Ōnoki finished his jutsu, and countless sharp stone spikes, like thin bamboo shoots, erupted from the valley walls.
But Ōnoki's "Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Wall" jutsu was far more intricate.
These stone spikes continuously produced more spikes from their midsections, branching like the limbs of a tree.
In an instant, the valley was densely packed with spikes, striking down all the Hiraishin kunai Minato had thrown. Not a single kunai escaped the valley Ōnoki had painstakingly created.
Had Minato remained within the valley, his body would undoubtedly have been riddled with holes.
Earlier, while evading the giant golem's attacks, Minato had deliberately left several Hiraishin kunai scattered across the arena.
However, Ōnoki swiftly employed Earth Release techniques to bury these kunai beneath the ground, his objective being to render Minato's Hiraishin no Jutsu unusable.
From Ōnoki's perspective, Minato's only recourse was to utilize the Hiraishin no Jutsu to instantaneously teleport himself out of the arena to another location where he had previously established a Hiraishin mark.
Otherwise, he would inevitably be pierced by the countless sharp stone spikes.
And if Minato were to leave the arena, he would automatically forfeit the match.
Undeniably, Ōnoki demonstrated exceptional skill and cunning as a ninja. Even Minato, renowned for his superior battle intelligence, was completely outmaneuvered.
A profound silence descended upon the viewing platforms surrounding the arena, as everyone anxiously awaited the outcome, eager to ascertain whether Ōnoki's technique had proven effective in neutralizing Minato, and whether Minato had perished within the confines of the valley or had managed to escape its boundaries.
Ao, utilizing his Byakugan, observed the situation unfolding within the arena. He immediately detected the disappearance of Minato's chakra signature, replaced by a creature resembling a frog.
"That fellow… he's actually using this method to evade my attack. Truly unexpected," Ao remarked.
From his position on the viewing platform, Yusuke employed his spiritual power to perceive the situation within the valley. Upon discerning Minato's current state, he could not help but let out a chuckle of amusement.
While the spectators remained in suspense, awaiting the resolution of the match, a minuscule grey toad, remarkable for its exceptional speed, suddenly emerged from the valley.
Upon witnessing this development, Ōnoki instantly surmised the situation and prepared to launch an attack against the diminutive toad. However, he noticed that the toad had already completed a hand seal.
Abruptly, Ōnoki perceived a darkening of the ambient light, and an expansive shadow materialized beneath his feet, as if a colossal object were poised to descend from the heavens.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
It transpired that Minato had utilized the small grey toad to summon the gargantuan Gamakichi from a considerable height, intending to leverage the toad's impact upon landing to crush his opponent and generate an immensely powerful shockwave.
While this technique is typically employed against large groups of enemies, it proved to be a remarkably effective means of restricting the movement of his opponent in this particular context.
Given the expansive area covered by Gamakichi's descent, Ōnoki lacked sufficient time to evade the attack laterally. He was compelled to rapidly descend while simultaneously manipulating the giant stone golem to raise its arms high in an attempt to intercept the colossal Gamakichi.
Having sought refuge beneath the giant stone golem, Ōnoki swiftly commenced forming hand seals, preparing to unleash the "Dust Release" technique to eliminate the gargantuan toad descending from the heavens.
However, Minato, having concealed himself within the smaller toad using the "Toad Concealment Technique," emerged from his hiding place, simultaneously launching a kunai at Ōnoki before instantaneously teleporting to Ōnoki's side by means of the Hiraishin no Jutsu.
Ōnoki, startled by this unexpected development, immediately canceled the hand seals he was forming for the "Dust Release: Particle Style" technique and instantly executed a close-range attack, employing the "Earth Release: Earth Style Rock Fist" technique to concentrate a massive chunk of rock upon his arm for defensive purposes.
With a resounding thud, the enormous Gamakichi vanished, never actually making contact with the ground. At that very moment, Minato, his hand firmly pressed against Ōnoki's rock fist, displayed a triumphant smile.
Upon witnessing the smile on Minato's face, Ōnoki immediately recognized the gravity of the situation; he attempted to withdraw and retreat, but it was already too late.
With a flash of golden light, Minato stood alone in the center of the arena, while his opponent, Ōnoki, had vanished without a trace, having been unceremoniously transported beyond the confines of the arena by Minato's masterful application of the Hiraishin no Jutsu.
At this precise moment, upon the viewing platform occupied by the Konoha representatives, a diminutive, bald-headed elder, his face adorned with a flourishing white beard, unexpectedly materialized in the seat originally designated for Minato—none other than Tsuchikage Ōnoki himself.
"Tsuchikage-sama," Yusuke remarked with a smile, turning his gaze towards Ōnoki, whose expression still registered a state of bewilderment, "it appears that we have, by a stroke of good fortune, secured victory in this round."
Upon hearing Yusuke's voice, Ōnoki regained his composure and, shaking his head with a wry smile, conceded, "Truly, the younger generation is to be admired!"
It transpired that Minato had discreetly placed a Hiraishin mark upon his chair prior to the commencement of the match.
In a contest confined to a restricted arena, irrespective of the identity of his opponent, Minato had harbored no intention of employing lethal force; his strategy had simply involved teleporting his opponent beyond the boundaries of the arena.
Although Minato had not succeeded in defeating or subduing Ōnoki, he had nonetheless secured victory in the most straightforward manner imaginable.
Upon witnessing the defeat of Ōnoki at the hands of Konoha's representative, the expressions of the representatives from the three allied villages darkened considerably.
Having suffered two consecutive defeats, one of which involved the defeat of Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, the morale of the allied forces had been significantly undermined.
Following Ōnoki's defeat, he first utilized Earth Release techniques to restore the arena, which had been significantly damaged during the course of the battle, to a relatively level and smooth surface. Subsequently, Mifune, acting in his capacity as the impartial judge, announced the participants in the next contest.
"The third match will be between Itachi Uchiha of Konohagakure and Deidara of Iwagakure."
As Mifune's voice faded, two young ninjas stepped into the arena.
"Well, well, we meet again, though I never anticipated that we would find ourselves facing each other as opponents on this occasion!"
Deidara extended a greeting to Itachi, who stood before him.
The two had previously encountered each other in Wave Country, where Itachi had collaborated with Deidara to intercept Orochimaru.
"Did you manage to rescue Haku?" Itachi inquired.
Itachi expressed his surprise at the fact that Deidara, a missing-nin from Iwagakure, had been reinstated into the ranks of Iwagakure. Upon observing Deidara standing behind Ōnoki, Itachi found himself somewhat taken aback.
Deidara responded with a self-satisfied chuckle, "Indeed, I did. After Orochimaru and his underlings departed on a mission, I seized the opportunity to infiltrate their hideout, successfully rescuing Haku, and, quite incidentally, absconding with a rather sickly child."
Upon hearing that Deidara had discovered Orochimaru's hideout, a glimmer of interest appeared in Itachi's eyes, and he promptly questioned Deidara, "Would you be so kind as to provide me with the location of Orochimaru's hideout? It so happens that I, too, have a pressing need to pay him a visit."
Deidara shook his head, "I'm afraid you're in for a disappointment. I've reduced the entire place to rubble."
Upon hearing this news, a look of disappointment crossed Itachi's face. Given this development, it was highly probable that Orochimaru had already relocated his hideout, rendering any attempt to locate him futile.
At this point in the narrative, the inhabitants of Konohagakure remained entirely unaware of the fact that Orochimaru was currently under the control of Madara Uchiha.
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