Reactions on Both Sides

"So, are we just going to stand by and watch?"

The speaker was a Jonin, a young man from the Uchiha Clan, in his early twenties, with black Red Eye, and an arrogant expression—truly a model Uchiha Clan.

On the hillside stood more than twenty people, wearing dark green vests and Forehead Protector of leaves. All the Genin had retreated to the back, leaving only the senior Jonin.

Nawaki and Otoha were also mixed in.

At that moment, the Uchiha Clan member spoke, immediately eliciting many voices of agreement.

Jonin all! Those who can stand out from thousands of people are basically proud and arrogant guys, not to mention that those present are all from prestigious families. The Senju Clan, Uchiha, Yuki, and Kaguya are all top- Jonin. The pride of the Uchiha Clan has always been known throughout the Shinobi World, and the Senju had previously lived in seclusion, also had their own dignity.

"Otherwise what? Are you going to go up there and help Katsuki fight that old man Third Tsuchikage?"

Otoha glanced back at the clansman who had spoken, but couldn't quite remember which branch of the family he belonged to. Sigh! There were too many clansmen; sometimes it was quite a headache.

"I······"

The Uchiha Clan who had spoken earlier raised his Jonin eyebrows, choked on his breath, and his face turned red.

I wanted to refute it, but I didn't know what to say.

"Just watch from here! We're not that violent maniac Katsuki. We Uchiha are all about technique and Genjutsu. We'll leave this kind of tough, head-on confrontation to others."

"Right? Nawaki," Otoha said lazily, glancing at Nawaki standing beside her.

"What does this have to do with me? It's your own business, don't drag me into it."

Nawaki rolled its eyes and retorted without any politeness.

Whatever the Uchiha Clan's affairs are like, he is, after all, the head of the Senju Clan, and his stance cannot be skewed, especially in front of so many people. As for him paying attention to the Uchiha's affairs, we'll talk about that after he becomes Hokage.

"Why are you being so polite? As comrades-in-arms, there's no need to distinguish between your family and mine. Here, we're all in this together." Otoha said with a subtle smile.

"Oh."

Nawaki chuckled, but didn't reply.

No one responded. Otoha pursed his lips, muttered a couple of words, and looked up at the sky again, watching the earth-shattering battle on the battlefield!

"Lightning Fork."

A thunderous roar erupted.

A silvery-white lightning bolt struck down, consuming the vegetation in the field and turning it to ashes. The flames spread rapidly across the field, breaking apart the shallow soil and revealing the solid rock beneath.

Then, the solid rock was shattered by lightning.

It left a deep crater, from which scorching smoke and dust drifted.

"Tsuchikage, shall I see your Dust Release again? It's no fun hiding it like this!" Amidst the thunderous roar like a dragon's cry, riding the Thunderclap Chariot, Ōnoki passed by Onoki, who was dodging and weaving. Katsuki's voice clearly reached Ōnoki's ears.

As he flew, Ōnoki's lips twitched, his beard fluttering in the wind. He turned back to watch the speeding Thunder Chariot disappear into the distance, a surge of frustration rising within him.

That brat from the Uzumaki Clan is such a scoundrel! Taking advantage of the Uzumaki Clan's talent, he bullies the elderly... What an ill-mannered little bastard!

While cursing viciously in his heart, he still frowned, very troubled about how to resolve the current stalemate.

Not only did he fail to kill Katsuki last time, but he also exposed more of the secrets of his Dust Release. He could not succeed with the same method a second time. Apart from Dust Release, his strongest trump card, none of the other techniques he possessed could threaten Katsuki.

What I hate most is that the opponent is a monster from the Uzumaki Clan, with Chakra so abundant it rivals that of Tailed Beast...

Boom!

Once again dodging the incoming lightning with superb flying skills, Ōnoki's mood grew increasingly agitated.

The longer the time dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for him. However, the brat from the Uzumaki Clan was incredibly cunning, darting around with his strange Lightning Release Technique and sparing no Chakra in his attacks, forcing him to find no good opportunity to strike.

Even though he deliberately revealed several openings to lure the brat closer, the brat didn't fall for it at all.

"You brat! You little bastard..."

Ōnoki clenched his teeth, his face extremely ugly. This tactic of cutting flesh with a dull knife was the most disgusting tactic he had ever encountered in his life.

That's absolutely disgusting!

"Great Thunderclap!"

Katsuki didn't care what the old man was thinking. She attacked without any restraint. She had suffered such a great loss yesterday, and she wouldn't be able to let go of her anger until she got her revenge today.

Grasping the lightning like silver snakes, it attacked relentlessly.

In an instant, the sky was ablaze with brilliant light, illuminating all directions.

Loud cheers erupted from the Konoha Genin camp, with shouts of "Lord Tianzai is invincible!" and "Those Stone Ninja scum, go back to eating dirt!" echoing in the air, causing the Jonin standing on the hillside to keep turning around to look.

"That kid Katsuki is showing off again," Otoha muttered to herself.

"There's no way around it, the light and shadow effects of his strange Lightning Release Technique are just too outstanding, it's hard not to steal the spotlight." Nawaki clicked his tongue twice, cracking his knuckles.

The opposing Stone Ninja camp is making a move.

"Senior Roshi."

Kitsuchi bowed slightly to show respect. The person in front of him was not only a veteran Jinchuriki, but also an old comrade-in-arms of Ōnoki.

"Heh heh, it's rare to see that stubborn Ōnoki so pathetic! He's been beaten down by the same brat twice in a row..."

Roshi scratched his red beard and mocked the Tsuchikage mercilessly.

Kitsuchi opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

He knew that his father and the senior, Roshi, did not get along well. The two had argued about all sorts of things, from major ideological differences to trivial matters. Whenever they met, they would quarrel incessantly, and even behind each other's backs, they would make sarcastic remarks.

He had heard his father speak ill of the elder, Roshi, many times, so he really didn't know what to say at this moment.

Fortunately, the two have been very rational in their arguments, and so far they have only remained verbal disputes.

"Han, are you ready?"

Roshi's gaze passed over the Kitsuchi and landed on the silent, burly man in red armor behind him.

The man, dressed in red armor, was extremely burly, even taller than Kitsuchi. He wore a vermilion bamboo hat and carried a strange gourd-shaped object on his back.

"We can act at any time."

A man named Han spoke with a bold voice from beneath a red mask, while white steam billowed from the gourd-shaped hole on his back.

"Let's go then, this opponent is quite formidable!"

The mocking expression on Roshi's face vanished. Despite his words, he knew perfectly well the extent of Ōnoki's strength. For Ōnoki to be in this stalemate, forcing them to intervene... well, he was truly a formidable opponent! (To be continued)