When Kakashi returned after setting up the traps, he felt the atmosphere was strange, but with the current tense situation, he couldn't ask too many questions and silently stood beside Naraku.
"Naraku! Kakashi!"
A string of golden lightning flashed, and Minato abruptly appeared indoors, speaking rapidly: "Quickly take the Fourth Young Master and withdraw! This place is already—"
Boom—!!!
After a tremendous roar, even the ground experienced a slight tremor.
In an instant, a cold gleam horizontally sliced off the entire roof. Under the moonlight, Naraku and Kakashi saw the attacker suspended in mid-air.
He was strong, tall, and wore a mask on his face, revealing only his fierce, glowing eyes. Many black tentacles grew from his back, thrashing and dancing wildly like living creatures.
But judging from the chilling malevolence at the tips of those tentacles, the one that had just shredded the house was merely one of them.
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 kicked flying by a man with a faint green glow around him, crashing heavily into a more distant house, sending dust flying everywhere.
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 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 quickly flee 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 brawl was generally not an issue for him.
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 three times over.
Unfortunately, most of them were blocked by the black tentacles, 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, like a spear, shot out from the mask's mouth, easily shattering the water dragon, and with its overwhelming residual power, struck Kazama Resshou.
"Kazama!" Minato shouted.
If he had taken that head-on, even if he miraculously survived, he would lose his fighting ability.
Fortunately, Kazama Resshou used Substitution Jutsu just in time, narrowly dodging the attack. He was now staggering 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 good smile?
He had earned it by cutting down enemies one by one on the battlefields of the coming Third Great Ninja War!
Minato created two Shadow Clones, then turned to Might Duy, who had opened the Third Gate, and said, "Senior Duy, 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, solely to create an opportunity for his comrades.
Violent Chakra wrapped around Might Duy, even 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 for a few moves.
"Konoha: Strong Rock Ascent!"
Might Duy's final, full-power elbow strike lifted Kakuzu's body off the ground, but Kakuzu had hardened his body with Earth Release, sustaining little damage. Two tentacles from his back also seized the opportunity to strike Might Duy's back, sending him flying.
Minato's two Shadow Clones crossed paths and approached first. One threw a shuriken, forming a few hand signs.
shuriken: Shadow Clone Jutsu!
In an instant, this shuriken, at a speed almost impossible to see, multiplied from one to two, two to four, four to eight... until it densely covered half the sky, carrying blades formed by Wind Release, and assailed Kakuzu, who had not yet landed, like a rainstorm.
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; all 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, then was also struck by an elbow and turned 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 due to 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 Wall!
The wide, thick water walls collided with the sea of fire, timely extinguishing a portion of the flames, but they were quickly consumed, while a considerable portion of Searing Migraine remained.
At that moment, Ishikawa arrived just in time to reinforce the defense.
Water Release: Super Large Water Wall!
The Water Wall he unleashed was no less powerful than Kazama Resshou's, finally blocking the last part of the fire wave.
The air was filled with damp, scalding steam, restricting their breathing. Minato used a Wind Release, which finally blew 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 its power is extremely strong."
"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 slightly floating upwards, blown by the boiling Chakra: "I'll attack first, as always."
"Good."
"Good."
...
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