[Naruto : Yellow Flash] Chapter 476 - 480

Chapter 476: With Ease

The wind pressure finally subsided, leaving a battlefield littered with the bodies of hundreds of ninjas. The corpses of the fallen sprawled across the devastated land, while the surviving Three Kingdoms ninjas nursed varying degrees of injuries.

Kitsuchi, the leader of the Rock Ninja Corps, and the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, surveyed the carnage with clenched fists. Rage simmered in their hearts as they absorbed the devastating results of Konoha’s trap.

The oppressive winds earlier had severely limited their abilities. Rasa, in particular, had struggled to manipulate his gold sand with the same precision. But now, with the winds gone, his control returned in full force.

“Crash!”

With a sweep of his hand, hundreds of gold sand ninja tools materialized behind him, each shimmering ominously.

Not to be outdone, Kitsuchi slammed his hands to the ground, completing a sequence of hand seals.

"Earth Style: Earth Spike Collapse!"

"Gold Dust Shuriken!"

Massive rock spikes erupted from the ground, while Rasa’s gold-dust weapons shot forward like golden streaks of light, hurtling toward the hundreds of Konoha ninjas clustered nearby.

At that moment, the Konoha ninjas at the four corners of the battlefield moved closer together, forming tighter formations. Each group included a shadow clone of Minato Namikaze, who stood at the ready.

Swish, swish, swish!

Just as the dual attacks were about to strike, hundreds of Konoha ninjas vanished in unison.

“What incredible chakra control!” Rōshi, who had been momentarily thrown aside by Minato earlier, muttered under his breath. His pupils dilated with astonishment as he realized what had just happened.

Even as shadow clones, Minato’s ability to teleport and transfer chakra across hundreds of people was astonishing. Yet, Rōshi’s awe quickly turned to something more primal—a tremor of fear emanating from deep within him.

The Four-Tails Jinchūriki froze momentarily, his instincts screaming as a wave of dread coursed through him. He couldn’t pinpoint the source until he locked eyes with Minato, standing composed and unshaken in the distance.

“Why… am I afraid?”

Rōshi’s heart raced. For decades, he had wielded the power of the Four-Tails without faltering. Yet now, he felt it—a hesitation, almost as if the beast within him was recoiling.

In his mind, Minato chuckled softly, the voice of the Nine-Tails echoing through him. “First the One-Tails, then the Eight-Tails, and now the Four-Tails. They all seem to sense my presence, don’t they?”

The realization struck Minato like a bolt of clarity. The tailed beasts, despite their vast power, instinctively recognized and feared the overwhelming aura of the Nine-Tails.

“Hmph!” The Nine-Tails snorted in his mind, its tone laced with arrogance.

Meanwhile, Hanzo of the Salamander closed the distance between himself and Minato. His samurai blade, infused with wind chakra, slashed downward with lethal precision.

Clang!

Minato countered effortlessly, his kunai meeting Hanzo’s blade with a burst of sparks.

“It seems your arm has healed nicely,” Minato remarked, his calm tone a sharp contrast to the intensity of the clash.

Hanzo’s expression darkened beneath his mask. The insult struck a nerve, but before he could retort, Rōshi lunged forward from behind.

Whoosh!

His arm, encased in molten chakra, radiated a suffocating heat that evaporated the very air around him.

“Is this the power of the Four-Tails?” Minato mused, his mind racing. Each tailed beast wielded unique abilities, and for the Four-Tails, magma was its weapon of choice.

The rolling waves of heat surged toward Minato, warping the air and leaving the ground scorched in its wake. He knew better than to test its destructive power.

Swish!

In a flash, Minato disappeared, leaving Hanzo and Rōshi’s attacks to collide with one another. Rōshi’s magma-coated palm melted the edge of Hanzo’s wind blade slightly, the clash forcing both combatants to pause momentarily.

Reappearing at the edge of the battlefield, Minato assessed the situation. Before the battle began, he had meticulously prepared the terrain, embedding dozens of teleportation marks within a kilometer radius. These marks, infused with his chakra, were virtually indestructible.

His sharp instincts kicked in as another presence locked onto him. Without turning, Minato spoke, “It’s been a while, Fourth Kazekage.”

"Gold Dust Spear!"

The response was swift and deadly. A shimmering spear of gold-dust sliced through the air toward Minato. Though its speed was impressive, it was not enough to catch him off guard.

Swish!

Minato sidestepped effortlessly, evading the spear just as the ground beneath him surged with gold-dust. Rasa’s precision was unparalleled, but Minato anticipated the move, retreating further to avoid being ensnared.

"Earth Style: Mountain Earth Technique!"

From a distance, Kitsuchi clasped his hands together, manipulating the ground on either side of Minato. Massive hemispherical rocks rose from the earth, converging rapidly to trap him.

Sensing their coordination, Hanzo, Rasa, and Rōshi scattered, knowing the technique was unlikely to succeed against Minato’s instantaneous movement.

“You’ve planned this well,” Minato remarked, a sly smile playing on his lips.

In a blur, he hurled his special kunai high into the air. As it spun, his figure vanished, reappearing outside the encroaching rock formation.

Now perched atop one of the massive spheres, Minato reached into his pouch, withdrawing several kunai.

Swish, swish, swish!

He launched them into the midst of the enemy forces, his hands forming seals almost instantly.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

What began as a few kunai multiplied into a relentless barrage of ninja tools, raining down like a deadly storm.

The technique, developed by the Third Hokage, was devastating in its simplicity. Even the replicated kunai carried the full force of the original.

Kitsuchi was the first to react, forming seals in an attempt to block the attack. But it was too late.

The kunai tore through the enemy ranks with lethal precision, striking vital points and dropping dozens of ninjas in an instant.

“Ahhh!”

Screams echoed across the battlefield as chaos erupted once more.

Above the carnage, Minato stood tall, his blond hair catching the faint rays of light breaking through the dark clouds. The eyes of the Three Kingdoms’ ninjas turned toward him, their fear palpable.

Chapter 477: Morale

“Blond hair… and that teleportation technique.”

A ripple of fear swept through the ranks of the Allied Forces as realization struck one of the Iwa ninjas. His voice, trembling with dread, broke the tense silence.

“He’s here… the Yellow Flash of Konoha!”

The words ignited murmurs among the soldiers, many of whom shared the same look of shock and horror.

“We were ordered to abandon the mission and retreat immediately if we ever encountered him!” another Iwa ninja shouted, his tone laced with desperation.

Minato’s presence on the battlefield was overwhelming. His incredible speed and precision left many unable to even see his face clearly—except for a select few like Hanzo, Rōshi, Rasa, and Kitsuchi. Yet, after watching him dispatch dozens of their comrades and clash with four of the strongest leaders present, the truth became undeniable.

Konoha’s Yellow Flash… the man whose name alone commands retreat.

Minato’s exploits were legendary. His reputation, solidified after his decisive victory against Hanzo, had eclipsed nearly every other figure in the ninja world. However, what truly unsettled the Allied Forces was his calm demeanor.

Minato’s appearance was entirely at odds with the fierce reputation that preceded him. His striking blond hair, handsome face, and those piercing blue eyes were a stark contrast to the monstrous image many had conjured in their minds. But it was the icy focus in his gaze—calculated and unyielding—that sent chills down their spines.

Hanzo and the other three leaders, standing amidst the chaos, turned their attention back to Minato. Though their ranks had suffered heavy losses, they remained vigilant, knowing full well that surrounding him would be futile. The battlefield was dotted with Minato’s teleportation marks, each one a potential escape route.

“What a troublesome jutsu,” Rōshi growled, his frustration palpable. He had faced Minato firsthand and been utterly outmatched. Rage simmered within him as he watched the Yellow Flash unscathed.

The tension was momentarily broken by the sound of approaching reinforcements. From the direction of the Land of Fire, a large contingent of figures began to emerge.

“Swish!”

In an instant, Minato disappeared from his perch atop the hemispherical rock, reappearing at the edge of the battlefield. Behind him, Konoha’s vanguard materialized, their ranks now visible to the Allied Forces.

Leading the group was none other than Jiraiya. With swift steps, he approached Minato, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield. His eyes lingered on Hanzo, Rōshi, Rasa, and Kitsuchi in turn, each glance filled with a mix of determination and wariness.

Hanzo met Jiraiya’s gaze with a faint smile. The sight of his former foe brought a flicker of nostalgia.

“Jiraiya,” Hanzo called out, his voice cutting through the din, “you’ve trained an excellent disciple.”

The words carried weight, for it was Hanzo himself who had once bestowed the title of the Three Legendary Sannin upon Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. Now, after so many years, they stood on opposite sides of the battlefield. Though Jiraiya had grown stronger, Hanzo’s strength remained undeniable.

“Of course,” Jiraiya replied coolly, unwilling to show any hint of intimidation. He turned to Minato with a concerned look. “Boy, are you holding up alright?”

Minato chuckled softly, brushing off his teacher’s worry. “Don’t worry, Sensei. I’m fine.”

Reassured, Jiraiya gave a small nod. Behind him, Konoha’s reinforcements continued to pour in, forming ranks.

The Konoha ninjas, seeing the disarray among the Three Kingdoms’ forces, couldn’t help but marvel. The coalition forces, though numerically superior, looked battered and shaken.

Among them, Kato Dan watched Minato with a mix of awe and melancholy. “The war hasn’t even begun in earnest, yet the enemy has already suffered such devastating losses,” he murmured, his gaze lingering on Minato’s back.

Memories of Tsunade’s stories about Minato surfaced in his mind. Even as a child during the Second Ninja War, Minato’s strategic insights had impressed the veterans. Now, witnessing his tactics firsthand, Kato couldn’t help but feel a sense of reverence.

The battlefield was littered with evidence of Minato’s brilliance. The Three Kingdoms’ coalition had already lost nearly 300 ninjas, with close to a thousand injured. The numerical disparity between the two forces had been significantly reduced.

Hanzo, however, remained unfazed. His sharp eyes scanned the Konoha camp, settling on a group of masked ninjas. A low chuckle escaped his lips.

“It seems Konoha is desperate,” he remarked loudly, his voice carrying across the battlefield. “Even the Hokage’s guards have been sent to the front lines.”

The words struck a chord among the Allied Forces. Murmurs rippled through their ranks, and the fighting spirit that had been waning moments earlier began to rekindle.

As ninjas, they understood the significance of the Hokage’s personal guards. That Konoha would deploy them suggested a critical lack of resources, a sign of desperation.

Minato’s expression darkened. He recognized Hanzo’s tactic immediately. The demigod of the ninja world wasn’t just a warrior—he was a master strategist. With a few carefully chosen words, he had reignited the morale of his army.

Jiraiya, sensing the shift in the enemy’s mood, turned to Minato. “What now, Minato?”

Minato’s mind raced. His earlier strategy had succeeded in thinning the ranks of the coalition and demoralizing their forces. But Hanzo’s intervention had disrupted the balance.

Kato Dan and Hyuga Tenki approached, their expressions grim. “We may not be as strong as you,” Kato admitted, “but we can at least hold one of the leaders off.”

Minato shook his head, his resolve firm. “I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of letting you engage the enemy leaders.”

Chapter 478: One vs. Three

After hearing Minato’s plan, Kato Dan and Hyuga Tenki exchanged uneasy glances. The bitterness on their faces was unmistakable.

They understood the situation all too well—against any one of the four enemy leaders, even if they fought together, the odds of victory were slim. Yet, at this moment, there seemed to be no better alternative.

Sensing their hesitation, Minato spoke calmly, his tone reassuring. “You misunderstand me. It’s not that I doubt your strength. I have other plans.”

Minato valued both Kato Dan and Hyuga Tenki as capable and skilled ninjas, but he also knew the risks. Even if they could hold off an enemy leader for a short time, it could cost them dearly. With Konoha’s forces already stretched thin, losing such valuable allies was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.

“I want you both to lead the main group and focus on dismantling the enemy’s forces. Jiraiya-sensei will handle Kitsuchi, and I will take care of the other three.”

Minato’s statement was met with silence. Jiraiya and the others were quick to grasp his strategy, but a sliver of doubt lingered. Wasn’t it too reckless?

Still, no one dared to question him. Minato’s track record spoke for itself. Even in impossible situations, he had always found a way to prevail.

“Just be careful,” Jiraiya said after a moment, his voice heavy with concern.

Minato nodded. As he prepared to act, he felt the weight of angry stares. It wasn’t just the battlefield watching him—Hanzo, Rōshi, and Rasa were now fixated on him, their glares brimming with fury.

Minato’s plan was clear: to face three of the most formidable opponents at once. It was a move that enraged the enemy leaders. Hanzo, still bitter from his prior defeat, clenched his jaw. Rōshi, known for his fiery temper, was the first to break the standoff.

Boom!

Rōshi surged forward like a blazing inferno, his body enveloped in molten chakra. The air around him rippled from the intense heat, forming a shimmering haze. The transformation left no doubt—Rōshi had activated the Four-Tails’ chakra mode.

A tail of molten chakra swayed behind him, and his entire body gleamed with a magma-like sheen. The ground beneath his feet hissed and cracked as he advanced.

Minato’s sharp gaze tracked Rōshi’s movements. He had seen a similar transformation before—when Killer B harnessed the Eight-Tails’ chakra. But this was different. Rōshi wielded the tailed beast’s power with a level of control that was almost seamless.

Swish!

Rōshi launched himself toward Minato with incredible speed, appearing like a streak of fire. The sheer velocity startled Jiraiya, who reflexively took a defensive stance.

But Minato had already disappeared.

Rōshi’s momentum carried him forward, leaving a trail of molten destruction in his wake. For a brief moment, the battlefield seemed to hold its breath.

Then, a burst of azure light flared in Minato’s hand—a spiraling ball of chakra that grew larger with each passing second.

“Super Odama Rasengan!”

With precision and timing, Minato thrust the massive chakra sphere forward, colliding with Rōshi head-on.

BOOM!

The impact was cataclysmic. Rōshi’s molten fist met the Rasengan, and the two forces clashed in a violent explosion of heat and energy. Sparks and debris flew in every direction, the ground quaking beneath them.

The intense heat of Rōshi’s chakra began to eat away at the Rasengan, melting it at the edges. The stalemate didn’t last long before the overwhelming energy reached its breaking point.

BOOM!

The resulting explosion sent both combatants hurtling backward. Rōshi tumbled to the ground, his molten armor partially shattered. Molten fragments splashed onto the ground, scorching the earth where they landed.

Rōshi steadied himself, surprise flickering in his eyes. He hadn’t expected Minato to counter his attack so effectively. But the Four-Tails’ chakra quickly surged through his body, repairing the damage and reforming the molten armor.

“Impressive,” Rōshi muttered, the magma around him bubbling ominously.

Before the dust could settle, a dark blur appeared beside Minato. Hanzo’s blade, enhanced with wind chakra, descended in a deadly arc.

Clang!

Minato’s kunai intercepted the blade just in time. Sparks flew as the two weapons collided, the force of the clash reverberating through the air.

“You’re persistent,” Minato said evenly, meeting Hanzo’s glare with unwavering resolve.

Hanzo smirked, though his eyes burned with frustration. “And you’re far too bold for someone so young.”

Their exchange was cut short as another voice rang out.

“Since you want to fight three-on-one, allow me to oblige you!”

Rasa’s voice carried across the battlefield as he finished forming hand seals. A wave of gold sand surged toward Minato, the dense mass shimmering as it closed in.

“Cowards!” Jiraiya growled, his hands flying into a series of seals. “Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!”

A roaring dragon of flames shot toward Rasa, but before it could reach him, an earth wall erupted from the ground, blocking the attack.

Bang!

The flames scorched the wall, leaving blackened marks, but the sturdy barrier held firm.

“Your opponent is me,” Kitsuchi declared, stepping out from behind the wall. With a series of seals, he summoned an earth dragon that unleashed a barrage of rocky projectiles.

Jiraiya glanced toward Minato, who was now surrounded by three enemies, frustration etched across his face. But before he could intervene, Minato’s calm voice rang out.

“Sensei, focus on your battle. I can handle this.”

As Minato spoke, Rasa’s gold sand closed in, the heavy mass crushing the ground beneath it. Minato leapt into action, vanishing in a blur of yellow light.

Chapter 479: Give Him a Taste of His Own Medicine

Boom!

A massive wave of gold dust surged forward, its crushing weight tearing up the ground as it hurtled toward Minato.

This time, Rōshi held back instead of attacking recklessly. Standing still, his hands formed seals while his eyes closed briefly, allowing his perception to expand outward and encompass the entire battlefield.

Hanzo, Rasa, and the others knew that unless they could erase Minato’s Flying Thunder God marks scattered across the area, defeating him would be nearly impossible.

Meanwhile, Minato remained calm. His other hand moved with astonishing speed, forming seals with a precision that seemed almost effortless.

Seal with one hand?

The gold dust approached rapidly, its shimmering mass threatening to engulf him. Yet Minato made no effort to dodge. Instead, he extended his hand toward the oncoming wave.

“He’s lost his mind!”

A flicker of triumph crossed Rasa’s face. He had deliberately slowed the attack earlier, fearing Minato might teleport away and leave Hanzo exposed. But now, with Minato standing his ground, Rasa believed victory was imminent.

However, as the gold dust made contact with Minato’s palm, something extraordinary occurred.

The gold sand didn’t stop. Instead, it disappeared into a swirling black barrier that extended outward from Minato’s hand.

It was as if a black hole had materialized, swallowing the golden wave into oblivion.

“What!?” Rasa’s grin vanished, replaced by stunned disbelief.

Rōshi’s eyes snapped open as he shouted, “Rasa! Watch your back!”

The warning came too late.

Behind Rasa, the very same gold dust wave that had vanished now reappeared with undiminished force, crashing toward him like an unstoppable tide.

Boom!

Rasa spun around, his hands forming seals in desperation. “Gold Dust Armor!”

Gold sand erupted from his body, encasing him in a protective shell just as the wave struck.

The impact was devastating. The sheer force of the gold sand wave sent Rasa flying backward, embedding him deep into the ground. The earth around him cracked, and the once-imposing gold dust armor peeled away in fragments.

A pained groan escaped Rasa’s lips as he struggled to rise. His eyes, wide with shock, reflected his disbelief. How did my own attack turn against me?

Had it not been for Rōshi’s timely warning, Rasa might have been gravely injured. Even so, the experience left him shaken.

Minato, standing at a distance, allowed himself a faint chuckle. “How does it feel, Fourth Kazekage, to be hit by your own attack?”

Rasa’s face twisted with anger and humiliation. His glare burned with hatred, but he hesitated to retaliate immediately.

Hanzo observed the scene with narrowed eyes. Minato’s capabilities continued to exceed his expectations. The Flying Thunder God Jutsu was already formidable, but this ability to redirect attacks added an entirely new dimension to the threat.

“It’s his space-time ninjutsu,” Rōshi explained grimly, his sharp gaze fixed on Minato. “He used it to transfer Rasa’s attack to one of his marked locations.”

Minato turned his attention to Rōshi, his expression calm but calculating.

Meanwhile, on another part of the battlefield, Jiraiya faced Kitsuchi. Their brief skirmish ended in a stalemate, leaving both sides regrouping.

The two armies, though yet to fully engage, reacted visibly to the unfolding events.

Among the coalition forces, shock rippled through the ranks, particularly among the Sand Village ninjas. Seeing their Kazekage almost defeated by his own attack shook their confidence.

On the Konoha side, Hyuga Tenki and Kato Dan exchanged knowing looks, a mixture of awe and disbelief on their faces.

“So this is why he didn’t let us fight the enemy leaders,” Kato muttered.

Hinata nodded. “He knew he could handle them himself.”

Minato’s strength and ingenuity continued to redefine their understanding of what was possible, leaving even seasoned ninjas in awe.

In the Konoha camp, Suzuka watched the battle unfold, her heart heavy with emotion. It had been years since she’d last seen Minato in action, and witnessing his prowess now filled her with both pride and melancholy. Memories of the young, promising ninja she had met so many years ago flooded her mind.

Back on the battlefield, Hanzo, Rōshi, and Rasa regrouped, their expressions grim. The fear in their eyes was undeniable. Even Rasa, now standing away from his earlier position, hesitated to launch another attack.

Rōshi’s voice cut through the tense silence. “Everyone, bypass this battlefield and attack Konoha directly!”

His command prompted immediate movement from the Iwagakure ninjas. However, the forces from the Sand and Rain Villages hesitated, their leaders still locked in a standoff with Minato.

“Do as he says!” Hanzo barked, his voice carrying authority. “Move now!”

Rasa, his pride wounded, reluctantly added his voice. “Go! Leave this battlefield immediately!”

The coalition forces began retreating from the ruined battlefield, their formations scattering.

Minato didn’t stop them. He knew that continuing to fight in such a densely populated area would risk unnecessary casualties among his allies. Instead, he turned to the Konoha camp.

“Hyuga Tenki, Kato Dan, I leave the rest to you.”

The two nodded in unison, their expressions resolute. “Understood.”

Leading the Konoha ninjas, they maneuvered around the battlefield, preparing to intercept the enemy forces.

Back on the front lines, Rōshi tightened his focus. “We need to erase all his marks. Hanzo, Rasa, hold him off while I deal with them.”

Minato’s gaze sharpened. “So, you’ve figured it out,” he murmured.

Hanzo didn’t waste a moment. Sword in hand, he lunged toward Minato, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Rasa, regaining his composure, summoned massive golden hands from the surrounding gold dust and sent them crashing down toward Minato.

Chapter 480: Their Respective Advantages

As Hanzo and Rasa launched their attacks against Minato, Rōshi was already on the move.

“Lava Style: Burning River Rock Technique!”

A blazing sphere of molten magma formed in Rōshi’s mouth before shooting outward, smashing into the ground at several key locations.

Shhh!

The intense heat melted the earth, and the black Flying Thunder God marks scattered by Minato began to evaporate under the fiery temperature.

Boom!

Minato leapt gracefully out of Hanzo and Rasa’s encirclement, his keen eyes glancing at the glowing battlefield.

“So, you’re using heat to eliminate my marks,” he murmured.

Though the Flying Thunder God marks were theoretically permanent, they could still be destroyed under specific conditions. After all, the marks were formed using Minato’s chakra—an energy that could be countered or dissipated if someone understood its properties.

There are no absolutes in this world, Minato thought, recalling a mission long ago in the Land of Hot Springs where he encountered Shinzo Kuriyama, a man who claimed to be immortal. Even then, Minato had known: nothing, and no one, was truly invincible.

On another part of the battlefield, the clash between Jiraiya and Kitsuchi raged on.

“Earth Style: Rock Fist Technique!”

Both combatants finished their hand seals simultaneously, summoning enormous arms of solid rock. The two giant fists collided in mid-air, the impact resounding like thunder.

For a moment, the strength of their techniques seemed evenly matched. However, Kitsuchi quickly formed another set of seals.

“Earth Style: Weighted Rock Technique!”

The rock fists suddenly grew heavier, their increased density causing them to sink slightly. Cracks began forming in Jiraiya’s technique under the strain.

“Boom!”

The rock fist shattered, and Kitsuchi’s attack slammed downward. Jiraiya barely managed to leap back, the fist leaving a massive crater where he had stood moments earlier.

“Ninja Art: Wild Lion’s Mane Technique!”

As he retreated, Jiraiya’s white hair extended, forming a ferocious lion’s head of thick strands. The hair lashed out, wrapping around Kitsuchi’s rock fist and halting its advance.

Both ninjas stood firm, their techniques locked in a stalemate.

But their battle was interrupted as a ball of magma surged toward them, its searing heat melting the ground beneath it.

Jiraiya swiftly withdrew his hair, though some strands evaporated before he could retract them completely. Kitsuchi’s rock fist, too, began to melt under the intense heat.

The two glanced toward the source of the attack, spotting Rōshi unleashing magma balls across the battlefield while Hanzo and Rasa kept Minato occupied.

Minato, though still holding his ground, was constantly maneuvering to avoid the attacks of both Hanzo and Rasa. Rōshi, meanwhile, maintained his distance, carefully targeting Minato’s marks with his molten chakra.

He’s deliberately staying away from my marks, Minato noted, his analytical mind working quickly. The magma surrounding Rōshi’s body acted as a protective armor, making it nearly impossible to land a decisive blow.

If I try to engage him directly, I’ll need Sage Mode, Minato thought. But entering Sage Mode required time—time he didn’t have while facing three S-rank opponents.

Hanzo, Rasa, and Rōshi were no ordinary enemies. Even among S-rank ninjas, their power and tactics were formidable. Hanzo, in particular, stood at the pinnacle of their ranks, his experience and skill unmatched.

Still, Minato refused to relent. While fending off Rasa’s gold sand and Hanzo’s swift sword strikes, he steadily closed the distance to Rōshi. Yet Rōshi, perceptive as ever, adjusted his position, ensuring Minato couldn’t pin him down.

The six combatants fought with precision and intensity, their movements spanning a battlefield hundreds of meters wide.

Meanwhile, below them, the armies of the Three Kingdoms Alliance and Konoha clashed.

“Kill!”

The deafening roar of combat filled the air as metal clashed against metal. Chunin and Jonin from both sides sought their own opponents in the chaos. Despite their earlier injuries, the allied forces’ superior numbers put Konoha at an initial disadvantage.

But among the Konoha forces, two figures stood out—Hyuga Tenki and Kato Dan.

“Eight Trigrams Palm!”

Hyuga Tenki appeared before an Iwagakure Jonin, moving so swiftly the man barely registered his presence. From several meters away, Tenki thrust his palm forward.

Puff!

The Jonin’s chest caved in, a deep palm print marking the spot where his heart had been obliterated. The man collapsed instantly.

Elsewhere, Kato Dan closed his eyes, forming hand seals with practiced precision.

Swish!

His soul separated from his body, rushing toward the battlefield like an invisible specter.

“Spirit Transformation Technique!”

Kato’s ethereal form entered the body of an enemy Jonin, whose eyes immediately widened in shock.

“Ahh!”

The man’s body convulsed, his eyes glazing over as if experiencing unimaginable torment. Within moments, he collapsed, lifeless.

Kato’s soul emerged from the fallen ninja’s body, undetectable to the naked eye. The Spirit Transformation Technique allowed him to temporarily leave his physical form, infiltrating an enemy’s body to deliver a lethal spiritual assault.

But Kato knew the risks. While ordinary ninjas couldn’t perceive his spirit, elite warriors like Hanzo or Rasa might resist, potentially inflicting damage to his own soul. For this reason, Kato carefully selected his targets, ensuring each attack was precise and effective.