Chapter 27: The Dust of the Past and a Hard Lesson (Bonus Chapter)
The Second Great Ninja War had left every hidden village scarred. Yet, it was undeniable that the tinder for that war was inextricably linked to the Land of Fire, where Konoha resided.
The struggle between Fire, Earth, and Wind had turned the Land of Rain into the greatest victim. This directly led to the deaths of the Second Tsuchikage and the Third Mizukage.
The sudden catastrophe thrust Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, into the forefront. Many speculated that Hiruzen, once a guard for the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had initiated the war to avenge Tobirama, who had died in the First Great Ninja War.
Though right and wrong had faded with time, the seeds of hatred sown in each village had not been erased.
Now, the Iwa ninja stared at Liumu, the anger in his eyes making his entire body tremble.
Feeling the opponent's unrestrained, surging chakra, Liumu smiled and took a step back.
"Trying to run? Too late! Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
The large Iwa ninja slammed his hands onto the ground. A powerful chakra ripple erupted instantly. The earth beneath Liumu's feet immediately transformed into a dark grey swamp after the ninjutsu was cast.
"Huh?"
Liumu tried with all his might to lift his legs, but the continuously collapsing mud rendered escape impossible. Watching Liumu sink further, the three Iwa ninja sneered.
"With your level of skill, you dare to rob a scroll alone?" The large Iwa ninja snorted coldly. "You can't even save yourself!"
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"
Just as Liumu was trapped, two voices suddenly rang out from behind him. Immediately, four stone walls erupted from the ground around the three Iwa ninja, trapping them firmly. Then, a massive fireball struck them from above.
The Fire-Earth combo exploded. A huge plume of smoke rose, even cracking the Earth Flow Walls.
"Kakashi? Mizukage?"
Liumu muttered. He was already more than half-sunk in the swamp, unable to turn his head.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
"Liumu! Hold on!"
As Kakashi leaped forward, he pulled an iron chain from his pack, swiftly binding Liumu. With both hands, he attempted to yank Liumu directly out of the swamp.
"Easy! Easy! You're crushing my… little friend!" Liumu hissed in pain.
But…
Just as Mizukage and Kakashi prepared to pull Liumu out together, a low, guttural roar emanated from within Mizukage's Earth Flow Walls.
"Earth Release: Golem Technique!"
BOOM!
The three Konoha ninja looked toward the sound. A gigantic rock giant shattered the earth walls, rising from the ground. The three Iwa ninja stood atop the golem's head, looking down at the Konoha shinobi beneath them.
"This… is huge!"
Mizukage stared at the hill-sized stone golem, her expression already frozen.
Kakashi reacted first. Temporarily abandoning Liumu, he drew dozens of explosive-tagged shuriken and hurled them directly at the stone giant.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions erupted. For a moment, rock fragments flew and smoke billowed. After the blasts subsided, Kakashi was shocked to find his attack had been utterly ineffective against the golem.
Frowning slightly, Kakashi glanced at the still-dazed Mizukage and shouted urgently, "Snap out of it! I'll handle them. You save Liumu!"
"Ah! Right!"
Hearing this, Mizukage finally snapped to attention, grabbing the iron chain to rescue Liumu again.
Seeing this, the three Iwa ninja didn't stop Mizukage. To them, Kakashi was the greater threat.
Then…
The kunoichi standing atop the giant crouched down. As the giant kept bombarding the darting Kakashi, her hands flew through seals. She yelled softly, "Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Instantly, the giant's head faintly transformed into a dragon's maw, continuously firing attacks at Kakashi.
Seeing this, Kakashi knew escaping such a wide-area assault through speed alone was impossible. He simply stood his ground, hands forming seals. Immediately, a stone wall adorned with four dog heads rose from the earth, blocking all the Earth Dragon Bullets.
"What next?"
Mizukage's mind raced. She immediately considered fleeing with the others the moment Liumu was free. Judging by the current situation, the three Iwa ninja weren't overwhelmingly powerful, but their side had no means to break the stone golem's assault.
Kakashi, darting about, looked at the three figures atop the giant's head, his brow furrowed. Simultaneously, the "Tiger" seal quietly formed in his hands…
From the Iwa ninja's perspective, Kakashi abruptly changed tactics, ceasing his evasive maneuvers and suddenly charging the stone golem.
Seeing this, the large Iwa ninja manipulated the giant's massive palm to continuously smash toward Kakashi. Yet, each time an attack was about to land, Kakashi always escaped at the last instant.
Moreover, as Kakashi closed the distance, he had already quietly reached the base of the stone golem.
"Shiro!" the large man shouted to his companion.
"Understood." The kunoichi named Shiro replied softly, a cunning smirk touching her lips. She pulled a handful of yellow clay from her pack, sprinkling it before her. Her hands began weaving seals. As a spiderweb-like pattern expanded beneath her feet, a burst of white mist erupted. Then, a smear of light-green venom leaked from the rock giant's body.
The venom spread rapidly, trapping Kakashi at its center.
"I advise you not to move!" Shiro shouted at Kakashi. "This is the tail venom of the Red-Tailed Scorpion. Even a tiny amount is lethal."
"Damn it!"
Mizukage, not far away, looked at the trapped Kakashi and immediately felt despair.
"You lose!"
The large Iwa ninja looked at the trapped Liumu and Kakashi, delivering his final verdict.
"Really?"
At that moment, a lazy voice suddenly came from behind Shiro. Then, the sharp edge of a shuriken quietly pressed against her throat.
The three Iwa ninja: "???"
Poof!
Everyone looked. Kakashi, trapped by the venom at the giant's feet, suddenly dissolved into a puddle of water with a burst of white smoke. This confirmed that the Kakashi behind the Iwa kunoichi was the real one.
"When… when did you substitute with a Water Clone?" Shiro swallowed hard, not daring to move an inch in her current predicament.
"Is that still important?" Kakashi said, tightening the shuriken. He replied coldly, "Release my teammate. Hand over the scroll."
Faced with Kakashi's threat, the three Iwa ninja not only didn't comply, but an almost imperceptible sneer flickered across their faces.
(End of Chapter)
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