Hoshiyomi turned back to stare at the huge chasm Ōnoki had left, slamming his fist angrily into the ground. That single use of Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique had caused at least two to three hundred casualties.
Damn it—who would've thought that old Ōnoki would shamelessly come down himself, and bring the Four-Tails' jinchūriki along. Didn't he care about saving face?
Whether people would later mock him or not aside, with those two combined, Konoha's two thousand shinobi really couldn't hold back that destruction.
Dust Release was developed by the Second Tsuchikage Mu— a kekkei tōta whose destructive power surpassed ordinary kekkei genkai.
In fact, apart from the Six Paths' power and the Rinnegan's Preta Path, there are almost no examples of something that directly counters Dust Release. Even Edo Madara's scaled Susanoo and the Wood–Tree World had been cut by Ōnoki.
In the present age, if Ōnoki's Dust Release hits you, it's basically invincible.
Rōshi, the Four-Tails' jinchūriki, was just as terrifying. Hoshiyomi had already seen Lava Release's destructive force before, and as a jinchūriki Rōshi's stamina far outstripped his brother's. Under wide-area magma attacks, Konoha shinobi had nowhere to hide.
Compared to Ōnoki, Rōshi might even be the greater threat. Ōnoki's Dust Release was deadly but extremely chakra-consuming. In the original encounter with Madara he could only trigger it three to five times even while fighting for his life; here Ōnoki wouldn't waste tons of chakra on ordinary shinobi—the primary target was Hoshiyomi.
By contrast, the Four-Tails could spew lava without such strict limits. In the coming fight they had to prioritize dealing with him first.
Even in such danger, Hoshiyomi never thought of retreat. Instead, a fierce fighting spirit rose inside him.
He'd never been one to accept defeat. Years of training and combat had cultivated his sword heart—he was no longer the shut-in who lived in a peaceful era. His twenty-plus years as a shinobi had also changed him, giving him his own fighting spirit, the courage to go against the flow, and the conviction of a true "Swordmaster" who could cut down anything in the three worlds.
So what if it was the Third Tsuchikage? So what if it was the Four-Tails? If he cowered because they appeared, how could he ever reach the realm of a Sword Saint?
Perhaps Hoshiyomi didn't fully notice it himself, but in that instant his mindset shifted dramatically. His spirit, energy, and will underwent a major transformation. The surge of battle-lust sent his blood racing and his aura rose to a brand-new height.
Just standing there, he was like an peerless, incredibly sharp blade. The sharpness of his aura was so intense it could almost cut someone's eyes.
If Hoshiyomi had been paying attention to his "Sword Heart System" at that moment, he would have been surprised to find a new message: "The host has comprehended the Heart of a Swordmaster. Experience +50!"
Hoshiyomi glanced around. Minato and Kuugetsu were both unharmed. Seishō and Hokushin had also escaped the Dust Release's range, just like Jiraiya and Shinku. This was a silver lining in an unfortunate situation
Seeing that Konohagakure's top fighters were all fine, Hoshiyomi felt even more confident. After looking at Onoki and Roshi in the distance, Hoshiyomi quickly formulated a battle plan in his mind.
Against opponents like these, they could not rely on numbers to wear them down. Only concentrated, high-level combat power could meet them head-on.
Hoshiyomi turned to Jiraiya and Shinku, voice full of fighting spirit: "Shinku, Jiraiya, do you dare to come with me and face them?"
Shinku and Jiraiya were still in a state of shock from Onoki's sudden appearance. When they heard Hoshiyomi say he was going to fight Onoki and the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, they were startled. They subconsciously wanted to turn back and ask Hoshiyomi if he was crazy.
But when they turned around, they found that Hoshiyomi had changed. Not in his physical appearance, but in his aura and spirit. Seeing Hoshiyomi standing proudly like a sharp sword, they were both unconsciously inspired and influenced, and they felt ashamed of their previous fear and cowardice.
Jiraiya, who had been a bit dejected because of the heavy casualties, once again showed his bold and heroic nature. He looked at Hoshiyomi and laughed. "What is there to be afraid of? Today, I will let the world see my spirit. If I can get a title other than the Sannin, that would be even better!"
Shinku saw the interaction between the two and also brought out his fighting spirit. He said to them with a laugh, "Isn't that right? At least you, Jiraiya, have the title of Sannin. Among the six of us, I'm the only one without a title. Today, after fighting the Third Tsuchikage, it should be my turn for Yūhi Shinku to be famous throughout the shinobi world."
The sight of the three of them bantering in the face of the Four-Tails' jinchūriki and the Third Tsuchikage left the surrounding Konoha shinobi stunned.
Minato and Kuugetsu, who had been shaken by the overwhelming power of Onoki's Dust Release, felt their fear melt away upon hearing the trio's lighthearted words.
Emotion was contagious. More and more Konoha shinobi shook off their dread, strength returning to their legs. They stood again, moving to gather around Hoshiyomi, awaiting his command.
Seeing them, Hoshiyomi smiled.
"You're all fine shinobi. But this fight isn't one you can join. We need every able fighter preserved to deal with the rest of Iwagakure's forces.
Follow my orders—fall back ten kilometers, and watch how we deal with the Third Tsuchikage!"
"Yes!"
The voices of the surviving Konoha shinobi rang out in unison, shaking the clouds. Hearing that roar, Onoki and Rōshi's expressions both changed.
The sound carried all the way to the Iwagakure encampment, where their comrades looked at each other in confusion. Could it be that Konoha's shinobi weren't afraid of the Tsuchikage?
Rōshi's eyes fell on Hoshiyomi's proud, blade-bearing stance. For a moment, he could not even describe the feeling in his heart. This was the man who had killed his brother—yet the razor-sharp aura he radiated inspired a reluctant admiration.
Onoki's gaze grew colder still. Power was one thing, but this kind of charisma and presence—this was what was truly dangerous. Compared to Hoshiyomi Gekkō, his own younger self seemed pitifully small.
In that moment, Onoki's decision hardened. Hoshiyomi Gekkō could not be allowed to live. If he grew any further, and succeeded the Third Hokage, Iwagakure would never see another chance to rise.