Chapter 146: Attack on Iwa Ninja, War Breaks Out!

Iwa Ninja Village, one of the five great nations in the Naruto world, is a powerhouse in terms of high-level combat strength. Under the leadership of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, it stands as one of the top five ninja villages.

Onoki, renowned for his mastery of Dust Release, a rare Kekkei Tōta combining wind, earth, and fire chakra natures, is unmatched in power. Compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage of Konoha, who has mastered five-element chakra ninjutsu, Onoki holds a clear advantage. While Hiruzen's skills are vast, they remain quantitative—unable to achieve the qualitative leap that Onoki's Dust Release offers.

Under Onoki's leadership, Iwa Ninja Village has become a stronghold of power. Two Jinchuriki, Roshi (Four-Tails) and Han (Five-Tails), remain stable and capable of controlling portions of their tailed beasts' power, adding to Iwa's formidable strength. Onoki's disciples are also elite ninjas, ensuring that Iwa's strength has remained robust since the Second Ninja World War.

Meanwhile, Uzumaki Raiden led his team across the vast deserts of the Land of Wind, through the Land of Birds, and toward the Land of Earth. Upon reaching the border, Raiden ordered the team to rest and await their opportunity to enter.

In August of that year, after weeks of tense preparation, the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning launched large-scale offensives almost simultaneously. The fragile peace between the great nations shattered, and the surrounding smaller nations quickly became battlefields. Until then, Konoha, Iwa, and Cloud forces had exercised restraint, but now full-scale war erupted.

On the night the war began, Konoha and Sand Ninja launched their own prepared attacks. Their combined forces entered the Land of Birds, moving steadily toward the Land of Earth. Hatake Sakumo, having received urgent intelligence, woke Uzumaki Raiden from his rest and handed him the latest report.

"Konoha and Sand Ninja forces have begun their assault. What's our next move? Do we join the main forces, or do we act separately?" Hatake Sakumo whispered.

Raiden opened his eyes and sprang to his feet, brushing off the sand clinging to his clothes.

"Finally, it's time to act," Raiden said, stretching. "No, we won't join the main forces. They're responsible for attacking the Land of Earth directly. Our mission is different. We'll target supply routes and intercept Iwa's information couriers."

"Tonight, we move!"

"Are you planning to infiltrate Iwa Ninja Village directly this time?" Sakumo asked, a confident glint in his eyes. "If we combine our efforts and eliminate Tsuchikage Onoki, Iwa forces will collapse quickly. That would end the war and save the village from greater losses."

"Infiltrate Iwa Ninja Village?" Raiden shot Sakumo a sharp look. "Do I look like I've lost my mind?"

He sighed and explained, "Iwa Ninja Village isn't Sand Ninja Village. Sand's leadership is weak, and after the death of the Third Kazekage, their defenses are riddled with holes. But Iwa is a different story. Onoki's Dust Release is on another level. Even if we managed to kill him, we wouldn't make it out alive."

"I value my life too much to risk it unnecessarily."

Sakumo, unfamiliar with the full extent of Onoki's power, didn't fully grasp Raiden's hesitation but nodded in understanding. Sakumo was a pure ninja, committed to following orders, and Raiden's leadership as captain was clear.

That night, Raiden woke Fugaku and the others, and the team moved under cover of darkness into the Land of Earth. The terrain shifted dramatically—rocky peaks and sparse vegetation made stealth difficult. The Konoha and Sand Ninja forces advancing under the same night sky soon encountered resistance from Iwa border troops. Though the border defenses were light, they still managed to detect the invasion.

Konoha and Sand Ninja forces quickly neutralized part of the border troops and broke through the defensive line, allowing Raiden's team to slip deeper into the Land of Earth undetected.

In the early hours of the morning, Tsuchikage Onoki was rudely awakened by urgent reports of the invasion. Groggy but alarmed, he absorbed the news.

"What? Sand Ninja and Konoha? They've teamed up to attack us from the Land of Birds?"

"Impossible! They're supposed to be mortal enemies! Why would they work together to invade us?"

The Land of Birds, bordered by the Land of Earth to the north and the Land of Sand to the south, had long been a strategic buffer. Onoki had stationed only a token force on its southern border, believing the Sand Ninja would remain preoccupied with Konoha.

Now, the report before him shattered that assumption.

"Those damn Konoha and Sand Ninja! Their 'death match' was a complete sham!" Onoki seethed, crumpling the report in his hand.

"Summon every ninja above the rank of Chunin still in the village! Suspend all missions except transport!"

Onoki dressed quickly and flew toward his office. Konoha and Sand Ninja's surprise attack had disrupted his plans. His priority now was to expel the invaders before they could inflict significant damage on Iwa's heartland.

The timeline shifted back to the previous night.

In a small village in the Land of Earth, tranquility was shattered by the screams of its inhabitants. Masked Sand Ninja stormed the settlement, massacring hundreds of villagers in a matter of hours. Once the slaughter ended, the Sand Ninja erected barriers around the village, transforming it into a frontline stronghold.

Similar atrocities unfolded across multiple villages, with Sand Ninja and Konoha forces seizing control of settlements and fortifying them. Konoha's approach, however, was more restrained—they spared civilians, targeting only enemy ninjas before securing their strongholds.

By sunrise, the first phase of the Konoha and Sand Ninja invasion was complete. Fortified positions connected by strategic depth were established throughout the Land of Earth, signaling their intention for a prolonged campaign.

A few days later, Iwa reinforcements clashed with the invading forces. Expecting an ambush, Iwa found themselves embroiled in entrenched battles instead. The unanticipated fortifications forced the Iwa forces into retreat, marking their first failed attempt to expel the invaders.

That same day, Onoki received the grim news: Konoha and Sand Ninja had begun fortifying their positions deep within the Land of Earth.

(End of Chapter)