In the midst of the battlefield, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki hovered in the air, his expression as dark as storm clouds. Though he hadn't sustained serious injuries, his clash with the Third Hokage had left him at a clear disadvantage. It wasn't the physical damage that weighed on him but the strategic blow to his reputation and confidence.
On the ground below, the attention of both armies was fixed on the two legendary Kage. The Hokage and Tsuchikage were not just leaders—they were symbols. Every move they made reverberated through their respective forces.
The Konoha shinobi erupted in cheers, their morale surging at the sight of their Hokage gaining the upper hand.
"As expected of you, Hokage-sama!"
"Long live the Hokage! Konoha will prevail!"
Their triumphant cries echoed across the battlefield, energizing the troops. The newfound vigor rippled through their ranks as they pushed harder against the Iwagakure forces.
In stark contrast, the Rock ninja faltered. Their shoulders sagged, and uncertainty flickered in their eyes. For a moment, the iron will of Iwagakure seemed to waver.
Morale had shifted, and in war, morale was often as decisive as strength.
"Teacher Sarutobi, you never cease to amaze!" Jiraiya laughed heartily, even as he clashed with Kitsuchi. His fiery spirit and confidence shone through as he shifted his focus back to his opponent.
Jiraiya's sharp gaze locked onto Kitsuchi, who was visibly irritated. Not wasting the opportunity, Jiraiya launched his next move with unrelenting force.
"Wind Style: Wind Cutter!"
Several razor-sharp wind blades tore through the air, their edges gleaming with deadly precision as they aimed directly at Kitsuchi.
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Kitsuchi reacted quickly, summoning an earth dragon from the ground. Its jagged body rose with a guttural roar, spitting chunks of rock and soil from its mouth to intercept the wind blades.
"Boom! Boom!"
The projectiles collided mid-air, scattering debris across the battlefield. Seizing the opening, Jiraiya accelerated, closing the distance between him and Kitsuchi.
"Rasengan!"
The azure chakra sphere formed in Jiraiya's hand, its energy swirling with intense power. With a single strike, it shattered the remaining Earth Dragon Bullets, dispersing them like dust in the wind.
Kitsuchi's face twisted in frustration as he was forced to retreat. Jiraiya's mastery of the Rasengan gave him an edge—its lack of seals allowed him to attack without the delays associated with traditional ninjutsu.
The Konoha forces roared in approval, their confidence bolstered by Jiraiya's relentless assault.
Meanwhile, away from the main battlefield, Uchiha Yoruki and Rōshi continued their intense duel. Their clash had turned the area into a desolate wasteland, marked by charred craters and smoldering embers.
Rōshi's lava-based attacks, infused with the Four-Tails' power, clashed fiercely against Uchiha Yoruki's Mangekyō Sharingan techniques. Despite the Sharingan granting Yoruki enhanced reflexes and insight, the battle was evenly matched.
Rōshi avoided direct eye contact with Yoruki, relying on his heightened senses to anticipate movements instead. The result was a stalemate, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage.
A massive hand made of molten lava lunged toward Yoruki, but he sidestepped with fluid grace. As the fiery appendage missed its mark, he retaliated with a burst of fire ninjutsu.
Despite his counterattacks, Yoruki's fire techniques lacked the raw intensity of Rōshi's Lava Release. He knew he needed to conserve his chakra and the strain on his body caused by the Mangekyō Sharingan.
This power… it comes at a cost, Yoruki thought, feeling the strain on his left eye. But I'll use it when the moment is right.
Rōshi's voice echoed across the battlefield. "What's wrong, Uchiha? Are you holding back? Or is it fear?"
Yoruki smirked but said nothing. His silence seemed to irritate Rōshi, who chuckled darkly.
He's cautious, Rōshi thought. If he uses that sword too often, it'll destroy him before I do.
Even the Four-Tails within Rōshi grew wary of Yoruki's Mangekyō Sharingan. Its innate understanding of the Sharingan's power made it uneasy.
"This Uchiha is dangerous," the Four-Tails rumbled within Rōshi's mind. "If you have a chance to eliminate him, do it now."
Rōshi grinned. For once, we agree.
"Lava Release: Flower Mountain!"
A surge of chakra erupted from Rōshi's body, radiating heat that warped the air. The ground beneath him cracked and shifted as molten lava began to flow, transforming the terrain into a hellish landscape.
Yoruki's Sharingan tracked every movement. His sharp eyes widened slightly as the sky above darkened. A massive sea of magma loomed overhead, ready to crash down.
"Swish!"
Yoruki moved with blinding speed, but even his agility couldn't completely escape the range of Rōshi's technique. The molten sea descended, forcing him to act.
The flame pattern in Yoruki's left eye rotated, glowing with an intense crimson light.
"Rekka no Ken!"
The blazing sword of his Mangekyō Sharingan materialized, cutting through the sea of magma with a single, precise slash.
"Not bad," Rōshi muttered, his tone laced with amusement. With a loud shout, he manipulated the divided magma, solidifying it into two towering volcanoes that surrounded Yoruki.
"Boom!"
The volcanoes trembled violently before erupting, spewing molten rock and fiery ash toward Yoruki. The heat within the area was unbearable, even for a seasoned ninja. Beads of sweat formed on Yoruki's brow as he surveyed the deadly terrain.
This is the power of a Jinchūriki… the power to reshape the battlefield itself, Yoruki thought, his expression grim.
Despite the oppressive heat, Yoruki refused to falter. Blood trickled from his left eye as he activated the Rekka no Ken once more. The sword, suspended above one of the volcanoes, began to grow, its fiery blade expanding to over ten meters.
As the sword took shape, Uchiha Yoruki felt a sharp pain in his left eye. The larger the size of the flaming Sword becomes, the greater the consumption of its pupil power and chakra. Although he is not able to use the ability of his right eye yet, he has already mastered the ability of his left eye. "Go ahead." Uchiha Yoruki pressed his left eye, and with a low murmur, the long sword suspended on the top of the small volcano immediately slashed down, the red sword light tore through the air and fell fiercely!
"Dang!"
The sword touched the top of the volcano, paused for a moment, made a clear sound, and then a red light flashed. "Bang!" The entire mountain trembled slightly, and then the entire mountain and the magma rolling down from the mountain were cut in half!
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