Hongshi infused Chakra into Yamato and the others, more than doubling their fighting power. To avoid harming civilians, he used Wood Release.
The bluestone ground around the plaza cracked, and a large number of trees rose up, forming a huge cage that enveloped all the cultists. At the same time, due to the enhancement of Senjutsu, the Wood Release technique was very strong and not easy to break.
The Iō Orochi was shocked by the wide-ranging Ninjutsu and immediately ordered all its subordinates, "Kill these heretics!"
All the heretics brandished their weapons and surrounded Yamato and his companions, while the Great Bathrobe also used Ninjutsu on the oil cauldron.
"Die, you monster! Fire Style: Scorching Flame Technique!"
The three men spat out three jets of fire directly into the oil cauldron. The oil in the cauldron burst into flames upon contact with the fire, and the Hongshi in the center was engulfed in flames.
Konohamaru landed first, drew a scroll, summoned a Fūma Shuriken, and threw it at the charging cult members. "Try the Ninjutsu that Hongshi-kun taught me! Sage Art: Wind Release: Vacuum Shuriken!"
He spat out green Wind Release Chakra, which wrapped around the Fūma Shuriken before hurling it into the crowd. "Next up is Grandpa's technique! Multiple Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
Bang bang bang!
The Fūma Shuriken multiplied from one to a hundred, and with the enhancement of Senjutsu Chakra, it became even sharper and gained a tracking function.
"Ding ding..."
In order to cooperate with the Death Controlling Possessed Blood Technique, the followers specially practiced Taijutsu. Seeing the Chakra attached to the Fūma Shuriken, they knew how powerful it was, so they also attached Chakra to their own weapons and then used their weapons to block it.
Despite his exceptional talent, Konohamaru is still just a child. Most of his Fūma Shuriken failed to inflict damage, turning into smoke and disappearing.
"Hehehe, kid, no matter how good you are, you're still just... What is this!"
After parrying the Fūma Shuriken, they realized Konohamaru's purpose in attacking: each Shuriken had an invisible steel wire attached to it, which had entangled everyone's weapons.
"Tch, a petty trick. Do you really think you can control all of us?"
Konohamaru, of course, couldn't do it. Gritting his teeth and pulling on the heavy wire, he glanced at Yamato in the air. "Captain Yamato! I can't hold on much longer!"
Yamato nodded. "Sage Art: Wooden Ox Technique!"
"Giggle!"
The ground cracked open, and a three-meter-tall wooden ox charged out, its horns hooking onto the steel wire in Konohamaru's hand. The immense power temporarily suppressed the cultist who was trying to break free.
Hanabi Hyuga leaped onto the wooden ox's back, her hands crackling with lightning as she pressed them against the steel wire. " Lightning Release: Thunderstorm Unrivaled!"
Lightning Release Chakra flowed along the steel wire, and with the help of Byakugan and Senjutsu, it precisely struck pressure points on the hands of the cultist on the other side of the wire. The cultist felt a numbness in both hands, and all his weapons fell to the ground.
Then Yamato controlled the wooden ox to increase its speed, dragging all the weapons away from their original position, and together with Hanabi Hyuga, they rushed towards the trapped clansmen.
Standing at the highest point, Suikyū Nanashō had a clear view. With his last ounce of strength, he broke free of his chains. "The ninjas of Konoha have come to save us! My clansmen! For the Land of Hot Water!"
However, his shout went unanswered by his people; they merely glanced up, remaining indifferent.
The prolonged torture had brought them to the brink of mental collapse; how could a few Konoha ninjas possibly rouse them?
The cultists, disarmed, did not stop their attack. Instead, they pulled out Kunai or Shuriken and charged towards Yamato and the others at an accelerated pace.
The dense Shuriken almost blocked all possible escape routes for the group.
A petite figure emerged from behind Yamato; it was Xiao Daocao, wearing a flower in her hair. She was ready for battle, her eyes beneath the mask revealing a cold, resolute expression. "I will never let my master down! Chosen One of Heaven, an iron wall, the dragon's flight, the lion's roar, the tiger's howl, the wolf's charge—severing heaven and earth before they crumble. Immortal Art: Splitting Void!"
The Lord God: "You fucking startled me so much I dropped my teacup! What's with this chanting?! Where the hell did you find the time to recite so much?! You should have been executed long ago!"
"That makes sense, then we don't need to chant the prayer."
An invisible wall appeared in front of Xiao Daocao, which could only be sensed by his companions who were also in Sage Mode. This wall was entirely formed from Senjutsu Chakra.
It can defend against both Ninjutsu and Taijutsu simultaneously; all the flying Shuriken and Kunai were blocked and fell to the ground.
"What's going on?!"
Xiao Daocao remained with her hands clasped together. The Splitting Void in front of her shattered, transforming into Senjutsu Chakra that returned to her body. Then, Little Haku on her shoulder looked up and said, " Lightning Release Chakra, I'll help you!"
Xiao Daocao hasn't learned Nature Transformation yet, so Little Haku assists him when he uses the five escape techniques.
"Celestial Technique: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō!"
Lightning Release Chakra condensed behind Xiao Daocao into a giant white lightning dragon, sweeping towards the charging cultists like a beam of light.
"Boom!"
All the cultists within a range of more than ten meters in front were struck by lightning, fell into a coma, and collapsed to the ground, but even more cultists rushed in from behind.
Yamato couldn't help but exclaim, " Xiao Daocao! You did a really good job!"
Xiao Daocao only had enough Chakra for three Senjutsu jutsu uses at this point. Gritting her teeth, she said, "There are too many people! I... I can still unleash one more Senjutsu."
After saying that, he sat cross-legged on the ground, and all the remaining Senjutsu Chakra in his body burst forth, condensing into seven lotus flowers behind him. The lotus flowers bloomed, and white flames burned in the center of the flowers.
Little Haku exclaimed excitedly, "Oh! Is it Fire Style this time?!"
"Immortal Technique: Senju Kōten Taihō!"
White fireballs kept flying out from the center of the flower, hitting the cultists and turning them into charred corpses, leaving them unconscious on the ground.
"What's wrong with this little girl! Everyone, attack her quickly!"
The cultists then realized how powerful Xiao Daocao was and focused their attack on her.
Yamato was not about to let them have their way. "We can't let you bully a child, Konohamaru!"
Konohamaru, recovering from his shock, clenched his fists. "I can't let Xiao Daocao surpass me, Gurei! Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
The Lord God: "Give up. There's a giant Ivan inside her. What's the point of your effort?"
Hundreds of Konohamaru appeared before the cultists, protecting Xiao Daocao.
Yamato retorted, "With the Hongshi's Chakra, I can now use this technique! Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
The Wood Dragon burst from the ground, circled once in the air, and charged directly into the middle of the cultists' camp, wildly waving its head and tail. Most of the cultists were just Genin who had just been able to refine Chakra, so how could they be a match for it? In an instant, they were separated by the Wood Dragon's attacks.
Seeing this, Suikyū Nanashō and Tansan Shizuka finally smiled, "Looks like we're really saved this time!"
However, Yamato and his group's attack only had the advantage of surprise. By the time the cultists reacted, their overwhelming numbers allowed them to gradually close in.
Before long, Konohamaru's Shadow Clone were all destroyed, and Xiao Daocao's Senjutsu Chakra was exhausted, so the fireball stopped attacking.
The Iō Orochi laughed triumphantly, "The ninjas of Konoha are indeed strong, but faced with such a large number of people, they are merely struggling in their death throes. Once they are even slightly wounded, they will be killed instantly by Lord Jashin."
The two men in Great Bathrobe beside the Iō Orochi continued to spew Fire Style into the oil cauldron, making the fire grow increasingly fierce until the entire cauldron was glowing red-hot, before finally stopping.
"Haha, let's take care of one first!"
"Gurgle gurgle..."
Just then, the flames in the oil pan flickered violently, and a black figure gradually appeared.
Through the flames, Suikyū Nanashō and Tansan Shizuka saw the figure within, their eyes filled with terror. "This! This! This is a dragon!"
A deep, majestic roar came from the oil pan.
"I am the embodiment of power!"
Lord God: "(°ー°)???"