Since they were only two Shadow Clones, Kazemori Masaki and Hiruzen Sarutobi chose not to confront Kinkaku and Ginkaku head-on, instead keeping them occupied with evasive skirmishing. After all, Shadow Clones were merely forms created from chakra, entirely dependent on its stability. Once a powerful attack disrupted that chakra, they could no longer maintain their forms.
The two either dodged Kinkaku and Ginkaku's attacks or used some Ninjutsu with restraining effects in an attempt to trap them, but their efforts proved futile.
For instance, Hiruzen Sarutobi used Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld, turning the ground into a swamp to prevent his enemy from escaping. But Ginkaku merely waved his fan, and the surging flames baked the Swamp of the Underworld solid. With his tremendous strength, Ginkaku easily broke free of the hardened earth.
That left Hiruzen Sarutobi at a loss. The Nature Transformation produced by the Banana Palm Fan after it was infused with nine-tails chakra was terrifying. To preserve his Shadow Clone, he had limited the power of his Ninjutsu, but techniques at that strength could not stop Ginkaku's counterattacks at all.
Unwilling to accept this, Hiruzen Sarutobi had tried counterattacking once, only for Ginkaku's Banana Palm Fan to effortlessly break through his Ninjutsu. Had Kazemori Masaki not pulled him aside, Kinkaku would have nearly destroyed that Shadow Clone.
After that close call, Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped trying. This Shadow Clone was still too valuable to waste, so he darted back and forth alongside Kazemori Masaki, evading Kinkaku and Ginkaku's attacks.
To everyone else, their Shadow Clones were essentially fleeing in panic beneath Kinkaku and Ginkaku's storm of attacks, without even a chance to strike back. It seemed they might disappear at any moment.
Danzo was somewhat worried, but he could not help them. As the one lying in