The black fleet, like steel behemoths emerging from the deep sea, tore through the azure ocean surface.

Over a hundred standardized warships formed a massive, oppressive attack formation, a dark mass that obscured the entire horizon.

The deck of every warship was crowded with Hidden Cloud Ninja wearing white combat uniforms, their expressions grim and murderous.

Eight thousand sharp gazes converged into a palpable killing intent, spanning the vast distance to pierce directly into the main island of the Land of Whirlpools.

Meanwhile, inside the military command center of the Land of Whirlpools, the atmosphere was starkly different from the tension outside; here, there was only a cold calmness.

On the massive strategic sand table, hundreds of red dots representing the Kumogakure Fleet were approaching the blue area representing the Land of Whirlpools with a slow and steady posture.

Around the sand table, dozens of Uchiha elite staff officers were rapidly processing the massive amount of intelligence transmitted from the skynet system.

"Reporting to Uzukage-sama and Minister Fugaku. The Kumogakure Fleet has entered within thirty kilometers of our territorial waters. Their speed has reduced to five knots, and they are now within the coverage range of our long-range firepower."

"The skynet system reports a total of 117 enemy warships, including one flagship, thirty-six large warships, and eighty medium assault ships. The number of Ninja is preliminarily confirmed at 8,123, and the Chakra reaction intensity basically matches the intelligence."

Uchiha Fugaku stood before the sand table, holding his fan, his expression as calm as water.

His gaze did not linger on the red dots representing the enemy's numbers but was locked onto another light screen on the side of the sand table.

That light screen was displaying real-time analysis of the Chakra fluctuations of the Kumogakure Fleet's command layer.

The two names at the very top were highlighted in striking red.

"Fourth Raikage A. Chakra attributes: Lightning, Earth, Water. Current status: Lightning Release Chakra activation, heart rate at 120 beats per minute, adrenaline levels continuously rising. Emotional assessment: Extremely excited, volatile."

"Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer Bee. Chakra attributes: Lightning, Water. Current status: 95% synchronization rate with Eight-Tails Chakra, emotions stable, but the flow of Chakra exhibits a unique, irregular rhythm. Behavioral pattern assessment: Unpredictable."

"Hmph, a buffalo that only thinks with its muscles, and an octopus that looks harmless but could go berserk at any moment."

A cold, hard arc curled at the corners of Fugaku's mouth.

"Shisui, how is the situation on your end?"

His voice was transmitted directly to the ears of Uchiha Shisui, who was atop the city walls, via the communication system within the command center.

"Minister Fugaku, the Gods Maelstrom barrier is operating normally, with energy output stable at 70%. The seven Mangekyō Sharingan clansmen maintaining the barrier are in good condition. The enemy's killing intent and pressure have not caused any substantial impact on the barrier."

Shisui's voice was as calm as ever.

"Very good."

Fugaku nodded, his gaze returning to the sand table.

"Order: All Chakra Cannon positions, maintain a three-minute rapid charge status, lock muzzles onto the predetermined coordinate Tianshu. Do not fire without my command."

"Order: Coast Guard, Uzumaki Feimo's unit, stand by in place, activate the large defensive barrier, and prepare to meet the first wave of impact."

"Order: Air combat unit, maintain radio silence, be ready to take off at any time, and execute the Lightning Blade plan."

Order after order was clearly issued; under Fugaku's command, the entire war machine of the Land of Whirlpools was like a precise living organism, with every joint moving in an orderly fashion.

Just then, a roar imbued with vast Chakra, like rolling thunder, came from the sea, causing the utensils in the command center to emit a slight hum.

"Uchiha of the Land of Whirlpools, listen to me!"

The arrogant voice of Fourth Raikage A clearly reached everyone's ears.

"I am the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure, A! I represent Hidden Cloud, and I am giving you one last chance!"

"Immediately deactivate the barrier and surrender all weapons! Furthermore, hand over all your clansmen who have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, as well as all core technologies of the Chakra Beam Cannon!"

"Otherwise, the eight thousand Hidden Cloud warriors behind me will, in an instant, wipe you and this island completely off the map!"

Inside the command center, several young Uchiha staff officers showed angry expressions on their faces.

"Arrogant bastard!"

"Do they really think we are lambs waiting to be slaughtered?"

Fugaku merely raised his hand and pressed down gently. All the murmurs vanished instantly.

His gaze passed over everyone and looked toward the figure in the deepest part of the command center who had not spoken from the beginning and was just sitting quietly on the throne: Uchiha Kei.

Floating in front of Kei was a virtual light screen that only he could see.

Data streams were refreshing on the light screen at a speed that transcended the limits of human comprehension.

【Enemy commander psychological model construction complete...】

【Personality keywords: Arrogant, violent, impulsive, extremely superstitious about one's own power, has post-traumatic stress disorder from being humiliated (stemming from the last withdrawal event)...】

【Behavioral prediction: After verbal threats prove ineffective, there is a 98.7% probability that they will choose to use overwhelming force for a frontal assault to prove their own strength and wash away past shame.】

【Countermeasure strategy deduction in progress...】

【Optimal solution: Psychological offensive.】

【Plan A: 'Divine Punishment' display. Success rate: 75%, can effectively destroy the enemy's grass-roots combat will, but may incite irrational fanaticism in the enemy commander.】

【Plan B: 'Dimensional Suppression'. Success rate: 92%, can disintegrate the enemy commander's will to fight from a cognitive level, but requires consuming a large amount of computing power and spiritual energy.】

【Plan C: 'Future Rehearsal'. Success rate: 99%, directly perform mental interference through the Kamui Dimension to show their future defeat. Risk: May expose core Kamui secrets.】

Kei's fingertip tapped lightly on the light screen.

【Plan B selected: Dimensional Suppression.】

He stood up slowly, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, which fused the hexagonal Shuriken and Taiji patterns, seemingly piercing through the walls of the command center and the golden barrier, landing directly on the man standing at the bow of the flagship like a raging lion.

The response to the Raikage's roar remained silence.

The massive golden barrier operated steadily, emitting a sacred and majestic light, as if the Raikage's threat were merely a breeze brushing past the ear.

Uzushiogakure inside the barrier was also like a sleeping city; no figures appeared, and no sound was emitted.

Time passed minute by minute.

The atmosphere on the sea was suppressed to the extreme.

"Big brother, they don't seem... to intend to pay attention to us."

Killer Bee stopped his rapping, and his tone became somewhat grave.

"Hmph, bluffing!"

The patience of Raikage A was being rapidly consumed.

In his view, there was only one explanation for the opponent's silence.

That was that they were strong on the outside but weak on the inside, fierce in appearance but cowardly at heart!

They must have used all their power to maintain this flashy but useless barrier, and they dared not come out to fight head-on.

They wanted to use this stalling tactic to exhaust his patience and make him retreat in the face of difficulties!

Just like last time!

Thinking of last time, when his fleet was scared off by this turtle shell and became the laughingstock of the entire Shinobi World, an uncontrollable rage surged wildly from the bottom of Raikage A's heart.

"I will not make the same mistake a second time!"

A tyrannical killing intent flashed in Raikage A's eyes.

He believed he had seen through Uchiha Kei's bluff.

"Pass on my order!"

He raised his right hand, covered in lightning, high into the air, preparing to issue the order for a full-scale attack.

"All fleets, Ninjutsu corps, prepare! Target, the barrier directly ahead! Give me your strongest firepower and conduct an indiscriminate covering bombardment! I want to watch this turtle shell get blasted to pieces right in front of me!"

Just before he gave the order, a huge Genjutsu projection suddenly appeared above the Land of Whirlpools.