Chapter 349: Might Duy Calls for Help
Main Battlefield, Land of Rivers.
Looking at Chiyo lying unconscious on the ground, blood bubbling from the gaping wounds in her body, Uchiha Cho sneered disdainfully.
"To think someone like her would dare to plot against Konoha. She must be tired of living."
She waved her hand, signaling her subordinates to take Chiyo away for treatment. Cho then led her troops to continue their advance toward the Sand camp.
Over the next few days, under the personal leadership of Rasa and the others, the Sand Village launched a successful counterattack. The hastily constructed human puppets played a crucial role.
Unless a squad possessed special sensory abilities, they often wouldn't discover the puppets until it was too late. Under these circumstances, the casualty rate of the Southwestern Army Corps, forced onto the defensive, continued to rise.
Fortunately, the Sand's mastery of the wireless puppet technology was still incomplete. After a period of adaptation, the Southwestern Army Corps began to pose a threat to them, and the damage rate of the puppets gradually increased.
Logically, the Southwestern Army Corps, unable to break the stalemate, should have retreated temporarily. They should have regrouped or devised a tactic to perfectly counter the human puppets before launching another attack. However, Uchiha Cho strictly ordered everyone not to retreat, threatening to punish anyone who did with the crime of desertion.
The confused Southwestern Army Corps had no choice but to obey their commander's orders, launching wave after wave of frenzied assaults on the Sand's defensive line.
"Soon. Just endure a little longer," Uchiha Cho thought, looking at the battlefield engulfed in flames.
Not long after the battle in the Land of Rivers began, the Northeastern Army Corps led by Might Duy also engaged the Cloud forces in a canyon five kilometers from the Fire Country border.
Unlike the skirmishes with the Sand, this front erupted into a full-scale battle centered around the commanders right from the start.
Might Duy opened the Eight Inner Gates to clash head-on with the Ninshu envoy, Watanabe. Might Guy and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio teamed up to handle Yugito Nii, while Yamato single-handedly stalled the powerful Killer B.
It could be said that none of the three main battlefields held an advantage. If the average strength of Konoha ninja hadn't far surpassed any other faction, the situation would have been much worse.
Even so, within a few days, the front line was pushed back to the border. Seeing the enemy about to enter the Fire Country, a helpless Might Duy chose to ask Konoha for reinforcements.
Far away in Konoha, Kyosuke also realized that the Cloud's high-end combat power was somewhat unexpected. He quickly sent a reply to Might Duy.
"Hold out for one day. Strong reinforcements are coming."
"Ugh... Kyosuke didn't explain clearly. Who is coming? Don't tell me he's coming personally?" Choza Akimichi patted his large belly in frustration as he looked at the latest instructions from the communications department.
"Probably not. Kyosuke wouldn't be that irrational. If he leaves, Konoha will be in danger," Shikaku Nara shook his head silently, then turned his gaze to the contemplative Might Duy.
"Duy, what do you think about this?"
Hearing Shikaku's words, Might Duy finally snapped out of it. He scratched his head, nodded with a feigned serious expression, and said, "No problem. We'll do as you say."
Shikaku Nara: "..."
Choza Akimichi: "..."
Yamato: "..."
Seeing this, Might Guy didn't save any face for his father and said bluntly, "Dad, you weren't listening at all just now, were you?"
"Cough, don't talk nonsense." Coughing awkwardly, Might Duy thought for a moment, then a brilliant smile appeared on his face. "Everyone, hold on a little longer. Once reinforcements arrive, I believe the situation will improve."
"But..." Might Guy wanted to say something, but his father cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"Leave everything to me." Might Duy looked at everyone with determined eyes.
The Next Day.
Battle erupted once again.
After Commander Might Duy engaged the enemy's strongest fighter, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and the others also began fighting their respective opponents.
"Akimichi Style: Partial Multi-Size Technique!"
His arms suddenly expanding to massive proportions, Choza Akimichi slammed them toward a beautiful girl with straight, beige hair.
This girl was the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Yugito Nii.
Facing the incoming colossal arms, two blue chakra tails suddenly appeared behind her. With greatly increased speed, Yugito dodged Choza's attack in an instant. Crouching low in the dust-filled environment, she rushed out quickly.
Long claws extended from her fingers. Taking advantage of Choza not yet recovering from his attack stiffness, Yugito swiped at his throat.
"Damn, I won't make it in time." Just as Choza was considering using Full Body Expansion to avoid having his throat slit, a figure in a green jumpsuit suddenly rushed in front of him, kicking Yugito away.
"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"
The newcomer was Might Guy.
"Choza-san, are you okay?" Guy's smile did a good job of soothing Choza's panic. Calming down slightly, Choza gave him a grateful smile.
"The enemy's offensive is even fiercer today. Holding out for a day won't be easy," Choza said with a sigh.
Looking at the blue tails dancing before him, Guy became unusually serious. Crossing his arms in front of his chest, amidst the suddenly surging chakra, he said, "Let's go all out, Choza-san."
"Alright." Choza responded quietly. Immediately, the fat on his body melted away at a visible rate, and a pair of blue chakra wings suddenly appeared on his back.
The Akimichi clan's Butterfly Mode bloomed once again on this battlefield.
Beside him, the chakra fluctuations on Might Guy's body also became increasingly evident. After a brief accumulation, the Sixth Gate of View was successfully opened.
"Eight Inner Gates, Sixth Gate of View... Open!!!"
Two powerhouses, their chakra so dense it was visible to the naked eye, flashed to Yugito's side in an instant. Their ultimate moves struck her mercilessly.
"Akimichi Style Secret Technique: Butterfly Bullet Bombing!"
"Morning Peacock!"
Unlike the intense battle on Guy's side, Yamato, facing Killer B alone, had a much duller fight.
"Wood Style Secret Jutsu: Deep Forest Emergence."
Trees sprouted from the ground, lifting Killer B's body into the air. Immediately after, countless branches wrapped around him, not seeking to injure, but only to hinder his advance.
"Idiot, bastard! Don't you have any other moves?!" Although B was still rapping his incoherent rhymes, a trace of annoyance was evident in his expression.
Over days of fighting, Yamato had used this tactic every time to slow him down. What should have been a fierce battle was forcibly turned into a contest of endurance.
Every time Killer B prepared to disregard everything and use his Tailed Beast transformation to fight, Yamato would lead his troops to retreat far away, waiting until B's stamina couldn't sustain the transformation before returning to grind him down again.
Because of this, the two had been stalemated on this battlefield. Yamato certainly couldn't defeat the enemy, and Killer B, due to some reservations, could only passively face the Wood Release that somewhat countered him.
Of course, it wasn't that Killer B had absolutely no way to deal with the enemy. He was also waiting. Waiting for the result of Mr. Watanabe's battle. Once that was decided, their situation would completely open up.
When that time came, the Cloud would launch their total offensive.