Especially when facing the founders of these Villages.
Even a powerhouse like Second Hokage Tobirama Senju could only fight them back and forth, unable to possess absolute killing power.
For instance, the First Raikage's Lightning Release Ninjutsu Body Technique had speed and power sufficient to be immune to ordinary Ninjutsu attacks, while more powerful Ninjutsu required considerable preparation time to unleash, making it difficult to hit the opponent.
As for the First Mizukage, his development of Water Release was extraordinary; his Water Mist could block perception and vision, making him an absolute top-tier assassin for restraining conventional Ninja.
The First Tsuchikage's Dust Release, which meant certain death upon touch and injury upon grazing, combined with his flying ability, left almost no weaknesses.
For such powerhouses, unless it was someone like his elder brother Hashirama Senju or Uchiha Madara making a move.
Otherwise, with the current Ninja World, there was truly no way to stop them.
Unless the opponent made a serious mistake.
For example, if they were surrounded and still blindly fought to the death against a so-called Ninja army; otherwise, it was not easy to defeat them.
How could there be such foolish people in this Ninja World?
During this time, countless thoughts flashed through the mind of Senju Tobirama, who was the Hokage.
He knew that if the situation turned unfavorable for him, the only ones he could rely on were the Earth Spider Clan, with whom they had allied. The Forbidden Technique: Raging Lion Hair, mastered by the Earth Spider Clan, was immensely powerful. If they could cooperate effectively, they might truly be able to bury the opponent's First Kage in one fell swoop.
They might even be able to annihilate the opponent's entire Ninja army.
However, once such a method was employed, the consequences would be unimaginable. Both sides would inevitably form a deep-seated hatred, becoming irreconcilable enemies.
Furthermore, Senju Tobirama also had to consider that the opposing Villages might retaliate in kind, using the same methods against them.
More importantly, behind this Ninja World War was actually a conspiracy meticulously planned by the Daimyō of various countries to consume their populations by externalizing conflicts.
If the war ended too soon, the internal conflicts that could not be resolved on the battlefield might erupt like a volcano, bringing even greater disaster to the entire Ninja World.
Thinking of this, Senju Tobirama sighed inwardly and silently dismissed the idea of immediately using the power of the Earth Spider Clan. He decided to continue maintaining the current state of war, allowing it to prolong, to avoid worse situations from occurring.
Therefore, these factors were all excluded.
It was already quite difficult for Senju Tobirama to deal with the First Raikage, not to mention facing powerful opponents like the First Tsuchikage, First Mizukage, and First Kazekage.
Although he was confident in his own strength and did not believe he was weaker than the First Kage of various Villages, it was extremely difficult to gain a significant advantage when attacking under the leadership of such high-level powerhouses.
For this reason, a thought suddenly struck Senju Tobirama.
If I can't defeat you, can't I defeat your subordinates?
Not only will I defeat your subordinates.
I will also leave you as a lone commander.
Relying on his high mobility, Senju Tobirama, along with a group of elites, frantically attacked their logistics. A peak Kage-level powerhouse relentlessly targeted the Hidden Cloud Village's weaknesses, beginning a slaughter of their rear personnel, which forced the Hidden Cloud Village to constantly defend.
Due to the front-line battlefield.
After the Uchiha Clan's powerhouses stabilized the front line, the rear was continuously ambushed by Second Hokage Tobirama Senju.
For a time.
The Hidden Cloud Village was constantly running back and forth, being firmly suppressed.
Likewise, fortunately, the number of powerhouses remaining from Konoha's founding period was also quite considerable.
At the level of top-tier powerhouses.
There were also many individuals who, though not officially Kage, possessed Kage-level combat power.
For example, the Uchiha Clan's Great Elder, Uchiha Yue, who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, the former and current clan heads of the Hyuga Clan, Sarutobi Sasuke, Shimura Shishio, Fujino Chigun from a branch of the Senju Clan, and the Akimichi Clan, and so on and so forth...
In short, Konoha did not lack top-tier powerhouses.
This also provided them with sufficient confidence and assurance when facing attacks from other Village Kage.
Even if their individual strength was slightly inferior to such First Kage, the difference was not significant. If they could cooperate, these two Kage-level powerhouses, relying on their unique Bloodline Limits and Secret Techniques, were fully capable of engaging in fierce battles and contending with the opponent's First Kage, and might even suppress them.
Overall, the strength of both sides was comparable, making it difficult to determine a victor.
Therefore, putting aside those top-tier powerhouses, the true key to victory lay in the back-and-forth offensive and defensive battles, and the inherent resilience displayed when both sides fought to the bitter end.
In this situation, the battlefield became exceptionally brutal. Since both sides lacked logistical support, they naturally desperately squeezed resources from the areas they occupied.
Especially food.
As a crucial strategic material, its scarcity had caused everyone to discard their masks of kindness, becoming frenzied and plundering all resources by any means necessary.
“I told you, hand over the food! I told you to hand over the food!” With an angry roar, a Chunin leader of the Uchiha Clan suddenly stepped forward, his eyes wide and his menacing Sharingan revealing chilling killing intent. He tightly gripped a sharp kunai, its cold gleam flickering, as if he would pierce the person in front of him at any moment.
This Chunin leader stood at the very front, his body slightly leaning forward, exuding a ferocious aura. His voice, like thunder, echoed in the air, sending shivers down one's spine.
Behind him, more than a dozen Ninja followed closely. These Ninja were equally aggressive, holding various weapons, their faces contorted in menacing expressions, urgently threatening the group of monks.
“Hand over the food quickly, and we might kindly spare your lives,” one Ninja shouted viciously, his words full of threats and intimidation.
“If you dare to hide anything, once we find it, you will all be killed…” another Ninja added through gritted teeth, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
“Speak quickly, where have you hidden the food!” the Chunin leader roared again, his voice deafening, as if it would tear apart the very space.
However, facing this group of ferocious Ninja, the monks appeared unusually calm. They stood quietly in place, fearless, seemingly not taking the Ninja's threats seriously.
It was noteworthy that these Ninja were ragged all over, their clothes covered in dust and bloodstains, looking like a defeated army. Evidently, they had just endured a fierce battle to be in such a sorry state.
In the eyes of the monks, the Ninja's intentions were all too clear: they had simply suffered a defeat on the battlefield, escaped here to plunder, and attempted to seize some food and supplies from the temple. With the war having lasted so long, those within the war zone knew very well that they must hide their food resources.
Otherwise, only complete plunder awaited them.
Before, it was ordinary civilians, then wealthy merchants, and now, it was finally their turn, the monks!
However, these monks also understood clearly that if they truly handed over the food to these Ninja, they would likely not only lose their sustenance but also be killed by these cruel Ninja to prevent any leaks of information.
The facts were exactly as the monks had expected.
Despite facing the Ninja's formidable might, the monks were extremely reluctant, but ultimately, they helplessly revealed the location of the food they had secretly hidden.
However, what they never expected was that this action still resulted in a horrific massacre.
“Hmph, what a bunch of fools, trying to hoard food and not give it to us.” A Ninja, with his foot on a monk's smooth head, said disdainfully, looking at the lost and bewildered eyes, his heart filled with cold indifference.
This was the essence of a Ninja.
Weapons of slaughter.
Cruel and ruthless executioners.
The poor monks thus became the vengeful spirits under the blades of these defeated soldiers. Their lives were mercilessly taken in an instant, leaving behind only blood and innocent corpses, their hearts filled with grief and hatred as they returned to the Pure Land.
Only the sole survivor, Jigen, looked at the Ninja who ignored him and thought to himself, “They actually helped me solve the problem of my whereabouts and future troubles!”
Jigen watched the Uchiha leader and his Ninja depart, and couldn't help but sigh, “These Ninjutsu and Genjutsu in the Ninja World are indeed useful. I didn't waste my time learning them. It seems I should collect more of these Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Secret Techniques in the future. Some powerful Jutsu can even provide a significant boost for me!”
Ever since being deeply shaken by the Earth Spider Clan's Forbidden Technique last time, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki had only then realized that besides the descendants of the Six Paths Sage, the Senju Clan, and the Uchiha Clan—these lower bloodlines of the Ōtsutsuki—who relied on their bloodlines to show off their power.
The native inhabitants of the Ninja World could actually unleash such powerful attacks. Despite being so weak, they managed to achieve such powerful effects through the application of Jutsu.
Some medical application methods were even more unique.
Research that could delve into cells and even the spirit and soul astonished Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, a warrior himself.
As a high-ranking warrior of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was like a brilliant star. His flawless vision allowed him to discern the unique aspects of these natives.
Thus, under his influence, Jigen, who shared a body and mind with Isshiki, also began to learn eagerly, quickly embarking on collecting the powers of the Ninja World based on his communication with Isshiki.
With the power bestowed by Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, Jigen, like a ghost, first lurked in those small Villages, collecting their Secret Techniques.
Even small Villages, like hidden pearls, possessed their own unique Secret Techniques.
While these Secret Techniques could not increase the power ceiling of him and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, they were like sharp swords, enriching their arsenal of methods.
Moreover, when these Secret Techniques were used, they were like light butterflies, capable of achieving much greater effects with very little Chakra consumption.
In comparison, directly unleashing the Dojutsu and Space-Time abilities that used to consume massive amounts of Chakra was simply a world apart.
The same Secret Technique consumed even less than 1% of the Chakra of those powerful abilities, making them excellent substitutes.
Take the monk group he had just been with, no one would have imagined that these seemingly frail religious individuals actually possessed human Sage Mode abilities.
“How wonderful!” Jigen held the Sage Mode training scroll in his hand, a playful smile on his face.