As the Raikage retreated to dodge the Great Flame Bullet, Jiraiya bounded several steps forward. His hair shot out, stretching across the forest like a white beast lunging to bite the Raikage.
The Raikage dodged again, lightning flashing around him. Jiraiya's long white hair snapped shut on a great tree behind him instead.
The tree was so thick it took two people to wrap their arms around it, yet it split straight down the middle. The white hair withdrew behind Jiraiya.
Tsunade led a thousand shinobi in a swift change of direction, intending to slip past the Raikage and head straight for Konoha.
Fugaku and Jiraiya stood on either side of the Raikage, blocking his pursuit. In this densely wooded forest, his speed was somewhat limited.
If he went all out without the keen perception of the Byakugan or Sharingan to guide him, he would end up crashing into a tree.
Fugaku formed hand seals.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Behind the Raikage, Jiraiya formed hand seals as well.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
Dense Wind Release Chakra surged toward the Raikage from the front, while a Fire Release attack laced with Toad Oil came from behind.
The Raikage flashed through the Wind Release and charged straight at Fugaku. At this point in the war, he had only two wishes.
The first was to defeat Konoha and force it to sign a treaty that would help Kumogakure acquire resources.
The second was to kill Fugaku Uchiha. Fugaku had killed several of Kumogakure's strongest fighters, and the Raikage wanted to grind his bones to dust.
Fugaku pushed off the ground and retreated through the forest, using the dense trees to limit the Raikage's speed.
At the same time, he formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A vast tide of fire erupted