Tobirama Senju stood in the center of the battlefield, his pale Hokage robes billowing in the wind, his short silver-white hair whipping in the gale.
His hawk-sharp eyes swept coldly over the densely packed elite Kumogakure troops before him, and over Kinkaku and Ginkaku, who stood at their head.
All around him, the enemy had completed their encirclement, murderous intent filling the air. Within the valley, the air seemed to have frozen, heavy with deadly tension.
"Tobirama Senju, today is the day you die."
Kinkaku sneered, holding the Banana Palm Fan, one of the Six Paths sacred treasures, faint flames dancing across its surface. Ginkaku stood beside him with a bloodthirsty smile, gripping the Benihisago and the Seven Stars Sword.
Behind them stood an entire elite unit—the Kinkaku Force, Kumogakure's finest, a special ninja unit dedicated to assassinations and hunting down Kage-level opponents. Its ranks included many ninja proficient in powerful combat techniques such as Lightning Release and Wind Release, and every one of them was a battle-hardened veteran.
Any other Kage-level fighter would likely have felt suffocated by such an encirclement.
But Tobirama Senju simply stood there, his expression stern, his hands clasped behind his back, as though the army before him were nothing but dust.
"Hmph. Frogs in a well," Tobirama said evenly, his voice as calm as water, yet carrying an overwhelming pressure.
"Kinkaku, Ginkaku—your ambitions are far too shallow."
He raised his eyes slightly, a trace of icy killing intent surfacing in his gaze. "If you want my life, then come and take it."
The instant his words fell—
BOOM!!!
An immense surge of chakra erupted from Tobirama Senju's body, sweeping across the entire battlefield like a raging tidal wave!
For that moment, the entire battlefield seemed pinned beneath his terrifying presence. Every Kumogakure ninja instinctively held their breath as an indescribable shudder spread from their spine through their whole body.
This was the true might of Tobirama Senju, the Shinobi World's master of forbidden techniques!
"The Hokage... is finally getting serious?"
Kinkaku licked his lips, battle lust flickering in his eyes. "Good. Then let's see just how capable the so-called 'greatest tactician in the Shinobi World' really is."
"Everyone, surround Tobirama Senju and kill him!"
Kinkaku roared. At once, Kumogakure's elite troops formed hand seals, unleashing dozens of Lightning Release techniques simultaneously!
"Lightning Release: Thundercloud Collapse!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
BOOM!
Thunder and fierce winds intertwined, instantly turning the battlefield into a hellscape of raging storms! Lightning swept down from the sky, and wind blades roared across the ground like scythes swung by death itself!
But—
Whoosh!
In the next instant, Tobirama Senju vanished into thin air, his figure blurring as he shifted a hundred meters sideways in a heartbeat. Lightning exploded where he had just stood, blasting an entire stretch of rock to rubble.
"He really is fast..." Ginkaku's gaze sharpened as he stared at the spot where Tobirama had vanished.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique really is troublesome." Kinkaku smiled coldly, then formed seals with one hand and swung the Banana Palm Fan hard!
"Wind Release: Hurricane Turbulence!"
Violent wind pressure swept across the battlefield. Tobirama reappeared in midair, pushed off with his toes, and flung a Flying Thunder God Mark precisely toward the ground.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Tobirama's hand seals changed in an instant. Moisture in the surrounding air rapidly gathered, transforming into an enormous water dragon that roared toward the Kumogakure ninja unit!
The water dragon surged forward with tremendous force, swallowing several Kumogakure ninja in an instant!
"Damn it! Don't let him dictate the pace!"
Kinkaku roared, gripping the Seven Stars Sword as he became a streak of lightning and charged straight at Tobirama!
Meanwhile, Ginkaku clutched the Benihisago and chanted softly, "Tobirama Senju..."
"Your name has already been recorded..."
"Die!"
The Benihisago abruptly shook, unleashing a devouring force that bore straight down on Tobirama Senju!
"...Unfortunately, you're too slow."
A cold smile curled Tobirama Senju's lips. In the next instant, his airborne figure blurred and vanished into thin air!
"Flying Thunder God Slash!"
Whoosh!!!
A streak of silver flashed past. Kinkaku jolted in alarm and hastily blocked with the Seven Stars Sword, but the terrifying momentum sent him flying backward. He slammed into a boulder, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"This bastard..." Kinkaku stared toward Tobirama in shock.
There he stood—
Tobirama Senju held a kunai that gleamed faintly, the Flying Thunder God Mark beneath his feet still flickering. He stood quietly in the center of the battlefield, looking down at them all with icy eyes.
"You're too slow."
Tobirama's voice was cold, like the whisper of death.
Murderous intent filled the air, and the battle continued.
But his chakra was draining rapidly...
Could he survive this battle?
Blood stained the battlefield, and the air was thick with the acrid heat of battle.
Tobirama Senju knelt on one knee, his white Hokage robes already stained red with blood. The Seven Stars Sword had carved a vicious wound across his left shoulder, and blood continued to seep from it. Worse still, his chakra was nearly exhausted, and his strength was badly depleted.
"What a... nuisance..." Tobirama coughed up a mouthful of blood. His eyes remained sharp, though a hint of exhaustion had crept into them.
Opposite him, Kinkaku and Ginkaku stood on the battlefield like demons, their bodies shrouded in golden Nine-Tails Chakra.
This chakra belonged to the Nine-Tails!
The two had once eaten the Nine-Tails' flesh, leaving its chakra within their bodies. Now, at this critical moment, they had fully unleashed that terrifying power!
"Hahaha! Second Hokage, how about it? How does it feel now?"
Kinkaku grinned viciously. Nine-Tails Chakra churned behind him in the savage phantom shape of a Tailed Beast. His chakra raged uncontrollably, and the entire battlefield trembled beneath his power!
Ginkaku licked his lips, a cruel smile in his eyes. "You were so arrogant a moment ago. Can't hold out much longer now, can you?"
BOOM!!!
Nine-Tails Chakra surged violently as Kinkaku swung the Banana Palm Fan. A raging firestorm swept across the battlefield, rushing straight toward Tobirama!
"Damn it..." Tobirama drew a deep breath, trying to activate the Flying Thunder God Technique to evade it, but his exhausted strength and chakra made his reaction a fraction too slow.
The torrent of flames instantly swallowed his figure. The explosion's shock wave tore apart the surrounding rocks and set the entire valley ablaze!
Kinkaku slowly lowered the Banana Palm Fan, sneering at the sea of fire before him. "That's it? I thought the Second Hokage would be stronger."
But—
Whoosh!!!
In the next instant, a silver flash cut through the sea of fire. A dark figure burst from the flames and reached Tobirama Senju's side in the blink of an eye!
Kinkaku and Ginkaku's expressions changed abruptly—
"What?!"
A silver-white figure appeared beside Tobirama. He supported the blood-soaked man with one hand while rapidly forming seals with the other. A transparent chakra barrier rose before them, holding back the shock wave of Nine-Tails Chakra!
Uchiha Shinichi had arrived!
"Tch... a little too late." Shinichi clicked his tongue softly, the corner of his mouth twitching as he looked at the blood-soaked Tobirama Senju.
Tobirama Senju opened his eyes a little. Seeing Shinichi, he managed a faint, weary smile. "You... why did you come?"
"Because you're an old man who can't stay out of trouble." Shinichi sighed helplessly, pulled Tobirama's arm over his shoulder, and hoisted him onto his back.
Tobirama paused, then gave him an amused smile. "Brat... can you even carry me?"
"Shut up. Save your breath." Shinichi had no interest in trading barbs with him. He glanced at Kinkaku and Ginkaku, his gaze darkening slightly.
The situation was extremely unfavorable for him.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku had fully activated Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, and the battlefield was completely sealed off. Tobirama Senju had almost entirely lost his ability to fight, while the Konoha ninja in the distance were still surrounded and unable to provide support.
If he wanted to get out of here alive, he had to rely on himself.
"What are you planning, you little brat?" Tobirama asked weakly.
Shinichi took a deep breath, a confident smile lifting his lips. "Obviously—we break straight through!"
With that, chakra erupted beneath his feet. He became a streak of light, racing toward the edge of the battlefield with Tobirama on his back!
"You're not getting away!!"
A vicious gleam flashed in Kinkaku's eyes. With a roar, he swung the Banana Palm Fan, sending savage wind blades sweeping toward Shinichi!
But—
"Moonwalk!"
Whoosh!!!
Just as the wind blades were about to strike, Shinichi abruptly shot upward. He kicked hard against the air, launching into the sky like an arrow loosed from a bow and soaring high above the wind blades!
"What?!" Kinkaku and Ginkaku looked up in shock.
"What kind of Taijutsu is that?!" Ginkaku asked with a frown.
Shinichi flipped in midair, his lips curving slightly. "This is my 'Konoha Six Styles: Moonwalk.' Thanks for cooperating. This is actually my first time using it in battle."
With that, he dove sharply downward, formed hand seals, and shouted—
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
BOOM!!!
Blazing flames poured down like a raging tidal wave, instantly engulfing the enemy troops below!
Seizing that brief opening, Shinichi unleashed his full speed, broke through the enemy blockade with Tobirama on his back, and raced into the distance!
"Damn it! Don't let them escape!"
Furious, Kinkaku and Ginkaku immediately led their troops in pursuit!
Shinichi gritted his teeth and pushed Moonwalk to its limit, using his aerial mobility to keep changing direction and evade the enemy's encirclement.
Wind howled past his ears, and the pursuers behind him drew ever closer. Resting against his back, Tobirama chuckled softly. "You little brat, you really are... getting more surprising by the day."
Shinichi snorted. "Old man, shut up and stay alive."
He kept moving, his gaze resolute—
No matter what, he would get Tobirama Senju out of here alive!
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