Chapter 109: CHAPTER 109
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The air was thick with tension as Kagami Uchiha and Akimichi Torifu cornered the Third Kazekage on a barren, windswept battlefield.
The once vibrant land was now reduced to cracked earth, littered with remnants of earlier skirmishes.
Moonlight glinted off the iron sand swirling ominously around the Kazekage, an extension of his will and the very essence of his terrifying kekkei genkai.
Facing him were two of Konoha's elite: Kagami, with his Sharingan spinning like twin whirlpools, and Torifu, his massive frame radiating raw power as he prepared for the inevitable clash.
Kagami adjusted his stance, his Sharingan analyzing the movements of the iron sand.
"Torifu, be cautious. His Magnet Release isn't just a defense; it's a weapon capable of overwhelming even the most experienced shinobi."
Torifu nodded, his body already swelling to three times its normal size, a testament to the Akimichi clan's calorie-burning techniques.
"Understood. We need to keep him from gaining any more ground. I'll provide the brute force. You focus on countering his precision."
The Third Kazekage smirked, his dark eyes gleaming with menace. "Do you really think you two can stop me? You're merely prolonging the inevitable."
With a flick of his wrist, the iron sand exploded outward, forming razor-sharp projectiles that shot toward the duo with lethal speed.
Kagami's Sharingan flared as he anticipated the attack. "Torifu, now!" he shouted, leaping to the side.
Aaaahh!
Torifu roared, slamming his massive hands into the ground and creating a shockwave that disrupted the trajectory of the projectiles.
Some iron sand struck harmlessly into the ground, while Kagami used his speed to evade the rest, his movements almost ethereal.
The Kazekage's iron sand retracted and morphed into a massive wave, bearing down on the two shinobi.
Kagami formed a series of hand seals with lightning speed.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
A roaring stream of fire erupted from his mouth, colliding with the iron sand.
The heat caused some of the sand to harden and fall, but the Kazekage manipulated the remaining mass with ease, redirecting it toward Torifu.
Torifu met the attack head-on, his arms swelling even larger.
"Partial Expansion Jutsu!"
His colossal fist smashed through the iron sand, sending a portion of it scattering.
Yet the Kazekage was relentless, already forming new shapes from the swirling mass around him.
This time, the iron sand formed chains that snaked toward Torifu, aiming to entangle him.
"Not so fast," Kagami muttered, weaving hand seals.
"Lightning Style: Thunderbolt Barrage!"
Bolts of lightning surged from his hands, striking the chains mid-air and disrupting their form.
The iron sand fell to the ground in a harmless heap, but it was quickly reabsorbed into the Kazekage's swirling arsenal.
"Impressive," the Kazekage admitted, his tone devoid of warmth. "But you'll need more than that to defeat me."
He clapped his hands together, and the iron sand expanded into a massive dome around him, spikes protruding outward. "Let's see how you handle this: Iron Sand World Technique!"
The dome rotated rapidly, and the spikes shot outward like a hail of deadly missiles.
Kagami's Sharingan tracked each projectile, his mind racing to calculate an escape route. "Torifu, defensive formation!"
Torifu slammed his hands together. "Multi-Size Shield Formation!"
His body expanded further, forming a massive shield of flesh that blocked the oncoming projectiles.
The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, but Torifu held firm, his feet digging into the ground to anchor himself.
Kagami used the opening to close the distance between himself and the Kazekage.
He moved like a blur, his Sharingan reading every subtle shift in the iron sand.
"You're not untouchable," Kagami said coldly, drawing a kunai infused with lightning chakra.
He hurled it with precision, aiming for a weak point in the Kazekage's defenses.
The Kazekage's eyes narrowed as he manipulated the iron sand to intercept the kunai.
But Kagami was already on the move, appearing behind him in a flash of speed.
"Too slow," Kagami whispered, delivering a devastating kick to the Kazekage's side.
The impact sent the Kazekage skidding across the battlefield, though his iron sand cushioned much of the blow.
Torifu capitalized on the moment. "Human Boulder Jutsu!" he roared, transforming into a massive rolling sphere that barreled toward the recovering Kazekage.
The ground quaked under the sheer weight and force of his attack.
The Kazekage reacted quickly, slamming his hands together.
"Magnet Style: Iron Sand Fortress!"
A thick barrier of iron sand rose to block Torifu's charge. The two forces collided with a deafening crash, sending debris flying in all directions.
Torifu's momentum was halted, but cracks appeared in the iron sand barrier.
Kagami seized the opportunity. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Small, controlled fireballs shot toward the weakened barrier, exploiting the cracks. The iron sand exploded outward, forcing the Kazekage to retreat.
The Kazekage's expression darkened. "You've forced my hand. I'll end this now."
He raised both hands, and the iron sand began to condense, forming a massive, spiraling spear.
The sheer density of the chakra-infused weapon caused the air around it to shimmer. "Iron Sand Spiral Lance!"
Kagami and Torifu exchanged a glance, silently coordinating their next move. Torifu took a deep breath, his body glowing with chakra as he activated the Akimichi clan's most powerful technique.
"Calorie Control: Butterfly Mode!"
His massive frame slimmed down, and chakra wings shaped like butterfly wings appeared on his back, radiating immense energy.
"Let's finish this," Kagami said, his Sharingan evolving into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
His vision tunneled on the Kazekage, his chakra flaring as he prepared to unleash a devastating genjutsu.
The Kazekage hurled the spiraling lance toward them with a roar, the attack tearing through the battlefield like a force of nature.
Torifu leaped into the air, his chakra-empowered body glowing brighter.
"Chakra Cannon Punch!"
He delivered a massive punch that collided with the lance, creating a shockwave that lit up the battlefield.
Simultaneously, Kagami locked eyes with the Kazekage.
"Tsukuyomi!"
he intoned, trapping the Kazekage in a world of illusion.
Inside the genjutsu, kagami spoke, "Kazekage, in this world, I am the controller, Now then, let's start your torture."
The Kazekage was immobilized, forced to endure a mental assault that lasted an eternity within seconds.
As the genjutsu released, the Kazekage fell to his knees, disoriented and vulnerable.
Torifu landed beside Kagami, his wings fading as the chakra expenditure took its toll.
Kagami stood over the defeated Kazekage, his Sharingan spinning. "Your march to Konoha ends here. Konoha's will is stronger than your iron sand."
The battlefield fell silent, save for the sound of the wind carrying away the remnants of their explosive clash.
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Meanwhile, under the cover of night, the battlefield shifted as Chiyo led the Suna troops in a calculated retreat.
Her mind wandering over Third Kazekage, I hope you can handle Kagami and Torifu assault Kazekage, or Suna situation will be dire. I must let the forces retreat at all cost.
The moonlight bathed the desolate plains in a pale glow, casting long shadows that danced with the movements of the retreating forces.
Jiraiya, ever vigilant, caught sight of the tactical withdrawal and quickly intercepted the puppet master.
"Not so fast," Jiraiya called out, landing in front of Chiyo with a thud, his toad summoning scroll strapped to his back. "You're not leaving without a proper goodbye."
Chiyo narrowed her eyes, her fingers already twitching in preparation for a fight. "You think you can stop me, boy? You're bold for one so young, didn't Hokage teach you enough respect? It seems I must educate you."
"I'm not just bold," Jiraiya retorted with a grin, his hands moving into a familiar sequence of seals. "I'm dangerous."
Before he could complete his jutsu, Chiyo flicked her wrist, and a trio of puppets emerged from the shadows, their wooden bodies gleaming ominously in the moonlight.
"Let's see how dangerous you really are," she said coldly.
The puppets surged forward, their weapons extending with a metallic hiss.
Jiraiya barely dodged the first assault, rolling to the side and launching a barrage of shuriken.
The projectiles embedded themselves in the puppets' joints, but Chiyo's precise chakra threads manipulated them effortlessly, bypassing the damage.
"Tch, tough old lady," Jiraiya muttered, summoning a small toad to his side. "Gamatoshi, keep an eye on her movements."
"Got it, boss," the toad croaked, its bulbous eyes swiveling to track Chiyo's intricate finger movements.
Meanwhile, far across the battlefield, Setsuna and Shuzaku led a counter-offensive against the retreating Suna forces.
Their combined might was a whirlwind of destruction, with Setsuna's kenjutsu cutting through enemy lines and Shuzaku's shadow jutsu setting the night ablaze.
The two moved in perfect harmony, their attacks complementing each other's strengths.
Behind the line, a group of Yamanaka clan jonin, led by Inosuke, unleashed a devastating assault with their Spirit Transformation Jutsu.
The ethereal forms of their chakra emerged from their bodies, speeding through the ranks of the Suna forces.
Four elite jonin fell to their precision strikes, their minds overwhelmed and bodies left lifeless.
In the chaos, twenty more jonin succumbed, their movements faltering as the Yamanaka's mental techniques left them vulnerable.
"Press the attack!" Inosuke bellowed, his voice carrying over the sounds of clashing steel and roaring flames. "Don't give them a chance to regroup!"
Back at Jiraiya's position, the young shinobi found himself on the defensive as Chiyo's puppets pushed him to his limits.
One puppet's arm extended, its blade aimed for his throat. Jiraiya ducked just in time, retaliating with a burst of oil from his mouth.
"Fire Style: Great Flame Bullet!" he shouted, igniting the oil with a well-timed spark.
The ensuing explosion engulfed one of Chiyo's puppets, reducing it to ash. But Chiyo remained unfazed, her other puppets advancing with relentless precision.
"You've got spirit, I'll give you that," she said, her tone almost mocking. "But spirit alone won't save you."
Jiraiya's grin widened, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Good thing I've got more than just spirit," he quipped. With a swift motion, he slammed his hand onto the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"
In a puff of smoke, a mid-sized toad appeared, its body armored and a spiked mace clutched in one webbed hand. "Ready to rumble, kid?" the toad croaked.
"You bet," Jiraiya replied, leaping onto the toad's back. Together, they charged at Chiyo, the toad's mace swinging in wide arcs that forced the puppet master to retreat.
Her remaining puppets danced around the attacks, but the combined assault from Jiraiya and his summon began to push her back.
Meanwhile, Setsuna and Shuzaku had broken through the Suna's defensive line, their relentless assault leaving devastation in their wake.
Inosuke and the Yamanaka jonin continued their rampage, their Spirit Transformation Jutsu turning the tide of battle.
The Suna forces, now leaderless and demoralized, began to falter.
Cries of retreat echoed through their ranks, their once-coordinated movements devolving into chaos.
Chiyo, sensing the shift in the battle, narrowed her eyes at Jiraiya. "This isn't over," she said, her voice icy.
With a flick of her wrist, she retracted her puppets and leaped back into the shadows. "We'll meet again, boy."
Jiraiya watched her disappear, a mixture of relief and frustration on his face. "Yeah, run while you can," he muttered, dismounting his summon.
He turned his attention to the battlefield, where the combined efforts of Setsuna, Shuzaku, and the Yamanaka clan had all but secured victory.
"Good work, everyone," Jiraiya called out, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "Let's regroup and prepare for any counterattacks. This war isn't over yet."
Soon two more footsteps approached, while one of them carrying an unconscious ninja on his shoulder.
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