Chiba tightened the surveillance over Kirigakure to an unprecedented degree, extending it beyond the village itself to nearly every port across the Land of Water. Whether it was a small fishing boat or a large merchant vessel, none were exempt-every single one was subjected to strict inspection and thorough searches.
Even so, Chiba harbored no real illusions about the effectiveness of such measures. No matter how meticulous the surveillance, it was impossible to completely lock down an enemy. They might avoid ports entirely, or slip through using transformation techniques and other ninjutsu. More importantly, Chiba had never intended to rely on passive defense alone. From the very beginning, his plan was to lure the enemy deep into Kirigakure itself and crush them in one decisive stroke-like trapping prey inside a sealed jar.
…
At that very moment, aboard a modest boat cutting quietly across the sea, Orochimaru and Jiraiya were sailing toward the Land of Water. Aside from the two of them, the vessel carried only a handful of elite shinobi from Konohagakure, each radiating restrained tension.
"To think the two of us would ever fight side by side again," Jiraiya said with a hint of nostalgia, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "Orochimaru."
Orochimaru let out a low, amused chuckle. "Don't misunderstand me, Jiraiya. I'm only cooperating to achieve my own ends. Once I obtain those two children, our alliance ends there." His golden eyes narrowed slightly. "After that, you're free to hunt me down again, just like old times."
Jiraiya sighed, the weight of years heavy in his voice. "Who could've imagined it? Back when we were the Three Legendary Sannin, we fought shoulder to shoulder on the battlefield. Now we're scattered to the winds." His tone darkened. "Tsunade betrayed Konoha and joined Kirigakure. You defected and became a true enemy of the village. And in the end, I'm the only one still clinging to Konoha."
"That's because you can't let go," Orochimaru replied smoothly. "To be honest, Tsunade's decision surprised even me-but I respect it. As the granddaughter of the Shodaime Hokage, she still chose to follow her own will." He glanced sideways at Jiraiya. "As for you, you lost yourself long ago. You've become nothing more than a tool of Konoha."
Jiraiya burst out laughing. "Is that so?" he said lightly. "I think I'm perfectly clear-headed. It's just that what I seek is different from what you and Tsunade want." He waved a hand dismissively. "Enough of this."
At that moment, an ANBU operative entered the cabin and knelt on one knee. "Lord Jiraiya, we're approaching the borders of the Land of Water. How should we proceed?"
Jiraiya answered without hesitation. "Avoid the ports. Land on a secluded coast-no matter how remote or dangerous. Stealth is our priority."
"Yes, sir!"
The Land of Water was an archipelago nation. Beyond the main island where Kirigakure stood, countless smaller islands dotted the sea-many of them completely uninhabited. Jiraiya's plan was simple: land on one of these forgotten islands, then infiltrate the outskirts of Kirigakure quietly. With hundreds, even thousands of islands, it was impossible for Chiba's defenses to cover everything.
Before long, the group reached a barren island. From there, slipping toward Kirigakure should have been effortless.
And yet, as they drew closer to the village, Jiraiya's instincts screamed that something was wrong.
"Stop," he said sharply.
Orochimaru chuckled. "What? Having second thoughts now that we're here?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "No. Kirigakure's outer perimeter should have sensory barrier defenses, just like Konoha. If we enter carelessly, we'll be detected immediately." His expression hardened. "That would defeat the purpose of a surprise attack."
Orochimaru frowned briefly, then smiled. "In that case, we split up and enter from multiple directions. The moment we cross into the barrier's range, we launch large-scale attacks. Chaos will be inevitable."
"Fine," Jiraiya agreed.
Strictly speaking, Konoha's infiltration force divided into three groups: one led by Orochimaru, one by Jiraiya, and the last composed of over a dozen elite ANBU and Root operatives. The true pillars of the assault, however, were still Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
Just as they were about to move-
Suddenly, the earth itself began to tremble violently.
Rumble-!
Rumble-!
BOOM!!!
In an instant, an overwhelming force erupted from within the barrier zone, as if their presence had already been detected and instantly identified as hostile. Shock rippled through Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and every Konoha shinobi present.
"What's going on?!" someone shouted.
"We haven't even touched the barrier yet!"
Jiraiya spun around sharply-and his eyes locked onto another layer of translucent chakra in the air behind them. Realization struck like lightning.
"We've been tricked," he said grimly. "Kirigakure's defenses are a double-layered barrier. I didn't even detect the first one. We're already trapped between them, and the defensive mechanisms have been triggered."
Orochimaru snorted. "Jiraiya, I recall you being quite the expert on sealing techniques and barriers. Kirigakure was never known for this level of proficiency. And yet, you still fell for it?"
"This isn't normal," Jiraiya replied immediately. "This dual sensory barrier is flawless-beyond anything built without deep mastery. Even among the Uzumaki clan, it would rank at the absolute pinnacle."
At that moment, the space between the twin barriers erupted with an intense surge of chakra, blasting outward toward Jiraiya and Orochimaru. It was a terrifying fusion-senjutsu chakra from Ryūchi Cave woven into a sealing formation that combined detection, defense, and counterattack into a single system.
This was Chiba's creation.
A perfect guardian barrier, born from endless refinement of Uzumaki sealing arts and Ryūchi Cave senjutsu.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru's expressions changed as they immediately unleashed their own power to resist. Attacks of this level couldn't truly injure them-but that had never been the barrier's purpose. Its true role was to sense, restrain, and signal.
Within Kirigakure, the barrier division had already detected the intrusion and relayed the information through special channels directly to Mizukage Chiba.
At once, the shinobi forces of Kirigakure-long prepared and on high alert-moved in unison toward the point where the barrier had been triggered.
And Chiba himself set out as well.
The pressure bearing down on Jiraiya and Orochimaru intensified sharply.
"At this point, there's no choice," Orochimaru said coldly. "We fight our way through."
"Jiraiya-launch the attack from here!"
Jiraiya nodded. He understood. This was their final option.
In the next instant-
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Edo Tensei!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
Jiraiya's summoning circles flared as massive toads from Mount Myōboku appeared one after another. This wasn't merely Gamabunta, Gamaken, Gamahiro, and Gamachū-the core combat forces-but an entire host of specialized toads as well, each suited to different roles.
Iron-Armed Toads. Power Toads. Scout Toads. Rock-Dwelling Giant Toads.
And among them stood the two most formidable figures of all-the toad sages who shared an unmatched bond with Jiraiya.
Fukasaku.
Shima.
These two were not to be underestimated by anyone. When fighting alongside Jiraiya in Sage Mode, their combined strength was enough to contend with opponents on the level of the Six Paths of Pain themselves.
This time, Mount Myōboku could not be said to have mobilized its entire population, yet the force it dispatched was still overwhelming by any reasonable standard. The reason was clear. Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave had always been at odds, their philosophies and legacies fundamentally incompatible. On top of that, Mount Myōboku and Konohagakure shared a bond that had been passed down through generations.
From Jiraiya's own clan, to Minato Namikaze, and later Uzumaki Naruto in the original timeline, that cooperation had never once been severed.
At the same moment, Orochimaru revealed his true hand.
The Edo Tensei army he had painstakingly created was summoned in its entirety, without restraint. This time, however, it was fundamentally different from before. After being refined and reconstructed under the direct guidance of Senju Tobirama, the technique's precision, stability, and combat output had increased by several times.
The lineup of the resurrected was enough to chill the soul.
Members of the Senju clan stood at the forefront-Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, Senju Butsuma, and other long-fallen pillars of that legendary bloodline.
Behind them were elite Uchiha: Uchiha Tajima, Uchiha Izuna, Uchiha Kagami, Uchiha Shisui, and others whose names were etched into the clan's bloody history.
There were also predecessors of the Hyūga clan, including Hyūga Hizashi and other fallen ancestors.
And beyond that-
Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha.
Might Dai, father of Might Guy.
Mitokado, who perished on the night of the Uchiha massacre.
Katō Dan, master of the Spirit Transformation Technique.
Akimichi Torifu, once a fellow disciple of Senju Tobirama alongside Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Yūhi Shinku, father of Yūhi Kurenai.
Alongside them were dozens of lesser-known shinobi, all dragged back from death by Edo Tensei.
In total-more than a hundred resurrected warriors.
Among them, figures such as Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, Uchiha Kagami, Uchiha Shisui, Hatake Sakumo, and Might Dai were all monsters of the highest tier-existences capable of overturning the battlefield through sheer force.
The moment the Edo Tensei army appeared, a suffocating pressure descended upon the outskirts of Kirigakure, as if the land itself sensed the coming calamity.
In an instant, Orochimaru's undead legion, Jiraiya's Mount Myōboku toad forces, and Konoha's elite shinobi descended simultaneously upon the village perimeter.
What had once been calm and orderly instantly transformed into a Shura battlefield.
The resurrected Senju Hashirama gazed across the flourishing landscape of Kirigakure, his expression complicated.
"So this is Kirigakure now…" he murmured. "To think it would become this prosperous. It may even surpass the current Konoha."
His gaze sharpened slightly. "This Mizukage, Chiba… he truly is a rare genius."
Beside him, Senju Tobirama nodded. "Indeed. To change the fate of an entire village through one's own strength-and even influence the destiny of the shinobi world itself-his impact may one day surpass even yours, brother." His tone cooled. "It is unfortunate that he stands as Konoha's enemy."
Around them, the other resurrected shinobi gradually grasped their situation.
Hatake Sakumo let out a quiet sigh. "So even death isn't enough to escape war…"
Might Dai laughed loudly, his voice brimming with energy. "Hahahaha! Sakumo, who would've thought we'd meet again like this-and fighting side by side, no less!"
Uchiha Shisui frowned. "A war between Konoha and Kirigakure…? What exactly happened while we were gone?"
Nearby, Uchiha Kagami also furrowed his brows. "Nidaime Hokage-sama… is this truly the Edo Tensei you created? What era are we even in now?"
Then, the instant Uchiha Izuna laid eyes on Senju Tobirama, rage erupted.
"Senju Tobirama!" he roared. "Was killing me once not enough?! Now you dare use such a filthy jutsu to drag my soul back and force me to fight for the Senju?!"
Tobirama looked at him calmly. "I am not the one who activated this jutsu. But in the end, there is little difference." His gaze was steady. "Look closely. I am no different from you-I am also dead."
Izuna sneered. "As expected. Hmph. Seems your fate wasn't much better than mine. Karma truly comes full circle."
Before the battle had even begun, the resurrected legends exchanged words-some nostalgic, some tense, some openly hostile.
Orochimaru moved without hesitation. With kunai and sealing talismans, he erased the self-awareness of troublesome individuals like Uchiha Izuna, crushing their will and turning them into silent weapons that existed only to kill.
Then, Senju Tobirama spoke, his voice sharp and decisive.
"It's time."
"Orochimaru. Jiraiya."
With a single command, the Konoha strike force surged forward, smashing straight through Kirigakure's second barrier and charging toward the village interior.
The war had fully erupted.
Yet at that very moment-
Chiba, having received the intelligence, was already at the very front.
Facing an Edo Tensei army capable of sweeping the entire shinobi world, combined with the overwhelming numbers of Mount Myōboku's toad legion, Chiba showed no hesitation, no panic, not even a flicker of doubt.
He wasted no words.
Riding atop an ice bird, he descended directly into the heart of the battlefield, his chakra erupting like a storm.
"Hyōton: Aisu Eiji ('Ice Release: Ice Age')!!!!"
In an instant-
The world roared.
The temperature plummeted catastrophically as an apocalyptic wave of freezing energy exploded outward. Compared to every previous use of his ice techniques, this one dwarfed them all-its range, density, destructive force, and killing power reaching an utterly incomprehensible level.
The sky dimmed.
The earth screamed.
In a single breath, frost swallowed the horizon.
A thousand li frozen solid.
Ten thousand li buried in snow.
The vanguard of the Edo Tensei army was caught head-on. Countless resurrected shinobi were instantly encased in ice, their bodies locked mid-stride, transformed into towering, lifeless ice sculptures.
The frozen ground spread violently, layers of ice racing outward like a tidal wave, suppressing the earth itself and forcibly halting the charge of the entire undead legion.
Even figures like Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama felt their expressions tighten.
"What an overwhelming Ice Release…" Hashirama muttered.
"This scale… this level of destruction… it's absurd," Tobirama added grimly. "To wield a jutsu of this magnitude, his chakra reserves may already rival my brother's."
Naturally, they did not intend to wait and be buried by the ice.
In the next instant, Senju Hashirama slammed his hands together.
"Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan!" ("Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!")
The earth exploded.
Colossal trees tore free from the ground, rising violently as an endless forest surged across the battlefield. Roots shattered the ice from below while massive trunks formed a living barrier, resisting the encroaching frost and shielding their forces.
At the same time, shinobi proficient in Fire Release unleashed their chakra to counter the cold.
Uchiha Izuna roared as flames erupted from his body.
"Katon: Gōryūka no Jutsu!" ("Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!")
Jiraiya synchronized perfectly with Gamabunta, their chakra merging.
"Katon: Gamayu Endan!" ("Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!")
Above them, the two great sages of Mount Myōboku activated senjutsu in perfect unison.
"Senpō: Gōemon!" ("Sage Art: Goemon!")
For that fleeting moment, Chiba stood alone-his Ice Age collided head-on with the combined might of the Edo Tensei army and Mount Myōboku's toad legion.
Ice, frost, raging flames, and boiling oil slammed into one another, detonating in a catastrophic clash that tore through the battlefield and shook the very heavens.
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