"Damn it! Once we leave town, it's all open plains!"
"Rin! You run ahead, I'll cover the rear!"
Obito's face darkened as he saw the terrain outside the city gates.
There was no cover—if they were caught here, there would be no escape.
Their situation was growing more dangerous by the second.
"Obito! No!"
"I already used my scale to notify Kazuyama-sensei!"
Rin's expression was grim, but she kept her composure. She understood the reality of their predicament—if Obito took the lead recklessly, it would only end badly.
Unfortunately, their pursuers were faster. The Kiri ninja closed the distance with ease.
"Hmph! Konoha brats!"
"Don't run!"
"Water Release! Water Whip!"
The moment they exited the town, the Kirigakure shinobi stopped holding back. Three of them quickly formed hand seals, sending powerful streams of water lashing toward their targets.
"Damn it! Kazuyama-sensei is too slow! I'll handle this myself!"
"Sharingan!"
"Fire Release! Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Obito, irritated by the attacks from behind, abruptly stopped in his tracks and dodged to the side.
His newly awakened two-tomoe Sharingan spun to life, and his fire jutsu ignited the air.
Dozens of small fireballs shot toward the incoming water whips. As the two elements clashed, steam erupted in thick clouds.
Through the haze, Obito tracked his enemies' movements perfectly.
"Rin! Get down!"
Without hesitation, Rin dropped to the ground—just in time for a water whip to slice through the air where her head had been.
"Phew, that was close!"
"Rin, keep running!"
Obito's protective instincts kicked in as he fought to keep her safe.
Two of the water whips were completely neutralized, evaporating upon impact with the fireballs.
However, the third was stronger. It tore through the flames and kept its momentum, nearly striking Rin before she ducked.
"Hmph! A Uchiha brat?"
"Sharingan."
The Kiri ninja leader's expression twisted in disgust before a surge of killing intent erupted from him.
"Kid, you must die!"
Even from high above, Kazuyama felt the murderous aura.
"Chōmei, this guy acts like he's been personally wronged by the Uchiha. Why is he this bloodthirsty?"
"Well, you might be onto something. His emotions are pure violence and anger—there's definitely a grudge."
Chōmei, sensing the hostility, let out a small chuckle.
"Kazuyama, watch out. Don't let them actually kill your disciples."
Kazuyama nodded, slightly surprised at the sheer hatred radiating from the Kiri ninja, but not overly concerned.
The chase pressed on, with Obito and Rin forced further back.
Eventually, they reached the edge of a large pool of water.
A dangerous mistake.
The enemy now had the perfect opportunity.
"Stop them!"
"I'll just drown them!"
The Kirigakure captain sprinted toward the waterhole. Seeing this, the others wasted no time, channeling chakra to accelerate and cut off Obito and Rin's escape.
"Earth Release! Earth-Style Wall!"
Three voices echoed as three thick walls of earth rose, blocking their path.
"Damn it!"
"We're still too slow!"
"Rin! Get behind me!"
Obito's eyes burned with determination as he pulled Rin behind him, kunai in hand, ready for a final stand.
"Kazuyama-sensei, where the hell are you?"
"Of all times, how could you abandon us now?"
Rin listened to his complaints but remained composed. Despite being surrounded, she didn't panic. Instead, she readied her kunai, preparing for battle.
"I'm sure Kazuyama-sensei will catch up. Obito, we just need to hold on!"
Strangely, though, the Kiri shinobi weren't attacking right away.
That's when they realized why.
The surface of the water pool had begun to churn violently.
Waves surged higher and higher as the Kirigakure captain finished his last seal, a sinister grin on his face.
"Water Release! Great Waterfall Technique!"
His voice rang out as the water erupted into a towering wave, a monstrous tide threatening to swallow them whole.
"Damn it! Such a huge range..."
"Screw this!"
"Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!"
Obito's Uchiha pride burned as he refused to back down.
Pouring all his remaining chakra into flames, he unleashed a massive fireball, its heat scorching the air.
But against the sheer force of the oncoming wave, it was hopeless.
"It's over... There's no way out..."
Drained of chakra, Obito's face paled as he watched the wave surge toward them.
For the first time, Rin's composure wavered, panic flickering in her eyes.
Kazuyama had been waiting for this exact moment.
"You two have done well—now it's my turn."
Flying Thunder God Technique—entry.
"Kazuyama-sensei! You're finally here—wait, no, you're just in time!"
"Get us out of here! That waterfall is coming!"
Obito and Rin were overjoyed to see their teacher suddenly appear, but instead of teleporting them away, he calmly formed a hand seal, radiating confidence.
"Obito, this is Fire Release. Watch closely."
"Fire Release! Great Fire Annihilation!"
Chakra surged in his throat—
Then, an ocean of flames erupted forward.
No, this wasn't just fire. It was an inferno.
Borrowing Chōmei's chakra, Kazuyama stood as tall and imposing as Lord Madara himself.
The moment the flames emerged, he could feel his chakra rapidly depleting.
But in its place burned something even stronger.
The Great Waterfall Technique was an A-rank jutsu known for its overwhelming range and impact.
But against this firestorm, even a sky-high wave meant nothing.
"HOOO!"
The moment water and fire clashed, the entire battlefield was swallowed in dense steam.
Obito's eyes widened in pure shock.
He knew Kazuyama was skilled in Fire Release—but this? This wasn't just strong.
It was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
After all, the size of a fire technique was directly linked to the user's chakra.
And this…
This was the first time he truly understood how terrifying Kazuyama's power was.
Forget his Summoning Techniques—his sheer chakra alone was monstrous.
Even the eight Kirigakure ninja froze in disbelief.
Their captain had taken advantage of the terrain, using the water pool to fuel his jutsu.
Yet Kazuyama's flames—despite having no such advantage—were overwhelming purely through raw power.
What the hell was going on?
For a moment, everyone was left with nothing but confusion.