454. The Fall of the Land of the Sky

Looking at the massive trench stretching over a kilometer and the vanished mountain peak, everyone, including Minato and Kakashi, couldn't help but gape in astonishment.

This thing... was this powerful?

Its destructive force seemed no less than a tailed beast bomb.

As the Hokage, Minato felt a surge of relief.

Thankfully, Elder Danzo had the foresight to have the Anbu monitor the remnants of the Land of the Sky.

Otherwise, if they had completed their preparations and fired this aerial fortress at Konoha, the damage would have been catastrophic!

Unlike the others' shock, Danzō remained calm.

After all, this level of attack was only barely passable in his eyes.

Compared to the chakra energy cannon, he was more interested in how the Sky Ninja utilized chakra.

For example, how did they use chakra to make such a massive aerial fortress float?

How did their flying ninja tools automatically use Wind Release to achieve manned flight?

If these flying tools could release Wind Release by injecting chakra, could they be modified to release Lightning Release, Fire Release, or Water Release?

If this technology could be successfully reverse-engineered, it might bring immense value to Konoha's scientific ninja tool development.

This was what truly interested Danzō.

"According to Shinnō's intelligence, these Sky Ninja remnants also possess three more *aircraft carriers*, hidden on islands in the eastern sea," Danzō recalled, speaking calmly.

"I'll handle this," Minato said, his enthusiasm evident after witnessing the potential of the aerial fortress.

He was eager to seize all of the Land of the Sky's technology for Konoha.

Danzō nodded.

With Minato leading the operation, the remaining Sky Ninja were no match.

"In that case, we'll return to Konoha first," Danzō ordered.

As his command was issued, the massive fortress hovering in the sky slowly turned and began flying swiftly toward Konoha.

Only Amaru, left behind at the ruins, was left dumbfounded.

"Huh? Why did they leave?"

"Wait for me!!"

---

While Danzō returned to Konoha with a wealth of technology, Minato led a team of Anbu to a hidden island.

This was the last remaining stronghold of the Land of the Sky. Eliminating them would mark the true end of the Land of the Sky.

"Up ahead is the Sky Ninja remnants' base," Hyūga Hizashi, who was accompanying Minato, confirmed the enemy's location using his Byakugan.

Not only that, through the Byakugan's vision, he also spotted three massive aircraft carriers!

Minato's attitude toward these aircraft carriers was straightforward: they must all be seized!

Moreover, any Sky Ninja technicians who could be captured alive must be taken. These were crucial talents for the future development of the Land of Fire.

What if they didn't cooperate?

Don't worry. Konoha had plenty of ways to make them cooperate.

After finalizing the assault plan, Minato raised his hand.

"Operation begins!"

To preserve the aircraft carriers and researchers as much as possible, Minato didn't launch a direct assault.

Instead, he waited until deep into the night before quietly infiltrating the enemy base with the Anbu.

However, the Sky Ninja remnants, who had managed to develop under the noses of the Five Great Nations for so long, were naturally vigilant.

Even at night, many Sky Ninja patrolled the skies using their flying ninja tools.

Under the cover of darkness, these Sky Ninja resembled indistinct birds, something ordinary people wouldn't notice.

But Minato was well aware and had prepared countermeasures.

For example—

Aburame ninja.

"These guys are up to you," Minato said, glancing at the masked Aburame ninja beside him.

They nodded, then quickly released a swarm of specially bred kikaichū from their loose black coats.

Like a thin layer of black mist, the insects flew upward under the cover of night.

After Aburame Ryoma officially became the head of the Aburame clan, he began promoting various new types of kikaichū developed by himself and the Seven-Tails.

Explosive bugs, sniper bugs, poison gas bugs, venom bugs—you name it, Ryoma had created it.

As a result, the Aburame clan transformed from "Konoha's most unnoticed ninja" to "Konoha's most sinister ninja!"

Just like now.

The mosquito-like kikaichū silently landed on the Sky Ninja.

With a slight sting, the large amount of neurotoxin stored in the bugs was injected into the Sky Ninja's bodies.

In just one second, they plummeted to the ground!

This was the value of the most sinister ninja.

Seeing this, Minato immediately led the other ninja in a raid on the Sky Ninja base.

By the time the Sky Ninja realized what was happening, it was already too late.

A golden flash lit up the night, and the Sky Ninja were swiftly dealt with.

In the next moment, various ninjutsu erupted in the darkness.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

"Secret Technique: Explosive Kikaichū!"

...

Under Konoha's relentless assault, the Sky Ninja in the base were thrown into chaos, screams filling the air as the entire base was engulfed in flames.

Once again, the Sky Ninja learned the true meaning of the "Yellow Flash."

Many didn't even have time to react.

They only saw a yellow figure flash past before they died.

There was no sense of combat experience at all.

After a large number of Sky Ninja fell like wheat before a scythe, they finally gave up the idea of resistance.

One by one, they obediently dropped their weapons and crouched down, hands on their heads.

As for those who tried to escape using their flying ninja tools, they were blown up by the Aburame ninja's kikaichū, turning into dazzling fireworks in the night sky.

The battle, which held little suspense, ended in less than half an hour.

Most of Konoha's time was spent identifying enemy personnel.

After all, Minato didn't want the Sky Ninja researchers to die meaninglessly on the battlefield.

These people were of great value to Konoha!

Soon, all the Sky Ninja ceased their resistance.

This marked the complete fall of the Land of the Sky, a minor nation that had once shone brightly during the Second Shinobi World War.

However, their outstanding scientific and technological achievements would be absorbed and integrated by Konoha, ultimately contributing to an even more brilliant future.