When Kakashi returned after setting up the traps, he felt the atmosphere was strange. However, given the current tense situation, he couldn't ask too many questions and simply stood silently beside Naraku.
"Naraku! Kakashi!"
A flash of yellow lightning flickered, and Minato abruptly appeared inside the room, speaking rapidly. "Quickly, take the Fourth Young Master and withdraw! This place is already—"
Boom—!!!
A tremendous roar shook the ground, causing it to tremor slightly.
In an instant, a cold glint sliced horizontally, shearing off the entire roof. Under the moonlight, Naraku and Kakashi saw the attacker suspended in mid-air.
He was tall and strong, wearing a mask that revealed only his fierce, glowing eyes. Numerous black tendrils sprouted from his back, thrashing and dancing wildly like living creatures.
But judging from the chilling malevolence at the tips of those tendrils, the one that had just shredded the house was merely one of many.
No way... Naraku's pupils constricted, and his heart sank halfway.
Kakuzu...?!
"Hah!"
A rough roar sounded from the left. Kakuzu, who had just been in mid-air, was sent flying by a kick from a man enveloped in a faint green glow. He crashed heavily into a distant house, sending dust and debris flying.
Good, good. We have Uncle Dai and Minato on our side; they can fight.
Naraku exhaled, tightened his grip on Matsukata Seigou's wrist, and pulled him along to retreat quickly.
He also called out to Kakashi, "Hurry, Kakashi!"
Kakuzu's chakra surge alone was immense. Everyone present knew this was not a battle a Chunin could participate in. The correct course of action was to flee quickly with those who needed protection.
Of course, Might Duy was an exception. Minato and Kazama Resshou knew his skill level, and participating in a group battle was generally not an issue for him.
As Naraku and Kakashi ran off with their employer's son, Minato and the other ninja finally let loose, unleashing powerful ninjutsu that slammed into Kakuzu, shaking the ground repeatedly.
Unfortunately, most of the attacks were blocked by the black tendrils, causing little damage.
"What kind of monster is this, anyway?"
Kazama Resshou cursed, quickly forming hand signs.
Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!
A massive water dragon flew out from in front of him, speeding towards Kakuzu's back.
Kakuzu didn't even turn his head. Countless electrical arcs appeared around one of the masks on his back.
Lightning Release: False Darkness!
A thick torrent of lightning, shaped like a spear, shot out from the mask's mouth. It easily shattered the water dragon and, carrying overwhelming residual power, struck towards Kazama Resshou.
"Kazama!" Minato shouted.
If he had taken that head-on, even if he miraculously survived, he would have lost his ability to fight.
Fortunately, Kazama Resshou used the Substitution Jutsu just in time, narrowly dodging the attack. He staggered to his feet in a corner.
Minato's gaze at Kakuzu was filled with intense killing intent, completely different from his usual gentle and sunny demeanor in Konoha Village.
How could he have earned the title "Yellow Flash" just for having a nice smile?
He had earned it by cutting down enemies one by one on the battlefields of the looming Third Great Ninja War!
Minato created two Shadow Clones, then turned to Might Duy, who had opened the Third Gate. "Senior Dai, I need you to cooperate with me."
"Alright! Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain, Open! Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit, Open!"
Might Duy, seeing that the opponent was too strong, decided to open the Fifth Gate to create an opportunity for his comrades.
Violent chakra wrapped around Might Duy, turning his skin crimson. It was clear at a glance that this technique placed an immense burden on his body.
Minato looked at him gravely, then focused all his attention on how to deal with Kakuzu.
Might Duy attacked first. Opening the Fifth Gate gave him extreme speed and immense strength, allowing him to contend with a powerhouse of Kakuzu's caliber and briefly suppress him.
"Konoha: Rock-Destroying Rise!"
Might Duy's final, full-power elbow strike lifted Kakuzu's body off the ground. However, Kakuzu had hardened his body with Earth Release, sustaining little damage. Two tendrils from his back seized the opportunity to strike Might Duy's back, sending him flying.
Minato's two Shadow Clones crossed paths and approached. One threw a shuriken while forming hand signs.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!
In an instant, the shuriken multiplied from one to two, two to four, four to eight... until it densely covered half the sky. Carrying blades formed by Wind Release, they assailed Kakuzu like a rainstorm before he could land.
Kakuzu showed no panic. One of the masks on his back shifted to his shoulder, emitting chakra fluctuations.
Wind Release: Pressure Damage!
In an instant, a violent gale swept through the entire courtyard. Not even the surrounding houses were spared; they were shredded and blown into the sky, along with all of Minato's shuriken Shadow Clones, which were completely swept away.
The moment after Wind Release: Pressure Damage was activated, Minato's two Shadow Clones arrived in front of and behind Kakuzu, respectively.
One was immediately dispersed by Kakuzu. The other merely touched one of the masks on his back with its palm before being struck by an elbow and popping into smoke.
Kakuzu, unaware of what Minato had done to the mask, immediately used it. Massive chakra gathered, and the air around his body distorted from the high temperature.
Fire Release: Searing Migraine!
A tidal wave of immense fire surged from the mask's mouth. Upon hitting the ground, the flames instantly expanded dozens of times, rapidly sweeping outwards.
The Konoha ninja retreated one after another. Just as the fire wave was about to engulf everyone, Kazama Resshou once again used a large-scale Water Release.
Water Release: Multiple Water Formation Walls!
The wide, thick water walls collided with the sea of fire, extinguishing a portion of the flames in time, but they were quickly consumed. A considerable portion of the Searing Migraine still remained.
At that moment, Ishikawa arrived just in time to reinforce the defense.
Water Release: Great Water Formation Wall!
The Water Wall he unleashed was no less powerful than Kazama Resshou's, finally blocking the last of the fire wave.
The air was filled with damp, scalding steam that restricted their breathing. Minato used a Wind Release technique, finally blowing away the high-temperature steam.
Minato looked at Ishikawa, who had clearly come as reinforcement, and asked, "What about Matsukata-sama...?"
"He's fine. It was the Master who sent me," Ishikawa said, staring intently at Kakuzu. "He must die here today!"
Minato warned, "Don't be careless. This man's ninjutsu is very strange, and his power is extremely high."
"Ah, I know."
Ishikawa drew his greatsword, standing ready.
With his eyes fixed on Kakuzu's movements, Minato whispered, "I can get close to him, but I need a suitable opportunity."
Ishikawa nodded. "Understood."
Might Duy jumped to their side with a heavy aura, his hair floating slightly in the boiling chakra. "I'll attack first, as always."
"Good."
"Good."
...
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