Black Flash vs. Dust Release!

"Uchiha brat, put Roshi down, and I'll allow you to withdraw," Ōnoki said, lowering himself slightly.

The corners of Kagami Uchiha's mouth curled up, and his grip around Roshi's throat tightened.

"Ōnoki, your Dust Release is renowned throughout the world. The moment I let go of the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, you'll definitely fire one at me, won't you?"

"Don't talk to me about a Kage's credibility. I don't believe in that crap."

Ōnoki frowned. "Brat, didn't Hiruzen Sarutobi teach you any manners?"

"Even Iwagakure ninja use honorifics when addressing the Hokage."

Kagami Uchiha remained unmoved. "Names exist to be called. Honorifics are meaningless."

"If getting on my knees and begging would make you give up the Four-Tails and let us leave, I could kneel for you right now."

"Heh." Ōnoki sneered.

"Back then, it was your First Hokage who knelt and begged us to accept the Tailed Beasts."

The moment those words left his mouth, the faces of Konoha's people darkened.

Kagami Uchiha smiled brightly. "Really? Then when you and the Second Tsuchikage got beaten senseless by Uchiha Madara, how long did you kneel?"

Ōnoki's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, and the oppressive atmosphere grew heavier and heavier.

"There is no shame in losing to Uchiha Madara. The reasons no longer matter."

"It's just that, brat..."

Ōnoki extended both hands, and a pure white cube gradually formed between his palms.

"With you, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, buried alongside Roshi, Iwagakure won't be at a loss no matter what."

"Ōnoki, get one thing straight."

Of everyone present, only Kagami Uchiha showed Ōnoki no respect at all. That was the fundamental standard of diplomacy.

Negotiations could only continue when both sides stood on equal ground.

"If you dare unleash Dust Release, I'll have Minato use the Flying Thunder God Technique to take me and the Four-Tails back to Konoha!"

"A mere Four-Tails isn't qualified to die together with me!"

Minato silently glanced at Kagami Uchiha, stepped forward, and placed a hand on his shoulder, making his stance clear through his actions.

He could never abandon his companion, but he could not show it now.

Ōnoki maintained the opening stance for Dust Release without releasing it.

Dust Release was indeed powerful, arguably the strongest offensive technique in the ninja world... but it still had to hit its target.

How could he not know the Flying Thunder God Technique? He had fought Tobirama Senju several times and had never been able to lay a hand on the man.

"Brat, tell me what you want."

At this point, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and the others had also arrived, watching like tigers eyeing prey as they awaited Ōnoki's command.

"Swear before these Iwagakure ninja that you won't violate the Land of Fire's border for the next half year, and I'll return the Four-Tails to you. That's a pretty good deal, isn't it?"

Ōnoki was so angry that he laughed.

"You've got it backward. Roshi may be your hostage, but what you should be trading for is the lives of all you people!"

"Do you really think I wouldn't dare use Dust Release? How many people can the Flying Thunder God Technique take away?"

"I haven't got anything backward."

Kagami Uchiha spoke unhurriedly. "We have not crossed the border even once. We are merely guarding the Land of Fire's border here."

"Don't hide behind lofty words, Ōnoki. Your purpose in coming here was to probe Konoha and look for an opportunity to invade, wasn't it?"

"So..."

Kagami Uchiha clenched one hand into a fist and declared loudly:

"My companions can die. If they die, it will not be because of my decisions, but because they protected the Land of Fire and Konoha, dying at the hands of an invader like you!"

Every Konoha ninja was shaken to the core, and the Will of Fire instantly blazed within them.

Even Fugaku's blood boiled.

"That's right! You damned invaders! Even if I die, I will never let you take a single step into the Land of Fire!"

"Yeah! So what if we die? A mere Tsuchikage! Do you think Konoha ninja are afraid of you?"

"So what if we die? Kagami-sama will definitely avenge us!" Xuan Huo roared. "Ōnoki, you will bear the wrath of the Uchiha Clan!"

That said, I really do want to invade the Land of Fire...

But...

Isn't this the Land of Grass...?

Have you considered how the Grass Ninja feel about this?

Ōnoki forcibly suppressed his fury.

"You sharp-tongued brat..."

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

A massive white beam descended with the force to destroy everything!

Ōnoki would never let Roshi tie his hands, nor would he be fooled by the act Kagami Uchiha and Minato were putting on.

I refuse to believe a boy who knows Flying Thunder God can transfer both the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

Die, all of you!

Before Dust Release, all beings were equal.

Other than the same Kekkei Tōta, no one had ever withstood Dust Release head-on!

Not even Uchiha Madara!

"Brat! You're nowhere near good enough to threaten me!"

Under the terrifying pressure of Dust Release, no one could even muster the thought of resisting.

Minato was about to use the Flying Thunder God Technique, intending to take as many people as he could, when Kagami Uchiha threw him off.

Kagami Uchiha tossed Roshi to the ground and smiled.

In that nearly suffocating moment, the smile inexplicably felt eerie and terrifying.

Tailed Beast chakra surged wildly forth, scorching his skin.

He shifted from Tailed Beast Cloak Mode into partial Tailed Beast Transformation, with barely any human features remaining.

Four enormous tails danced wildly behind him, and the terrifying shockwave shoved Minato and the others away.

It hurts. The Tailed Beast chakra's corrosion really is severe.

It was so scorching that it seemed ready to burn the very air away!

But...

The incomparably abundant sensation of power also intoxicated Kagami Uchiha.

All desires in this world were nothing more than a thirst for power!

As long as one possessed power, one could obtain anything!

He clenched his fist tightly. Black-and-crimson lightning writhed wildly, pulverizing the splintering stones into dust.

"Those who have experienced Black Flash and those who have not are worlds apart in their distance from the core of energy."

Inside the Seal, Sukuna watched with his arms folded, his smile cold and sinister.

"Your Black Flash is completely different from the one in the Jujutsu World. Can that body of yours withstand such violent power?"

"Don't worry. If you die..."

"I'll avenge you."

"I'll slaughter every single ninja in this world!!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"

Outside.

Kagami Uchiha was not disturbed in the slightest.

Focus it all into one point.

Reach the pinnacle!

"Black Flash!!"

A black-and-crimson lightning dragon erupted from the ground, meeting the invincible beam of Dust Release head-on!

The colossal roar nearly shattered everyone's eardrums.

The earth cracked, and space twisted.

The exploding lightning raised a hurricane that tore everything apart!!

"Brat!! Die!!!"

Ōnoki roared, continuously pouring in more chakra.

As the energy rose without end, the light became increasingly intense, illuminating the entire battlefield.

In an instant, shockwaves spread in every direction. The earth trembled, and the skies changed color.

Brilliant light and violent power intertwined, as if they were about to rip the world apart!!

"Relics of the old era, stop making fools of yourselves!!"

Roar!!!

Black lightning shattered space, rising layer by layer!

Crack—

Having exerted too much force, Ōnoki heard a crisp crack from his waist and immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Oh no!!

In that instant of faltering power, the black-and-crimson lightning completely seized the advantage and crushed the beam apart with overwhelming force!