The Konoha troops, already prepared for the dense barrage of kunai, immediately had ninjas create earth-style walls.
Orochimaru blurred, leaping over the high walls and charging toward the enemy, his hands forming seals at lightning speed.
"Earth Release: Rock Sharp Spears!"
The rocky soil transformed into jagged spears that erupted from the ground. But the Sunagakure puppeteers were prepared—hidden underground, their puppets shot forth, evading the sudden attack.
Not only the leading squad where Orochimaru fought but also the center, rear, and the tail end—where the White Fang of Konoha stood—were all under siege from Sunagakure forces.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Tatsumi leaped into the air, sending dozens of head-sized fireballs spinning like meteors toward the Sunagakure ninjas.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Caught off guard, the fireballs exploded upon impact, sending waves of fire surging through the enemy ranks.
Behind Tatsumi, Minato and Nawaki jumped into the fray, charging at the Sunagakure forces. The other Konoha shinobi, after a brief moment of tension, roared and charged as well!
For a fleeting moment, the battlefield seemed frozen in time—the Konoha and Sunagakure ninjas facing off across a small open space before they clashed in fierce combat.
Tatsumi, kunai in hand, met a Sunagakure Jonin captain head-on. He twirled his weapon deftly, deflecting strikes as sparks flew.
A second Sunagakure ninja saw an opening and leaped, kunai poised to stab Tatsumi from behind.
But Tatsumi only glanced sideways.
Genjutsu.
The enemy froze mid-air, his body locked in an illusion. Tatsumi seized the opportunity—twisting around, he delivered a powerful kick to the Sunagakure captain.
Bang!
The captain raised his arms in defense, skidding backward from the force of the impact. Tatsumi didn't let up—flipping mid-air, his kunai slashed across the frozen enemy's throat.
The Sunagakure captain, now steady, exhaled slowly.
"...Such strength at this age… Could it be you're Konoha's Lightning Flash?"
Tatsumi raised an eyebrow. "What?"
The captain smirked. "In Sunagakure, we were warned—if we encounter Konoha's Lightning Flash, we're permitted to abandon the mission without penalty—"
Tatsumi's eyes widened in surprise. Wait, that's Minato's title in the future! Why does it sound like it applies to me now?
His heart pounded with excitement. Could it be? Has the day finally come where I can simply state my name and roam the ninja world unchallenged?
He was about to revel in the moment—
"—and then spare no effort to kill Konoha's Lightning Flash," the captain finished coldly.
Tatsumi's face twitched. "...Right, that kid over there is Konoha's Lightning Flash." He casually raised a hand and pointed to Nawaki, who was fiercely battling an enemy.
"Huh?" The Sunagakure captain blinked in confusion.
Snap.
The subtle sound of fingers snapping echoed through the air. The next instant, the captain's pupils dilated, his body stiffening under Tatsumi's genjutsu.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive, two-meter-wide fireball burst from Tatsumi's mouth, roaring toward the immobilized captain.
But before he could check the result, a shadow loomed overhead—
A ninja descended from the sky, a blade flashing toward Tatsumi.
With a swift motion, Tatsumi raised his kunai, deflecting the attack.
Hooking the enemy's longsword forward, he spun—his foot slamming into the airborne opponent, sending them flying.
Before he could take a breath, a rain of kunai hurtled toward him.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Six serpents shot out from Tatsumi's sleeves, twisting into a protective barrier. The kunai struck the snakes but failed to pierce through—their tough, elastic scales absorbing the impact.
Tatsumi landed lightly, his chakra flaring beneath his feet as he dashed toward Nawaki in a blur.
These Sunagakure guys are way too aggressive!
Suddenly, the battlefield trembled as a cloud of dust and gravel rose.
"Earth Release: Exploding Stone!"
Fist-sized stones shot forward like bullets, aiming straight for Nawaki's unguarded back.
His opponent, noticing the incoming attack, swiftly leaped away—creating distance.
At the same time, two kunai zipped toward Nawaki, forcing his attention forward. He remained completely unaware of the incoming stone barrage behind him.
Tatsumi clicked his tongue.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
Just as the stones were about to hit, a shimmering film of water materialized behind Nawaki, blocking the barrage.
In the next instant, Tatsumi streaked past him like a bolt of lightning—his blade cutting cleanly through Nawaki's opponent.
"I'll handle this one," Tatsumi said.
"Alright. Man, I really can't let my guard down for a second. Thanks," Nawaki replied, completely unaware of how close he had come to death. He simply felt touched that Tatsumi had his back on the battlefield.
As Nawaki turned to rejoin the fight, Tatsumi frowned, scanning the chaotic battlefield.
"We need to take them down quickly," he muttered. "The longer this drags on, the worse it'll get for us."
All around, the battle raged. The tide of combat threatened to turn against the younger Konoha shinobi.
Would they be able to seize victory?
The clash between Konoha and Sunagakure had only just begun.
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