NARUTO: SECOND GOD OF SHINOBI

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In Sunagakure's main forces camp, after the assassination attempt was done, Hiruzen's clone—now the Third Kazekage—once again led Suna's forces toward Iwa's defenses.

Meanwhile, the Iwa forces successfully regrouped and rested throughout the day under Yamamoto's suggestion.

Meanwhile, the Suna front at the Iwa camp was in retreat, as the decisive loss suffered from the sneak attack led to more than 600 ninja casualties.

This was once again a heavy blow to Suna's morale, forcing them to regroup 10 km behind their previous line.

However, Yamamoto—the Hiruzen clone—left a Flying Thunder God mark in Suna's camp to track their position.

As evening arrived, the Iwa forces were in good spirits. The decisive blow they had dealt to Suna filled them with confidence, and their trust in Yamamoto surged.

Even the Jonin ranks were captivated by his strategies, which were uncommon in this war era.

Some of them even pondered how similar his tactics were to those of Konoha during the early stages of the Third Shinobi War, causing dissatisfaction among some older ninjas. However, Yamamoto couldn't care less.

He was planning to strike one more decisive blow to Suna before their main forces, led by the Kazekage and Chiyo, arrived.

Over the past two days, he had consolidated almost all of the Tsuchikage's faction under his banner and gradually promoted his own people into key positions, taking over command and execution.

At the same time, he was also subtly manipulating the Chunin and Genin ranks to rally them to his cause.

This was a decisive move similar to Hiruzen's, who had promoted a large number of civilian-affiliated ninjas to Jonin to gain their support.

Under the moonlight, Iwa's forces were prepared to deal another crippling blow to Suna and completely disrupt their plans, forcing them into surrender.

Inside a war tent, Jonin leaders gathered, seated in a semi-circle around Yamamoto. He spoke in a firm tone,

"In this attack, we must deal a fatal blow to Suna and capture Ebizo at all costs.

If we achieve this, we will have the upper hand against the Kazekage and Chiyo.

However, if Ebizo joins them, our situation will become significantly more difficult."

Yamamoto had been meticulously planning this operation for a full day, anticipating the arrival of Suna's reinforcements.

Along with this, he had also requested additional support from Iwa to reinforce the Suna front.

The Iwa council, upon reviewing his proposals and observing the advance of Suna's main forces, immediately approved his request.

If Suna's three S-rank ninjas joined forces, Iwa would have no choice but to surrender.

Soon, the Iwa forces stationed at the Takigakure front began moving toward the Suna front, aiming to arrive by dawn for battle.

Additionally, Iwa had dispatched 70 Jonin and 400 Chunin, totaling a reinforcement force of 2,000 ninja.

As reinforcements were sent, the mood in Iwa's camp was filled with both excitement and unease.

Some were jubilant, seeing an opportunity for a decisive victory, while others carried a deep sense of dread.

They knew that if they failed in the upcoming battle, Iwa would become a lamb to slaughter.

Meanwhile, Suna's forces advanced cautiously under the cover of night. Yamamoto deployed his clones to disrupt Suna's sensor ninjas, making them vulnerable to sneak attacks.

Despite these precautions, a heavy atmosphere of fatigue loomed over the Suna forces.

They had been fighting relentlessly for the past two days, first suffering a defeat, then enduring a pre-dawn sneak attack, and now being forced to maintain battle readiness with little to no rest.

Inside a dimly lit command tent, Ebizo sat at the head of a table, surrounded by Suna's Jonin leaders. His face was shadowed with concern as he addressed them.

"We must remain fully prepared for another Iwa attack," he said grimly.

"The news has already reached the main camp. The Third Kazekage and Lady Chiyo will arrive tomorrow. Until then, we must stay vigilant."

The Jonin nodded solemnly, but one of them hesitated before speaking.

"Ebizo-sama, what about the troops' mental and physical fatigue? Our forces are exhausted. They haven't rested properly in two days, and they've been in a constant state of battle readiness.

If we continue like this until tomorrow, they won't have the strength to fight should an attack come before our main forces arrive."

Ebizo sighed and shook his head. "I am aware of that, but we have no choice. If we lower our guard, we may not even have soldiers left to fight by the time reinforcements arrive. It's better to endure now than to risk complete annihilation."

The room fell into silence. The other Jonin exchanged weary glances, understanding the necessity of Ebizo's orders but dreading the toll it would take on their men.

Eventually, they all nodded and dispersed to their respective units.

Meanwhile, the Iwa forces moved swiftly toward the Suna camp once more.

While eliminating the sensor ninja and spreading out, the Yamamoto-led jonin leaders executed his strategy one after another and were ready to launch another attack on Suna.

At this time, Yamamoto sensed activity in the Suna camp and thought, As expected, they are vigilant. It seems the battle ahead will be tough.

He momentarily made changes to his plans and informed the Iwa ninja via his clone jutsu. After ten minutes of preparation, Iwa launched the attack.

Yamamoto led the front ten squads with him to assault the Suna front camp.

Through coordinated efforts, fifty ninja dispersed underground and arrived beneath the enemy's front lines.

Without delay, they launched Earth Style: Earth Fissure and Moving Core Jutsu.

The sudden attack was sensed by every Suna ninja, but the frontline forces couldn't react swiftly due to their mental fatigue.

Seizing the moment, Yamamoto swiftly launched Lava Style: Lava River Jutsu in tandem with the earth fissure assault.

The large-scale attack devastated the front camp, splitting the ground until it reached the camp's rear.

Suna forces, though caught off guard, quickly darted to defend.

"Enemy! Enemy attack!" one of the jonin shouted urgently while erecting an Earth Style Wall to disrupt the lava flow from entering the camp.

However, the fissures created by Iwa's ninja crumbled the erected walls.

Even though Suna forces responded swiftly, their counterattacks were disrupted by rapid assaults and large-scale earth techniques, throwing them off balance.

Ebizo and several jonin rushed to the battlefield. Witnessing the devastation, they swiftly moved to counter the flowing lava river, but the damage and casualties were already extensive.

Yamamoto pressed forward, absorbing the chakra of fallen ninja.

His reserves, already on par with a peak Kage-level shinobi from the previous day's battle—where he had absorbed the chakra of various jonin and elite chunin he had slain—grew even stronger.

Seizing the momentum, he decisively launched another large-scale attack.

"Lava Style: Volcanic Earth Eruption!"

A massive surge of chakra flowed through the ground. The entire camp was engulfed by the technique as Yamamoto poured over sixty percent of his chakra into the attack.

Just as the remaining Suna forces prepared to counter, a sudden tremor rocked the battlefield.

BOOM!

Lava erupted violently, spewing across the camp like an explosion.

Chunin and genin were instantly consumed by the overwhelming heat, their bodies incinerated in an instant.

Ebizo and the remaining jonin quickly formed Earth Style Barriers, shielding themselves and the few surviving ninja.

However, another round of attacks erupted throughout the camp.

The dispersed Iwa forces, stationed strategically around the battlefield, saw the lava surge. Recognizing the signal, the jonin leading their squads roared,

"Attack!"

Almost all of them immediately completed their hand seals, surging their chakra.

A Suna sensor ninja's face turned pale as he screamed in horror, "No… no, no! A vast number of enemies are surrounding the camp! Their chakra levels are rising!"

Panic spread through the ranks of the remaining Suna forces.

Ebizo's commanding voice cut through the chaos. "Suna ninja, defend at all costs! Retreat to the rear!"

But before the retreat could begin, the Iwa forces completed their jutsu.

"Earth Style: Earth Fissure!"

"Earth Style: Great Moving Core!"

"Earth Style: Antelope Large-Scale Ground Destruction!"

A massive tremor shook the battlefield as the techniques were unleashed.

The ground beneath the Suna forces crumbled, their defenses collapsing instantly.

The lava river surged once again, swallowing the panicked Suna ninja.

Cries of anguish and despair echoed through the battlefield as one by one, they were consumed by the relentless molten wave.

Terror-stricken voices rang out.

"No, no, no! I don't want to die!"

But their cries were meaningless against the unstoppable destruction.

Ebizo, witnessing the devastation, clenched his fists in agony. His voice roared across the battlefield.

"Iwa forces! We surrender! We will not attack Iwa again! We will retreat from here!"

Yet, Yamamoto pressed forward. His chakra reserves were replenishing rapidly as he absorbed the chakra of the dying ninja.

With unwavering determination, he pressed his hand against the ground once more.

The lava river surged again, engulfing the remaining Suna forces.

The camp was reduced to a fiery wasteland, with only the strongest jonin surviving through sheer will and chakra protection.

Their eyes, devoid of hope, reflected the unbearable carnage around them.

Ebizo, his mind shaken by the overwhelming loss, knew this battle was beyond recovery.

Yamamoto, standing amidst the devastation, coldly commanded, "Iwa ninja, capture the remaining Suna forces swiftly and secure the remaining supplies."

And with that, the battle came to a devastating end—Suna's frontline forces were utterly annihilated, and the once-proud camp lay in ruins beneath the scorching rivers of lava.

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