A terrifying sea of flames descended from the sky, enveloping the flooded battlefield in an instant.
The Iwa-Suna Alliance shinobi, already paralyzed by continuous lightning attacks, barely had time to react.
Few could muster defensive jutsu in time, especially with Hui's Shadow Avatar One relentlessly channeling electricity into the water.
As fire met water, an immense cloud of steam rose, shrouding the battlefield in a thick, impenetrable mist.
The rising vapor concealed the devastation within, but it couldn't mask the sound as agonizing screams pierced the air.
At first irregular, the cries soon became a continuous, harrowing symphony of pain.
"Agh!"
Those closest to the edge of the devastation shuddered at the heart-wrenching screams.
The sight of steam drifting upward, tinged with the faint odor of burning flesh, sent chills down the spines of everyone watching.
Both sides' top-tier fighters paused momentarily, their gazes drawn to the steaming field of death.
The ferocity of Hui's attack momentarily halted all other combat.
Finally, after nearly a full minute, Shadow Avatar Two stopped channeling the fire.
Its chakra reserves were nearly depleted.
As the mist slowly dispersed, the gruesome scene was revealed.
Large portions of the floodwaters had evaporated entirely, leaving barren patches of scorched earth.
In the epicenter of the devastation, the ground was cracked and charred result of the continuous fire.
Corpses floated in the remaining water, horribly disfigured.
Many of the surviving shinobi bore grievous burns—scarlet flesh covered in grotesque, blistering welts. Swollen and blistered hands, faces, and bodies were unrecognizable as human.
Those still alive writhed in agony, rolling helplessly in the shallow water. The blisters on their bodies burst under pressure, each movement intensifying their suffering.
Their vocal cords, scorched by superheated steam, failed them; their hoarse, guttural cries were barely human, sending waves of unease rippling across the battlefield.
Be it the allied forces or the Konoha forces, everyone held their breath momentaruily.
Even Hui's main body frowned as he took in the horrific aftermath.
A pang of guilt flickered in his heart.
"This combination technique… perhaps it's too cruel. I'll classify it as a forbidden jutsu from now on, to be used only against the truly irredeemable."
In the field, Shadow Avatar Two glanced over the carnage and, with a sigh of discomfort, dispelled itself.
….
"A demon… he's a demon!"
A nearby Alliance shinobi trembled as he stared at Hui, terror reflected in his wide eyes.
The sight of his mutilated comrades broke something inside him; his instincts screamed for him to run.
"Sage Art: Earth Release—Land Rebirth!"
Shadow Avatar One executed its final technique.
The ground beneath the battlefield heaved and churned, burying the charred and flooded remains beneath a fresh layer of earth.
Hui's expression was somber as he directed his Avatar.
"Let it end here." The brutality of the previous moments was too much, even for him. Exposing more people to the horrors of the battlefield would only sow psychological scars.
As the land was restored, a strange silence blanketed the field.
Both sides hesitated, unwilling to set foot on the newly turned soil.
The eerie stillness lasted until the arriving Konoha reinforcements charged past, roaring as they rushed toward the enemy.
For many shinobi, the earlier devastation was only a vague memory.
Those farther back in the ranks had only seen the towering walls of sand and water, followed by the flames.
Ignorant of the full extent of the carnage, they threw themselves into the fray with renewed fervor.
…
The Battle Resumed
Despite losing several hundred more shinobi to Hui's devastating jutsu, the Iwa-Suna Alliance still had over 7,000 fighters—roughly equal in number to Konoha's forces.
However, numbers alone would not decide this battle.
While the Alliance boasted formidable mid-level strength, their top-tier fighters were outclassed.
Hui alone required the full attention of the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, and his apprentice, Ōnoki, just to hold him at bay.
Even then, Hui could break through their defenses at any time if he chose to prioritize disrupting the battlefield over engaging them.
Meanwhile, Konoha had another unstoppable force—Tobirama Senju.
If left unchecked, Tobirama could wreak havoc among the enemy ranks, forcing Shamon and the Third Kazekage to step in and contain him.
…
Adding to the chaos, Tobirama employed Edo Tensei to summon a contingent of powerful undead shinobi.
Their presence tipped the scales further in Konoha's favor.
Supporting Tobirama and Hui were the elite Uchiha and Hyūga clans, as well as other experienced Konoha shinobi.
Though they lacked Hui's spectacle or Tobirama's sheer power, their collective contributions were decisive, capable of shifting the tide in small skirmishes.
On the Alliance side, beyond Mu, Ōnoki, Shamon, and the Third Kazekage, there were few standouts.
Their Jinchūriki, while formidable, had yet to fully master their Tailed Beast powers.
They could only partially transform, making them strong but still far from their full potential.
The rest of their forces, while formidable, consisted primarily of bloodline and secret technique users whose abilities couldn't compete with Konoha's strongest.
As the battle progressed, the Alliance began to falter.
With Hui and Tobirama's overwhelming presence, and Konoha's coordinated assaults, the once formidable Iwa-Suna forces found themselves cornered and struggling to maintain cohesion.
High above the battlefield, Hui hovered on his Wings, facing Mu and Ōnoki.
"It seems this war will end today," Hui called down calmly, his voice carrying effortlessly over the chaotic battlefield.
Despite his limited aerial combat capabilities, Hui had no intention of retreating.
While he couldn't overpower Mu and Ōnoki outright, he didn't need to. His mere presence held their attention, ensuring they couldn't assist their comrades below.
Below, the battlefield belonged to Konoha. 'All I have to do is keep them occupied,' Hui thought, his eyes glinting with determination. 'The rest… is already decided.'
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