442. The Aerial Killer Whale

"Damn it, what kind of brains do those Konoha people have? How can they create something like this?"

An Iwa jōnin who had rushed to the scene couldn't help but curse as he looked at the battlefield, now blackened and scorched from the bombardment.

Although Konoha had always claimed they weren't interfering in the Land of Earth's civil war, and the daimyo's side insisted that these weapons were their own creations, anyone with half a brain knew that no nation other than the Land of Fire could produce such bizarre weapons.

But knowing was one thing; doing something about it was another.

At this point, Iwagakure was powerless against Konoha.

Even if they could find evidence of Konoha's interference in the civil war, it wouldn't matter.

With their current military strength, they couldn't afford to fight on two fronts.

Not only that, but they also had to station a significant portion of their forces at the border to guard against potential attacks.

This dilemma left every Iwa shinobi seething with frustration.

Take this Iwa jōnin, for example.

Just as he was about to unleash a large-scale Earth Style jutsu to destroy the remaining tanks and vent his anger, a dark figure suddenly appeared before him.

The figure wore a mask, and beneath his fluttering coat, two scythe-like claws shot out like lightning.

The Iwa jōnin hastily retreated, his eyes filled with wariness as he stared at his opponent.

"The Yellow Group... the Mantis Man..."

He uttered the figure's alias. As the war intensified, the Yellow Group's reputation had grown across the shinobi world.

Based on the unique traits of its five members, Iwa had given them different nicknames: the Beast King, the Snake Woman, the Little Demon, the Giant, and the Mantis Man before him.

The Yellow Group often accompanied the daimyo's artillery units.

Their primary mission was to counter Iwa's elite forces, such as jōnin, ensuring the artillery units could inflict maximum damage without being taken out by high-level threats.

This combination effectively addressed the weaknesses of gunpowder-based weapons like tanks.

They could cause massive destruction without worrying about being decapitated by enemy elites. It was a perfect fusion of traditional shinobi tactics and emerging technology!

Facing his enemy, the Yellow Group member codenamed "Mantis Man" flashed a cold, murderous glint in his eyes.

Behind him, the tanks adjusted their angles, locking the Iwa jōnin in their crosshairs. Seeing this, the jōnin, though reluctant, chose to retreat for the time being.

---

A similar scene was unfolding on the battlefield in the Land of Water, though the roles of the shinobi village and the daimyo were reversed here.

Thanks to Kirigakure's good relations with Konoha, they had received substantial support from the Land of Fire.

Moreover, since the daimyo's forces and the Blood Mist faction lacked sufficient anti-air capabilities, Konoha's airships had made a stunning debut in this theater of war.

To adapt to the battlefield environment, Konoha's research institute had significantly reduced the size of the airships.

This greatly increased their speed, allowing them to pursue enemies more effectively.

Additionally, they had introduced two new models: reconnaissance airships and bomber airships.

The former flew at higher altitudes, making them harder to detect and attack.


They were equipped with observation devices featuring the "Telescope Technique," allowing them to effectively monitor enemy movements and track their positions.

The latter had expanded cabins to store more ammunition, enabling them to deliver devastating bombardments.

In the Land of Water, where air combat capabilities were severely lacking, Konoha's airships were virtually unchallenged.

They flew directly over the capital, raining down destruction in full view of the Blood Mist shinobi, leaving the nobles and Blood Mist forces utterly helpless...

As a result, Konoha's airships earned a new nickname in the capital: the "Aerial Killer Whale."

It signified that their arrival always brought terrible disaster and death.

"If this continues, we're doomed," Biwa Juzo said grimly as he gazed at the burning capital.

"There's nothing we can do. Kirigakure has Konoha's support," Fuguki Suikazan replied with a hint of resignation.

Konoha's technological and military prowess had left the rest of the shinobi world in the dust.

In fact, a saying had emerged among the people of the Land of Water: "Those who gain Konoha's support will rule the world."

This alone spoke volumes about Konoha's dominance.

Under Danzō's leadership, Konoha's influence in the shinobi world had reached, and perhaps even surpassed, the heights achieved during Hashirama's era.

After all, while the "God of Shinobi" had been powerful, Konoha under his rule had remained restrained and avoided unnecessary conflicts.

Danzō, however, was a different story.

As a leading figure of the radical faction, he wasn't afraid to start a war at the slightest provocation.

The civil wars in the Land of Water, Land of Earth, and Land of Hot Water all had their roots in his actions!

Hearing Fuguki Suikazan's words, Juzo hesitated for a moment before tentatively suggesting, "What if we also approached Danzō and tried to purchase some of those new weapons from him?"

Fuguki Suikazan raised an eyebrow. "Is that the daimyo's idea?"

After all, just a few months ago, the daimyo had vehemently opposed any cooperation with someone like Danzō, who defied the nobility.

Otherwise, the Blood Mist faction would have already sent someone to Konoha to buy weapons... Of course, whether Konoha would be willing to sell was another matter.

Juzo nodded with a sigh.

"I think the daimyo has finally realized that survival is more important than pride. I've come to understand that in today's shinobi world, if you don't follow Konoha's example, all that awaits you is falling behind and being beaten."

As a traditional shinobi, Juzo couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy at how rapidly the shinobi world was changing.

He hadn't expected the transformation to come so fiercely and swiftly.

Fuguki Suikazan, on the other hand, wasn't as surprised.

As a sleeper agent, he had never believed the Blood Mist faction could stand against Danzō.

Not only was the Blood Mist faction unqualified, but so was Kirigakure as a whole.

The outcome of the Land of Water's civil war didn't depend on these two factions but on the "Darkness of the Shinobi World" thousands of miles away.

That was the reality. It was just that many people either didn't understand or subconsciously refused to accept it.

"In that case, I'll send someone to negotiate with Konoha for weapons. But I can't guarantee they'll agree," Fuguki Suikazan said before disappearing, leaving Biwa Juzo to gaze at the rising smoke in the distance and sigh.