Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 544 Previous Generation Shadow VS Contemporary Shadow (Part 1)

The masked man knew perfectly well that with the six terrifying beings he had created, no matter how astonishing the abilities of the Eight-Tails or the Nine-Tails, they would be utterly helpless before him. If he were willing to personally direct this hunt, then both the cunning Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails, hailed as the strongest tailed beast, would ultimately become his prey. Thinking this, the smile in the masked man's eyes deepened.

Led by the Fifth Kazekage Gaara, the Fifth Battalion was confronted by four figures—the former Kage! These once formidable figures had reappeared on the battlefield, putting immense pressure on the Fifth Battalion.

Faced with this sudden situation, the command center reacted swiftly, decisively issuing an order to retreat and await support. Gaara, as the leader, understood the importance and urgency of this decision, as he was acutely aware of the grave danger his team faced. Although he didn't fully grasp the specific strengths of the other former Kage, one thing was certain: those who became Kage possessed extraordinary power and were by no means ordinary individuals.

The person Gaara feared most was his own father—the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. Gaara knew his father's abilities and ninjutsu characteristics intimately. His father's ninjutsu was unparalleled in large-scale battles, especially in the current environment where it could unleash unimaginable power. A rash confrontation with his father would not only inflict heavy losses on his team but could even lead to the failure of the entire mission.

With that in mind, Gaara carried out the command's order without hesitation, directing his team to retreat in an orderly fashion. Although he was filled with resentment, he knew that preserving their strength and waiting for reinforcements was the wisest choice at the moment.

Not to mention, there were three other former Kage from different ninja villages present! Among them, the renowned and awe-inspiring Third Raikage was an absolute force to be reckoned with. According to records, the Third Raikage was alone, surrounded by nearly ten thousand Iwa ninja, and this breathtaking battle lasted for three days and three nights. Ultimately, tragically, the Third Raikage succumbed to exhaustion and died. However, it is important to note that these detailed records clearly state that the Third Raikage was not directly killed or defeated by the nearly ten thousand Iwa ninja, but rather succumbed to his own exhaustion after a prolonged battle. This means that even facing such a massive Iwa ninja army, the Third Raikage displayed unparalleled strength and unwavering will, to the point that even with their combined efforts, the tens of thousands of Iwa ninja could only achieve victory by gradually wearing him down, but could not truly defeat him. This shows that the Third Raikage's strength was unparalleled, which is truly amazing!

As for the other two Kage, Gaara wasn't particularly clear on the matter. The era of the Second Tsuchikage and the Second Mizukage was far too distant from the present. For a new generation ninja like himself, knowing the true strength of these two powerful predecessors was truly difficult. However, according to intelligence from command, the Bloodline Limit Technique, which has been passed down and highly valued in Iwagakure (the Hidden Stone Village) of the Land of Earth, was precisely the result of the Second Tsuchikage's meticulous research and development!

This Bloodline Limit Technique is truly extraordinary; it's hailed as one of the most powerful offensive ninjutsu in the entire ninja world! Its power and influence are so immense that everyone must take notice. Therefore, it's clear that this Second Tsuchikage was an exceptionally strong individual with astonishing talent and strength.

Let's talk about the Second Mizukage. Rumor has it that he was able to fight the Second Tsuchikage to the very end, resulting in a mutual destruction! This alone is enough to prove that the Second Mizukage was no ordinary person. To have the ability to contend with the Second Tsuchikage, his own strength must be unfathomable!

Faced with such a formidable and suffocating lineup, Gaara, despite his unwavering confidence in his abilities, felt his initial arrogance deflate like a punctured balloon when confronted with four former Kage simultaneously. These four were, after all, legendary figures who had once dominated their respective regions and were renowned throughout the ninja world! Their combat experience and exquisite ninjutsu were far beyond the reach of ordinary ninjas.

Moreover, each of the ninjas standing before him was an undisputed pillar of their respective villages. They represented the honor and hope of their villages, and if this battle resulted in too many casualties among them, it would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to the entire village, potentially even damaging its very foundation and severely weakening it. Therefore, Gaara had to carefully weigh the pros and cons during the battle, trying to find ways to deal with the fierce attacks of the powerful enemy while doing his utmost to protect his comrades and minimize unnecessary sacrifices.

Meanwhile, in the command post at the rear, the atmosphere was heavy. The Tsuchikage, Onoki, sat in the center, his face grim as he stared at the intelligence reports coming from the front. When he learned that the Second Tsuchikage had appeared on the battlefield, his heart sank, instantly realizing the gravity of the situation. With the Second Tsuchikage's unfathomable strength, perhaps only he himself could contend with him.

The other Kage around him also wore serious expressions, exchanging silent glances. They didn't raise any objections to Onoki's impending departure for the battlefield. They all understood that this might be the best way to resolve the current predicament of the Fifth Battalion.

"I wonder how strong those previous Kage are, and how much pressure they can put on me? I hope they won't disappoint me!" Thinking of this, Hyuga Neji, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up. He looked at Onoki with firm eyes and said without hesitation, "Tsuchikage-sama, please allow me to go with you!" His voice was strong and full of determination.

It turns out that Hyuga Neji's initial motivation for throwing himself into this brutal war was not simply to fulfill a ninja's mission. He longed to face the immense challenge and heavy pressure posed by a powerful enemy in fierce battle, hoping to unleash his potential through this life-or-death struggle and break through his current limitations to reach a higher level.

Before the many Kage-level shinobi of the past, he saw a golden opportunity to realize his dream. These legendary figures, once renowned throughout the shinobi world, were undoubtedly the opponents he had longed for. Faced with such a rare opportunity, Hyuga Neji naturally did not want to miss it.

At that moment, the atmosphere in the arena suddenly became somewhat subtle. Upon hearing Hyuga Neji's words, a strange, indescribable expression appeared on everyone's faces. Although they weren't entirely clear about the exact strength of this young ninja—Hyuga Neji—he was, after all, the personal disciple of the renowned Hyuga Kanan! With such a background and status, his true strength was undoubtedly considerable.

Now, Neji Hyuga had actually made a request that might increase their chances of winning, which undoubtedly stirred the hearts of everyone present. How could they possibly refuse such a proposal? On the contrary, everyone secretly welcomed and looked forward to this idea.

After all, things are often unpredictable. Perhaps in the fierce battle to come, Hyuga Neji might unfortunately suffer a severe injury! This could actually attract the attention of Hyuga Kanan. If he could use this opportunity to entice the man hailed as the strongest ninja in the world, Hyuga Kanan, to personally lend a hand, then this originally uncertain contest might take a completely new turn…

With everyone present unanimously agreeing, the highly respected and exceptionally capable senior, Onoki, led the young and promising Hyuga Neji without hesitation, rushing towards the fierce battlefield where the Fifth Battalion was located. Their purpose was very clear: to provide strong support to Gaara, who was fighting valiantly against the enemy there, thereby significantly increasing their chances of ultimate victory. Along the way, Onoki's expression was solemn; he knew that this battle was crucial to the overall war effort. Hyuga Neji followed closely behind, his eyes resolute, his heart filled with anticipation and determination for the upcoming fierce battle.

Without a doubt, this battle is the crucial core of the entire battlefield! Its importance is self-evident. If the four former Kage summoned through the Impure World Reincarnation technique can be defeated and completely annihilated, it will undoubtedly be an extremely significant and exhilarating victory for the entire Allied Shinobi Forces. This will surely give all the fighting shinobi boundless courage and confidence, making them even more convinced that they will ultimately defeat the enemy and win this fierce war. Because this is not merely a simple contest of victory or defeat, but a life-or-death battle concerning the future destiny of the entire shinobi world! Therefore, no matter the cost, they must go all out to strive for this crucial victory.

The Fourth Shinobi World War, instigated by the enigmatic masked man, has finally reached its most thrilling and crucial moment, like a raging storm! The previous series of intense and astonishing battles, despite their unimaginable brutality, had kept the Kage of the various ninja villages at bay, refusing to personally step onto the blood-soaked battlefield. However, the situation has now drastically changed—the Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, and the Tsuchikage, Onoki, have both stepped forward, resolutely throwing themselves into this uncertain war! Their presence on the front lines undoubtedly sends a powerful signal to the entire ninja world: this war has entered its decisive phase.