Chapter 243: Great Fire Annihilation

"Enemy attack—!"

The Rock Hidden Ninja reacted sharply, and in an instant a flood of kunai and shuriken swished toward Madara.

But these attacks were easily dodged by Madara, and in the blink of an eye he was before a Rock Hidden Ninja.

The ninja, seeing this, swung the short blade in his hand at Madara.

Madara tilted slightly to evade the blade, then grabbed the attacker's wrist with his other hand.

A "crack" sounded, the bones shattered, the attacker winced in pain, and the short blade fell to the ground.

Madara lifted a foot and kicked him dozens of meters away, where he slammed into the courtyard wall.

"Whoosh—"

Another kunai flew toward Madara; this time he didn't dodge, but reached out, seized the kunai's handle, and threw it back.

The kunai's speed was even greater on its return, and the Iwa‑nin who had thrown it hadn't reacted before his own kunai struck him.

"Pfft—"

The sound of a blade entering flesh rang out, and the Iwa‑nin died on the spot.

"This guy… what kind of monster?!"

The remaining Iwa‑nin showed terror and dared not rush forward.

In the blink of an eye he had killed three comrades; how could they still dare to attack?

Being targeted by this guy leaves only a dead end!

"A swarm of ants," Madara snorted disdainfully.

He hadn't even finished his fun, and the group was already cowed.

Not even a single soul dared to step forward.

At that moment, more Iwa‑nin surged out of the mansion.

These were among the main forces of Iwagakure Village.

At the head was a middle‑aged man, his gaze dark as he stared at Madara.

They were acting on the orders of the Earth Shadow Lord, coming to the wealthy merchant's house to loot his wealth for war preparations.

The war between Iwagakure Village and Kirigakure Village has dragged on, and the village's funds are nearly exhausted.

A massive influx of money is urgently needed to keep the war going.

Originally the merchant was willing to fund Iwagakure Village for the war, but after some time he likely found the cost prohibitive and ultimately withdrew his aid.

This displeased Iwagakure Village's higher‑ups.

Thus they issued orders to seize the merchant's assets and appropriate them for military expenses.

The man at the front was sent by Iwagakure Village's leadership.

He had just arrived at the merchant's home and hadn't had time to locate the money when this incident occurred.

Someone audaciously dared to attack Iwa‑nin on Earth Country's territory.

It's as if they don't even consider Iwagakure Village!

"So that's it," Madara said, eyeing the emerging Iwa‑nin with a cold sneer, "The so‑called wealthy merchant is merely a puppet for Iwagakure's plundering of wealth."

Madara, who hails from the Warring States era, has seen too many of these.

In the Ninja World, without strength, having only wealth makes one a fat lamb for others to slaughter.

Not all ninja uphold professional ethics—namely, not killing civilians.

Some ninja, for profit, strike ordinary people; this is nothing unusual.

In this world, weakness is original sin.

Madara doesn't care about the truth; he only wants to kill the merchant quickly and return to the Fire Country.

As for the Iwa‑nin before him, just kill them on the spot…

To ensure the Moon's Eye project proceeds smoothly, anyone who has seen him must not leave alive.

After all, Madara had long ago killed Senju Hashirama.

"Who are you?!" the leading middle‑aged man shouted, "How dare you meddle in Iwagakure Village's affairs—asking for death!"

The guy in front of him actually attacked Iwagakure's ninja—utterly unforgivable; he must be killed!

Madara's Sharingan flickered slightly, his voice icy: "The weak are unworthy of knowing my name."

"Arrogant!"

The middle‑aged man roared, but before he could order his subordinates, Madara already formed hand seals and unleashed a ninjutsu.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

Towering flames surged like a tsunami, bearing a destructive, world‑shattering force.

"Form a formation quickly!" the middle‑aged man said, his face grim, realizing the opponent was stronger than he imagined.

Such power and scale of a Fire Release ninjutsu is certainly not something he can withstand alone.

It requires everyone's combined effort to resist!

Hearing this, the Rock Hidden Ninja swiftly formed hand seals with both hands, instantly activating Earth Release Ninjutsu, raising a thick earth wall from the ground to block the scorching flames.

The searing fire wave instantly devoured the earth wall; those ninjas who hadn't released their wall in time were instantly engulfed by the flames.

They let out heart‑rending wails, collapsing to the ground and rolling, trying to extinguish the fire on their bodies.

But it was futile; their cries faded, leaving only charred corpses.

The heat wave roiled, even the air twisted from the heat; the surviving Iwa‑nin sweated like rain, their faces horrified.

A single Fire Release ninjutsu caused them massive losses.

This guy is literally a monster!

Madara's oppressive presence even surpasses that of the Second Tsuchikage.

"Monster… he is the monster!"

The Iwa‑nin with weak mental endurance simply cannot stop the fear in their heart.

Madara Uchiha's figure flickered in the flames, like a hell‑born Asura returning, making those present feel a chilling dread.

He stepped forward slowly, each step as if treading on an enemy's heart.

The leading middle‑aged man turned pale, realizing there was no chance of defeating the opponent.

Who is this guy, who possesses such terrifying power?

He even experienced an illusion—

Even the Second Tsuchikage himself arriving would not be a match for the man in black robes before them.

When did the Ninja World first see such a monster appear?

Now they can only choose to retreat, take the news back to the Village so the higher‑ups can prepare.

"Run… run quickly!"

As his words fell, the remaining Rock Hidden Ninja immediately fled in all directions.

However, Madara Uchiha had already guessed they would run.

"Now you want to leave? Too late."

He suddenly surged into the crowd, launching a one‑sided slaughter.

Madara Uchiha's figure flickered like a wraith, Kunai slashing throats, fists and kicks shattering bones, fresh blood blooming under moonlight, and the Iwa‑nin's screams rose and fell.

Lian Ye watched everything from afar, feeling Madara's attack was extremely decisive, without any hesitation, truly a sight to relish.

"Truly worthy of the Ninja World Dance King…"

Soon only the leading middle‑aged man remained.

He now no longer had the previous arrogant aura, his face pale, eyes full of terror.

"You… you can't kill me!" the middle‑aged man kept retreating, his voice trembling: "I am the Earth Shadow Lord's…"

"Pfft—"

Fresh blood spurted, the middle‑aged man widened his eyes and slowly fell.

"Even if the Earth Shadow himself arrives, I will still kill without hesitation," Madara Uchiha said coldly.

The mere Second Tsuchikage, he doesn't even give him a glance.

The sandstorm subsided, and on the Battlefield only Madara Uchiha remained standing.

He was drenched in blood, his Sharingan flashing a dazzling red glow in the darkness, coldly scanning the corpses littering the ground.

Lian Ye came close, unable to hold back praise.

"Truly worthy of Lord Ban."

Madara Uchiha flicked the bloodstains from his hand and said lightly, "Go inside and find the wealthy merchant."

Lian Ye entered the mansion and soon emerged carrying the wealthy merchant's head.

"Mission accomplished, let's go."

Madara Uchiha turned and left, Lian Ye hurried after, and the two silhouettes gradually vanished into the darkness.

Only the bodies littered the ground, reflecting a scarlet hue in the night of Earth Country.