Crisis, The Rampaging Flame Tornado!

Within the steam, Torifu Akimichi whispered in a voice only he could hear: "Cloud Release: Cloud Spear Technique."

Exhaling billowing white clouds, Torifu made a grasping motion, causing all the clouds to converge in his palm to form a spear of white vapor.

He exhaled another cloud of mist, merging it with the steam created by the battle, and through this cloud, Torifu easily pinpointed the location of Lomaru.

He aimed the spear in his hand and threw it! As a cry of agony rang out, a smile appeared on Torifu's face.

Whether it was steam or fog, as long as Torifu infused his cloud energy into it, the entire expanse of vapor could be used to his advantage.

Within the clouds, Torifu was the master of all!

While others struggled to see in this steam, Torifu was in his element.

Furthermore, Torifu's cloud energy was something even the Sharingan could not perceive.

Rojin, being the older brother, immediately recognized his younger brother's voice!

He instantly broke away from the encirclement of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Koharu, running toward his brother regardless of the consequences.

"Lomaru! Stay with me! Use that technique!"

Rojin located the direction through the sound of his brother's earlier cry and dove into the clouds.

When he touched his brother, he found that Lomaru's entire body felt like an ice block, colder than anything he had ever felt.

Lomaru struggled to spit out a few blurred words: "Rojin, I'm dying. After using that technique... just... run."

Rojin's eyes turned bloodshot, and he roared in a near-mad state: "What are you talking about! You're my brother! We both escaped from Sunagakure!"

Lomaru shook his head; he knew his own condition well.

He could barely breathe anymore, his entire lungs feeling as if they had been frozen solid, so he knew he couldn't survive: "Do it."

Looking at Lomaru's determination, Rojin nodded with resentment and hatred. He had managed to bring his brother out of Sunagakure, after all!

Yet today, his brother was going to die in this mountain ditch!

"Wind Release: Tornado Technique!"

Rojin spat out a violent gale that blew the entire expanse of clouds away! All the building debris and various ruins from the battle were swept up into the air!

The gale then converged, twisting and rotating into a massive storm! The immense suction seemed intent on dragging everyone into the center of the storm to be torn to shreds!

Fortunately, Torifu Akimichi managed to stand his ground in the storm thanks to his massive physique. He held the others in his palms, allowing them to escape a catastrophe.

They had underestimated the strength of these two! This was their final dance, fueled by their last ounce of strength—could they withstand it?

"Fire Release: Great Flowing Fire."

Lomaru forced his broken body to stand, using the last of his Chakra to spew out flowing fire.

Unlike the previous flames, these were even more fierce and surging! The roaring fire met the storm and instantly shot into the sky!

The wind fueled the fire! Lomaru's flames were enhanced several times over in an instant!

The fire snaked up along the storm, turning it into a gigantic tornado of flame.

"All of you! Go to hell! Be buried with us brothers!"

Rojin roared in a frenzy, while Lomaru had already died in his brother's arms after releasing the jutsu.

It appeared that Rojin had no intention of escaping; he intended to perish along with Torifu and the others.

Torifu Akimichi held everyone in his hands and ran toward the entrance of the valley, but the suction of the storm was immense and it was moving toward them.

The group's current situation was looking very grim!

"Damn it! What now? Is there any way out?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grave; the severity of the situation had exceeded his imagination.

He truly could not understand why two such powerful ninjas would choose to defect from their village.

Koharu shook her head helplessly: "Combined, these two ninjutsu are already at S-rank or even beyond."

"What about you, Torifu? Do you have any ideas?"

Hiruzen asked anxiously. If they waited any longer, he feared they would all be finished.

"I don't have much Chakra left; I can't use a Water Release powerful enough to stop this."

In truth, even with sufficient Chakra, the ninjutsu he could release would be unable to resist the flame tornado created by the brothers Rojin and Lomaru.

"Oh no! Chirori!"

Kagami Uchiha suddenly realized that his younger sister was still hiding in one of the houses!

He immediately prepared to jump down to find Chirori, but Danzo grabbed him.

"Don't be rash. The tornado hasn't reached the houses yet. Your sister isn't necessarily in danger, but if you jump down, you definitely will be."

Danzo was right. They had placed Chirori in a house far from the central area, and the storm had not yet reached her location.

"Kagami, don't let your concern cloud your judgment," Hiruzen added. Chirori should be fine, but if Kagami jumped down recklessly, he might die.

At this moment, Torifu suddenly spoke up: "I'll go find Chirori. We'll meet at the valley entrance."

Hiruzen frowned. He had just talked one person out of a reckless move, and now another?

"I can guarantee I'll make it out unscathed. Trust me."

"As the team leader, I have no reason to trust you. I am responsible for your safety."

The other companions chimed in one after another, and even Kagami tried to dissuade Torifu Akimichi: "Danzo is right. Chirori is not necessarily in danger, and I cannot let you take such a risk."

Hearing Kagami say this, everyone present felt a bitter taste in their hearts. If only they were stronger, would the situation not be as dire as it was now?

Torifu Akimichi was still unwilling to give up and wanted to argue a few more points; he did not want to stand idly by while watching Chirori potentially come to harm.

Chirori was, after all, his best friend.

"I!..."

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Following a thunderous roar, countless thick trees burst forth from the ground, spreading throughout the valley like vines!

The fire tornado, which possessed such immense power that it had nearly driven them into a desperate situation, instantly shattered and vanished into nothingness the moment it touched the spreading branches.

Only a few sparks remained, smoldering on the wood.

"It's the Hokage!" Hiruzen pointed toward the entrance of the valley.

Everyone looked in the direction he indicated, and sure enough, they saw the Hokage. Their hanging hearts finally settled.

"Chirori is there too. It looks like she was saved by the Hokage on his way here."

Kagami said with a chuckle. The gloom he had felt just moments ago was gone, and his mouth was stretched wide in a grin.

Torifu Akimichi took a look, and indeed, wasn't that right? Chirori was being carried by their master like a handbag!

Only then did he break into a smile. It was fortunate that his master had arrived; otherwise, he truly wouldn't have known how to break the deadlock.

He had even been prepared to risk exposing his system, intending to exchange for items in the Shop to boost his strength!

With the suction of the tornado gone, Torifu Akimichi walked to the valley entrance in a few long strides.

"Hokage-sama!"

Everyone bowed to Hashirama. Wherever Hashirama was, people felt an incomparable sense of peace—unless, of course, they were his enemies.

"Hahaha, you children were scared, weren't you?"