Big Iron Falling from the Sky

The others heard what the Hyuga ninja said and looked around but saw nothing. Someone asked, "Is there anything there?"

"Can't you see?" The Hyuga ninja was slightly startled and then realized that the object's appearance might be blending with the night. Ordinary eyes couldn't distinguish it, but his Byakugan, which could observe chakra, ignored the darkness. "It's there, in the sky—a big object! We need to stop it with large-scale ninjutsu, or the wall will collapse!"

The Hyuga ninja's words seemed exaggerated, but the others didn't question him. The ninjas acted immediately, and the samurai prepared themselves, though none could yet see the so-called "big object"—until it blocked the moon.

A shadow swiftly fell over the group, and they stared in shock at the massive object obscuring the moonlight. Though the object's shape wasn't clear, its immense size was undeniable. The faint gleam of metal could be seen on its surface, and the sound of grinding metal confirmed their fears—it was some kind of enormous metallic construct.

"What... what is this?"

"It's too big!"

"Quick, use Earth Style! No, Fire Style!"

The situation became chaotic. The sudden appearance of the massive object was beyond everyone's imagination. There was no need to guess its destructive power—if it hit, the wall wouldn't stand a chance. But how to block it? No one had a clear answer.

Regardless, they had no choice but to act. The object was approaching fast. They raised an Earth-Style Wall, but it shattered easily. Then, they tried Fire Style, but it had no effect either. As the object neared the wall, and everyone was on the verge of despair, a figure dashed forward.

At first, those who thought they were about to die regained their hope, for the one who rushed out was none other than Tobirama Senju. The sight of the Hokage filled them with confidence. Surely, he could stop this.

Tobirama, however, knew it wasn't as simple as it appeared. If he only had to protect himself, there were many techniques he could use, but to protect the entire city, his options were limited.

One glance at the object told him it was a massive iron block, likely condensed from iron sand, and the enemy's goal was clear—to destroy the wall and force them into a direct confrontation with the forces of the Wind Country. Without the wall, they would be at a severe disadvantage, especially since the antidote for the enemy's poisons had yet to be developed.

I have to stop this, Tobirama thought, but using a technique like Water Style would consume too much chakra. His gaze flickered, and he pulled out a kunai marked with his Flying Thunder God technique. This advanced version of the jutsu, called Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder, allowed him to transfer objects in addition to people.

Although Tobirama had developed the Flying Thunder God technique, he rarely used it due to its heavy chakra cost. He couldn't employ it as casually as future users like Minato Namikaze, who would refine the technique and earn the title of "Yellow Flash" for his unmatched speed.

Tobirama tossed a marked kunai to one side, then rushed at the giant iron block. He stabbed a second marked kunai into it, and in an instant, the iron block vanished from in front of him and reappeared at the first kunai's location.

Boom!

The massive impact raised clouds of dust and sent chunks of debris flying. The iron block drove deep into the ground, a testament to the power it held.

Tobirama let out a breath of relief. Even for someone from the Senju Clan, known for their powerful chakra, transferring such a large object was exhausting. But he didn't relax. He knew the Suna ninjas were still around, and this was just one of their tricks. Moreover, the iron block itself intrigued him—was it a jutsu or a tool?

If it were any other nation, he would have immediately assumed it was a ninjutsu. However, the unique puppet techniques of Sunagakure made him pause. While the iron block contained chakra, it might also be made of chakra-infused metal. If it were merely a tool, there would be less to worry about. But if it were something more...

Tobirama didn't dare to act recklessly. He could only use the Flying Thunder God technique sparingly, but he could still prepare. He quickly threw another marked kunai farther ahead, just in case.

Meanwhile, the Second Kazekage, seeing his iron block blocked, remarked with a hint of regret, "I didn't expect the Second Hokage to use his space-transfer technique."

"But it seems there are limitations. Otherwise, he could have moved it farther instead of keeping it so close," said Shōmei, future Third Kazekage. "This gives me a chance to continue controlling the situation."

"Wait," the Second Kazekage interrupted, "Send him another distraction. His chakra sensitivity is sharp. If you try to control it directly, he'll notice quickly. We need to catch him off guard."

"Understood." Shōmei nodded. Although the Second Hokage's space-transfer technique was powerful, they had prepared thoroughly for this operation. While his Magnetic Release was formidable, it required iron sand infused with chakra to achieve its full power. Thus, they had been stockpiling iron sand for days.

Blocking one attack didn't mean the battle was over. Shōmei glanced at the iron sand reserves and smiled before beginning a new sequence of hand seals.

Tobirama, having just marked his new location, felt a surge of chakra in the distance. He spotted another massive iron block approaching, and with it, a group of ninjas. Leading them was a familiar chakra—it could only be the Second Kazekage.

So this is their plan, Tobirama mused.

As he rushed toward the incoming iron block, he gestured to the others. The Hyuga ninja, observing everything through his Byakugan, relayed the orders. Once again, Tobirama used Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder to relocate the iron block, this time to an even more distant location.

If only the Second Kazekage had been near the kunai, Tobirama could've surprised him... "Wait, what's that?"

Suddenly, he sensed strange chakra gathering near the first iron block. It wasn't just an ordinary attack—it was some kind of ninjutsu.

Before Tobirama could react, the iron block rapidly deformed, scattering numerous "rays" of iron sand that pierced through the city walls. Cracks spread everywhere.

I've been outplayed!

As Tobirama realized this, the Second Kazekage approached him with a loud laugh. "Hokage, let's settle this on the battlefield!"

While the Second Kazekage kept Tobirama occupied, other Suna ninjas flooded through the gap created by the iron sand. The samurai and ninjas inside the city were caught off guard by the sudden breach, despite Tobirama's earlier orders. The iron sand's unexpected movements left them momentarily unable to respond.

To make matters worse, the iron sand continued to move. Although it couldn't deform as freely as regular sand, its rigid structure made it all the more dangerous. Buildings on that side of the city were quickly reduced to rubble.

Fumori Masaki, who was nearby, narrowly avoided being caught in the destruction. His swift reaction and unique sensory abilities allowed him to see the iron sand's movements and pull Rimi to safety.

"Rimi, you need to act with the others," Fumori said urgently. "Stabilize the situation, but don't engage with that iron sand. Just stay safe."

With that, Fumori Masaki rushed toward the breach where the Suna ninjas were invading. He knew the Third Kazekage, who had remained hidden until now, was finally making his move—and it was a bold one.

There was no time to regret not attacking sooner. Masaki's immediate goal was to take down the Third Kazekage. The amount of iron sand under his control was capable of city-level destruction. It was essentially a strategic weapon on the battlefield. If they let him continue unchecked, they risked losing the war.

Following the chakra flow of the iron sand, Masaki tracked the Third Kazekage. However, before he could leave the city, an old ninja appeared in his path. According to their intelligence, the only veteran of Sunagakure with this level of threat was Monzaemon.

Masakii's guess was correct. The figure before him was Monzaemon, who, upon seeing the aura surrounding the young man, understood his strength immediately.

Masaki drew his Kazekiri no Ken (WindCutter Sword), and was about to strike Monzaemon, but suddenly shifted his attack. A gust of wind surged from Kazekiri, sweeping everything in its path.

A second figure was forced out of hiding by the wind. Upon closer inspection, Fumori saw that it looked exactly like Monzaemon. It was the real Monzaemon, while the first had been a puppet decoy.

Monzaemon, impressed, smiled slightly. "Not bad, young man. You saw through my puppet."

"I wouldn't dare claim too much credit. I'm simply being cautious, as one should with a veteran ninja of your caliber," Masaki replied.

Monzaemon chuckled, glancing at the puppet that had served as his decoy. It had been sliced cleanly in two, the cut so smooth it

It should have been this young man's technique, but Monzaemon hadn't noticed anything. His speed at forming hand seals was incredibly fast, and the execution of his jutsu was flawless.

"Not bad for someone so young," Monzaemon murmured to himself. Without hesitation, he summoned his masterpiece—the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu. The white puppets, numbered from one to ten, appeared before Fumori Masaki. This was the so-called "White Secret Technique."

"This is going to be troublesome," Fumori Masaki thought, raising Kazekiri wordlessly as he prepared himself. "I didn't expect to be blocked by someone of this caliber."