Boom!
A massive wave of gold dust surged forward, its crushing weight tearing up the ground as it hurtled toward Minato.
This time, Rōshi held back instead of attacking recklessly. Standing still, his hands formed seals while his eyes closed briefly, allowing his perception to expand outward and encompass the entire battlefield.
Hanzo, Rasa, and the others knew that unless they could erase Minato's Flying Thunder God marks scattered across the area, defeating him would be nearly impossible.
Meanwhile, Minato remained calm. His other hand moved with astonishing speed, forming seals with a precision that seemed almost effortless.
Seal with one hand?
The gold dust approached rapidly, its shimmering mass threatening to engulf him. Yet Minato made no effort to dodge. Instead, he extended his hand toward the oncoming wave.
"He's lost his mind!"
A flicker of triumph crossed Rasa's face. He had deliberately slowed the attack earlier, fearing Minato might teleport away and leave Hanzo exposed. But now, with Minato standing his ground, Rasa believed victory was imminent.
However, as the gold dust made contact with Minato's palm, something extraordinary occurred.
The gold sand didn't stop. Instead, it disappeared into a swirling black barrier that extended outward from Minato's hand.
It was as if a black hole had materialized, swallowing the golden wave into oblivion.
"What!?" Rasa's grin vanished, replaced by stunned disbelief.
Rōshi's eyes snapped open as he shouted, "Rasa! Watch your back!"
The warning came too late.
Behind Rasa, the very same gold dust wave that had vanished now reappeared with undiminished force, crashing toward him like an unstoppable tide.
Boom!
Rasa spun around, his hands forming seals in desperation. "Gold Dust Armor!"
Gold sand erupted from his body, encasing him in a protective shell just as the wave struck.
The impact was devastating. The sheer force of the gold sand wave sent Rasa flying backward, embedding him deep into the ground. The earth around him cracked, and the once-imposing gold dust armor peeled away in fragments.
A pained groan escaped Rasa's lips as he struggled to rise. His eyes, wide with shock, reflected his disbelief. How did my own attack turn against me?
Had it not been for Rōshi's timely warning, Rasa might have been gravely injured. Even so, the experience left him shaken.
Minato, standing at a distance, allowed himself a faint chuckle. "How does it feel, Fourth Kazekage, to be hit by your own attack?"
Rasa's face twisted with anger and humiliation. His glare burned with hatred, but he hesitated to retaliate immediately.
Hanzo observed the scene with narrowed eyes. Minato's capabilities continued to exceed his expectations. The Flying Thunder God Jutsu was already formidable, but this ability to redirect attacks added an entirely new dimension to the threat.
"It's his space-time ninjutsu," Rōshi explained grimly, his sharp gaze fixed on Minato. "He used it to transfer Rasa's attack to one of his marked locations."
Minato turned his attention to Rōshi, his expression calm but calculating.
Meanwhile, on another part of the battlefield, Jiraiya faced Kitsuchi. Their brief skirmish ended in a stalemate, leaving both sides regrouping.
The two armies, though yet to fully engage, reacted visibly to the unfolding events.
Among the coalition forces, shock rippled through the ranks, particularly among the Sand Village ninjas. Seeing their Kazekage almost defeated by his own attack shook their confidence.
On the Konoha side, Hyuga Tenki and Kato Dan exchanged knowing looks, a mixture of awe and disbelief on their faces.
"So this is why he didn't let us fight the enemy leaders," Kato muttered.
Hinata nodded. "He knew he could handle them himself."
Minato's strength and ingenuity continued to redefine their understanding of what was possible, leaving even seasoned ninjas in awe.
In the Konoha camp, Suzuka watched the battle unfold, her heart heavy with emotion. It had been years since she'd last seen Minato in action, and witnessing his prowess now filled her with both pride and melancholy. Memories of the young, promising ninja she had met so many years ago flooded her mind.
Back on the battlefield, Hanzo, Rōshi, and Rasa regrouped, their expressions grim. The fear in their eyes was undeniable. Even Rasa, now standing away from his earlier position, hesitated to launch another attack.
Rōshi's voice cut through the tense silence. "Everyone, bypass this battlefield and attack Konoha directly!"
His command prompted immediate movement from the Iwagakure ninjas. However, the forces from the Sand and Rain Villages hesitated, their leaders still locked in a standoff with Minato.
"Do as he says!" Hanzo barked, his voice carrying authority. "Move now!"
Rasa, his pride wounded, reluctantly added his voice. "Go! Leave this battlefield immediately!"
The coalition forces began retreating from the ruined battlefield, their formations scattering.
Minato didn't stop them. He knew that continuing to fight in such a densely populated area would risk unnecessary casualties among his allies. Instead, he turned to the Konoha camp.
"Hyuga Tenki, Kato Dan, I leave the rest to you."
The two nodded in unison, their expressions resolute. "Understood."
Leading the Konoha ninjas, they maneuvered around the battlefield, preparing to intercept the enemy forces.
Back on the front lines, Rōshi tightened his focus. "We need to erase all his marks. Hanzo, Rasa, hold him off while I deal with them."
Minato's gaze sharpened. "So, you've figured it out," he murmured.
Hanzo didn't waste a moment. Sword in hand, he lunged toward Minato, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Rasa, regaining his composure, summoned massive golden hands from the surrounding gold dust and sent them crashing down toward Minato.
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