The Avengers of the Uzumaki Family

Karin's eyes widened instantly, clearly showing disbelief. The history of ninjas over thousands of years is enough to prove that a ninja's peak age is around 50. Once they approach 60, their condition will decline uncontrollably. The Third Hokage is the best proof of this.

Even if the title of strongest Hokage is indeed a ridiculous one that has been fabricated.

However, the Third Hokage at his peak was truly the number one person below the Kage level. He was proficient in all ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu except for some forbidden and secret techniques, which was the source of the Third Hokage's strength.

This is a genius with a standard template.

This can happen after entering the aging stage.

The Third Hokage's strength visibly declined.

The final battle with Orochimaru perfectly illustrated this point, and the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure was already over 70 years old. Karin couldn't imagine that the Third Tsuchikage could still be fighting fiercely on the battlefield.

That old guy, he probably can't even throw a kunai properly anymore, can he?

be honest.

Karin thought it was quite absurd from the very beginning to ask a man in his seventies to continue being a kage.

Is this something a human being could do?

Is there really no one else in Iwagakure?

"Hehe, so you underestimated this Third Tsuchikage, Karin. Although his strength may not be as good as it was in his prime, thanks to his special bloodline limit ability—Dust Release—and his flight ability enhanced by Light-Heavy Rock Technique, this old Tsuchikage is several times stronger than you think. At least the ordinary Five Kage would not be his match."

Menma chuckled and shook his head. As he spoke, the scene of the Five Kage versus Madara in the original work also appeared in his mind. Even though Madara was just toying with the Five Kage, Onoki's strength was still beyond doubt.

Its overall level is top-tier among Kage-level characters, and the power of its Dust Release is also at the level of Super Kage. At the very least, the One-Tailed to Seven-Tailed beasts cannot withstand the attack of its Dust Release.

Onoki is a true example of someone who remains strong and resilient even in old age.

"Eh? Is that so?"

Karin also widened her eyes and said.

"Yes, so I still need to go to the front lines myself. I've already put Wuwei-san and Shibuki-san in charge of the western district. Some personnel will return later, and you can make arrangements according to the relevant configurations. Karin, the village's defenses will continue to be in your hands. Toneri, as I said before, any enemy who maliciously invades, once discovered, and dares to resist, will be killed on the spot without any mercy. Also, spread the news of Jiraiya's invasion and death, as well as the news of the annihilation of the Kirigakure army."

Special times call for special measures.

The annihilation of over ten thousand Mist Ninja is yet another warning to the ninja world.

Hidden Light Village is already a truly great power in the ninja world, and Menma Uzumaki stands at the very top of the ninja world. He wants to make the world truly realize this once again.

What will be the fate of those who offend Guangyin Village?

"Yes, Menma (Yes, I know, Menma.)"

Karin and Toneri both responded at the same time.

Menma's return, the annihilation of the southern Kirigakure army, and the news of the invaders' deaths brought the eastern district of Hidden Light Village, which had previously experienced some unrest, back to normalcy.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 452 Northern Front

Menma also took the initiative to show himself, further reassuring people's hearts. After holding a meeting to assign the corresponding tasks, he led his personal shadow guards directly out of the village and headed to the northern front to provide reinforcements.

And it happened almost at the same time.

Just as Karin and Menma reported.

The Iwa ninja forces, who have not yet received any news or encountered any accidents, arrived at the Tianxi Mountains on schedule. This mountain is the last natural barrier in the Land of Waterfall. Once they cross it, the vast plains of the Land of Waterfall will lie ahead, and they will arrive directly at the capital of the Land of Waterfall.

In any past war between ninja villages, if one side were to retreat to this extent, it would essentially be considered a defeat.

The Hidden Light Village certainly wouldn't reach that level.

But holding onto this place is also of paramount importance.

Wugou and Fu, who were sent to support the front line, stood on the high point of the fortress that had been built long ago, looking out at the front camp set up by Iwagakure. They could vaguely see the dense crowd and sense the huge amount of chakra that had gathered together.

Both Wu Gou and Fu had a solemn expression on their faces.

Ordinary ninjas are nothing to them.

However, among this group of Iwa ninja, there are three ruthless individuals.

That overwhelming aura of chakra was almost as tangible as if it were visible to the naked eye.

Under such circumstances.

Even with their geographical advantage, they are destined to be completely outmatched.

"Fu, once the Iwa ninja launch an attack, I'll handle those two tailed beast jinchūriki. You take charge of the remaining Iwa ninja forces!"

Wugou turned to look at Fu beside her and said in a very solemn tone.

"You mean you're taking care of both the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails? Is that really okay, Wugou-kun?"

Fu was well aware of Wugou's combat strength.

In the previous war, Mugou's power was indeed stronger than his own, but to say that he would fight alongside two tailed beasts, wouldn't that be a bit presumptuous?

The two Jinchūriki of Iwagakure have both been tempered and proven in actual combat, and are genuine Five Kage level beings, or even stronger.

Wu Gou faced the challenge alone.

If even the slightest problem arises, it could directly lead to the collapse of the battle, which is something that the Hidden Light Village side cannot accept.

"Don't worry, Fu. I can't say we'll defeat them 100%, but we can hold off their attacks. And we have to do it, don't we? We need to buy the village a few more days. Once Menma-sama deals with those Mist Ninja scum in the south, the pressure on us will disappear in an instant."

Wu Gou nodded emphatically and said.

I do have confidence.

But more often than not, they simply have to do it.

The Hidden Light Village has now mobilized its entire force. The two or three thousand Hidden Light Ninja gathered at the front line represent the largest force the village can deploy. They are already insufficient for basic combat, let alone high-level clashes and assistance.

The pressure must be shared by the two of them.

After giving Wu Gou a deep look, Fu nodded emphatically and replied, "Since you've said so, let's do it!"

The enemy's combat strength has basically been revealed.

Sometimes it's necessary to conceal one's combat strength, and sometimes it's necessary to deliberately reveal all one's power. This time, Iwagakure chose the latter. From Onoki's perspective, in this great battle...

Hidden Light Village is definitely at a disadvantage.

Let's not even talk about whether they can withstand further attacks from Kirigakure. Even if they can maintain the balance in the south and avoid collapse, in the north, if Iwagakure launches a large-scale southward offensive, it will definitely shake up Hikarigakure's internal situation.

To subdue the enemy without fighting.

This was Onoki's true intention.

Ultimately, Hidden Light Village was formed by the merger of Hidden Takigakure and Hidden Grass Village. Doesn't Onoki know what kind of people the original Hidden Takigakure and Hidden Grass Village were?

Thirty or forty years ago, Takigakure and Kusagakure might still have had the power to intimidate others, and the Five Great Nations would have to give them some face.

But in the last decade.

These two ninja villages are now just shells left.

Onoki had ample reason to believe that if they pressed their advantage a little further, they could easily break the morale of these former Takigakure and Kusanagi ninjas. With a more aggressive propaganda campaign, they would likely be able to force these ninjas to surrender.

This is the best possible outcome that Ohnoki had envisioned.

Ultimately, we still need to be wary of Konoha and Kumogakure, especially the former. Onoki doesn't want to be a stepping stone for others.

By forcing the Light Ninja to surrender as much as possible, the casualties of their own ninja village can be greatly reduced. If a perfect breakthrough with zero casualties can be achieved, Onoki is confident that he can stop the Cloud Village and the Leaf Village from attacking together in the end.

So, here on the front lines.

The Iwagakure village side also caught the news of the arrival of reinforcements.

Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, officially set off from the ninja village. The established strategy of the Iwa ninja was to crush the enemy in front of them with lightning speed.

In the front positions of both sides.

The Iwa ninja army has established its own camp in the shortest possible time.

Huang Tu stood atop the highest point at the forefront of the camp, gazing at the outline of the mountain fortress built by the Hidden Light Village. A thoughtful expression appeared on his usually composed face.

"What are you still thinking about? Why don't we just attack directly? Didn't they say that the main force of that Hidden Light Village has been transferred to the south to deal with the Mist Ninja? Let's just quickly suppress them here and take care of those guys in no time, okay? Yellow Earth Boy, what are you hesitating for?"

In a seat to the side.

Suddenly, a slightly short but very capable figure appeared and spoke in a clearly displeased tone.

This figure was none other than Rōshi, one of the strongest fighters in Iwagakure at present and the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails.

He is one of the more senior ninjas in the village. In his early years, due to his disagreement with Onoki's ideals, he almost never stayed in the village, much like Jiraiya who went on a wandering journey. However, whenever the village was summoned, Roshi would immediately return to the village, constantly muttering to himself. He even cursed Onoki several times back then, but he always carried out orders without question.

This is also why Onoki has always chosen to let and tolerate Rōshi.

They did not err on important matters.

Everything is done with the interests of the ninja village as the guiding principle. He always reserves his personal opinions, but will always obey the orders of the overall situation. What more could Onoki possibly want?

If they want to criticize, let them criticize.

He was, after all, a highly respected ninja in the village.

Onoki still possessed this much tolerance.

As Onoki's son and a high-ranking member of the village, Huang Tu naturally knew his elder brother, Old Purple's, personality very well.

He then gave a polite smile and said, "Hehe, we still need to wait for the troops to rest a bit. It won't make a difference if we take a little time. It's also a good opportunity to thoroughly investigate the information of the Light Ninja in the stronghold. This war is a bit special, Senior Old Purple."

"Hmph, you two are cut from the same cloth. What's there to be afraid of in a mere newly established ninja village? It's not Konoha. No, even if it were Konoha, we should fight head-on when necessary. Cowardice and shrinking back is not the style of us Iwa ninja!"

Old Zi snorted lightly, as if he were very disdainful.

Because we've never actually fought each other.

Having only learned about the strength of Hidden Light Village through intelligence, Old Purple didn't really believe that Hidden Light Village was that strong, especially Uzumaki Menma. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki might be very strong, but how much could a mere fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy wield the power of the Nine-Tails?

At best, we're just a little bit better than them, right?

At this level, it's not that they can't fight back. Didn't the Third Raikage, who was considered the strongest ninja in the world more than ten years ago, still die at the hands of the Iwa ninja?

Even if Uzumaki Menma is strong, he is still just one person, not to mention that he may not actually be very strong.

Old Purple felt that the Iwa ninja didn't need to be so cautious; they could have easily defeated them in one strike by charging in.

At worst, it just means taking some risks and paying some price.