CHAPTER 155
The battlefield had completely split into countless independent meat grinders.
Konoha's force of three thousand five hundred Shinobi was facing six thousand Iwagakure Ninja. The difference in strength was nearly two to one.
Akimichi Torifu's strategy was straightforward.
Rather than attempting to defend the entire front, he concentrated Konoha's limited forces into a spearhead formation, driving it deep into the heart of the Iwagakure army like a massive nail. His objective was to disrupt the enemy's formation and create localized numerical superiority.
This tactic proved highly effective during the early stages of the battle.
Akimichi Torifu himself became the spearhead.
"Multi Size Technique!"
His gigantic body tore open a massive gap in the Iwagakure battle line.
Orochimaru followed closely behind, his figure moving like a ghost. Hidden Shadow Snake Hands shot out from every direction, binding, strangling, and tearing through the enemy. Any Iwagakure Ninja caught by the venomous snakes was either killed outright or left critically wounded.
For a short period, Iwagakure's numerical superiority failed to come into play.
Instead, Konoha actually gained the upper hand.
However, the difference in numbers was simply too overwhelming.
This method of fighting could dominate during the opening stages, but once the battlefield descended into complete chaos and the spearhead formation lost its cohesion, the initiative would inevitably shift.
That was exactly what was happening now.
Each time Konoha pierced through one section of the Iwagakure line, two or three more formations immediately closed in from both flanks.
The Iwagakure commanders were clearly seasoned veterans.
They never rushed to confront Konoha's spearhead head on.
Instead, they relied on their overwhelming numbers to continuously squeeze inward from both wings and the rear, compressing Konoha's maneuvering space.
The battlefield slowly transformed into an encirclement.
Konoha's spearhead formation was gradually split apart.
Eventually, it broke into numerous isolated battle groups.
Within every one of those groups, Konoha found itself heavily outnumbered.
This was not a failure of Akimichi Torifu's command.
It was simply the inevitable consequence of facing an enemy with such overwhelming numbers.
No one was foolish.
The fact that Konoha had managed to seize even a slight advantage at the beginning was already an impressive achievement.
Now...
They simply had to face reality.
...
On Konoha's right flank, Inuzuka Tsume's squad was responsible for protecting the side of the main force.
Inuzuka Tsume and Kuromaru charged at the very front.
Might Guy, Ebisu, Shiranui Genma, and the remaining members of Tsume's squad followed closely behind.
Although Inuzuka Tsume only held the rank of Special Jonin, she was completely different from Sarutobi Sosuke.
Her combat ability genuinely rivaled that of an ordinary Jonin.
Much of that strength came from her lifelong partner.
Kuromaru.
By herself, Tsume's individual combat strength was roughly at the level of an elite Chunin.
However, she and Kuromaru fought as though they shared a single body and mind.
Once they fought together, their combined strength was no weaker than that of a standard Jonin.
Their beastlike instincts and extraordinary senses allowed them to perform even more effectively amid the chaos of the battlefield.
"Fang Passing Fang!"
Tsume shouted as both she and Kuromaru began spinning at incredible speed.
They transformed into two intertwined black tornadoes that drilled violently into the midst of three Iwagakure Genin attempting to intercept them.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Three muffled impacts echoed across the battlefield.
The three Iwagakure Genin were blasted backward as the unmistakable sound of ribs shattering rang out.
They had already lost consciousness before their bodies even landed.
"Rear right! Two Chunin! One has an explosive tag!"
Tsume immediately issued another warning, her voice remaining calm and composed.
Without the slightest hesitation, Kuromaru kicked off the ground.
His enormous body leaped through the air with astonishing agility.
Twisting in midair, his razor sharp claws tore through the wind as they slammed directly into the Iwagakure Chunin preparing to throw an explosive tag.
Caught completely off guard, the enemy was sent flying sideways.
The explosive tag slipped from his hand.
"Boom!"
It detonated before reaching its target.
Instead, the explosion severely injured the companion who had been charging beside him.
"Nice!"
Watching nearby, Ebisu couldn't help shouting in excitement.
He and Shiranui Genma stood back to back, each wielding a replica of Hiramekarei.
The two coordinated flawlessly.
One attacked while the other defended.
Their blades flashed repeatedly as they forced back every Iwagakure Ninja attempting to approach.
Might Guy occupied a position slightly ahead of them.
His nunchaku spun into an impenetrable defensive barrier.
Combined with the Rotation Move, he focused almost entirely on defense.
Every incoming Kunai and every stray Ninjutsu was knocked aside.
At the same time, he carefully observed the battlefield around him.
Even so...
The pressure continued increasing without pause.
There were simply too many enemies flooding in from every direction.
Their squad resembled a lone reef battered by endless waves.
Again and again, Iwagakure Ninja charged forward without fear of death.
Earth Release techniques continuously reshaped the terrain into obstacles while Kunai and Ninja swords rained toward them.
Their goal was simple.
Completely overwhelm the squad defending Konoha's flank.
Although Inuzuka Tsume and Kuromaru fought with exceptional bravery...
Even they gradually began showing signs of exhaustion under the endless tide of enemies.
Might Guy's trio maintained perfect teamwork.
Yet both their Chakra and physical stamina were rapidly being consumed.
Nearby Konoha Shinobi were also locked in desperate battles of their own.
Screams, battle cries, and exploding Ninjutsu filled the battlefield without end.
The entire right flank groaned beneath overwhelming pressure.
It looked as though the black tide of Iwagakure could swallow it at any moment.
"This won't work..."
"It'll become dangerous."
Guy's heart tightened.
Although he had deliberately conserved both Chakra and stamina throughout the battle...
The enemy numbers were simply overwhelming.
Konoha Ninja around him continued falling one after another.
Painful screams echoed endlessly.
Their battle line was steadily being compressed.
At any moment...
Danger might descend upon Ebisu and Genma.
As for Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, and Shikuro Nara, Guy wasn't particularly worried.
Their squad operated not far away.
Their position lay closer to the center of Konoha's formation.
Kurenai provided rear support through Genjutsu.
Shikuro used his explosive insects to control wide sections of the battlefield.
Asuma mainly fought along the outer edge while supporting nearby allies.
For the moment...
They weren't bearing the brunt of Iwagakure's assault.
But Ebisu and Genma were different.
As members defending the flank...
The pressure they faced head on was simply too great.
Guy opened the System panel within his mind.
[Host: Might Guy (Ten Years Old)]
[Monk Value: 550]
[Supreme Technique List]
[Muscle Tendon Change Classic (High Grade): 999 (Mastery)]
[Precept Breaking Blade (Medium Grade): 1000 (Perfection)]
[Mercy Blade (Medium Grade): 1000 (Perfection)]
[Golden Bell Shield (Low Grade): 1000 (Perfection)]
[Great Vajra Leg (Low Grade): 1000 (Perfection)]
[Vajra Finger (Low Grade): 1000 (Perfection)]
[Great Strength Vajra Palm (Low Grade): 505 (Proficient)]
[Shaolin Nunchaku (Low Grade): 950 (Mastery)]
...
The five hundred and fifty Monk Value points were everything Guy had painstakingly accumulated.
Helping the war orphans complete their tasks had earned him one hundred and fifty points.
Witnessing the "Birth of a Rival" rewarded another one hundred.
Witnessing the "Death of a Jinchuriki" granted two hundred more.
That totaled four hundred and fifty points.
During the mission involving the war orphans, he had also received a random Elementary Gift Pack.
After opening it, he obtained a bottle of Golden Sore Ointment along with an additional one hundred Monk Value.
That brought the total to five hundred and fifty.
His Muscle Tendon Change Classic had remained stuck at nine hundred and ninety nine proficiency for a very long time.
No natural breakthrough had appeared.
Guy had deliberately saved every single point of Monk Value.
His goal had always been to accumulate one thousand points and force the breakthrough through the System.
He was already more than halfway there.
But now...
The battlefield was changing every second.
Fatal danger could descend at any moment.
"I can't wait any longer."
"I'll improve whatever I can first."
Guy immediately made his decision.
High Grade Supreme Techniques required one thousand Monk Value to force a breakthrough through the System.
Low Grade Supreme Techniques, however, only required one hundred Monk Value.
Among all the Supreme Techniques he currently possessed, Great Strength Vajra Palm and Shaolin Nunchaku had yet to reach Perfection.
Especially Shaolin Nunchaku.
It was now his primary weapon.
If it advanced to the Perfection Realm...
His overall combat strength would undoubtedly increase dramatically.
Although doing so would consume a portion of the Monk Value he had painstakingly saved...
Compared with the life and death crisis unfolding before him...
Strength that could be used immediately was far more valuable.