Rasenshuriken

At the center of the battlefield, the wind began to change.

At first, it was merely an unnatural gust sweeping through the forest, pouring out from deep among the trees, winding around trunks and rocks, lifting fallen leaves and dust from the ground and drawing them toward the same direction.

Then the wind grew stronger, more concentrated, until it became like an invisible hand dragging all the airflow across the battlefield toward a single point.

That point was Naruto.

Three shadow clones stood side by side beside him, their breathing perfectly synchronized with his. They extended their right hands at the same time, palms facing one another, as high-density Wind Release chakra gathered, compressed, and spun between their four hands, forming a rapidly expanding white, translucent outline—its edges sharp, wind-blade wings extending from both sides like a massive blade taking shape.

Pebbles were sucked up from the ground. Fine grit scraped across the tree trunks, leaving pale streaks behind. Nearby branches bent violently, as though an invisible hand were pressing them outward.

The air began to distort. Light refracted as it passed through that mass of Wind Release chakra, making Naruto and his shadow clones appear blurred.

Kakashi Hatake did not look back. He faced a Lightning Release masked monster, his hands forming seals as his feet constantly shifted position. While keeping it occupied, he guided the masked monster away from Naruto.

He moved quickly, but every change in direction deliberately compressed the masked monster's range of movement, leaving it no chance to circle around toward Naruto.

"Keep this distance." Yamato's voice came from the other side of the battlefield.

Both his hands were pressed to the ground as Wood Release surged from below, forming an arcing barrier in front of him that directly blocked the combined attack of the Wind Release and Fire Release masked monsters.

The Wood Release defense continuously cracked and regenerated beneath alternating waves of high heat and high-pressure airflow, maintaining a precarious line. "I can hold on for a long time, Naruto. Give it your all!"

Jiraiya stood at the edge of the battlefield, his hands tucked into his sleeves. Less than ten meters in front of him stood Tobi, hands in his pockets, looking as relaxed as if he were waiting for a late train.

Neither dared to strike first. If either of them attacked without killing the other, they would expose their own information.

A neither-too-short-nor-too-long distance lay between them. No chakra clashed, no opening hand seals were formed. They simply stood there.

"You're not an official Akatsuki member, are you?" Jiraiya asked, as casually as though discussing the weather. "A newcomer?"

Tobi tilted his head slightly, and the Sharingan visible beneath his mask turned once. "Tobi really is a newcomer. Tobi only joined recently. The seniors all take very good care of Tobi."

"Then who was the senior in your position?"

"It was Sasori-senpai." Tobi's voice carried a trace of nostalgia. "Sasori-senpai is gone now, so Tobi is Deidara-senpai's partner."

Jiraiya's gaze lingered on Tobi's mask. "Where did that Sharingan of yours come from?"

"Tobi doesn't know either." Tobi's tone was cheerful. "Tobi had it when Tobi woke up."

This person played dumb whenever he was questioned, but his timing was too precise, as if he had rehearsed it countless times.

Jiraiya did not press further, because the wind around Naruto had become so fierce that even they could feel it—the texture of that wind was not the airflow of an ordinary ninjutsu. It was the natural overflow caused by Wind Release chakra being compressed to its absolute limit.

Kakuzu felt it as well. He had been watching the heart monsters, but he turned to glance in Naruto's direction, and at last, a change appeared in those eyelidless eyes.

"That technique... cannot be allowed to finish."

He withdrew the Fire Release and Wind Release masks that had been attacking Yamato head-on, leaving only the Lightning Release mask to keep him occupied.

The Fire Release and Wind Release masks returned to his body. Dense black threads began appearing across Kakuzu's skin, spreading from his chest to his limbs like blood vessels. Earth Grudge Fear: Full-Power Form. Black threads extended from his back, weaving into a net in the air as they shot toward Naruto.

Kakashi's attack arrived at that very moment. Lightning Cutter sliced in from the side, severing the Lightning Release masked monster's entire right arm.

The mask let out a brief shriek, but it did not completely lose its fighting ability. It still tried to use its remaining limbs to entangle Kakashi's ankle.

At the same time, Yamato's Wood Release rose from the ground and wrapped around the black threads Kakuzu had extended toward Naruto, temporarily holding them back.

But Kakuzu had too many black threads. Wood Release entangled some of them, but the rest had already bypassed the wooden barrier and were stretching toward Naruto and the gathering shadow clones.

The Rasenshuriken had not yet taken shape. Naruto stood among the shadow clones, the chakra in his right palm still compressing continuously, his face drenched in sweat.

Tiny wounds began appearing around the edge of his palm—the fine blades naturally leaking from the Wind Release chakra during the buildup were cutting into his skin. It hurt, but he did not let go.

"Just a little longer... almost there..."

Kakuzu's black threads had reached within three meters of Naruto.

Yamato charged over from afar, forming hand seals in an attempt to use Wood Release to intercept them again, but he was too far away. Kakashi was held up by the Lightning Release mask and could not break free. Jiraiya was just about to move when Tobi suddenly took half a step forward—not to attack, but to make sure Jiraiya could not move.

At that moment, the three shadow clones beside Naruto vanished simultaneously.

"What—"

Kakuzu's black threads struck empty air. They passed through the places where the shadow clones had dispersed, catching nothing.

The real Naruto leaped out from between the shadow clones. He had been there all along—without moving, without making a sound, maintaining the Rasenshuriken's charge the entire time.

Only after the shadow clones dispersed was his real body exposed, but the technique had already taken shape. A white, translucent shuriken spun in his right palm, its wind-blade edges cutting through the air with a sharp buzz.

He did not hesitate. He shot forward like an arrow, slamming the Rasenshuriken directly into Kakuzu's chest.

Kakuzu's body had not yet shifted back from the Earth Grudge Fear form into a defensive stance. He saw the Rasenshuriken coming, but his reaction was too slow—the wind blades cut into his chest cavity.

It was not a piercing strike, but a grinding one. Wind Release chakra compressed to the absolute limit exploded inside him, like countless fine blades cutting through his internal organs at once. The Fire Release heart shattered. The Wind Release heart shattered. Two of those precious hearts were destroyed at the same time, leaving Kakuzu instantly half-crippled.

Kakuzu's body was swept up by the storm, thrown into the air, then slammed heavily onto the ground. Blood seeped from the countless fine wounds across his skin. He lay there as the remaining black threads convulsively contracted across his body, like burned wires still smoldering with dying sparks.

Naruto collapsed as well. His right hand hung at his side, his fingers still twitching involuntarily, and a deep gash had split open between his thumb and forefinger.

Blood dripped from his wrist. There was no expression of victory on his face, only a blankness where agonizing pain and exhaustion mingled together. He could not speak. He could not even stand.

The battlefield fell quiet for a moment.

Jiraiya shifted his gaze away from Naruto and caught the instant Tobi's eyes moved—he was looking at Naruto.

Jiraiya seized the opening. His right hand shot up, and the completed Fire Release hand seals unleashed a Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet from his palm. A massive fireball lunged straight at Tobi's face.

The firelight illuminated Tobi's mask, but the fireball passed through his body and flew out behind him, burning through a row of treetops and leaving a charred trail across the ground.

After the fireball passed through him, Tobi's body rippled like water before returning to normal. His mask remained intact, his clothes were not scorched, and even his stance had not changed. His Sharingan showed through the opening in his mask, curving slightly—as if smiling.

"Shh." Tobi raised an index finger to the place where his lips were beneath the mask. "Don't say anything, okay?"

Jiraiya's hand froze. He maintained his hand seal, but he had confirmed what had happened in that instant.

It was not evasion, nor was it a substitution technique. The attack had passed through his body, but how was that possible? Jiraiya fell silent for a moment, then lowered his hands.

Kakuzu's voice came from the ground, hoarse and urgent. "Tobi—!"

He lay on his side, the remaining black threads futilely contracting across his body, but he could no longer muster any chakra for a counterattack. "What are you doing... Hurry up and take me away... This isn't the time to play around..."

Tobi tilted his head. His tone remained as relaxed and casual as ever, but his body was already moving. "Got it, got it. Don't be in such a hurry, Kakuzu-senpai."

He withdrew his hand from his sleeve and rapidly formed seals. Fire Release: Storm Dance.

Flames spiraled from his palm, but they were not aimed at anyone—the flames engulfed the open space at the center of the battlefield, and the scorching air forced everyone back several steps.

Yamato and Kakashi leaped backward at the same time. Jiraiya grabbed Naruto from the ground and dragged him behind the Wood Release barrier. Yamato had already used vines to pull Choji and Ino to a safe distance.

When the flames dissipated, Tobi and Kakuzu were gone.

Jiraiya unleashed Toad Flame Bullet once more, hurling it in the direction Tobi had fled. The attack traced an arc through the air and looked ready to strike the black silhouette retreating into the distance—but it passed right through again, meeting no resistance whatsoever.

Kakashi had run out of chakra, but he still wanted to pursue them.

Jiraiya crouched beside Naruto, pressing his right hand over Naruto's injured hand. "Don't chase them. None of us can catch up."

Kakashi hesitated. Standing at the edge of the battlefield, he was silent for several seconds. "What technique was that?"

"I don't know." Jiraiya stood up, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield that had finally calmed down. "But that technique is definitely related to space, and it is anything but simple."

Yamato carried Ino on his back. Sai supported Choji. Kakashi walked over to Naruto, crouched down, and helped him up against his shoulder.

"Let's find Yunju and Shikamaru first. Deidara may not be as difficult to deal with as Kakuzu and Tobi, but he won't be easy either."

No one said anything more. They turned and headed toward Nara Forest.

Naruto's face was full of pain, but the curve of a smile could be seen at the corner of his mouth. "Sasuke, I'm not weaker than you now."