Boom, boom, boom!
Lightning flashed, but the golden-red Fire Release flames soon swallowed it.
Matatabi, the Two-Tails, roared.
Above her head, a blazing sun rose!
Then the Fire Release flames erupted outward from Shinji, spreading so far that they reached the edges of both armies, nearly thirty li away!
The ground, Earth Release, grass, trees, forests—even the dust and air—were being vaporized!
Golden-red sparks burst into existence in midair, then spread in wave after wave.
They stained the entire sky golden-red.
And they would not go out!
Tsunade's expression changed as she watched. She swept out an arm. "Defend!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Her shout jolted the stunned ninja who had been watching the distant battle.
More than a dozen rushed to the front of the army, formed a broad semicircle, and made hand seals together.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Boom!
A swirling torrent rose beneath their feet and spread outward, enclosing the ninja behind them within a thick semicircular wall of water.
At the same time, the Kumogakure forces used the same technique!
For a moment...
Hissss—
Water evaporated. Dense white fog blanketed the plains along the border between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire, so thick no one could see a hand in front of their face.
But in the next instant—
Hiruzen Sarutobi, watching the battle between Shinji and Ribbon Raikage with a conflicted expression, suddenly stiffened. "Wait! No! This isn't Fire Release!"
"What?!"
Tsunade froze and whipped around. "Old man, you mean—"
"Ahhh!"
"Ah! What kind of Fire Release flames are these?!"
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could answer, transparent golden-red Fire Release flames sprang up across the ninja holding the Water Formation Wall.
The Fire Release raced over their bodies. With a roar, each became a human torch!
Fwoom!
Fwoom, fwoom, fwoom!
Three