As Hanzo and Rasa launched their attacks against Minato, Rōshi was already on the move.
"Lava Style: Burning River Rock Technique!"
A blazing sphere of molten magma formed in Rōshi's mouth before shooting outward, smashing into the ground at several key locations.
Shhh!
The intense heat melted the earth, and the black Flying Thunder God marks scattered by Minato began to evaporate under the fiery temperature.
Boom!
Minato leapt gracefully out of Hanzo and Rasa's encirclement, his keen eyes glancing at the glowing battlefield.
"So, you're using heat to eliminate my marks," he murmured.
Though the Flying Thunder God marks were theoretically permanent, they could still be destroyed under specific conditions. After all, the marks were formed using Minato's chakra—an energy that could be countered or dissipated if someone understood its properties.
There are no absolutes in this world, Minato thought, recalling a mission long ago in the Land of Hot Springs where he encountered Shinzo Kuriyama, a man who claimed to be immortal. Even then, Minato had known: nothing, and no one, was truly invincible.
On another part of the battlefield, the clash between Jiraiya and Kitsuchi raged on.
"Earth Style: Rock Fist Technique!"
Both combatants finished their hand seals simultaneously, summoning enormous arms of solid rock. The two giant fists collided in mid-air, the impact resounding like thunder.
For a moment, the strength of their techniques seemed evenly matched. However, Kitsuchi quickly formed another set of seals.
"Earth Style: Weighted Rock Technique!"
The rock fists suddenly grew heavier, their increased density causing them to sink slightly. Cracks began forming in Jiraiya's technique under the strain.
"Boom!"
The rock fist shattered, and Kitsuchi's attack slammed downward. Jiraiya barely managed to leap back, the fist leaving a massive crater where he had stood moments earlier.
"Ninja Art: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
As he retreated, Jiraiya's white hair extended, forming a ferocious lion's head of thick strands. The hair lashed out, wrapping around Kitsuchi's rock fist and halting its advance.
Both ninjas stood firm, their techniques locked in a stalemate.
But their battle was interrupted as a ball of magma surged toward them, its searing heat melting the ground beneath it.
Jiraiya swiftly withdrew his hair, though some strands evaporated before he could retract them completely. Kitsuchi's rock fist, too, began to melt under the intense heat.
The two glanced toward the source of the attack, spotting Rōshi unleashing magma balls across the battlefield while Hanzo and Rasa kept Minato occupied.
Minato, though still holding his ground, was constantly maneuvering to avoid the attacks of both Hanzo and Rasa. Rōshi, meanwhile, maintained his distance, carefully targeting Minato's marks with his molten chakra.
He's deliberately staying away from my marks, Minato noted, his analytical mind working quickly. The magma surrounding Rōshi's body acted as a protective armor, making it nearly impossible to land a decisive blow.
If I try to engage him directly, I'll need Sage Mode, Minato thought. But entering Sage Mode required time—time he didn't have while facing three S-rank opponents.
Hanzo, Rasa, and Rōshi were no ordinary enemies. Even among S-rank ninjas, their power and tactics were formidable. Hanzo, in particular, stood at the pinnacle of their ranks, his experience and skill unmatched.
Still, Minato refused to relent. While fending off Rasa's gold sand and Hanzo's swift sword strikes, he steadily closed the distance to Rōshi. Yet Rōshi, perceptive as ever, adjusted his position, ensuring Minato couldn't pin him down.
The six combatants fought with precision and intensity, their movements spanning a battlefield hundreds of meters wide.
Meanwhile, below them, the armies of the Three Kingdoms Alliance and Konoha clashed.
"Kill!"
The deafening roar of combat filled the air as metal clashed against metal. Chunin and Jonin from both sides sought their own opponents in the chaos. Despite their earlier injuries, the allied forces' superior numbers put Konoha at an initial disadvantage.
But among the Konoha forces, two figures stood out—Hyuga Tenki and Kato Dan.
"Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Hyuga Tenki appeared before an Iwagakure Jonin, moving so swiftly the man barely registered his presence. From several meters away, Tenki thrust his palm forward.
Puff!
The Jonin's chest caved in, a deep palm print marking the spot where his heart had been obliterated. The man collapsed instantly.
Elsewhere, Kato Dan closed his eyes, forming hand seals with practiced precision.
Swish!
His soul separated from his body, rushing toward the battlefield like an invisible specter.
"Spirit Transformation Technique!"
Kato's ethereal form entered the body of an enemy Jonin, whose eyes immediately widened in shock.
"Ahh!"
The man's body convulsed, his eyes glazing over as if experiencing unimaginable torment. Within moments, he collapsed, lifeless.
Kato's soul emerged from the fallen ninja's body, undetectable to the naked eye. The Spirit Transformation Technique allowed him to temporarily leave his physical form, infiltrating an enemy's body to deliver a lethal spiritual assault.
But Kato knew the risks. While ordinary ninjas couldn't perceive his spirit, elite warriors like Hanzo or Rasa might resist, potentially inflicting damage to his own soul. For this reason, Kato carefully selected his targets, ensuring each attack was precise and effective.
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