The correct way for the Uchiha to rise

However, at that time, Iwagakure had lost two Jinchūriki, greatly weakening its fighting strength. It did not have enough confidence to defeat the Six Paths Puppet. Just then, Uchiha Kiyoshi opened up the Health Preservation Technique, and Iwagakure focused on developing the Health Preservation Technique, which is why this grudge was temporarily put aside.

Unlike the other four ninja villages, Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) has no distinctive features, if you really want to say something.

Yes, it lacks any distinctive features.

Dust Escape?

Okay, you could say that. But that's a characteristic of top-tier entities, not a characteristic of villages.

The most obvious example of Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village) has Lightning Release; Sunagakure (Hidden Sand Village) has puppeteers; and Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village)? Does that count? They have the strongest individual combat power!

Konoha is truly comprehensive; they possess almost all five elemental techniques and have the most complete system of forbidden techniques. They can discover almost any talented person.

In comparison, Iwagakure is much worse.

Despite having various bloodlines, Iwagakure lacks the unique characteristics of Kumogakure and Sunagakure, the ruthlessness of Kirigakure, and the complete heritage of Konoha in terms of grassroots training.

It's fair to say that it's not outstanding in any aspect.

Their only advantage is their strategy.

Yes, among the five great ninja villages, Iwagakure has the most ninjas.

While its overall strength may not be the strongest, it is definitely number one in terms of the number of ninjas.

During the Third Shinobi World War, a force of 10,000 ninjas directly besieged the Third Raikage. No other ninja village could pull off such a feat!

Besides Konoha, Iwagakure faced the most enemies during the entire war, including being besieged by three major ninja villages!

Although Kumogakure also had conflicts with the three great ninja villages, Sunagakure's conflict was entirely a one-off battle, with no prolonged fighting after the surprise attack.

Iwagakure fought a full-scale battle with Kumogakure, killing the Raikage. The ferocity of the battle is unimaginable. Sunagakure, due to its surrender agreement with Konoha, also managed to hold off a full 10,000 Iwagakure troops.

Despite this, Iwagakure remained fierce on the battlefield against Konoha.

Does Iwagakure have as many top-tier fighters as Konoha?

No.

They only managed to survive by relying entirely on the mass troop build.

At that time, the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Stone Village had finished their battles and withdrawn before truly engaging Konoha in a life-or-death struggle. Konoha's later ninja forces were almost wiped out, making the situation extremely dire.

Looking at Iwagakure, there's absolutely no problem with that.

Even after the Kannabi Bridge was destroyed, Iwagakure still managed to gather tens of thousands of people for a final, decisive battle.

That's the ultimate take on the mass troop strategy.

At the same time, it also reveals that Iwagakure has no distinctive features in ninja training.

With so many ninjas, there are very few top-tier fighters, and they are far inferior to those of Konoha.

In fact, in the later stages, Onoki was the only one holding the fort, with no one to succeed him.

Therefore, the opening of health cultivation techniques is something that Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) takes very seriously.

On the one hand, we hope to take this opportunity to develop the village's unique capabilities.

On the other hand, they were also worried that they lacked unique abilities and would be unable to develop their own distinctive health preservation techniques.

A very conflicted feeling.

Ultimately, Iwagakure did not achieve any particularly good results.

The effect was improved simply by incorporating earth-escape techniques into health cultivation methods.

Compared to the Lightning Release technique used in Kumogakure, the Earth Release technique used in Iwagakure is less efficient, but it has a lower barrier to entry.

It can be said that, unwittingly, this once again aligned with the strategy of Iwagakure.

Mass troop buildup.

In fact, the most widespread application of health preservation techniques was not in Konoha, but in Iwagakure.

After more than a year of recuperation, the strength of Iwagakure has greatly increased.

In the short term, the benefits of health preservation techniques are most evident in Iwagakure.

Breaking through to the top level of combat power is never that easy.

The health cultivation technique is the most obvious and fastest way to improve the combat power of the lower-level fighters!

Can you believe that the average level of Chunin in Iwagakure is now close to that of elite Chunin?

That is why Iwagakure is now confident enough to be the first to react to Akatsuki's actions.

Tens of thousands of Iwa ninja troops are deployed on the border of the Land of Earth, ready to launch an attack on the Land of Rain at any time!

Besides Iwagakure, the other villages also reacted in their own ways.

The Land of Lightning, where Kumogakure is located, does not directly border the Land of Rain, but there is animosity between the two countries. The battle in which the Two-Tails was captured was a real war that broke out in the village.

Moreover, Kumogakure is the village with the strongest sense of aggression. Now that Akatsuki is showing signs of starting a war, Kumogakure is eager to try.

The lower-level combat strength has been barely replenished, but the top-level combat strength has been greatly improved.

The Fourth Raikage has directly achieved a breakthrough!

He is also the only top-tier expert in the ninja world who has publicly stated that he broke through due to the cultivation technique.

On the other hand, Kirigakure has truly integrated its ninjas, making them ready to deal with any impending war.

Sunagakure also only consolidated its ninjas within the village and did not deploy too many troops on the border.

As for Konoha...

In the Hokage's office, Minato Namikaze solemnly handed the scroll to Hikaru, saying earnestly.

"Hui, this mission is of great importance, so I'm entrusting it to you."

Chapter 443 Glory's Mission

With the Akatsuki launching its operation and the five great ninja villages on high alert, the situation in the ninja world became tense, and the progress of cultivation inevitably slowed down. However, this so-called slowdown only refers to the stagnation of the development of cultivation techniques in each village, not a complete halt to the cultivation of immortality throughout the ninja world.

The village's development achievements still exist, and ninjas can still earn rewards through their contributions.

Some ninjas were even eager to participate in this war. After all, war was the best stage to gain merit. Of course, these were just thoughts; deep down, they knew the cruelty of war.

The land of rain.

"Tobi, Kumo, Kakuzu, the three of you will be in charge of this mission. As for the Eight-Tails, try your best to capture it."

This is Akatsuki's last attempt. If they still fail to capture him, they will have to wait until after the war begins.

This was also the result of Nagato's careful consideration.

Although Obito didn't tell him that the Ten-Tails summoned using only parts of the Eight-Tails' limbs and the Nine-Tails' chakra might be relatively weaker, anyone could deduce that.

Following Yahiko's order, Obito, Kumo, and Kakuzu immediately set off for the Land of Lightning.

Nagato specifically chose three people to go. Kakuzu is considered one of the top fighters in the Akatsuki organization, and Obito claims to be Madara Uchiha. Although this is suspicious, his methods are indeed extremely strange. With him there, the mission can be completed more easily.

Yun is trusted by Nagato and possesses considerable strength.

The trio quickly left the Land of Rain and quietly entered the Land of Thunder.

Meanwhile, Hui quietly entered the Land of Rain.

This time, Minato Namikaze assigned him the task of investigating the true strength of the Akatsuki organization.

There's no need to clash with them; just get a clear picture of the situation in the Land of Rain.

This was also a problem that Minato Namikaze suddenly realized.

The Land of Rain was completely foreign to them.

Since World War II, under the suppression of the three great nations of wind, fire, and earth, the Land of Rain has completely declined. After World War III, the entire Land of Rain seemed to disappear from the eyes of the ninja world.

Hanzo never appeared again; all that remained was a low-profile and forbearing Amegakure (the Hidden Rain Village).

As for the Akatsuki organization, which worked hard for peace in the ninja world, it has disappeared from everyone's memory.

A year ago, the Akatsuki organization was collecting tailed beasts everywhere, and finally attacked the Sage organization, taking away the One-Tailed and Six-Tailed beasts. Only then did they remember this organization again.

Even a year after the Akatsuki resurfaced, they still knew very little about the Land of Rain.

That's why he sent Hui.

The situation in the Land of Rain may not be optimistic. Low-level ninjas may not be able to return safely, and among the other Kage-level ninjas, none are as suitable as Kagami.

The Land of Rain is the perfect place for Hikaru, a master of Water Release.

"Investigate the events in the Land of Rain, and the Akatsuki's plans. If possible, also find out where the Tailed Beasts are being held."

Hui was speechless at the task.

Is he really supposed to be tasked with this?

Isn't that too easy?

As for where the Tailed Beasts are imprisoned?

Of course it's Amegakure, right under Nagato's nose!

"Let's figure out Akatsuki's plans first; that should be enough to complete the mission."

The Land of Lightning, Hidden Cloud Village.

"boom!"

Suddenly, three ninjas dressed in red cloud robes appeared in the sky above Kumogakure. One of them, a ninja with two pupils in each eye, held a three-colored fire lotus in his hands and slammed it onto the barrier of Kumogakure.

The deafening roar, along with the sound of the barrier shattering, echoed throughout the Hidden Cloud Village.

"Akatsuki!"

The three, Yun and his companions, made no attempt to conceal their identities and launched a blatant attack on Kumogakure. Yun used the Buddha's Fury Lotus to break through the village's barrier, and the three of them rolled in the air and landed safely. They then used the Body Flicker Technique to pass through the gap in the barrier and enter Kumogakure.

Fire Release: Explosive Wind Dance

The swirling flames hurtled towards the Cloud Village ninja below.

Fire Release: Head Carving

Kakuzu formed hand seals and suddenly spewed out a large amount of flames towards the ground. The flames crashed to the ground and then spread out, engulfing the nearby Cloud Village ninjas.