Chapter 202: Growth

Led by Uchiha Tetsu, the assault began with the Earth Release: Earthquake Core technique, marking the start of another wave of attacks. These tactics were pre-planned. After the initial explosive tag bombardment, Hitsugaya used a wide-range genjutsu to suppress the Iwa-nin, helping clear the remaining enemies within the stronghold. 

Next, Uchiha Tetsu, whose second attribute was Earth, forced the Iwa-nin hiding underground to surface. This aligned with Hitsugaya's usual strategy: once they gained the upper hand, they would launch continuous attacks, leaving no breathing space for the enemy. 

As Tetsu's jutsu activated, pieces of flat land began to rise under his chakra control, exposing the hidden Iwa-nin. They were bombarded from all sides!

"We can't wait anymore! Directly launch an attack!" 

The Iwa Jonin under the earthen mound initially wanted to wait, gather more intelligence on the enemy, and allow his companions to prepare better. They had been attack unexpectedly, and many were unarmed. However, harsh reality forced an immediate counterattack. Since the enemy used barrier techniques to trap them all together, it was clear they had no intention of letting any of them escape.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow River"

Though initiating an attack, he didn't intend to engage the enemy directly on a large scale. Instead, he used the Earth Flow River technique to raise portions of the land, separating the battlefield and changing its terrain.

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld"

Using the mobility of a ninja, simply raising wall-like obstacles would not hinder their steps. After activating Earth Flow River, he also cast Swamp of the Underworld, making the risen barriers hard to tread. He then led the Iwa-nin to confront one of the opposing teams.

This was a typical Iwa-nin tactic! In conflicts larger than squad-level, they utilized Earth Flow River to create maze-like obstacles, dividing the enemy, and then used the terrain to split and annihilate them one by one with jutsu advantage.

"Attack!" 

Seeing this preliminary strategic setup, the surviving Iwa-nin didn't hesitate; they emerged from the ground, forming two groups to attack. The division into two groups was because one group, guided by sensory ninja, was assigned to find the genjutsu user whose true location was still unknown. If not dealt with, they couldn't rest easy. Though they could dispel genjutsu for each other now being together, the opponent's genjutsu remained a significant threat.

"Earth Release: Earth Mausoleum Dumpling"

Once their presence was revealed, the Iwa-nin showed their ferocious nature. A short and stocky Iwa Jonin used his chakra to create a nearly thirty-meter-diameter oval rock, hurling it towards their chosen target, Uchiha Tetsu, who had just used Earthquake Core.

For these Iwa-nin, the enemy who could pull them from underground to the surface was the one they needed to eliminate first.

Facing the approaching gigantic rock, which exuded an overwhelming crushing momentum, Uchiha Tetsu chose not to dodge. Two juniors were beside him; if he dodged, they would face grave danger.

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld"

Channeling his chakra, Uchiha Tetsu cast two advanced earth techniques in less than two seconds. Earth Surface Return blocked the initial attacks and obscured the Iwa-nins' vision, as the Iwa-nin disliked individual attacks, preferring to swarm. The Swamp of the Underworld stopped the Earth Mausoleum Dumpling while creating a swamp to trap the enormous stone.

This broke the Iwa-nin's subsequent attacks, buying time for his comrades to support him. 

"Watch your step!" 

He warned his comrades and leaped onto the earth wall he had created with Earth Surface Return. Where he had stood, a row of stone spikes burst from the ground—it was Earth Release: Earth Dragon Spear. The opponent used significant chakra for this, and spikes covered almost every area behind them. If not for his perceptive Sharingan, prompting them to leap onto a safe landing spot, they might have been skewered.

Fortunately, the Earth Mausoleum Dumpling was still sinking into the swamp, serving as an obstacle. Jumping up carelessly would be suicidal against the Iwa-nin.

As the massive rock obstacle sank, Uchiha Tetsu swiftly performed hand seals again. 

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu" 

He spewed a series of football-sized fireballs towards the Iwa-nin his Sharingan had detected. Although he knew advanced fire jutsu, he needed to conserve energy after using two advanced earth techniques consecutively, to avoid overtaxing his chakra network. 

Additionally—

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu"

Two fireballs, each six to seven meters in diameter, flew towards the enemies, radiating scorching heat and light. He wasn't alone; two clansmen, though not possessing Sharingan, could make their fire jutsu effective with his guidance. The limited power of the jutsu still threw the Iwa-nin into disarray.

Despite the ongoing attack, Uchiha Tetsu didn't cease his onslaught. He drew several kunai from his ninja pouch and hurled them at the exposed Iwa-nin, some equipped with explosive tags kept for such emergencies. 

(End of Chapter)