Chương 124: Chapter 124: Opening the Seventh Gate—Do You Want to Dance Too?
Why did the Konoha squad dare to face off against 350 Iwa-nin with only nine members?
Despite the fact that these 350 Iwa-nin were utterly exhausted, the difference in numbers—several times their own—was still staggering.
But while Konoha's numbers were few, their high-level combat power completely overshadowed that of the Iwa-nin.
First and foremost, Uchiha Akira possessed undeniable Kage-level strength. When he opened the Sixth Gate, he stood among the elites even within the Kage ranks.
Then there was Jiraiya, a seasoned Kage-level fighter, with the added ace of Sage Mode up his sleeve.
Might Guy, upon opening the Eight Gates, could also touch the threshold of Kage-level strength, especially at the Sixth Gate.
In addition, there were Gamaken and Gamabunta, the massive toads summoned through Jiraiya and Naruto's summoning techniques. Their sheer size and power could go toe-to-toe with a Tailed Beast, making them unquestionably Kage-level in destructive capability. Altogether, Konoha had five individuals or summons capable of Kage-level power.
And what about the Iwa-nin?
While they had plenty of Jonin, there wasn't a single Kage-level fighter among them.
So, despite the huge difference in numbers and high-end combat power, it was still uncertain who would come out on top.
The battle had been raging for half an hour.
In that time, 350 Iwa-nin had been reduced by another hundred, with many of the remaining Iwa-nin bearing various injuries.
The situation on the Iwa side could only be described as brutal.
Out of a force of 500, half had already been wiped out.
But Konoha wasn't unscathed either.
While Gamabunta and Gamaken were powerhouses, capable of turning the tide with just one jutsu, their massive size also made them easy targets. The Iwa-nin's attacks, especially those from Jonin, were difficult for them to dodge.
An army of ants can kill an elephant, and among the Iwa-nin were Jonin-level threats.
After fighting for half an hour, the minor injuries on the two giant toads had accumulated, turning into serious wounds.
Might Guy, too, had already closed the Eight Gates.
While the Sixth Gate's strain was far less than that of the Seventh, it still wasn't sustainable for half an hour of continuous combat.
As for Kakashi, despite his arsenal of jutsu, he was severely hampered by his limited chakra reserves. After fighting for half an hour, his chakra was nearly depleted.
Kakashi had stopped using ninjutsu altogether, relying only on taijutsu to keep fighting.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio was holding up better, but Choza Akimichi, who was acting as the tank and drawing enemy fire, was covered in wounds.
Inoichi Yamanaka and Shikaku Nara, while effective in their roles as sensory and control-type ninjas respectively, lacked the raw offensive power needed to turn the tide.
Ironically, it was Naruto Uzumaki who still had plenty of chakra, combining his Rasengan with shadow clones.
At this point, Naruto had arguably contributed more than even Kakashi.
It just goes to show, for men, lasting power can sometimes be just as important as raw strength in the early stages.
And what about Hiashi Hyuga? His Gentle Fist techniques were as graceful as ever, each strike disrupting an Iwa-nin's chakra flow, leaving them severely impaired.
When considering overall effectiveness, Hiashi had arguably outperformed Might Guy, living up to his title as the head of Konoha's second most powerful clan, the Hyuga.
But the main offensive force on the Konoha side still rested with Uchiha Akira and Jiraiya.
Akira, holding a kunai, had engaged in close combat, his Sharingan providing him with impeccable dynamic vision.
Although Akira had augmented his chakra levels by integrating some of the First Hokage's cells, elevating him to Kage-level chakra reserves, he was still not as reckless as Naruto in expending chakra.
So after half an hour of fighting, even Akira started conserving his chakra.
"These guys really hate me that much?" Akira thought as he continued to fight.
Despite losing half their number, the Iwa-nin showed no signs of retreating.
Exhausted as they were, they fought on relentlessly, their hatred for Akira driving them to their limits.
At this point, the Iwa-nin should have been completely spent.
After a few more minutes, Kakashi's chakra was nearly drained. A kunai from an Iwa-nin struck Kakashi's shoulder, and a follow-up Earth Spear jutsu sent him flying.
Fortunately, Naruto was nearby. He quickly jumped in, blocking the pursuing Jonin with a Rasengan.
Kakashi had once saved Naruto in the Land of Wind, and now Naruto had returned the favor, evening the score.
On Might Guy's side, he was also injured. Facing ten or so ninja who had realized he only used taijutsu, they began rotating ninjutsu attacks, keeping Guy pinned down.
The situation for the Ino-Shika-Cho trio was equally dire.
After more than half an hour of fighting against overwhelming odds, the Konoha team was stretched to the breaking point.
The only ones still with significant reserves were the veteran Kage-level Jiraiya and Naruto Uzumaki.
"Everyone, regroup! Akira, can you hold on?" Jiraiya called out, assessing the worsening situation for Konoha.
He first directed the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to regroup, then turned to Akira with a critical question.
"He's planning to enter Sage Mode?" Akira thought, immediately understanding Jiraiya's intention.
Jiraiya's Sage Mode required time to prepare.
With his seasoned Kage-level strength, once Sage Mode was activated, Jiraiya could nearly touch the pinnacle of Kage-level power.
"Got it!" Akira responded with a brief but confident nod.
"Good. Hold them off for a bit; I need some time," Jiraiya instructed, his trust in Akira evident.
With a nod, Jiraiya unsummoned Gamaken, then summoned the Elder Toads, Fukasaku, and Shima, who perched on his shoulders, one on each side.
At this point, Hiashi and the others gathered around Jiraiya, forming a tighter defensive formation, drawing strength from one another.
Kakashi, who was now out of the fight, was shielded in the center of the formation.
Despite the dire situation, the remaining two hundred Iwa-nin, although at their limit, seemed to see a glimmer of hope.
They gritted their teeth and pressed on.
"It seems I can't hold back any longer," Akira thought to himself.
It was time to shatter whatever hope they had left.
Taking a deep breath, Akira braced himself. He released the last of his chakra, pushing his body to its limits.
A barrier within him broke.
The Seventh Gate, the Gate of Shock, opened!
Boom!
Already possessing Kage-level strength, Akira's chakra surged to the ceiling of what was possible for a Kage-level shinobi with the opening of the Seventh Gate.
A terrifying chakra storm whipped up around him, drawing everyone's attention.
"The Seventh Gate?"
At this critical juncture, Might Guy also gritted his teeth, ready to open his own Seventh Gate.
But despite his efforts, he failed.
The prolonged battle with the Sixth Gate had drained him. As an elite Jonin, he too had reached his limit.
Guy realized then that Akira's strength truly exceeded his own. Despite fighting for so long, Akira could still open the Seventh Gate.
With the Seventh Gate open, Akira felt like a newly energized athlete, his body surging with power, his chakra reserves replenished.
In the darkness, his Sharingan gleamed with a bright crimson light.
Then, in a flash, Akira disappeared, moving like lightning into the enemy ranks.
A tiger among sheep was the perfect description for the situation.
Or, to be more accurate, a mad tiger among a flock of sickly sheep.
With the Seventh Gate open, Akira became a whirlwind of destruction.
And the Iwa-nin, already at their breaking point, were in no condition to stand against him.
There was no need for jutsu—too slow, too inefficient.
With only a kunai in hand, Akira plunged into the Iwa-nin ranks, slashing through them like a storm.
His three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, capturing every movement around him.
His movements were swift and precise, every action executed with flawless efficiency.
Clang, clang, clang!
The kunai clashed with countless weapons, sending sparks flying.
With each clash, the cries of the fallen echoed as bright red blood splattered, and lives were snuffed out.
Moving seamlessly between attacks, Akira felt an overwhelming sense of domination.
He dodged two incoming jutsu, parried two ninjato with his kunai, and then faced another Jonin who rushed at him with a raised blade.
With no time to block, Akira merely looked at the Jonin with his Sharingan.
Instantly, the Jonin froze in place as if paralyzed.
He had fallen into Akira's Sharingan genjutsu.
Ninjutsu might require hand seals, but a genjutsu from the Sharingan could be cast in an instant, making it incredibly effective in high-speed combat.
Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!
Sensing danger, Akira quickly leaped back, just as a pair of hands shot up from the ground, narrowly missing him.
But Akira grabbed the ninja's wrist, yanking him out of the ground.
With a swift motion, he grabbed the Iwa-nin by the throat, his crimson Sharingan eyes locking onto the enemy with a cold stare. "Do you want to dance too?"
*********Important*********
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