Five Elements: Great Combo Bullet Technique!

" Ginkaku?"

Far away, Kinkaku sensed something and abruptly looked toward the direction where Ginkaku was.

"Did he have to use Nine-Tails Chakra? Could he have run into a Konoha Elite Jonin?"

He hesitated for a moment, then his figure blurred, and he quickly hurried toward Ginkaku.

Their strength would be greatly diminished if either brother was missing. If they hadn't been in such a hurry to hunt down that scout, they wouldn't have risked splitting up to pursue him in enemy territory.

"I'll meet up with him first. Maybe he's already caught that Ninja... Who?!"

Boom!

"Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!"

As he spoke, a vast sea of flames instantly engulfed Kinkaku and the surrounding forest.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several figures appeared on the tree trunks around the sea of flames.

"Captain Kagami, that Ninjutsu of yours is incredible!"

Before the other Ninjas could continue their praise, Kagami Uchiha raised a hand and said solemnly,

"Fall back for now. If I'm not mistaken, that man is Kinkaku, an Elite Jonin from the Cloud Village. That Ninjutsu probably wasn't enough to kill him. Wait for my signal, then we'll all release Ninjutsu together."

"Kinkaku?!" "It's really him!"

Hearing that name, the Chunin hurriedly retreated in fright.

They were all experienced in battle and knew they would only hinder Kagami Uchiha here. They could only truly help their Captain by finding the right opportunity.

Kagami Uchiha was disappointed not to have found Sou, but now that he'd encountered an invading Ninja from the Cloud Village, he had a duty to fulfill as a Jonin on the front lines.

His scarlet eyes swept over the sea of flames below. The next moment, his pupils contracted.

"Over there!"

Before his words had even faded, he leaped down from the tree and launched a huge fireball, more than ten meters across, toward the edge of the flames.

Great Fireball Technique!

"Uchiha Clan?!"

Kinkaku cursed under his breath. With no other choice, he sprang out of the Earth Style and swung his signature Ninja Tool, the Basho Fan. He transformed its element into Wind Release and swept it toward the fireball.

The fireball's momentum stalled, and it even looked like it might be blown back.

"Enjoy your own Ninjutsu!"

Kinkaku laughed heartily and continued toward Ginkaku.

He had no desire to fight. He only wanted to meet up with Ginkaku as soon as possible. Once they combined their Ninja Tools, they wouldn't fear even several Jonin, let alone just one.

But Kagami Uchiha seemed to have expected this. With a Body Flicker Technique, he darted past the fireball and caught up with Kinkaku again.

He'd learned his lesson this time. Instead of using Fire Release, which could easily be blown away, he dodged Kinkaku's Lightning Release Ninjutsu while steadily closing in.

Kinkaku knew how dangerous the Sharingan was and kept a safe distance from Kagami Uchiha. Just as he thought he could keep retreating while fighting until he met up with Ginkaku—

"Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!"

Kagami Uchiha released Great Fire Destruction once more!

At the same time, the Chunin following behind him seemed to receive the signal, and one after another released Fire Release.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

In an instant, the area around Kinkaku and the path ahead were covered in blazing flames.

"Fools! Fire Release is useless against me with the Basho Fan!"

As he spoke, he turned the Basho Fan in his hand, switching it to Water Release, and shouted,

"Water Release: Exploding Water Collision Wave!"

Before his words had faded, it was as if water from the heavenly river had poured over the entire area. The moment it met the blazing sea of flames ahead, white steam spread across several miles in every direction.

"Now's my chance!"

Looking down, Kinkaku grinned. "Let's see you find me now..."

But before he could finish, Kagami Uchiha appeared a short distance in front of him. His scarlet eyes, ringed with three tomoe, met Kinkaku's gaze directly!

Stare!

The smile vanished from Kinkaku's face, and his expression turned blank as the Sharingan's genjutsu froze him in place.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two figures appeared behind Kagami Uchiha, one after the other. They glanced at Kinkaku's bewildered expression and said admiringly,

"Captain, your genjutsu keeps getting stronger."

"Enough talk."

Kagami Uchiha didn't have time for them. He kept Kinkaku pinned with his eyes and spoke rapidly. "The two of you, hurry and use a Sealing Technique to seal his Chakra Pathway. I have a feeling there's an enormous amount of Chakra hidden inside him!"

The two behind him grew tense at his words and quickly answered, "Yes!" They hurried forward, forming Hand Seals to perform the Sealing Technique.

But just as they reached Kinkaku, thick red Chakra instantly enveloped his body, spreading at a visible speed.

"Get back!"

Kagami Uchiha's pupils contracted, and he hurriedly shouted a warning.

Before the two could react, the Kōkinjō around Kinkaku's neck moved like a python, instantly coiling around their throats and hoisting them into the air.

Whoosh!

A streak of blue lightning flashed past. Kagami Uchiha held a Ninja Sword crackling with electricity and struck the Kōkinjō.

Clang!

But the sound was like metal striking metal. Though the Kōkinjō shuddered and slackened, letting the two men drop, it quickly withdrew and disappeared.

Yet a vast, sinister surge of Chakra rose behind Kagami Uchiha.

He turned around.

Kinkaku, wrapped in Nine-Tails Chakra, held the Basho Fan in one hand and the Kōkinjō in the other. He said coldly,

"Round two begins."

Elsewhere on the battlefield.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi formed Hand Seals, slapped the ground, and shouted!

A thick stone wall sprang up, blocking the barrage of golden lightning orbs.

Shattered rocks flew everywhere.

Though Hiruzen Sarutobi was known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, Earth Style and Fire Release were his greatest strengths. Even so, the earthen wall he'd summoned had nearly failed to hold.

With Nine-Tails Chakra covering him, Ginkaku was terrifyingly strong in both Taijutsu and Ninjutsu.

"Sou."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had meant to stall for time and then find a chance to retreat. As if remembering something, he hurriedly turned and shouted,

"Get out of here! I..."

Hm?

Where is he?

There was no trace of Uchiha Ao behind him—only a swirl of dust and a distant figure, now no more than a speck.

His voice drifted back on the wind. "Thanks for the effort, Senior Hiruzen."

"..."

Hiruzen's mouth opened and closed, then closed and opened again. At last, he managed to mumble,

"...He sure runs fast."

Whoosh!

Seeing this, the Nine-Tails-fueled Ginkaku panicked. He hurriedly dashed past Hiruzen Sarutobi in pursuit.

"Not so fast!"

With no need to hold back, Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze sharpened. He quickly formed Hand Seals and pressed his palm to the ground.

Earth Style: Earth Flow River!

The brown earth beneath Ginkaku began to flow like rushing water, enveloping him in midair and carrying him backward.

Ginkaku struggled free of the mud and leaped out. By then, Uchiha Ao had vanished from sight.

He turned toward Hiruzen, his face green with fury, and growled,

"You're asking to die!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the red Chakra covering his body bubbled like boiling water. Then it surged, and the bubbles transformed into spikes.

Whoosh!

The next moment, Ginkaku blurred forward at a speed almost like teleportation. In an instant, he appeared in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi, raised the Seven Star Sword high, and swung it savagely at his head.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared blankly at the scene, as though he couldn't react in time. He watched helplessly as the Seven Star Sword drew closer and closer.

Silver light flashed.

Bang!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's body instantly turned into a cloud of white smoke. Only a rotten log remained where he'd been.

Then, at five different points around Ginkaku, five Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared at once. They quickly formed Hand Seals and shouted,

"Five Elements: Great Combo Bullet Technique!"