Chapter 282: Defensive Line Breached
"What's wrong?"
Noticing Hyuga Fuji's gaze, Yagura asked.
"A little mouse," Hyuga Fuji withdrew his gaze and smiled, "Nothing to worry about."
Yagura glanced in the direction where Bayakushi had been, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Someone who can evade my scouting and sensory ninjas doesn't seem so little."
Recalling Hyuga Fuji's strength, he added, "Of course, maybe to you, it's different."
Hyuga Fuji shook his head with a smile, "If you're worried, would you like me to send someone to capture him?"
Yagura grumbled, "No need."
He knew someone who could do it—White Zetsu. But from Hyuga Fuji's reaction, it was clearly not him. It was likely someone from Iwagakure.
This war was the Water Country's trial, intended to showcase their strength to Hyuga Fuji. Yagura didn't want to rely on his help unless absolutely necessary.
This was also why he had previously declined Hyuga Fuji's offer to set up a space portal in the heart of Iwagakure.
"If he appears again, we will handle him."
Yagura gave an order to one of his subordinates, instructing them to have their summoning beasts keep watch.
If regular ninjutsu detection methods failed, they would use special ones.
The giant whale summoning beasts' ultrasonic detection had never failed. They could emit ultrasonic signals and detect their surroundings through the reflected waves. As long as the enemy entered a certain range, they would be discovered.
After arranging this, Yagura looked at Hyuga Fuji and asked, "What do you think of the current Kirigakure?"
"Very impressive," Hyuga Fuji praised without hesitation. "Far better than I expected."
Fully exploiting their maritime resources, the Land of Water was doing a better job than other countries.
The ocean's resources were far richer than those on land, especially in critical areas such as mineral resources and energy reserves.
As long as the Land of Water kept a low profile, continued focusing on technological advancement, and exploited marine resources, with their geographical advantage, they could dominate—if we disregard those with cheats.
Hearing this, Yagura nodded with satisfaction, "At first, I was ready for a one-against-five situation."
Initially, Yagura thought Hyuga Fuji would have the Land of Water perform a "cleanse the court, kill the daimyo" scenario and become the enemy of the entire ninja world. To his surprise, it was the Land of Fire that ended up doing that.
But it didn't matter now. They were two countries against the whole ninja world, and this war was just the opening act, a debut for the Land of Water after two years of preparation.
…
"Why did I run away?"
Bayakushi had instinctively retreated ten kilometers, frowning.
They haven't even fought yet, so what's there to fear?
Even Nagato, with his Rinnegan, didn't get the upper hand against him. Could Hyuga Fuji with his Tenseigan really defeat him?
Thinking this, Bayakushi stopped in his tracks, thought carefully, and then shook his head, deciding to inform Iwagakure about Kirigakure's actions.
Even if Hyuga Fuji wasn't a match for him, Bai Shi was only one person, while the other side had so many Kirigakure ninjas and their fleet. If they worked together, he wouldn't be able to handle it and would have to flee in embarrassment.
For now, it was best to follow orders and assist Iwagakure's defense.
Bayakushi quickly suppressed his thoughts and rushed to the newly constructed Iwagakure defensive line.
The rapid breach of the coastline had caught Iwagakure off guard. They had assumed their sturdy Earth Release defenses and complex terrain would at least slow down a maritime invasion, but they hadn't counted on traitors causing a swift collapse.
Now, they wouldn't think so. But given the distance between the new front line and the coastal border, about several dozen kilometers, they believed Kirigakure wouldn't attack so soon.
This was based on Iwagakure's experience from multiple ninja wars.
Wars between great nations were often prolonged, requiring time to establish command centers and supply lines before launching attacks.
Kirigakure had come from afar; launching a full-scale assault without first establishing a foothold would have been something only the Third Mizukage would do.
At least, that's what Iwagakure thought.
Until Bayakushi brought back the news…
"What did you say? The warships have landed? Kirigakure's warships can move on land?"
In the temporary command post, the Iwagakure commander responsible for building defenses and awaiting reinforcements looked at Bai Shi in disbelief, feeling his common sense shattered.
Command center? On the warships.
Supply lines? On the warships.
Ninja troops? Also on the warships! And Kirigakure's fleet could even create seas where there were none, moving across land.
What did this imply? The enemy didn't need to stop their main force to establish forward positions—they could directly penetrate Iwagakure's heart!
"This isn't good. If they're willing to bring their warships ashore, they're likely aiming for the Daimyo's residence via the canal!"
There were very few rivers in the Land of Earth that could accommodate a fleet of warships. A jonin familiar with the terrain of the Land of Earth quickly deduced Kirigakure's intentions.
The grand canal was built to boost economic circulation, linking the major cities of the Land of Earth from its inception. Naturally, the Daimyo's residence, the capital of the Land of Earth, was included.
Iwagakure was a military base, with high traffic being disadvantageous, so the canal didn't pass through it. Kirigakure's target was obvious.
Attacking the vital point—while the Daimyo's status wasn't as significant as before, he was still the Land of Earth's financial pillar and the second-highest official after the Third Tsuchikage. His death could cause internal chaos.
Not to mention, how could the capital be allowed to fall to the enemy? That would be a disgrace!
The jonin quickly realized this, momentarily ignoring the danger Bayakushi posed as a clone, and hurriedly assigned him a task before rushing to contact Onoki.
Urgently, he relayed the intelligence to Onoki. Before he could catch his breath, another Iwagakure ninja brought more bad news.
"Bad news, sir, Kirigakure is here!"
"What did you say?!"
The messenger ninja repeated in detail, "Sir, Kirigakure is filling land to create sea, heading straight for our defensive line!"
"…"
The jonin's expression went blank.
At that moment, a chilling thought struck him—if Kirigakure took a straight path, their defensive line would be right in front of them, and…
Suddenly, the Iwagakure jonin felt a shiver down his spine, cold sweat breaking out all over his body.
In the next instant, a beam of light struck Iwagakure's defensive works, shattering the barrier in the first strike. The sturdy Earth Flow Ramparts crumbled under the onslaught of Tailed Beast chakra, collapsing one after another.
"Boom!"
With a deafening explosion, Iwagakure's defenses were completely destroyed, dust rising, and debris flying. The Tailed Beast chakra not only obliterated the fortifications but also caused massive damage to the surrounding ground, creating a huge crater.
Under Yagura's orders, the fleet that had just crossed the canal and aimed to breach Iwagakure's lines was already in front of the Iwagakure ninjas.
"Continue charging for the next round of attacks!"
The Six-Tails Jinchuriki, after firing, quickly adjusted his breathing and injected chakra into the main cannon again. The other ninjas on the warship also busily prepared for the next attack, working in tense coordination.
"Tailed Beast chakra fully charged. Countdown: three, two, one! Fire!"
With the second countdown over, another blue chakra beam shot through the sky, hitting another defensive position in Iwagakure. Explosions resounded in succession, and under the relentless attack of Tailed Beast chakra, Iwagakure's defenses crumbled completely.
Aside from the strongest cannon powered by the Six-Tails, other warships also launched attacks, with various chakra beams filling the Iwagakure battlefield.
By the time Onoki received the report, Iwagakure's new defensive line had been breached even before reinforcements could arrive!
(End of Chapter)