CHAPTER 163
"Boom!"
"Whoosh!"
As the gigantic stone sphere exploded apart, a figure shot rapidly into the sky.
It was Ōnoki.
His body was drenched in blood, his Chakra nearly exhausted, and his aura had weakened considerably.
Yet his desire to survive pushed him to unleash the last of his remaining strength.
Behind him, a streak of white lightning tore through the smoke and debris in relentless pursuit.
It was Konoha's White Fang.
Although the white lightning surrounding his body had dimmed slightly compared to before, the killing intent in his eyes had become even more terrifying.
At this moment, Ōnoki's speed was astonishing.
He had clearly used Earth Release: Super Light Weight Rock Technique once again to reduce his own weight.
Ignoring every injury covering his body, he desperately poured Chakra into the technique and fled toward the Iwagakure forces below.
In the blink of an eye, he had reached the airspace above the Iwagakure army.
"Earth Release: Super Added Weight Rock Technique!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Ōnoki immediately reversed the previous technique.
His already depleted Chakra surged once more.
His body instantly became incomparably heavy.
Like a giant boulder weighing thousands of kilograms.
He crashed directly into the densest section of the Iwagakure formation below.
"Tsuchikage-sama!"
The surrounding Iwagakure Shinobi immediately lit up with hope.
They instantly understood the Third Tsuchikage's intentions.
Several quick reacting Jonin and Chunin simultaneously formed hand seals.
Together they unleashed defensive Earth Release techniques.
"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"
"Earth Release: Earth Style Barrier!"
Layer after layer of thick stone walls rapidly rose from the earth.
They stacked one behind another, forming multiple defensive lines behind Ōnoki.
Just as the walls finished rising...
"Sizzle!"
Konoha's White Fang arrived exactly as expected.
Violent Lightning Release Chakra instantly pierced through the first several layers of stone walls.
Broken rocks exploded everywhere.
Smoke and dust engulfed the battlefield.
Even so...
The continuous walls finally managed to slow White Fang's charge for the first time.
His figure paused briefly.
Lightly stepping upon the final earth wall that had yet to collapse completely...
He floated backward several meters before landing steadily atop another broken wall.
The lightning surrounding his body gradually receded.
His figure became visible once again.
He looked coldly toward Ōnoki, who was now being supported by several Iwagakure Shinobi while struggling to breathe.
Ōnoki was covered in wounds.
Blood stained both his chest and mouth.
His left arm hung limply at his side.
His injuries were obviously severe.
Several elite Iwagakure Jonin immediately surrounded him.
Ōnoki likewise looked upward.
His expression complicated as he met the gaze of Konoha's White Fang standing atop the ruined wall.
The two silently stared at one another across the battlefield.
Around Ōnoki, more and more elite Iwagakure Shinobi gathered.
They formed an increasingly dense human shield.
Yet...
The atmosphere had completely frozen.
Everyone could clearly feel the terrifying killing intent radiating from White Fang.
It was the killing intent of a man who no longer intended to retreat.
Only one side would leave alive.
Ōnoki himself was equally tense.
He knew White Fang's character well.
Sakumo Hatake would never deliberately slaughter ordinary Shinobi.
But...
That restraint only applied to those who stayed out of his duel.
If anyone dared interfere in their life and death battle...
White Fang would kill them without the slightest hesitation.
"These people..."
"They're all likely to die."
Ōnoki's expression became increasingly complicated.
Especially after seeing White Fang's eyes...
His heart sank completely.
Because within those calm eyes...
He saw only one thing.
Resolve.
The resolve to die.
At this very moment...
Konoha's White Fang had already prepared himself to perish together with his enemy.
If sacrificing his own broken body...
If sacrificing his own life...
Could eliminate the Third Tsuchikage...
Then everything would be worthwhile.
The surrounding air itself seemed frozen.
Invisible killing intent silently collided.
The Iwagakure Shinobi unconsciously swallowed hard as they tightly gripped the Kunai in their hands.
Far away on Konoha's side...
Akimichi Torifu...
Orochimaru...
And the remaining Konoha Shinobi all held their breath.
Everyone waited for the decisive clash that would determine the outcome of the entire battle.
However...
Just as the atmosphere reached its breaking point...
"Ōnoki-sama!"
"Emergency military intelligence!!!"
A frantic shout suddenly shattered the suffocating silence.
An Iwagakure intelligence Shinobi responsible for rear communications desperately pushed through the crowd.
His face was filled with panic.
His entire body trembled.
"Kumogakure!"
"Kumogakure has launched an attack on us!!!"
"What?!"
Ōnoki's entire body shook violently.
His expression changed immediately.
The intelligence Shinobi spoke so quickly that his words nearly became incoherent.
Yet the essential information remained unmistakably clear.
"The Third Raikage personally leads two thousand elite Shinobi!"
"They've already broken through our first defensive line and are rapidly advancing into the Land of Earth!"
"Their advance is incredibly fast!"
"Our border outposts have already suffered devastating losses!"
Like a bolt from the blue...
Ōnoki's face instantly became even uglier than before.
Even during White Fang's relentless assault...
He hadn't looked this grim.
He had originally believed that after Iwagakure launched its offensive against Konoha...
Kumogakure would either sit back and watch both sides exhaust one another...
Or quietly cooperate by placing simultaneous pressure upon Konoha from another direction.
Never...
Had he expected Kumogakure to attack Iwagakure itself.
In fact...
Ōnoki hadn't been careless.
To guard against exactly this possibility...
He had deliberately left behind four thousand Shinobi to defend the village.
Specifically to deter Kumogakure.
Yet...
They still came.
Their attack was swift.
Decisive.
Ignoring the defensive troops altogether...
They charged directly toward Iwagakure's heartland.
"Was this Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan?"
"Or..."
"The Third Raikage's own decision?"
Ōnoki couldn't answer.
But one thing became perfectly clear.
This battle against Konoha...
Could no longer continue.
His six thousand frontline Shinobi had already suffered considerable casualties.
Even if they somehow defeated Konoha...
It would only be a costly victory.
Meanwhile...
The Third Raikage would lead his fresh elite forces directly into the Land of Earth.
The consequences...
Would be catastrophic.
Iwagakure would face enemies from both the front and rear.
They simply couldn't defend both battlefields simultaneously.
"What an opportunistic Kumogakure..."
Ōnoki ground his teeth so hard they almost cracked.
However...
Hidden deep within his lowered eyes...
A trace of relief quietly appeared.
Yes.
Relief.
Moments earlier...
He had clearly seen White Fang's determination.
It was the resolve of someone prepared to die...
As long as he could drag his enemy down with him.
Faced with such an opponent...
Even the stubborn Third Tsuchikage had become genuinely afraid.
Deep down...
He no longer wished to continue fighting White Fang.
"Fortunately..."
"This intelligence report gives me the perfect reason to withdraw."
That thought instantly surfaced within his heart.
Almost simultaneously...
A loud voice rang out nearby.
It belonged to Kitsuchi.
After forcing Akimichi Torifu back, he immediately shouted toward his father.
His voice was filled with urgency.
"Father!"
"Kumogakure has invaded!"
"Our rear is in danger!"
"We must immediately return and defend!"
"Retreat!!!"
Ōnoki secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Inside...
He couldn't help praising his son.
"Excellent."
"This excuse couldn't have come at a better time."
His face immediately displayed an expression mixing anger...
Reluctance...
And helplessness.
He first glared fiercely toward White Fang standing atop the distant wall.
Then he took a deep breath before shouting loudly toward the Konoha forces.
"People of Konoha!"
"If Kumogakure hadn't shamelessly launched this surprise attack upon Iwagakure today..."
"This old man would certainly have settled everything with you here!"
He deliberately paused.
As though making an extremely painful decision.
"But since circumstances have changed..."
"Today's battle ends here!"
"We shall settle everything another day!"
Those final words...
Were spoken directly to Konoha's White Fang.
The instant he finished speaking...
Without waiting for any response...
Ōnoki immediately issued another command.
"All Iwagakure forces!"
"Retreat immediately!"
"Understood!"
Kitsuchi instantly raised his voice.
"The Tsuchikage has given the order!"
"All units retreat!"
"Maintain alternating cover while withdrawing toward Route B3!"
Although the Iwagakure Shinobi were surprised by the sudden order...
Military commands were absolute.
Furthermore...
The news that Kumogakure had invaded their homeland had already shaken everyone's morale.
The entire army immediately began withdrawing in an organized formation.
Because White Fang and Ōnoki's duel had created a temporary gap in the center of the battlefield...
The retreat proceeded surprisingly smoothly.
Konoha likewise made no move to pursue.
For a brief moment...
Both sides seemed to reach an unspoken understanding.
Then...
Just as the Iwagakure army prepared to leave...
A calm voice suddenly echoed above Ōnoki's head.
"Thinking of leaving?"
A brief pause followed.
Then White Fang spoke once more.
"Did I agree?"
Ōnoki's heart skipped violently.