.
What if a city wall blocking the road is erected again after that?
Chakra will disappear faster and faster.
Escape from other directions will result in the same outcome.
He boasts that his chakra is amazing, but it cannot be compared with the chakra accumulated by all the Iwa ninjas here.
What's more, the chakra consumption of the rock ninjas who occupy the advantageous location will be much lower than him.
"Don't worry, Lord Raikage, we will never initiate an attack until you are exhausted."
Ohnoki was flying high in the sky, muttering to himself, and regardless of whether the Third Ai could hear it, he waved his arm and asked the Iwa Ninjas on the ground to continue the 'creation' project.
Trick the Raikage, who is known as the strongest shield spear, to death!
It was precisely because he understood how terrifying this Raikage was that he adopted this combat strategy.
With the explosion of the detonating talisman, the earth is constantly transformed into various complex terrains for siege.
The third generation Ai can only rush forward, but it has no effect. No matter how much damage is done, there will be ten or even a hundred times more obstacles blocking his way, consuming his chakra and physical strength.
Even if he catches up with some Iwa nin and beats their bodies to pieces, it will only be a drop in the bucket.
no! We must find a way! Sandai Ai realized that if he couldn't find a way to leave, he would have to stay here for the rest of his life.
Such a humiliating death made him deeply unwilling.
Even dying in a head-on battle is better than dying in such a humiliating way.
He shouldn't have been too greedy in the first place.
When Onoki defeated Onoki and crippled the demolition troops, he should have stopped and retreated, leaving Onoki to lose his wife and troops.
Such a large mobilization force cannot be arranged in two or three days.
The trap had already strangled his neck from behind as soon as his greed aroused.
calm! I have to calm down! Sandai Ai kept telling himself that he must be calm at this time and not fall into the enemy's trap again.
The kunai bound to the detonating talisman poured down like a black rainstorm, diagonally sticking to the ground, and detonating flashes came one after another.
Fire and dust covered everything in front of Sandai Ai's eyes.
He was not a sentient ninja, so he could only rely on his excellent neurological reflexes to deal with it.
The gun of rock, the pillar of rock, and the explosion of fire are endless.
Even a ninja with a strong body like Sandai Ai felt tired.
After staying in this dust-covered area for how long, Sandai Ai gradually couldn't feel the passage of time, only knowing that he was getting more and more tired.
Suddenly, a powerful aura approached him.
"Um?"
Sandai Ai wanted to rush forward to fight, but when he looked down, he saw something tightly binding his feet.
boom!
That thing exploded.
Sandai Ai let out a cry of pain.
Even some Iwa ninjas were surprised, because the power of the explosion was so powerful that they could easily hurt their own people.
Could it be that some unlucky guy's explosives misfired and exploded together? Because I couldn't see the details of each person in the dust and fog, I could only guess like this.
He was wearing the uniform of an Iwagakure ninja and had a forehead protector, but he could tell that he was a ninja with superb physical skills.
The Third Raikage, who rolled on the ground due to the violent explosion, had just steadied his body when the Iwa Ninja arrived in front of the Third Ai at an astonishing speed.
"you--"
The speed was so fast that Sandai Ai only had time to say this word before his chest was pressed by a cold hand.
"God's Sky Strike!"
cough!
Sandai Ai was knocked out, and the internal organs in his body were directly hit with terrifying force, causing him to vomit blood for the first time.
He stared at the Iwa Ninja with wide eyes that flashed with lightning. His delicate face, with black pupils and long black hair, was smiling at him.
Holding the scroll stolen from his ninja tool bag in his hand, he made a silent farewell gesture to him as if to show off.
"asshole!"
That scroll contained not only the amber purification bottle, the treasure of the Sage of Six Paths, but also the massive amounts of ores plundered in the Land of Earth these days. How could it be handed over to others so easily!
"cough!"
There was another cough, and Sandai Ai's body stiffened, and he staggered slightly and stopped.
"My heart was actually hurt. This is from the Hyuga clan..."
The rock ninja slowly put the scroll in his ninja tool bag, turned around with his long black hair swung neatly, walked towards the depths of the dust and smoke, and quickly disappeared.
Sandai Ai was ready to endure the severe pain of heart tearing and chase forward.
The earth suddenly turned black.
The maze and the earth all disappeared in an instant.
The dust and smoke dispersed.
Sandai Ai looked blankly at the ground disappearing beneath his feet. Below him was a bottomless abyss.
This is the Earth Release and Earthquake Core Ninjutsu jointly used by hundreds of rock ninjas.
"Ohnoki——!!!"
Angry roars echoed across the abyss.
Sandai Ai's body dropped sharply, falling towards the bottomless Naraku Abyss.
An abyss that even the sun's rays cannot reach.
Ohnoki felt happy as he listened to Sandai Aina's unwillingness and frustration, but howled at his helpless incompetence.
By destroying the Third Raikage, the ores that were taken away will also be recovered.
"Lord Raikage, this is the closest to hell. This is the huge tomb carefully made for you..."
