Wood Release

"Jiraiya—"

"Teacher."

Minato Namikaze lay sprawled on the ground, looking utterly wretched.

Thud.

Kurohane's foot pressed down onto Jiraiya's head.

The unconscious Jiraiya was tossed about like a doll, his body, now charred black, still emitting wisps of steam.

"Mad Ghost, Jiraiya."

Kurohane toyed with his foot, stomping on Jiraiya several times.

"The Sannin are nothing more than this, it seems."

With a look of contempt, Kurohane licked his lips.

"Don't touch Jiraiya-sensei! You bastard!"

Minato shouted, though he was completely devoid of chakra and his body had reached its limit; he had no strength left to even push himself up.

"Oh?"

Kurohane lifted his foot and walked slowly toward Minato with a grin.

"You Konoha brats really are interesting."

Kurohane crouched in front of Minato and lifted his chin with a hand.

"You have no power, yet none of you know how to fear. Is it courage?"

"Or is it just plain stupidity?"

Clang.

Kurohane looked at Minato, slightly surprised.

Minato had used his final ounce of strength to swing a blade at him, but it was useless; he couldn't even break through his defense.

However, Kurohane's expression darkened.

"How truly amusing."

Kurohane laughed.

"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Just as Kurohane brought his foot down toward Minato's forehead, chains shot out, stopping the blow just in time.

"Ahhh!"

Kurohane looked toward the source of the chains, where a red-haired girl was screaming, squeezing out every last drop of her chakra.

The chains extending from her back reached out toward Kurohane incessantly.

Whoosh.

Kurohane glanced to the side, only to find that Minato, who had been lying there, was gone.

Scanning the area, he quickly spotted the blond figure.

He was being carried away by a girl.

Beyond that, he also saw a familiar silhouette.

The blackened Jiraiya was also being carried off by that same girl.

Though her small frame was burdened with two people, her speed did not falter.

"One after another!"

Kurohane finally flew into a rage, his chakra surging forth like an ocean, directly eroding Kushina's chains until they snapped.

The backlash from the unique bloodline power of the Uzumaki Clan caused Kushina to collapse, but her stubborn nature forced her to hold herself up.

"Let me go! Kushina!"

"Trust in Kushina!"

Minato watched Kushina, who was now kneeling on one knee, and grew frantic.

But Mikoto, who was carrying him, quickly cut him off.

"Mikoto—"

Minato didn't continue; he could feel the tremor in Mikoto's voice.

Regarding Kushina, Mikoto was bearing even more than he was.

Realizing this, Minato fell silent.

He looked ahead, where Kurohane's attack was already descending, and Kushina made no move to dodge.

If this continued, there was no doubt Kushina would be hit head-on, and the consequences would be unthinkable.

Dodge!

Minato Namikaze was screaming internally, but Kushina performed a different action.

Her body relaxed, her eyes remaining open and shining with brilliance.

Just as she always did, she revealed a smile like that of a big sister; there was no fear, or at least, none that could be seen.

"Yueshu!!!"

Minato Namikaze finally shouted it out. He did not call for Jiraiya, but for his own arch-rival—the rival he had never once defeated.

He did not know where Yueshu was at this moment, but he knew that Yueshu had long since lost the ability to fight and was likely unable to even stand, just like himself. Yet, Minato Namikaze simply believed.

No matter the situation, that guy would definitely respond!

"Wood Release! Wood Wall Technique!"

Kurohane's figure was no more than twenty centimeters in front of Kushina when a wooden wall suddenly rose from the ground, blocking the space between Kurohane and Kushina.

"Wood Release, Wood Thorn Technique."

With a bang, the wooden wall did not shatter, but a dent appeared in it, visible to the naked eye.

As the sound faded, rows of wooden thorns continuously erupted from the ground, forcing Kurohane to retreat to the side.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

The familiar voice fell into her ears, and Kushina's body collapsed.

"You're too late, you idiot!"

Caught gently, Kushina could feel Yueshu's body heat. Her face flushed slightly as she muttered a complaint.

She did not know if Yueshu would save her, but as of a year ago, her hero had already become this guy who still seemed a bit immature.

Slow-witted, lazy, and only knowing how to sleep all day, but—

"Go and defeat him."

"My hero."

"That's a truly difficult request."

"But."

"Leave it to me."

The familiar voice and dialogue made Kushina smile secretly.

"Rest well."

Yueshu released Kushina, and nearby branches caught her, carrying her away.

The wooden wall was withdrawn, and Yueshu and Kurohane stood face to face.

"I've really been taken care of by you! How about I return the favor?"

"What a constant stream of surprises."

"For me as well!"

Kurohane and Yueshu's gazes collided, ready to explode at any moment.

"Rasengan!"

In an instant, the two began their first clash.

Kurohane dodged lightly and struck an elbow toward Yueshu.

Yueshu caught it with his palm, using the force to return an elbow strike to Kurohane.

Kurohane returned the favor in kind, and the two became locked in a struggle.

Having fought for some time, Kurohane was clearly weakened, especially in terms of stamina; Yueshu was now able to keep up with him.

"Wood Release, Wood Entanglement Technique."

Kicking Kurohane away to create distance, Yueshu immediately formed hand seals.

Surrounding branches continuously reached out toward Kurohane.

"Fire Style, Fire Whirlwind."

Kurohane was not to be outdone; he formed seals, and a whirlwind erupted directly from his body, spreading outward and burning the encroaching branches.

Yueshu drew his Kusanagi Sword and threw it forward.

Kurohane swung his palm, sending an Air Palm flying out that knocked the Kusanagi Sword away.

Yueshu was struck by the Air Palm and transformed into a puff of smoke.

The Kusanagi Sword flying in mid-air also turned into smoke, and then Yueshu charged out from within, gripping the blade.

"Earth Style, Earth Rising Dragon Technique."

Kurohane slammed his palm onto the ground, and an earth dragon surged directly up from beneath.

"Focus on one point!"

Yueshu gripped the sword with both hands and slashed down.

The earth dragon was sliced clean through, and Yueshu and Kurohane faced each other head-on!

Yueshu hurled the Kusanagi Sword in his hand, the speed so great that the already-injured Kurohane could not react in time.

The Kusanagi Sword transformed into Yueshu; he gripped the blade, his eyes locking onto Kurohane.

Those blood-red Three-Tomoe Sharingan were rotating slowly.

"Genjutsu!"

Yueshu utilized the power of the Sharingan, casting a genjutsu directly upon Kurohane.

Although the effect was minimal, a mere half-second of vulnerability was more than enough.

"Rasengan!"

The Yueshu shadow clone that had thrown the Kusanagi Sword conjured a sphere and charged forward, while Yueshu himself swung his blade in a slash.

Caught in a pincer attack, Kurohane was still dazed!

In the next instant, Kurohane regained his senses, but the attacks from both sides were already upon him.

His chakra erupted outward, and his body began to spin.

The Rasengan and the Kusanagi Sword were successfully blocked.

Rotation!

Yueshu was sent flying back, his eyes filled with shock.

Kurohane had used the Hyuga Clan's secret taijutsu technique, Rotation—the taijutsu secret known as the absolute defense!

Though stunned, Yueshu did not falter and immediately began weaving hand signs.

With more than half of his chakra drained, Yueshu slammed his palm onto the ground.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence."

Yueshu could feel that only a sliver of chakra remained in his body.

Massive trees erupted from the ground one after another, their branches reaching out toward Kurohane. Since Kurohane's Rotation could not be maintained indefinitely, a grueling battle of attrition was about to begin.