Arrival of the Thousand-Hand Kill!

"Green skin?"

Guy's eye twitched slightly. His clenched fist creaked with grinding bones as his dangerous gaze shot straight at Genichi. "A secret ninja technique from the Fire Temple? Let me see it, then!"

With his right hand extended and his legs together in a combat stance, Guy's eyes flashed with blazing fighting spirit. "Watch out!"

"First Gate!"

Boom...

Following Guy's warning, the ground collapsed and ripples spread through the air. His fierce fist wind roared like a dragon roaring toward the heavens, charging straight at Genichi, who stood motionless.

Genichi stood where he was, his expression calm as he watched Guy rush toward him at high speed. His hands formed seals.

"Arrival of the Thousand-Hand Kill!"

With a loud shout, a Thousand-Armed Kannon appeared behind Genichi, visible only to those beyond ordinary sight. A fist condensed from chakra formed out of thin air and collided with Guy's fist.

Boom...

A violent explosion of air erupted. Intense shockwaves burst from the point where the two attacks collided, and fierce winds spread across the ground, carving fine marks into the frozen, steel-hard earth.

The wild wind swept across the ground, raising clouds of dust. Watching the chakra fist get blown apart, Genichi's expression changed.

"If you can block one, then what about these?!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Fists made of chakra condensed once more. Dozens of densely packed chakra fists blasted straight toward Guy.

"Ha ha ha!"

Guy's laughter rang out. Facing the ever-increasing attacks, a blazing light ignited in his eyes.

"Bring as many attacks like this as you want!"

"Eight Gates Formation, Opening Gate! Open!!!"

Boom...

Blue chakra surged from Guy's body. His hair stood on end under the force of the chakra bursting from him. Looking at the chakra fists closing in, a smile appeared on his lips. "Boil, my youth!"

Boom, boom, boom, boom...

A barrage of explosions rang through the air. Guy's fists blurred into afterimages, and excited battle intent flashed through his eyes as turbulent shockwaves continuously spread in every direction from their clash.

Samu Kokaze was pushed back several steps by the shockwaves, his expression grim as he watched the two destroy the surrounding terrain. He could not help saying, "Are they really only Jonin?!"

The damage the two were causing to the surroundings was entirely comparable to an artillery company from his previous life.

And this was only Guy's current state after opening the first gate. Thinking of the world-destroying battles to come, especially the Expanding Truth-Seeking Orb used by Kaguya Otsutsuki, the ancestor of chakra, which was enough to destroy the world—even though he had great confidence in himself...

"There's... too little time!"

If he had enough time, Samu Kokaze believed he could crush every enemy in the Naruto World.

It was now Konoha Year 53. There were only eleven years left until Kaguya Otsutsuki emerged. Reaching the level of the Six Paths before the final battle arrived was practically impossible. Even in the original story, AB had to keep giving Naruto and Sasuke power-ups in the later stages before they barely managed to seal Kaguya Otsutsuki.

And in this timeline, with him in it, there was no telling whether Naruto and Sasuke would still be able to gain those power-ups. Besides, Samu Kokaze did not want to place his hopes on anyone else.

Watching the two fight fiercely, Samu Kokaze was not worried in the slightest. Guy had only opened the first gate. If he truly wanted to kill him, it would take only an instant.

Feeling the Nano Core continuously calculating within his body, his expression darkened and shifted.

"I... really don't want to take that step!"

"But... I hope things turn out the way I think they will!"

He clenched his fist tightly and looked toward the two ninjas opposite him, whose expressions had been somewhat vacant ever since the battle began, then walked toward them.

Gulp...

A swallowing sound came from the wilderness. Watching Guy and Genichi fight, the two men, who had never witnessed a battle between high-level ninjas, felt their legs tremble.

"Humans! How can humans possibly reach such a level?!"

"Could it be... could the rumors we heard before have been true?"

The terrified pair muttered blankly to themselves.

Tap... tap...

Calm, steady footsteps echoed beside them. When they turned around and saw Samu Kokaze's emotionless face, panic rose in their hearts.

"Continue. Our battle."

Samu Kokaze raised his head slightly and calmly looked at the two men, sweat dripping continuously from their foreheads.

"Why?!"

"Why aren't you shocked at all by what's happening before your eyes, brat?!"

"Facing the power they've displayed, how can you still calmly speak of continuing the battle?!"

The ninja's face nearly collapsed as he roared those words. The arm holding his kunai shook violently, as though he would completely break down the very next second.

Whoosh, whoosh...

The biting cold wind howled past, while violent explosions continued to erupt on both sides. Hearing their words, Samu Kokaze's raised face showed a trace of mockery.

"I'll surpass the strength they possess sooner or later. As for you, who have never seen how vast the world truly is and only know how to bully the weak, let me end your pitiful lives!"

He tightened his grip on the kunai, preparing for the coming battle.

"Fierce Leaf Vajra Whirlwind!"

A shout that echoed into the sky erupted from Guy, who was locked in fierce combat.

His fists, throwing out countless afterimages, completely blasted apart every obstacle in his path. In an instant, Guy arrived before Genichi, extending his right leg and swinging it in a fierce roundhouse kick toward Genichi's head, his leg coated in blue chakra.

Genichi's chakra was nearly exhausted, and terror appeared on his face. He could no longer evade this attack. He could only gather every last bit of chakra in his body at the back of his head in defense, hoping to survive.

Boom...

Genichi was struck squarely by the kick. Cracking sounds rang from his skull as his body flew toward the woods on either side of the highway like a battered sack, leaving a white trail of air behind him.

"Genichi... Lord Genichi actually lost!"

The two ninjas spoke with difficulty. When they saw Guy shift his gaze toward them, a vicious gleam flashed through their eyes instead.

They glanced at Samu Kokaze less than five meters ahead. Fear of imminent death and overwhelming hatred twisted together on their distorted faces.

"Before we die, we'll definitely drag you down with us, brat!"

"Die! X2"

With despair and bloodlust in their eyes, the two men attacked from the left and right, waving their kunai as they staggered forward.

"Time Domain... double speed!"

Facing their encirclement, riddled with openings, Samu Kokaze spoke softly. His body suddenly accelerated as he lunged forward, his kunai drawing two graceful arcs. Behind him came two thuds as bodies hit the ground.

"Have you been so frightened by the fact that you're about to die that you've forgotten how to fight? What a disappointment!"

He turned and glanced at the two dead men, shook his head, and walked toward Guy.