Flash

"Did you block it?" Rasa slowly lowered his arm. "Unfortunately, it was just a feint..."

"Bang!"

Suddenly, a huge column of water, several meters high, erupted from the water behind Kushina, and a massive black shadow darted out from the swirling spray.

"Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique"

The massive arm, constructed of rock, slammed down on the back of Kushina's head, striking Kushina squarely... However, the target exploded into a stream of water, the spray even blasting away three Shadow Clone nearby, which then dissipated into white smoke.

"You cunning brat, did you notice?" A smirk played on Kamizuru Otto's lips as he stood on the water, flexing his wrists and scanning the scattered Shadow Clone around him. "Is the real body hiding in there?"

"Hey, Sunagakure kid, you have Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai, right?" Otto suddenly looked at Rasa.

"So what if it is?"

Rasa's reply was very impolite.

"Then hurry up and get started. Aren't you Sunagakure's Magnet Release ninjas the best at clearing out small fry? I'm not going to deal with them one by one. I'm going to meet those two fish over there." Otto grinned and charged out like a cannonball.

"Hey, wait..." Rasa called out, but before he could finish, Otto had already disappeared from his sight. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, extremely displeased with this forced order. "Tch, whatever. I was planning to settle old scores with that little girl from Konoha anyway. I haven't forgotten for a moment the memory of being chased like a stray dog last time!"

As he finished speaking, Rasa's voice grew louder, each word echoing clearly in the surroundings.

The light rain started falling again, and without the suppression of Shukaku, the dark clouds quietly gathered once more.

The icy rain fell on Kushina's head and face, and the cold air cleared her drowsy mind a little. Suddenly, memories of her time on the western border of the Land of Fire resurfaced.

"You are... that Sand Ninja from back then?"

Kushina's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but shout out. Rasa was already very strong back then; even when so many of them attacked together, Rasa managed to escape. That memory was quite vivid, but she was in a daze right now, and Rasa had changed quite a bit, which was why she didn't recognize him immediately.

"Oh... found it." Rasa pursed his lips and waved his hands in the air. "Magnet Release, Gold Dust Spear."

At his command, the Gold Dust beneath his feet immediately split into Gold Dust, forming thick, sturdy, and sharp spears that pierced through Kushina's many clones at incredible speed, targeting the one that spoke.

"I've been tricked..."

"Water Release... It's too late!"

Kushina realized what was happening, but it was too late to defend herself. One by one, clones jumped out, trying to use their bodies to intercept the Gold Dust Spear for her.

However, the sharp spear mercilessly pierced through the clones and continued its relentless charge towards Kushina.

"You bastard! You think you can kill me so easily?!"

Kushina was enraged. She bit her tongue hard, and the light red Tailed Beast Cloak on her body suddenly darkened. Her three fox tails suddenly extended and lashed out at incredible speed, knocking all the Gold Dust Spear away and into the water.

"How about it······"

"Lava Release: Burning River Rock Technique"

Before Kushina could catch her breath, a deep, muffled growl came from behind her. She turned around abruptly, only to see clusters of bright red light and extremely hot steam rising from the water, creating a white expanse.

She was so tired and distracted that she couldn't keep track of her surroundings and didn't notice someone touching her from behind.

One after another, fiery red magma balls moved at extremely high speeds, appearing behind Kushina in an instant. All she could do was instinctively raise her fox tail in front of her, trying to block the magma balls. However, she knew very well that this level of Tailed Beast Cloak could not stop the magma balls, but unfortunately, knowing this did not change anything.

Am I going to die?

For a fleeting moment, the thought crossed my mind, but I felt not much sadness, only a sense of bewilderment...

A golden light flashed suddenly!

The magma ball flew along the water's surface to its farthest point, then plunged into the water, turning into a black stone ball and sinking to the bottom after a hissing sound and billowing steam.

Missed!

There were no screams, no burning limbs, and no that familiar, nauseating smell of burning flesh.

"They escaped?"

Roshi frowned in confusion. He didn't think the exhausted little girl could dodge his attack, but in reality, his attack missed.

Was it that flash of light?

His mind raced, recalling the fleeting light that had just flashed before his eyes. Instinctively, he concluded that it must have been that flash of light that caused the trouble. He wondered if it was Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or some other unknown trick. Just as he was pondering this, Rasa spoke.

"Over there."

Rasa pointed eastward, towards Black Tail Mountain.

"Chase!"

Roshi had no doubt about the truth of Rasa's words and rushed over quickly. Even if the Stone Ninja and Sunagakure ninjas turned against each other, it would definitely be after they defeated Konoha, their great enemy. Before that, deception was meaningless.

Following closely behind Roshi by more than ten meters, Rasa also advanced rapidly, stepping on the golden sand waves.

"Kushina, are you alright? Are you hurt? Hey?"

With one arm around Kushina's waist, Minato supported the dazed girl and asked urgently.

"Uh... Minato!" Kushina struggled to suppress her fatigue, her eyes wide as she looked at the boy before her. Her nostrils twitched slightly, and she could smell a faint scent of earth. "You saved me... Is this it?"

She pulled out a trident-shaped Kunai from her bosom, its handle covered with incomprehensible runes—a gift from Minato.

"Well, now's not the time to talk about this. Let's get out of here first." Minato stared westward, where he could see a crimson shadow speeding across the water like lightning, very similar to Kushina in Kushina Tailed Beast Transformation form.

Another Jinchuriki!

"Walk!"

A golden light flashed, and the two figures vanished from their spot.

"Hey, where did they go again? And now that blond brat is here too!"

Rasa cried out in surprise. His 'third eye' clearly saw Minato and Kushina disappear. That was definitely not something that could be done by high-speed movement. The faster the movement, the greater the commotion. It was definitely not Genjutsu. His third eye was not so easily deceived.

"Sunagakure brat, what have you discovered?"

Roshi asked loudly.