Chapter 300: The Three-and-a-Half-Day War (Part 2)
D-0, 20 minutes after the attack began.
The Third Raikage led his team, tearing through the dense forests of the Land of Fire.
Regardless of chakra, regardless of stamina, regardless of the cost.
Faster! Faster! Faster!
However, ahead of them, hundreds of figures blocked their inevitable path.
The Cloud ninja didn't stop because the Third Raikage hadn't given the order.
Running continuously, the Third Raikage said in a deep voice, "No wonder we didn't detect any movement at the border; their deployment was deep inside the country... You guys scatter and detour. The reinforcements are already in the sky. Enter the capital directly and capture the target. I'll deal with these people and follow you."
His subordinates didn't waste words. They trusted their Kage and wouldn't question his orders.
The moment they received the order, all the Cloud ninja behind him scattered to both sides.
The Third Raikage charged toward the Konoha interceptors, his Lightning Release Chakra Mode burning like blue flames. He spoke to the leader, "I know you, Might Duy. Come at me together! This old man is in a hurry!"
The green figure with a thick beard looked at the Third Raikage with a serious expression.
"Don't let them scatter! Stop them!"
The Konoha ninja behind him moved to intercept the scattering Cloud ninja.
However, in the next instant, a Konoha ninja had just started moving when he was turned into a pile of minced meat, splattered over a ten-meter radius behind him.
The Third Raikage appeared where the Konoha ninja had been standing alive a moment ago.
"This old man said... your opponent is ME!"
Might Duy's hair and beard bristled as he roared, "Eight Inner Gates: Sixth Gate of View, OPEN!"
The Third Raikage said calmly, "Green steam...? I've been underestimated..."
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A thick iron staff spun down from the sky, embedding itself heavily into the rock in front of Might Duy.
"Enma! The opponent is the Third Raikage! We absolutely cannot be careless!"
An eye appeared on the Adamantine Staff, speaking human language.
"Oh! Indeed an opponent not to be underestimated, Duy!"
D-0, 21 minutes after the attack began.
Above the Land of Wind.
"Hiroto, you go to the Wind Capital..."
Yotsuki Dana flew rapidly through the air, wind roaring in his ears.
The terrain below changed rapidly.
Both Dana and the Third Raikage knew that since the enemy had plotted for so long, they couldn't have failed to guard against a Cloud counterattack. The Land of Wind was vast, the largest of the Five Great Nations, and the Land of Earth was also expansive. Even if Dana could fly, by the time he arrived, Blue Bee's situation would likely be over.
Instead, his Old Man might be faster, as Blue Bee was attacked in the sea between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
So, they had to catch the enemy off guard! raid the Land of Earth with a speed they couldn't possibly imagine.
Time! Time! It was all about time! They were racing against time.
The incident was sudden. He and his Old Man were acting separately, each with their own plans, but the goal was the same.
It might be expensive, but so be it.
Thinking of this, Dana flew to a sand dune. In his "Pulse" Vision, there was no one for tens of kilometers. He took out the golden slug and sent a message to the village.
"Requesting support. Temporary Transmission Structure. Coordinates (698, 433)."
"Received! Authority Level: Highest. Approved. 'Temporary Transmission Structure' preparing. Launch in 5 minutes!"
Five minutes later, several delivery pods flew in from the horizon. First, four Construction Ninja landed. After nodding to Dana, they immediately took out material scrolls and blueprint books from their "Standardized Construction Module" backpacks and began basic construction.
A concrete platform rose from the ground, followed by the basic structure.
Three minutes later, the basic structure was complete, the three sky-piercing horns particularly eye-catching.
Yes, what Dana was doing was building a temporary Heavenly Transfer Technique launch base.
To catch a flight, build an airport on the spot!
Four more delivery pods landed, bringing four research ninja carrying key equipment for formula carving and calibration.
Unlike the permanent bases in the Land of Lightning, this "Temporary Transmission Structure" had less strict requirements and used cheaper materials, but it was still incredibly expensive. Many components were single-use.
After developing this function, the Cloud Village had only prepared two sets as a contingency and had never used them.
Fifteen minutes later, this temporary Heavenly Transfer base deep in the desert was ready for use.
Using the Communication Snail, Dana spoke to Dodai, who was still outside the exam basin. "I've built a temporary transmission base at coordinates (698, 433). Take all Cloud personnel, including the contestants, and launch back to the Cloud from here. Ignore the exam results. The war has started. You can bring the Rain Village people too."
"Dana-sama, what about you?"
"I'm going to find leverage!"
Then Dana flew into the launch point, turned around, and said, "Destination: Earth Capital!"
The researchers immediately began operating the instruments.
"Target: Earth Capital!"
"Coordinates calibrated!"
"Stability calibrated!"
"Chakra calibrated! LAUNCH!"
Dana turned into a streak of light and vanished into the sky.
This temporary launch base would send Dodai and the others back to the Cloud, then send back its own staff, including the construction and research ninja. When the remaining personnel were insufficient to operate the Heavenly Transfer Technique, the last few would seal any valuable equipment and materials, destroy all traces, and return to the Cloud via land.
D-0, 37 minutes after the attack began.
Land of Earth, a valley.
An Iwa ninja stood atop a cliff.
This was the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Iron. East of the Land of Iron was the Cloud's sphere of influence.
The ninja removed a note from a hawk's leg, opened it, and immediately waved his hand, shouting:
"DEPART!!"
In the next instant, the cliff beneath his feet shattered completely, like a collapsing wall.
Thick dust blotted out the sky.
Whoosh!
A black figure shot out from the dust.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
More and more figures flew out from the cave hidden behind the cliff.
Countless Iwa ninja leaped out—thousands in an instant—advancing rapidly eastward.
It turned out Iwa had used Earth Release to hollow out this cliff completely, hiding a massive force inside to evade Cloud surveillance.
They had been lurking here for days, aiming to cross the Land of Iron and march on the Land of Lightning.
One could only wonder how much the Land of Earth and Iwagakure had paid to get Takigakure and the Land of Iron to support their action.
On the cliff, a ninja said, "Kitsuchi, let's go."
Onoki's son, Kitsuchi, nodded. He was the commander of this surprise attack force, carrying a heavy responsibility.
Just then, a rainbow light suddenly streaked across the sky from the far distance.
The Iwa ninja exclaimed in shock, "That's... the direction of the capital!"
Kitsuchi's gaze followed the rainbow light until it disappeared. Although his expression was grave, he said firmly, "In war, completing one's own mission is the highest priority. We don't need to worry about other things; just focus on ourselves. The Cloud Village has moved a large number of elites away from their territory. It is precisely the time they are vulnerable. Opportunity must not be lost. Move out!"
D-0, 38 minutes after the attack began.
High in the sky, the streak of light passed, alerting the people in the Earth Capital. But after waiting for a while with nothing falling, the people in the city were confused.
At an altitude invisible to the naked eye, no one had discovered Dana's arrival yet.
With a sweep of his Pulse Vision, Dana understood. The capital seemed prepared; a large number of samurai and a few Iwa ninja were on alert everywhere. Entering from the ground would likely result in getting bogged down.
The civilians in the city were acting normally.
The Earth Daimyo's residence, Red Rock Castle, was extremely conspicuous.
"They probably didn't expect me to arrive so fast... Then..."
Pressed for time, Dana flew directly above Red Rock Castle. In Sage Mode, his control over magnetic fields was stronger, and his speed was faster.
"Look! What is that?!"
A meteor fell vertically from high altitude. Like a white rainbow piercing the sun, it smashed directly through the roof of Red Rock Castle.
The entire capital trembled at the momentum.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Red Rock Castle is under attack!"
"Protect the Daimyo immediately!"