Within the borders of the Land of Earth.
Two figures flickered continuously through the terrain. One was encased in a shroud of fiery red magma this was Rōshi in his Lava Release Chakra Mode. The other man looked quite ordinary, yet his speed was in no way inferior to Rōshi's empowered state; this was, naturally, Tianyuan.
The two of them had already put a significant distance between themselves and the main battlefield.
With a heavy thud, Rōshi's feet slammed onto the open ground. He finally ceased his advance and turned his gaze directly toward Tianyuan.
Tianyuan landed on the ground as well. A thin smile played across his lips; he could feel his signals being received continuously. This had to be the place.
"Rōshi, you've finally stopped," Tianyuan said slowly, looking at the man before him.
"I didn't expect you to actually follow me," Rōshi said, a strange light flashing in his eyes. "Didn't you realize this was a trap? And a very obvious one at that."
"I knew, of course. After all, the trap was glaringly obvious." Tianyuan laughed. "However, I am quite confident in my own strength. Besides, you all know I possess the Flying Thunder God Technique. If I wanted to leave, there isn't much you could do to stop me."
Clap, clap...
The sound of slow applause rang out. Two figures gradually appeared before Tianyuan's eyes. One was an elderly man with a prominent nose the Tsuchikage, Ohnoki. The other was a towering man clad in heavy armor and wearing a face mask.
"As expected of Tianyuan, it seems you have immense confidence in your abilities," Ohnoki said weightily. "Though I saw you during the Chunin Exams, this is the first time we have spoken face-to-face."
Tianyuan's gaze shifted to the armored man. "Tsuchikage Ohnoki, then this other gentleman must be the Hidden Stone Village's other Jinchūriki, the host of the Five-Tails."
"Hello, Tianyuan," Han replied in a low voice. "As a genius of Konoha, you have certainly left a deep impression on everyone."
"But Master Ohnoki," Tianyuan said with an interested look, "what made you so sure I would follow Rōshi? Perhaps I wouldn't have come at all."
"With your level of confidence, you were bound to come even if you knew it was a trap," Ohnoki replied. "As for your Flying Thunder God Technique if you were to run away, that would simply mean our victory. We have no reason to fear a defeated foe who flees the field."
"Three against one seems a bit unfair, doesn't it?" Tianyuan remarked, looking at the three of them.
"You possess the kind of power that Madara Uchiha once held, so do not blame us," Ohnoki stated. "I am still very wary of that kind of power."
"For some reason, that gives me a very unpleasant feeling." Tianyuan chuckled. "Besides, you must have had more in mind than just luring me here, right?"
"As for those other moves... if you can defeat us, perhaps you will find the answer," Ohnoki said.
"Then I shall defeat you." Tianyuan's gaze turned cold as he faced the three masters.
With a boom, Rōshi charged directly at Tianyuan while still in his Lava Release Chakra Mode. The two collided with massive force.
"It's useless." Tianyuan struck out, sending Rōshi flying back.
"Boil Release: Unrivaled Strength!" In an instant, Han pushed his chakra to the boiling point, erupting with unparalleled power as he lunged at Tianyuan.
"A Taijutsu specialist." Tianyuan's eyes narrowed. He met Han's fist head-on. The sheer force of the impact forced both men to slide back several meters.
"Just like Tsunade, he possesses incredible physical strength. Is this the power of Boil Release?" Tianyuan flexed his fist. The strength Han had just unleashed was truly formidable.
At that moment, a massive fist made of solid rock came crashing down from behind him.
"Rock Fist Jutsu!" This was the power of Ohnoki's Earth Release.
"Armament Haki: Hardening!" Tianyuan's arm turned pitch black. He spun around and threw a punch of his own.
Crash!
The small, black-hardened palm collided with the giant stone fist. Cracks began to spiderweb out from the center of the rock, spreading rapidly until the entire stone construct exploded into fragments.
Tianyuan still held the upper hand.
"A very powerful force..." Tianyuan noted, looking at the three men surrounding him from different directions.
"Ohnoki, I heard you possess a legendary Kekkei Tōta known as Dust Release. I've been looking forward to seeing it," Tianyuan said, turning his focus to the Tsuchikage. "As for Rōshi, your power is as great as ever. And Han, I didn't expect to see a pure Taijutsu ninja of your caliber; they are rare indeed."
"You are also strong, Tianyuan. Indeed, you cannot be underestimated," Ohnoki said, narrowing his eyes. "That was just a probe. Now, we get serious."
Roar!
Violent, savage roars erupted from both sides.
Oppressive Tailed Beast Chakra began to pour out of Rōshi and Han, eventually forming the Tailed Beast Cloak. Several tails lashed out behind them this was the first stage of Tailed Beast Transformation.
Even in this state, the two maintained their sanity.
Ohnoki's hands moved into a seal. "Earth Style: Added-Weight Rock Jutsu!"
An invisible surge of ninjutsu power expanded toward Tianyuan.
"Hmph. Armament Haki!" Tianyuan radiated a powerful wave of Armament Haki. On the surface of his Haki shroud, layers of stone began to creep upward, attempting to petrify him.
However, Tianyuan successfully blocked the petrifying force.
"Scatter!" Tianyuan used a combination of his powerful Armament Haki and internal energy to violently shatter the encroaching rock from his body.
Simultaneously, Rōshi and Han, now in their Tailed Beast states, charged simultaneously. The raw power they possessed in this form forced even Tianyuan to avoid a direct confrontation.
He leaped into the air. Below him, the two Jinchūriki's fists struck the earth, creating a massive crater.
In their Tailed Beast states, their strength, speed, and defense had all increased exponentially.
But while still in mid-air, Tianyuan suddenly felt an invisible force pressing in on him. It was a barrier.
A translucent, cubic barrier snapped into existence, trapping Tianyuan inside.
Floating high in the sky, Ohnoki spread his hands wide as invisible energy gathered. This was the pinnacle of the Kekkei Tōta.
"Dust Release: Detachment from the Primitive World Jutsu!"
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