Eight Gates Technique Shows Its Might! The Kazekage's Desperate Final Counterattack

The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, appeared like a ghost in the heart of the Sand ninja camp.

Without wasting a word, he formed hand seals. "Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!" erupted instantly!

Absolute darkness descended over a hundred-meter radius, instantly robbing every Sand ninja of their sight.

Lin Hai and nine ANBU followed close behind, charging into the pitch-black abyss.

Although Lin Hai could not see.

After a year of hellish training.

He relied solely on the sound of the wind and fluctuations in chakra to swing his short blade with precision, silently slicing open a Sand ninja's carotid artery.

His movements were clean and efficient, coordinating flawlessly with the ANBU beside him.

In the blink of an eye, the surrounding Sand ninja had been slaughtered.

The Sand ninja's frontline army had deployed in full force, leaving their rear undefended.

Using his powerful sensory ninjutsu, capable of detecting chakra fluctuations thousands of meters away, Tobirama locked firmly onto the Kazekage's position.

The decapitation plan had officially begun!

Deep within the camp, the Second Kazekage had also sensed Tobirama's approaching presence.

He slowly rose and ordered Ebizo beside him, "Ebizo, you will command the entire army now. You must wipe out these two Konoha forces! Even if I truly die at Tobirama Senju's hands today, you must make him join me in death. Do you understand?!"

Ebizo's expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to dissuade him, the Kazekage raised a hand to cut him off.

"General against general, king against king! If I shrink back at a time like this, we may as well admit defeat right now."

With that, he walked toward Tobirama without hesitation.

At that moment, Tobirama moved through the Sand ninja camp as though no one was there. No one could withstand even a single blow from him.

The surrounding Sand ninja had been frightened out of their wits and retreated one after another. Lin Hai and the ANBU cleared out the remaining soldiers around the perimeter.

Suddenly, a violent wind blade cleaved out from behind the crowd, hurtling straight toward Tobirama's face!

A mocking look appeared on Tobirama's face.

"After all these years, you still only dare to hide in the shadows and launch sneak attacks? The weak will always be weak. Even if your status has changed, you still can't defeat me today."

Before he finished speaking, "Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade!" formed instantly.

Rapidly spinning water transformed into a spear, shattering the wind blade on impact before plunging into the Sand ninja crowd with undiminished force.

As the dust settled, a man wearing a ceremonial robe and a round hat marked with the character for "Wind" stood ahead.

He formed hand seals and activated "Wind Release: Great Wind Cutter Technique!" Violent currents gathered around him, turning into sharp blades of air that slashed at the water blade. The two forces exploded and canceled each other out.

The Second Kazekage removed the hat from his head and casually tossed it aside, his gaze calm. "Tobirama Senju, it has been a long time."

Tobirama crossed his arms, his eyes filled with contempt.

"A piece of trash like you is worthy of being Kazekage? It seems the Land of Wind truly has no one left. Any stray cat or dog can rise to power."

Faced with such humiliation, the Second Kazekage laughed instead of growing angry. "Your words are still as unpleasant as ever. With a personality like yours, if your elder brother had not protected you, you would have died long ago."

Tobirama snorted disdainfully. "The First Kazekage was indeed powerful. I admit I nearly died at his hands. Unfortunately, you do not possess his skill. Now that you have shown yourself, are you planning a group fight or a one-on-one duel? Weakling!"

The Second Kazekage's expression turned solemn as he said in a deep voice:

"The greatest regret of my life is that I never fully inherited the First Kazekage's teachings. I wasted my best years in vain and only came to my senses after becoming Kazekage.

"You need not try to provoke me with words today. From the moment you led your troops into the Land of Rain, I had already made my decision.

"As a challenger, I declare war on you. Today, we will determine not only victory and defeat, but life and death as well!"

Hearing this, Tobirama put away his contempt and grew serious. "It seems I truly underestimated you. In that case, I will grant you a fair duel."

With that, Tobirama formed hand seals and used an unknown ninjutsu. The continuous drizzle in the sky abruptly stopped, and the heavens cleared in an instant.

The Second Kazekage waved for the surrounding Sand ninja to withdraw. Fierce winds rose from the ground around him, making his robes flap loudly.

"Even if I die in this battle today, I will have lived up to the First Kazekage's teachings and the name of Kazekage. Come!"

The instant he finished speaking, Tobirama appeared before the Kazekage as if teleporting. His hands transformed into sharp water blades and slashed down in a cross!

The Kazekage's body instantly dispersed into a gust of wind. Immediately afterward, a destructive hurricane erupted around Tobirama.

Tobirama reacted swiftly, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to blink directly out of the eye of the storm. The moment he left, the hurricane tore a massive crater into the ground where he had stood.

Tobirama had barely landed when the Kazekage was already upon him.

At some point, a massive steel fan had appeared in his hand. He brought it crashing down at Tobirama's head.

Tobirama raised his short blade in one hand to block it while forming seals with the other, sending several water blades stabbing back at the Kazekage.

The Kazekage swiftly pulled back his giant fan, snapped it open to block the water blades, then swung it in the opposite direction.

Thousands of violent wind blades swept over like a blanket covering the sky!

The wind blades were too dense, forcing Tobirama to avoid their edge and use Flying Thunder God again to widen the distance.

The moment he appeared, he stomped heavily on the ground. "Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"

An enormous volume of water surged from beneath his feet, transforming into a towering wave that crashed fiercely toward the Kazekage.

The Kazekage drove his giant fan deep into the mud and rapidly formed a complicated series of hand seals.

"Earth Release: Great Underworld Swamp!"

The ground instantly collapsed and softened, transforming into a roaring mudslide that slammed head-on into the towering wave.

Mud and water collided violently. In the end, both exhausted their power and vanished without a trace.

Without hesitation, Tobirama charged in front of the Kazekage again and whipped a kick straight at his head.

The Kazekage raised a hand to block the kick, then grabbed his giant fan with the other and slashed its blade-sharp edge at Tobirama.

Tobirama planted both hands on the ground, his legs spinning like windmills as he launched a chain of savage kicks. The Kazekage was forced to abandon his attack and retreat repeatedly to defend himself.

After widening the distance, the Kazekage slammed both hands against the ground.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

Dense, sharp earthen spikes erupted wildly beneath Tobirama's feet.

Tobirama pushed off with both arms and launched himself into the air. While airborne, he flicked one hand, and a "Water Release: Water Blade" swept out like a crescent slash, severing every earthen spike below.

The two separated by more than ten meters again.

Tobirama looked at the Kazekage, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes. "Your strength has indeed improved greatly since before. Next, I will get serious."

He clenched his fists and roared at the sky. "This is the latest taijutsu I developed! Eight Gates Technique, Gate of Opening, open!"

Boom!

Violent chakra burst from his body, visible blue currents enveloping Tobirama from head to toe. Like an arrow released from a bowstring, he shot toward the Kazekage.

The Kazekage sensed the overwhelming pressure that had exploded the instant Tobirama shouted "Gate of Opening" and did not dare let down his guard in the slightest.

He raised his giant fan and swung it with all his strength. A devastating tornado roared as it crashed toward Tobirama.

Without slowing, Tobirama shouted sharply, "Gate of Healing, open! Gate of Life, open!"

An even more terrifying wave of chakra erupted like a volcano. The pressure radiating from his body alone forcibly shattered the approaching tornado!

Watching Tobirama charge at him like a demon god, the Kazekage laughed loudly. "My taijutsu was stronger than yours back then! You dare compete with me in taijutsu? You're courting death!"

The Kazekage activated a secret technique, and a layer of hard petrified armor instantly covered his entire body as he met Tobirama head-on!

The two exchanged blows, every punch landing solidly on flesh!

Tobirama slammed a heavy fist into the Kazekage's chest. Relying on his petrified defense, the Kazekage neither dodged nor retreated, instead swinging his giant fan one-handed at Tobirama's neck.

To avoid being cut by the sharp fan blades, Tobirama decisively pulled back.

Yet in the instant he retreated, he drove a powerful kick into the Kazekage's chest.

The violent impact exploded instantly, kicking the Kazekage away like a cannonball!

On the main battlefield, the fighting was brutal.

Watching Hiruzen Sarutobi carve through the Sand ninja army as though no one could stop him, Ebizo felt a chill in his heart and silently sighed.

If my sister were here, perhaps she could stop him.

What a pity. Our army of six thousand has actually been reduced to this state by fewer than fifteen hundred Konoha troops!

I can only hope Lord Kazekage defeats Tobirama Senju. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable...

Hiruzen Sarutobi wielded the Adamantine Staff as he charged wildly through the enemy lines.

The surrounding Konoha ninja coordinated seamlessly. Their powerful ninjutsu, combined with Hiruzen's overwhelming taijutsu, drove the Sand ninja back again and again.

Suddenly, several elite Sand ninja burst from the ground and surrounded Hiruzen.

"Earth Release: Iron Prison!"

A circle of sturdy, ring-shaped walls rose from the ground, instantly trapping Hiruzen in the center.

Hiruzen sneered. "You think this kind of trick can trap me? How naive!"

He planted the Adamantine Staff into the ground. Its body instantly extended, launching him into the air.

But several Sand ninja had prepared for this. Seeing him rise into the air, they immediately concentrated their attacks and unleashed Wind Release and Earth Release techniques.

With nowhere to push off in midair, Hiruzen could only descend back to the ground.

The moment he landed, several Sand ninja had already closed in, their hands rapidly forming seals.

"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Prison!"

"Earth Release: Rock Board Coffin!"

Rumble! Countless massive rocks and slabs of earth closed in from every direction, instantly crushing Hiruzen deep underground!

Mitokado Homura, overseeing the battle from the rear, saw this and his expression changed.

"There is a tactical expert commanding the other side!

"The monkey is in trouble. I'll go support him!

"Koharu, quickly organize the troops and keep charging! We absolutely cannot let the enemy suppress our momentum!"

Utatane Koharu nodded heavily and turned to rapidly arrange the battle line.

Mitokado Homura transformed into a blur and raced toward where Hiruzen had been trapped.

At the other end of the battlefield, smoke filled the air.

The Kazekage knelt on one knee, gasping heavily. He stared fixedly at the Second Hokage standing several meters away with his hands behind his back, his eyes full of unwillingness.

"How could this happen... The taijutsu activated by opening the Gate of Death is actually this terrifying? I cannot even defend against it.

"Is the rise of the Sand ninja destined to be nothing but a dream?

"Why does heaven favor Konoha so greatly? I refuse to accept this!"

Tobirama crossed his arms and looked down at the Kazekage, his tone calm.

"I admit that you have reached Kage level, but compared with me now, the gap is still far too great."

"The taijutsu I developed can instantly squeeze out the body's greatest potential. You cannot defeat me."

"Even without my elder brother and Madara Uchiha, Konoha is not something you Sand ninja can shake. Admit defeat and negotiate peace. If the Sand ninja lose a fighter of your caliber, that will be your true catastrophe."

Hearing those words.

The Kazekage's mind flashed through the smiling faces of his wife and children.

Then the figures of his subordinates.

Then the faces of the formidable Chiyo and the strategist Ebizo.

Finally, it settled on the broad back of the First Kazekage.

He slowly straightened his body, a tragic smile curling his lips.

"You are wrong, Tobirama. The future of the Sand ninja does not need a cowardly deserter from the past. Today, I will defend the Sand ninja's honor with my life!"

Before his words had faded, the Kazekage unleashed his last reserves of chakra and charged at Tobirama like a madman.

Seeing that his opponent had resolved to die, Tobirama did not dare underestimate him.

"Flying Thunder God Killing Technique!"

A flash of blue light streaked past, and the water blade in Tobirama's hand sliced open the Kazekage's abdomen with precise brutality.

Yet the Kazekage completely ignored the potentially fatal wound. He grabbed Tobirama's arms tightly with his backhand, then exploded forward with both legs, carrying Tobirama straight into the sky!

Upon reaching the highest point, the Kazekage locked Tobirama tightly in place. The two plunged headfirst toward the ground like falling meteors.

"Wind Release: Great Tornado Technique!"

The Kazekage roared. Their bodies spun at high speed through the air, wrapped in a destructive storm as they smashed fiercely toward the earth!

Seeing that he could not break free, Tobirama formed seals with one hand. "Water Release: Water Clear Wave!"

A great volume of water appeared out of thin air beneath them, cushioning their fall and neutralizing the deadly impact meant to take them both down together.

After blocking that desperate strike, Tobirama showed no mercy. His fists rained down on the Kazekage like a violent storm.

The crisp sounds of bones breaking rang out without end.

The Kazekage was beaten deep into the earth, smashing out a massive crater. Only weak, ragged breaths remained.

Tobirama looked down at the dying Kazekage and sighed.

"I take back what I said when I underestimated you. You are an opponent worthy of respect."

With that, he gathered a water blade in one hand, preparing to pierce the Kazekage's heart and end everything.

Just then, a terrifying roar that seemed to shatter eardrums descended from the sky.

A chakra monster as enormous as a mountain appeared on the battlefield without warning!

Tobirama abruptly turned his head, extreme shock flashing through his eyes.

"The One-Tailed Shukaku?! You Sand ninja can actually control this monster now?"

Before he finished speaking, a chilling puppet appeared out of thin air beside Tobirama, its long blade chopping down with a shriek of wind!

In his haste, Tobirama unleashed "Water Release: Water Formation Wall" to block the strike.

As the spray dispersed, a beautiful young girl stood coldly ahead.

Her ten fingers controlled chakra threads, and ten murderous puppets floated around her!

One of them attacked Tobirama, while another had already steadily lifted the severely wounded, dying Kazekage onto its back.

The Kazekage barely opened his eyes. Looking at the girl before him, he forced out several broken words:

"Chiyo... why are you here... leave... don't worry about me..."