Ninjutsu of various attributes rained down from above, toppling the Bai Jue soldiers at the forefront before they even got close, resulting in heavy casualties for Bai Jue.

Su Xiao had anticipated this situation, but he never expected Bai Jue’s team cooperation to be this terrible.

In a subterranean cave in the forest near the battlefield, Kabuto’s expression was less than pleased. As the commander of Bai Jue, he had tried his best to maintain their formation, but Bai Jue’s teamwork was simply too poor. Each Bai Jue had its own independent consciousness.

The Bai Jue army consists of copies of dumb Bai Jue, not clones, meaning each Bai Jue is an independent entity. This has its advantages and disadvantages.

The shouts of battle echoed across the field. After approximately 3000 Bai Jue had been wiped out by the ninjas, they reached the front of the Ninja Union Army, and both sides commenced close combat.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they clashed, many of the Chunin at the front of the Ninja Alliance began to collapse on a large scale.

Although Su Xiao had suggested a battle formation, due to the poor cooperation of the Bai Jue copies and insufficient training time, it couldn’t be realized. However, the wooden shields and spears wielded by Bai Jue were crucial.

Ninjas mostly wield Kunai or Shuriken, weapons that are short, lack hand-guard structures, and are inherently dangerous due to their triangular blades primarily suited for stabbing. In a large-scale melee, they are practically worthless.

The Ninja Union Army knew Kunai was unsuitable for warfare, but what could they do? Over 90% of ninjas used Kunai regularly, and changing their weapons would be sending them to their deaths.

In contrast, each Bai Jue carried a large shield, 1 meter wide and 2 meters tall, attached to their left hand.

When a Kunai strikes the wooden shield, at best, it leaves a hole and could get stuck, making it hard to hurt the Bai Jue behind unless the ninja wielding it was significantly stronger.

The Bai Jue wielded wooden spears, each about 1.6 meters long, not overly long but relatively flexible.

With the Kunai being over 20 centimeters, facing off against a 1.6-meter spear, the outcome was obvious.

Pooch, pooch...

The sound of blades piercing flesh continually rang out, as one ninja after another fell, their cries of pain and the wails of the seriously injured filled the air.

Past ninja wars were never this brutal. Shields and spears, considered unfair weapons, were absent, while ninjas engaged in close combat with Kunai or relied on pure Taijutsu.

Blood soaked into the yellow sand, with Bai Jue suffering around 4000 casualties and the Ninja Union Army about 2000 after the first charge. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

In an instant, the battlefield turned into hell. Compared to past ninja wars, this was what a real war should look like.

"Kabuto, have Bai Jue retreat."

Su Xiao stood at a high ground, knowing Kabuto could hear him.

With a bang, a coffin appeared behind Su Xiao, it was the Second Tsuchikage: Mu.

"Why retreat?"

Kabuto, controlling Mu, spoke up.

"The two sides haven’t fully engaged; have Bai Jue form a battle formation while they can, if the stepping is off, have them step at a shout."

"I’ll give it a try."

Kabuto began directing Bai Jue to reform their battle formation. Or rather, he couldn’t fully control Bai Jue, only command them.

Soon, the Bai Jue on the battlefield began slowly retreating. They struggled to form a battle formation during the charge, but now there were no such issues.

The frontmost Bai Jue resisted the ninjas’ assault, while those behind gradually formed a battle formation.

The Ninja Union Army was dumbfounded, regardless of perception troops or individuals like Huang Tu, they couldn’t understand Bai Jue’s actions. Clearly holding an advantage, why retreat?

Though Huang Tu couldn’t grasp Bai Jue’s intentions, he quickly regrouped the almost scattered ninja troops.

Seconds later, the Ninja Union Army stabilized their position. The disadvantage of short weapons cost them dearly, but by then, Bai Jue had already formed their array.

Bai Jue’s shout brand and step forward, slow in movement but walking in unison.

At that moment, the ragtag Bai Jue seemed to exert a massive military pressure. The ninjas, accustomed to assassinations or small-scale battles, had never witnessed such a sight, causing them to instinctively step back.

"No retreat allowed!!"

Huang Tu shouted, understanding fully that a retreat would mean giving up on the war.

Bai Jue pushed forward, shields upfront, their unified shouts present an imposing threat.

Ninjas looked at their Kunai then at the two-meter-tall shields, feelings of frustration and futility overwhelming them. How to fight this?

"Continue using combined Ninjutsu."

Huang Tu had some sense as a commander. Upon receiving the order, ninjas immediately resorted to combined Ninjutsu.

Water geysers shot into the sky, while flames rampaged across the desert, adding more casualties to Bai Jue.

Still, Bai Jue pressed on towards the Ninja Union Army. Kabuto, directing them, knew ninja Chakra had limits, and they couldn’t maintain such large-scale combined techniques indefinitely.

Indeed, after Bai Jue casualties exceeded 6000, they reached the Ninja Union Army’s front.

In such large-scale battles, kiting strategies simply don’t work. One wrong move leads to a complete rout, severing the kite’s strings. If the Ninja Union Army retreats, Bai Jue will abandon their formations and shields, swarming in and dooming the ninjas.

Bam, bam, bam...

Kunai lodged into wooden shields, countered by long weapons — wooden spears. In just one round, the Ninja Union Army saw a large number fall.

The brutal slaughter began, and five minutes later, ninjas and Bai Jue engaged in close combat, entirely intertwined.

The Second Troop was supposed to hold Bai Jue back, composed mostly of Taijutsu ninjas. If they could stall Bai Jue, the rear long-range forces might use large-scale combined Ninjutsu to sweep through.

However, the rear troops were intercepted by other Bai Jue forces, cannon fodder through and through.

Once engaged in close combat, the Second Troop found retreat wasn’t an option.

Su Xiao leaped off a stone pillar, ready to join the fight. He hadn’t felt this chaotic battle spirit in a while.

With a loud crash, Su Xiao’s stone pillar shattered. He launched himself into the battle like a rocket.

Boom!

Sand scattered as Su Xiao landed among a crowd of ninjas. Huang Tu, monitoring Su Xiao from afar, was visibly stunned seeing him leap into the fray, bewildered by what seemed a suicide charge.

"Hei Tu, Hinata Hyuga, Karui, Neji Hyuga, join me in encircling and killing the enemy’s key member, Bai Ye."

"Understood."

Hinata Hyuga assumed the Hyuga style stance, though it puzzled some seeing her right arm intact. Su Xiao had severed Hinata’s right arm on his last visit to the Naruto World, yet her right hand was clad in a black glove.