’Two thousand six hundred people.’

A glass-like gleam flashed through Shinichi’s eyes as he instantly calculated the numbers and distribution of every Kumogakure ninja within his field of vision.

The total force originally pursuing the Shinichi Battalion exceeded ten thousand, but many of them were merely Genin. Furthermore, after days of guerrilla harassment and constant interference tactics by the Shinichi Battalion, only three thousand true elites had managed to pursue them into this region.

And among those three thousand, more than three hundred had already died in the brutal clash with Danzo earlier.

The Kumogakure forces, still capable of fighting, now numbered just over two thousand six hundred.

But in terms of numbers, they still outnumbered Konoha’s side by more than seven to one.

Worse still, aside from himself and the thirty elite Root ninja, the remaining three hundred-plus battalion members were almost all injured, their chakra nearly exhausted, and their stamina heavily depleted.

If they fought head-on, there was only one possible outcome: Total annihilation.

And the most fatal issue had yet to come.

Among the earlier force of over ten thousand Village Hidden in the Cloud pursuers, although many were merely filler Genin, the remaining forces had certainly already received news from here.

The nearest elite units were probably already rushing here at full speed.

If the third Raikage on the front lines learned that the third Hokage had also arrived, he might directly turn his forces around regardless of the defensive line, leading the frontline army here himself. With a total of twenty thousand troops from both sides, they would be completely crushed in a pincer attack here.

If that happened, all the heavy damage and blows inflicted on the Village Hidden in the Cloud during this period would become a complete joke.

So they could only fight while retreating, absolutely refusing to become entangled in prolonged battle.

"I heard Elder Danzo is a master of Wind Style." Shinichi suddenly turned his head slightly and spoke calmly. "I wonder if I can witness it for myself today?"

Danzo snorted coldly. Though he had lost an arm, his aura had not weakened in the slightest. "Naturally, I won’t disappoint a kid like you!"

As he spoke, his remaining left hand had already begun forming seals like a phantom, the movements smooth and flowing without the slightest stiffness.

He originally thought Shinichi would also act in coordination with him, but unexpectedly, the boy merely nodded.

"Good."

The instant those words fell, the Kumogakure forces opposite them moved.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Flash!"

"Lightning Style: Lightning Spear!"

"Lightning Style: Lightning Flow!"

Various Lightning Style Ninjutsu erupted simultaneously from the hands of three hundred Kumogakure ninja.

Three hundred dazzling lightning beams, like violent silver pythons, intertwined, coiled, and fused in midair, ultimately transforming into a massive lightning net that covered the sky. Carrying the might to destroy everything, it tore through the night as it descended toward the Konoha group!

And at the exact same instant, the Village Hidden in the Cloud attacked...

Boom!!

Deep within the dense forest behind the Konoha group, a sudden change erupted!

A towering wave of flames, blazing like molten lava and surging like furious tides, burst out from the forest without warning. Like a dormant volcano suddenly awakening, crimson firelight shot into the sky, dyeing half the night red!

Hm?!

Danzo Shimura’s eyes narrowed, but his reaction was lightning-fast. Almost the instant the flames appeared, he had already taken a deep breath, his chest swelling like a bellows before opening his mouth and exhaling.

Wind Style: Vacuum Bomb!!

An extremely condensed high-pressure wind sphere blasted into the towering sea of flames like a cannonball!

The next moment, the wind fueled the flames, and the flames borrowed the power of the wind!

The high-pressure wind sphere crashed into the inferno like artillery. Wind and fire intertwined, resonating violently!

The blazing flames swelled several times larger with the aid of the wind, while the raging gale carried the flames’ destructive force like an overwhelming tidal wave.

It transformed into a devastating torrent of crimson and blue-white hue that incinerated everything, crashing head-on into the lightning net!

The Fire Style, secretly unleashed by Shinichi, and the Wind Style, exerted with full force by Danzo, were cooperating for the first time, yet their coordination was as seamless as if they had rehearsed it thousands of times before.

Boom!!!

The storm of wind and fire collided violently with the lightning net in the night sky! Light exploded outward, thunderous noise shook the heavens, and the violent energy turbulence transformed into ring-shaped shockwaves that swept wildly in every direction!

But at the very moment when the light was most blinding, the roar most deafening, and the aftermath of the collision had yet to fully spread, when everyone instinctively narrowed their eyes, Shinichi moved.

He did not look at the result of the Ninjutsu clash, nor did he pay attention to the turbulent chakra still raging ahead.

"Everyone! Fight while retreating!"

With a clear shout, the black Adamantine Nyoi in his hand swung through the air. His figure had already transformed into a blurred afterimage, charging first toward the right front where a Village Hidden in the Cloud hundred-man squad was rapidly moving, intending to cut into Konoha’s flank and rear to complete an encirclement!

Before the man arrived, the staff arrived first!

The black shadow of the staff descended like a collapsing mountain, carrying a crushing gale as it smashed heavily into the middle of the squad!

Dong!

The eight Kumogakure ninja charging at the very front did not even have time to raise a guard before they exploded into clouds of blood mist under the dull impact!

Facing such a horrifying sight, the Kumogakure forces remained calm despite their shock.

Countless kunai and shuriken shot out like torrential rain, followed closely by close-combat experts skilled in taijutsu and swordsmanship, while even farther back, Kumogakure ninjas had already begun rapidly forming hand seals.

But Shinichi’s figure did not pause in the slightest.

Bang!

He stomped down fiercely, causing the ground to explode! His body tore through the air, bringing with it shrieking winds!

Most of the incoming kunai and shuriken missed entirely. Of the few dozen that struck his body, the sharpness and force that could normally wound an ordinary ninja failed to leave even a white mark on his skin.

At this moment, he was like a heavy war chariot charging at full speed, avoiding the incoming Village Hidden in the Cloud’s taijutsu users while carrying an aura that treated thousands of troops as nothing. He charged directly toward the rear of the formation, where the Kumogakure ninjas had only completed one or two hand seals!

The Adamantine Nyoi rose once more!

Boom!!

Amid screams, several figures were sent flying like rag dolls!

Shinichi twisted his wrist, sweeping the staff horizontally. Wave-like shockwaves howled out alongside the staff’s momentum, like invisible giant hammers smashing the surrounding Kumogakure ninja into complete disarray!

In only seconds, this originally orderly hundred-man squad had fallen into chaos, its formation utterly shattered.

In a one-on-one death battle, with Shinichi’s current strength, he might still struggle to match Danzo Shimura after the latter had completely resolved his inner struggles and advanced even further in strength. (Specifically referring to Danzo in perfect condition.)

But when it came to charging through armies alone and breaking enemy formations, Danzo Shimura could not compare to the current Shinichi.

Especially Shinichi, wielding the Adamantine Nyoi, Danzo was far inferior in that regard.

In terms of such battlefield performance, perhaps only the third Raikage and the third Hokage, who also wielded the Adamantine Nyoi, could steadily suppress the current Shinichi.