The Cliff Valley, nestled deep within the Land of Rain, was one of its rare steep terrains. Towering cliffs stretched tens of meters high on either side, while the narrow road between them spanned no more than five meters across.
This natural chokepoint served as a stronghold for the coalition forces of Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and the Hidden Rain. The Iwa and Sand ninja occupied opposing cliff sides, their positions fortified, while the Rain ninja guarded the valley's entrance leading further into the Land of Rain.
The terrain favored the defenders; any assault would have to contend with the narrow pass and the high vantage points of the enemy. It was, in every sense, a fortress.
At the top of one cliff, within the Iwa camp's main tent, the leaders of the coalition gathered. Kitsuchi, the formidable son of the Third Tsuchikage, handed a scroll to Hanzo of the Salamander, his expression grave.
"This just arrived from the village," Kitsuchi said, his voice low.
Hanzo took the scroll, quickly scanning its contents. His sharp eyes narrowed as he read the name that had caused Kirigakure's downfall.
"Mangekyō Sharingan," Hanzo muttered, the words heavy with foreboding.
Seated nearby, Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, and Rōshi, the jinchūriki of the Four-Tails, glanced at the scroll. Their reactions mirrored Hanzo's.
The report detailed the collapse of the Kirigakure front. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, once symbols of terror, had been decimated, with only three surviving. The turning point of the battle? Uchiha Yoruki's awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Though many had forgotten the full extent of its power, these veteran leaders understood its significance. The Mangekyō Sharingan was a legendary tool of destruction, capable of altering the tide of any battle.
Hanzo's face darkened. "If this report is accurate, the balance of this war has been shattered."
The coalition had invested heavily in this campaign. Hanzo himself had committed most of the Rain Village's elite, yet months of effort had only resulted in a bloody stalemate. Now, with the news of Konoha's growing strength, the fragile equilibrium was collapsing.
Unbeknownst to them, the lag in communication between the fronts had created a small but critical window. While the coalition discussed the implications of Yoruki's power, Konoha had already moved.
High above the valley, sentries patrolled the cliffs, their sharp eyes scanning for any signs of intruders.
Swish!
Two streaks of light—one golden, the other black—suddenly appeared at the valley's entrance.
"Enemies spotted!" shouted a perceptive ninja, his voice ringing out across the cliffs.
The alarm spread rapidly, and the defenders moved into action. But before they could organize a proper response, the intruders split off, each streaking toward the opposing cliffs with blinding speed.
The golden figure raced up one cliffside, leaving a glowing trail in its wake. The sentries barely had time to react before they were struck down, their bodies crumpling one after another.
On the opposite cliff, a black shadow moved with a burning intensity, carving through the defenders. Though not as fast as the golden figure, the shadow's strikes were precise and unrelenting, leaving flames in its wake.
Within moments, the golden light reached the top of the Sand ninja's cliff. The defenders barely registered the arrival of Namikaze Minato, the Yellow Flash of Konoha, before his kunai flashed, cutting through their ranks.
On the Iwa side, the situation was no less dire. As the black shadow neared the top, several Iwa shinobi leaped into action, their eyes widening in recognition.
"Namikaze Minato!?" one exclaimed in shock.
But their attention was quickly drawn to the figure beside him—a man whose flaming sword cleaved the air with devastating precision.
Uchiha Yoruki's blazing blade met Hanzo's sword in a deafening clash. Sparks erupted as the two exchanged blows, the intensity of their fight commanding the attention of all nearby.
Hanzo's sharp eyes caught the fiery pattern in Yoruki's scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan. His thoughts raced as he processed the magnitude of his opponent's power.
"The Mangekyō…" Hanzo muttered under his breath, steeling himself for the fight.
Beside him, Rasa wasted no time. With a wave of his hand, waves of shimmering gold sand surged toward Yoruki, their layered defenses formidable.
Blood trickled from Yoruki's left eye as he summoned the full power of his dojutsu. Scarlet chakra erupted around him, forming a brilliant sword of energy.
"Rekka no Ken!"
The crimson blade slashed downward, cutting effortlessly through the gold sand's defenses. The technique, imbued with the essence of the Mangekyō Sharingan, could sever nearly anything in its path.
Kitsuchi prepared to join the fight but was interrupted as Minato appeared beside him, a kunai flashing toward his chest. Startled, Kitsuchi abandoned his jutsu and leaped back, unwilling to face Minato in close combat.
Meanwhile, Rōshi hesitated, sensing a powerful presence emanating from Yoruki's Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Those eyes…" the Four-Tails murmured within Rōshi's mind, its tone uncharacteristically anxious. "Rōshi, leave now!"
But Rōshi ignored the warning. Lava chakra surged around him, coating his body in molten armor. With a roar, he unleashed a barrage of magma balls at Minato, forcing the latter to slow his advance.
The molten projectiles crashed into the cliffside, igniting tents and scattering debris. Taking advantage of the chaos, Kitsuchi widened the gap between himself and Minato, breathing heavily as he reassessed the battlefield.
Rōshi's defiance only enraged the Four-Tails further.
"Fool! If you don't retreat, we'll both perish!"
Rōshi remained steadfast, his determination unshaken. "If you want to survive, then lend me your power. Running isn't an option."
The Four-Tails growled in frustration but relented. Firelight flared in its eyes as it poured its chakra into Rōshi, transforming him further. Behind him, four blazing tails of fire emerged, radiating intense heat and malice.
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