Kushina's Title

In fact, it wasn't that the two of them didn't want to use large-scale ninjutsu; they simply hadn't had the opportunity.

The battle between two elite jonin was far more dangerous than what Chiga could see on the surface.

Kushina and Sida both put tremendous pressure on each other. Even the slightest mistake could affect the outcome.

Kushina was slightly stronger than Sida, but after being kept in the village like a canary by Hiruzen Sarutobi for so many years, she lacked combat experience.

Sida, on the other hand, was an outstanding elite jonin. Although he wasn't as strong as Kushina, his excellent battle instincts and ruthless nature allowed him to fight her to a standstill.

Clang!

After their Kunai clashed countless times, they finally broke simultaneously, forcing the two of them apart for the moment.

"Uzumaki Clan? I didn't expect any of you to still be alive!"

Sida stood on the ground, sizing up this unfamiliar Konoha ninja. He had appeared on the battlefields against Konoha many times, but he had never heard of such an outstanding ninja.

"With strength like yours, you should never have remained unknown. Why have I never heard any intelligence about you? I'm curious. Who exactly are you?"

Kushina's eyes lit up at his words.

The famed ninjas of the Shinobi World all had their own titles, and Kushina naturally couldn't fall behind.

She hoped to acquire an awe-inspiring title of her own, the kind that would make enemies turn and flee in terror the moment they heard it.

This Iwa ninja captain's question fit Kushina's wishes perfectly. Faced with such a prompt, she cleared her throat and grandly introduced herself.

"Since you've asked so sincerely, I'll mercifully tell you. I am the Konoha Scarlet Elegy of the Uzumaki Clan, the one who aspires to become the Fourth Hokage and maintain peace in the Shinobi World—Kushina Uzumaki!"

What the hell was "Konoha Scarlet Elegy"?!

This was so embarrassing.

Who would have thought that his own teacher had such a chuunibyou side?

The long string of words made Chiga's scalp tingle. He couldn't help covering his face with one hand and forcing out a wry smile.

As for Sida, he wore a rare, utterly bewildered expression. In his heart, it was as if ten thousand mud horses were trampling past.

I was driven to the brink of life and death by an opponent like this?!

Just then, Kushina noticed that Sida had become distracted.

Sealing Technique: Adamantine Sealing Chains!

Eight silver Chakra chains suddenly appeared on Kushina's back and silently pierced into the ground.

Then four Chakra chains suddenly burst from the earth beneath Sida's feet. Before he could react, they bound him into a cocoon.

"Success!"

Joy flashed across Kushina's face. She sprinted toward Sida, reaching him in a few leaps, and cleanly drove the Kunai in her hand into his heart.

Just as Kushina was secretly celebrating, Sida's corpse suddenly exploded into a cloud of white smoke and turned into a section of tree trunk. There was even an Exploding Tag stuck to it.

"Substitution Technique? Not good!"

Seeing the slowly burning Exploding Tag, Kushina's expression changed, and she immediately jumped backward.

Boom!

The Exploding Tag didn't injure Kushina, but the blast still sent her flying violently.

Kushina rolled across the ground several times before finally coming to a stop.

"Teacher Kushina, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Get behind me, quickly."

With Chiga's support, Kushina got to her feet and immediately pulled Chiga behind her.

Sida, who had escaped using the Substitution Technique, was hiding in the concealing grass, coldly watching Kushina.

Originally, he had planned to use the Substitution Technique to leave the battlefield completely and retreat.

As for his teammates—

A ninja's duty was to complete the mission. He had always kept those words in mind and treated them as his guiding principle.

But in reality, when Kushina used the Adamantine Sealing Chains, four of the Chakra chains were meant to deal with Sida, while the other four sealed off the area.

How could a barrier powerful enough to restrain the Nine-Tails be destroyed by an elite jonin like Sida?

Sida glanced at the battles of the others. The genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy had already been killed by the opposing genin.

His two subordinates, who had followed him for years, were also entangled with two ANBU. Their deaths were only a matter of time.

The situation was lost!

Now he could only hide in the darkness like a venomous snake, waiting for an opportunity and for Kushina to reveal an opening.

He could leave only after Kushina released the Sealing Technique herself—or by killing her!

"You can't escape!"

Kushina stood where she was, the Chakra chains behind her dancing through the sky and probing the surrounding grass without pause.

She didn't mind dragging things out with Sida. Even though the Adamantine Sealing Chains consumed a great deal of Chakra, she had enough Chakra to make Sida despair.

"Damn it!"

Sida cursed under his breath. He suddenly realized that hiding any longer was meaningless. The two ANBU would soon be free to come and support her. Once three elite jonin surrounded him, he truly wouldn't have any chance.

But just then, his eyes suddenly lit up. Since Kushina didn't know his position, she had to watch her surroundings—and at that moment, she had turned sideways toward him.

An opportunity!

He thought this to himself, but just as he was preparing to rush out, Chiga, standing behind Kushina, suddenly pointed toward his hiding place and shouted, "Teacher Kushina, he's over there!"

Kushina trusted her disciple completely. Without the slightest hesitation, the Chakra chains shot out like arrows loosed from a bow.

That short sentence from Chiga completely robbed Sida of the initiative. Against Kushina with all her power unleashed, Sida could only dodge by the narrowest of margins.

His expression turned grim. He cast a murderous glance at Chiga, then saw the Sharingan in Chiga's eyes and understood how the boy had known his location.

The Sharingan's observational ability was still somewhat useful.

Faced with the Iwa ninja's murderous glare, Chiga relied on having Kushina backing him and retorted without hesitation, Go ahead and kill me if you can.

"Konoha really is full of talented people!"

He gnashed his teeth and spoke coldly to Kushina and Chiga.

To awaken the Sharingan at such a young age—no wonder he had been able to easily kill the new-generation prodigy of the Land of Earth all by himself.

"Chiga, get farther away!"

Kushina stared solemnly at Sida. Sida was a cornered beast now, and his danger had increased tremendously.

Chiga nodded. He could also see that Sida was preparing to fight to the death. In this situation, it was better not to overestimate himself.

"Hmph!"

Sida snorted coldly. Without wasting any more words, he charged straight at Kushina.

He formed hand seals. Two clouds of white smoke appeared on either side of him, and two Earth Clones emerged.

The two Earth Clones charged forward and blocked Kushina's four Chakra chains.

His true body formed hand seals again.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears Technique!"

With his roar, the earth below suddenly rose into the air. It floated above the ground, then condensed into dozens of sharp spears that shot fiercely toward Kushina.

Kushina's expression tightened at the sight. She increased her Chakra output, and a flash of golden light swept across the Chakra chains.

The four chains abandoned Sida's two Earth Clones and came directly before Kushina, dancing through the air at high speed like dragons swimming through the sky.

Bang, bang, bang.

The rapidly flying earth spears were pulverized and fell to the ground like dead branches beneath that impenetrable defense.

Looking at the completely destroyed earth spears, Kushina's brows drew together. This had been easier than she expected. A dying struggle from an elite jonin should possess more power than this.

Just as Kushina looked toward Sida through the dust, she discovered that he had already vanished from in front of her. Even the two Earth Clones had disappeared without a trace.

In an instant, Kushina's expression changed drastically. She turned around and ran toward Chiga while shouting, "Run!"