When those dense, countless stone golems completely stepped into the border badlands like a rising tide, the originally calm surroundings suddenly underwent a shocking change.
From every direction with no warning at all, a rich and mysterious purple energy began to rise, and this energy quickly gathered together like a massive tornado.
As the purple energy kept condensing, an unimaginably gigantic barrier gradually surfaced in the void.
This barrier was like a towering mountain spanning between heaven and earth, giving off a powerful aura that made one's heart tremble.
In an instant, the tens of thousands of stone golems that had originally been charging forward aggressively as if unstoppable suddenly froze in place as if struck by a binding spell.
And this stagnation wasn't just a slight slowdown. Their speed was at least ten times slower than before, almost no different from standing still.
The stone golems were trapped right where they stood, completely losing their earlier fierce attack power and force, becoming nothing more than lifeless stone statues.
What was even more terrifying was that the golems near the center were slowly breaking apart at a speed visible to the naked eye.
You had to know, these stone golems were formed through a spell by extracting earth energy from the land itself.
But right now, this massive barrier was removing the spell attached to the stone golems bit by bit, causing them to collapse and fade away.
Facing this sudden barrier, even someone like Moryo, who had mentally prepared himself and knew this operation wouldn't go smoothly, couldn't help feeling shocked for a moment.
However, he was a seasoned veteran after all, and after a brief moment of surprise he quickly recovered.
His figure flickered, turning into a purple black whirlwind, and sped straight toward the center of the barrier.
In the blink of an eye, Moryo reached his destination.
When he focused his eyes, he was immediately startled. He saw Senku sitting cross-legged at the center of the barrier, his eyes slightly closed.
His hands gently moved the prayer beads, and he was chanting profound, obscure scriptures under his breath.
At the same time, countless runes shining with strange light continuously streamed out from within his body.
They surrounded him like brilliant stars in the night sky.
"Senku?"
Moryo was a bit surprised. He had only heard of Senku's abilities before.
He didn't expect the real Senku to be even stronger than the rumors had said.
He actually managed to set up a barrier of such massive scale and frightening power.
He looked up and saw behind Senku, thousands of Leaf ninja standing quietly.
"So trusting Senku, or maybe you're just underestimating me?"
Moryo looked toward the rear lines and didn't see any familiar faces there, so he knew the Leaf hadn't sent any top fighters to this position.
This meant all command authority was in Senku and Miroku's hands.
"Hmph!", Moryo snorted and glanced at the ground.
"Let's see who outplays who today."
The stone golems under him were being consumed every moment. His only option was to break Senku's formation first.
Before that, he had to get past Miroku.
Moryo leaped up, his entire body turning into a streak of purple black flames rushing toward Miroku.
Miroku remained calm, formed a seal, and pushed out a circular formation.
The two sides crashed into each other.
Then Miroku frowned. She realized Moryo's strength had increased by at least thirty percent compared to last time.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Her formation was quickly torn apart.
Miroku took a step back, formed another seal, and the spiritual power on her body burst out fiercely like a torch, slamming straight into Moryo.
Both Miroku and Moryo were forced backward.
"Moryo, today is the day you die!"
After Miroku declared this, the spiritual power around her suddenly compressed inward, then wrapped tightly around her.
Her hands drew back, taking a fighting stance.
With a stomp of her foot, the ground split open, and Miroku's figure flashed forward with the force of wind and thunder, reaching Moryo in an instant.
An axe-like downward strike smashed straight toward Moryo's head.
Moryo crossed his arms in front of his head to block the blow.
BOOM!
The stone beneath Moryo's feet shattered violently, and he was forced down by half a head.
The purple black energy on his body was also being quickly worn down.
"Kekekekekekekeke!"
"Miroku, accept your fate and become one with me!"
Moryo let out a creepy laugh. A surge of massive energy burst from his body, sending Miroku flying.
"Choosing to fight here was your biggest mistake!"
He roared, and the nearby stone golems shattered. Streams of purple black energy shot straight into the ground.
The earth kept shaking like an earthquake, and pillars of purple black energy burst up from beneath the ground one after another.
Miroku (Rengoku) was also slightly stunned. He didn't recognize this energy and hadn't expected Moryo to have such a backup plan.
But he immediately curled his lips into a faint smile.
This worked out too. If they finished things too quickly here, the other locations wouldn't take the bait.
After absorbing the purple black pillars, Moryo's energy surged.
He charged at Miroku like a truck.
BOOM!
They clashed head-on with full force.
Both the dark energy around Moryo and the spiritual power on Miroku shook non-stop.
As the light distorted, the two of them began the most dangerous kind of close combat.
Moryo now had both speed and strength shooting straight upward.
But in response, Miroku still wasn't falling behind.
BOOM!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two of them were locked in intense combat.
Behind Yahiko, Senku also rose to his feet and planted his staff in front of him.
His seals changed, and the ground shook. The purple black energy underground immediately weakened.
When he moved to stand before Moryo's stone golems, their collapse sped up as well.
But there were simply too many golems, and the battle between the two sides fell into a stalemate for the moment.
———
Up in the sky, Onoki and Yagura patiently waited.
'Looks like Miroku and Senku made very thorough preparations.'
Onoki didn't rush. Senku was still in very good condition.
From the fact that the Leaf ninja in the rear hadn't moved at all, it was clear everything was under their control.
If they couldn't finish him in one blow, a barrier specialist skilled in sealing like him would be terrifying.
But since so many Leaf ninja were tied down here, their own forces could start moving.
Onoki made up his mind. The earth clone he left in his own camp crumbled into soil and disappeared.
That signaled they could begin.
The elite forces of Iwagakure, led by the Four Tails jinchuriki Roshi and the Five Tails jinchuriki Han, began quickly crossing the border and advancing toward the Leaf.
———
At the same time, Sunagakure also used similar means to learn that the battle had begun here.
The Sand forces that had already been stationed in the Land of Rivers began moving under Pakura and Chiyo's command.
"Move fast! Move fast!"
"This is our best chance since the Leaf's forces are stretched thin!"
"Three hours! Cross the Land of Rivers!"
Crowds of Sand ninja ran across the Land of Rivers with excited expressions.
At the front besides Pakura were Chiyo and Yura.
"Elder Chiyo, our scouting squads up ahead lost contact."
"Three whole squads haven't reported back!"
One of the forward scouts quickly reported.
Chiyo frowned. It was normal for the Leaf to stop them, but if even their intel squads were being suppressed, they must have run into the enemy's elite.
Otherwise, the intel squads wouldn't have been wiped out.
"Keep moving! Spread the formation! Let the puppets scout ahead! Even if it's a trap, we push through!"
"Yes!"
Chiyo knew speed was everything. Sometimes even if there were sacrifices, they had to break into the Land of Fire quickly.
"Elder Chiyo, if we go like this," Pakura started to speak.
Chiyo raised her hand to stop Pakura.
She lowered her voice and said, "The Kazekage is already organizing a second wave. They've already left the village."
"We're just the front unit."
Pakura's expression sharpened. It seemed the village was putting everything on the line for this war.
———
At the gates of Sunagakure, Rasa stood on a platform made of gold sand.
Behind him were crowds of Sand ninja fully armed and clearly long prepared.
Rasa looked toward the Land of Fire with eyes full of desire.
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