Repelled! A Narrow Escape from Despair!

"Hizuki, you take my subordinates and go first. Kinkaku's Nine-Tails Chakra has completely gone berserk, and my genjutsu is useless against him now."

Kagami Uchiha knelt on the devastated ground, clutching one eye, his face pale. He panted heavily.

"If we keep this up, none of us will escape."

"Less talk."

Protecting him was a Jonin from the Hyuga Clan. He stared intently at the berserk Kinkaku with his Byakugan, his expression grim.

"Once those four leave, the barrier formation sealing Kinkaku will completely fail. How far can we really run?

Furthermore, according to my Byakugan's observation, the chaotic chakra within him is gradually becoming orderly. I believe this berserk state has a time limit.

So? Can your eyes use genjutsu one more time?"

Not long ago, perhaps because of the immense power of Great Fire Destruction, after Kinkaku awakened using the Nine-Tails Chakra, this Hyuga Clan Jonin had arrived just in time.

With his and Kagami's Sharingan working together, Kinkaku had been on the defensive almost the entire time, even nearly falling into genjutsu several times.

For brute force fighters like Kinkaku and Ginkaku, if they encountered a ninja skilled in genjutsu, especially an extremely skilled genjutsu user like an Uchiha, their true strength would be reduced to about fifty percent.

Actually, the last attempt had succeeded. But this time, Kinkaku was prepared. He had secretly embedded a failsafe within his body beforehand. Once his body fell into genjutsu again, this failsafe would instantly disrupt his own chakra, breaking the genjutsu.

The consequence of this was that the Nine-Tails Chakra within his body went completely berserk, causing him to lose his senses.

However, he wasn't a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, so this state could only be maintained for about five minutes.

"I understand..."

Kagami Uchiha stopped talking. Forcing his exhausted body to move, he staggered to his feet. "Since that's the case, I'll perform the genjutsu one last time!"

"..."

A flicker of admiration flashed in Hizuki Hyuga's eyes. In his Byakugan's vision, Kagami Uchiha's chakra was also almost depleted.

As far as he knew, the other party had already consumed Ration Pills once.

If he forcibly used his ocular power again, draining his chakra, even if he didn't die, it would cause severe damage to his eyes.

Kagami Uchiha...

He's a true man!

If we survive this, I'll buy him a drink.

"Kagami, I'm going in!"

Hizuki Hyuga noticed Kinkaku's chakra gradually stabilizing. He let out a low shout and strode forward, reaching the square, pale red barrier formation in just a few steps.

Four Red Yang Formation.

Konoha's signature barrier formation, capable of trapping Kinkaku, who possessed near Kage Level strength, even with the cooperation of four Chunin.

The reason he had been talking with Kagami Uchiha earlier was twofold: to discuss countermeasures and to recover his stamina.

Now it was his turn. He had to create an opportunity for Kagami Uchiha to use genjutsu. Only then could this battle possibly be won!

"Get lost, get out of my way!"

Just as he was about to order the four to dispel the barrier formation, an enraged roar suddenly echoed.

"Brother!"

Wind Style: Pressure Damage!

Before the words even fell, a red figure streaked through the air. While still airborne, he unleashed a storm-like gale towards the four Chunin maintaining the barrier formation, instantly sweeping them away.

Even Hizuki Hyuga, caught off guard, was thrown off balance by the intense wind pressure.

The next moment, the four pale formation membranes gradually vanished.

Ginkaku, intent on saving his brother, ignored the others and rushed into the formation. He grabbed Kinkaku, whose sanity had mostly returned but whose body was weak and slumped.

"Brother, I was wondering why you took so long to arrive. So these rats were holding you up. Just you wait, I'll kill them all!"

"...Wait, wait! Ginkaku."

Kinkaku grabbed the impulsive Ginkaku, his fingers trembling as he pointed towards a nearby direction. Standing beside Kagami Uchiha were now seven or eight ninjas.

Among them were Hiruzen Sarutobi and four Jonin, including Utatane Koharu. Not far behind them, more ninjas were arriving successively.

"My rampaging chakra drew all their people here. We can't keep fighting. If we continue, neither of us will gain anything. Let that reconnaissance ninja escape. Even if the plan fails, as long as we brothers are alive, there will be other opportunities."

"...Alright."

Although brave, Ginkaku was not a fool. He cast a hateful glance at everyone present, as if memorizing each face. Then, he threw a few smoke bombs on the ground and quickly left, supporting Kinkaku.

Watching the two figures depart, ninjas who had not yet witnessed their terrifying power couldn't help but ask:

"Lord Hiruzen, should we pursue?"

"Forget it..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the disheveled Konoha ninjas, forcing himself to suppress the urge to pursue. "They carry the Nine-Tails Chakra. Their combat strength will recover quickly. Even if we chase them, it will only lead to more casualties.

However, this matter is not over. I will report this to the Hokage. Cloud Village's atrocities here will absolutely make them pay a price!"

As everyone shared a common enemy, a startled cry suddenly came from behind them.

"Captain Kagami!"

Seeing that the battle had completely ended, the taut string in Captain Kagami's heart finally loosened. His already exhausted body collapsed straight down.

Whoosh!

Just then, a figure instantly appeared beside him, tightly embracing him, and softly said:

"You've worked hard, Brother."

"You are..."

Before falling unconscious, Captain Kagami vaguely saw that handsome face and murmured.

"...Ao."

"Uchiha Ao?"

Everyone exchanged glances. So this was the younger brother Captain Kagami had been desperately searching for.

"Why is he here?"

At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed through the crowd and came before Uchiha Ao, asking with a serious expression:

"Ao, tell me the truth. Were Kinkaku and Ginkaku chasing you?"

"Yes."

Uchiha Ao did not hide anything, truthfully stating, "I went to the Land of Lightning this time and obtained important information from them, which is why they chased me all the way here."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings erupted in an uproar, their gazes filled with disbelief.

"It was because of him?"

"Isn't he a Chunin? To be able to evade Kinkaku and Ginkaku all the way from the Land of Lightning, then his strength must be..."

No one present was foolish. The fact that he could escape was enough to demonstrate his intelligence and strength.

Koharu and Hizuki, standing in the crowd, also exchanged surprised glances. Even they, in their own estimation, might not have been able to escape alive under the pursuit of those two Cloud Village powerhouses.

This Ao... is not simple!

"Then, the content of that information..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's emotions became even more agitated. While he was also very surprised that the other party could escape Kinkaku and Ginkaku's pursuit, what excited him even more was the intelligence he had obtained.

"Can you tell me now?"

This information could make powerhouses like Kinkaku and Ginkaku personally chase someone, even across vast distances, further proving its importance.

Perhaps this information... could influence the entire war situation!

"I'm sorry."

Uchiha Ao shook his head.

"No."