The one who launched the sudden attack was none other than Shirakumo Randou, who had just arrived on the battlefield.
A Jonin renowned for his mastery of Wind Release and swordsmanship, Shirakumo had originally intended to strike Aomizu head-on. However, after witnessing Aomizu's terrifying blade-work moments earlier, he no longer dared to engage him in close combat.
Still, he had to admit—his timing was perfect.
Aomizu had just used Shinra Tensei. The cooldown hadn't ended yet; using it again was impossible. At the same time, he was in the middle of casting Six Water Dragon Bullets to wipe out the remaining Sky Ninja. His chakra flow was already committed—there was no room to weave another jutsu.
Anyone else would have been helpless in that situation.
They would have been shredded instantly by the razor-sharp wind blades slicing through the air.
But Aomizu was not just anyone.
The instant the attack reached him, he poured Wind Release chakra into his ninja sword and slashed forward. The blade screamed as it cut through the air, cleaving the incoming wind blade cleanly in half.
The collision dispersed into harmless gusts.
Seeing this, Shirakumo Randou's expression remained calm on the surface—but inside, his heart sank.
I didn't expect to kill him so easily anyway…
Aomizu leveled his sword at him, killing intent rolling outward like a tide.
"Shirakumo Randou, surrender now. Come back to Konoha with me, and you'll live."
His voice was cold, steady.
"Keep resisting, and I'll kill you here—then carry your corpse back myself."
Before Shirakumo could answer, a mocking snort came from the side.
"Arrogant brat, drunk on youth," a deep voice said. "Do you truly believe you can take on the two of us alone?"
The speaker stepped forward.
It was the Physican—the Chief of Sky Ninja Village.
He openly acknowledged Aomizu's strength, but he refused to believe that the combined power of two Jonin could lose to a single Konoha ninja.
At that moment, the remaining Sky Ninja finally noticed him.
"The Chief!"
"Chief is here!"
Their despair instantly transformed into wild excitement.
In their hearts, the Chief was invincible.
Even against the Five Kage, the pinnacles of the ninja world, he could fight without falling.
"Kill that bastard! Avenge our brothers!"
"Chief is the strongest! That Konoha dog is finished!"
Ignoring the shouts, Aomizu turned his gaze toward the Physican.
Compared to what he would become in the future, the man before him was still young.
Aomizu sneered.
"Looks like you Sky Ninja really are fools—forgetting pain the moment the wound heals."
His words stabbed straight into their history.
Sky Ninja Village had once been razed by Konoha, barely rebuilt in recent years. And now, instead of learning restraint, they had chosen to provoke Konoha again.
The taunt exploded like oil on fire.
"Kill him!"
"How dare he look down on Sky Ninja!"
"Make him pay!"
Even the Physican's face darkened.
"Sharp tongue, brat," he said coldly. "Let's see if your skill matches your mouth."
The moment the words fell, his chakra erupted.
Boom!
An overwhelming pressure burst forth, rippling through the air like a shockwave.
Aomizu's eyes narrowed with interest.
"Eight Gates."
Indeed.
The Physican had activated the forbidden technique he had once stolen from Konoha.
In a single breath, he forced open the Seventh Gate—Gate of Wonder.
This was his current limit.
Even Aomizu—who also possessed knowledge of the Eight Gates—had not yet reached this level.
Despite his scornful words, the Physican had gone all out from the start.
He dared not underestimate Aomizu.
Unlike Might Duy and Might Guy, who had tempered their bodies through years of brutal training, the Physican relied on Medical Ninjutsu to forcibly open the gates.
It was a shortcut.
Because of that, even with the same gate opened, his strength could not compare to the Might father and son.
Aomizu could clearly tell—if he himself opened just the Third Gate, he could already match the Physican's current state.
However, the Physican possessed one terrifying advantage.
As a medical ninja, he could greatly reduce—甚至 suppress—the backlash of the Eight Gates.
He could maintain them far longer than ordinary users.
In the future, once he refined this technique further, he might even open all eight gates and survive.
That was what truly intrigued Aomizu.
"Die!"
With a roar, the Physican charged.
His speed, amplified by the Seventh Gate, was monstrous. In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Aomizu.
A punch flew out, packed with murderous intent.
Having stolen the technique, he naturally lacked the Eight Gates' signature taijutsu forms.
Even so, raw fists and kicks alone granted him Jonin-level combat power.
Back then, Shirakumo Randou had been utterly crushed by this reckless, injury-for-injury fighting style combined with terrifying regeneration.
But this time, his opponent was Aomizu.
The Physican's punch missed.
Aomizu sidestepped effortlessly.
His blade flashed.
White light streaked through the air.
In the past, the Physican might have dodged—but now Aomizu wielded Hatake Swordsmanship, famed across the ninja world for its speed.
The blade pierced straight into the Physican's abdomen.
Blood exploded outward.
Aomizu kicked him away immediately, avoiding being splashed.
The surrounding Sky Ninja were struck with panic.
"Impossible! The Chief was wounded so easily?!"
A veteran among them shouted quickly, "Don't panic! That injury means nothing to the Chief!"
And indeed—by the time the Physican stabilized his footing, the massive gash had already begun to close.
Only then did the Sky Ninja calm down.
As expected of the Chief…
At the same time, Shirakumo Randou attacked again.
Violent winds roared forth, uprooting trees and shredding the terrain.
Aomizu calmly formed seals with one hand.
"Water Release: Water Wall."
A towering curtain of water rose to block the storm.
Immediately after—
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A high-pressure jet burst from his mouth, slicing through the earth and shooting straight at Shirakumo Randou.
Shirakumo's face went pale.
He used Body Flicker to dodge desperately, barely avoiding being cut in half.
Even while retreating, he forced his hands through seals.
"Wind Release: Cutting Wind Technique!"
Several crescent-shaped wind blades tore through the air.
At the same time, Shennong charged like a mad beast.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A terrifying repulsive force erupted.
The wind blades were scattered instantly.
Shennong was blown away violently.
What kind of jutsu is this?!
Shennong was horrified. No matter how much power he poured in, he couldn't resist it.
Aomizu's hands flashed again.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
Two lightning spears shot out.
They struck both Shennong and Shirakumo Randou.
But in the next instant, Shennong's charred flesh regenerated completely.
Shirakumo had hastily weakened the attack with Wind Release—wind naturally countered lightning.
Two Jonin working together truly weren't easy to defeat.
From then on, their coordination grew tighter.
Even so, Aomizu handled every assault calmly—deflecting, countering, advancing.
To the watching Sky Ninja, the scene was numbing.
Their invincible leader… was being suppressed.
Even with support, the battle had devolved into a stalemate.
Shennong was injured again.
He no longer dared to charge recklessly.
That bastard is only a Chunin?!
Fear crept into his heart.
If every Konoha Chunin were like this… Sky Ninja Village would never get revenge.
A retreat impulse surfaced.
As long as he lived, even if everyone else died, Sky Ninja Village could be rebuilt.
But if he died here—everything would end.
He glanced at Shirakumo Randou.
If you want to live, fight with me.
Shirakumo understood.
He had been shaken by Aomizu's swordsmanship at first.
The White Fang of Konoha was legendary.
But fear now meant death.
He drew his blade.
Shennong shouted, "Everyone! Attack together!"
"Our Sky Ninja will not lose to one Konoha ninja!"
He rushed forward.
Shirakumo followed.
The remaining Sky Ninja unleashed a barrage of jutsu.
"Shinra Tensei!"
All attacks were blown away.
Then—
Shennong burst into smoke.
"A Shadow Clone?!"
The Sky Ninja froze in disbelief.
Their leader had abandoned them.
"You bastard!" Shirakumo cursed.
Too late.
Aomizu was already upon them.
In his hand spun a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
The jutsu suddenly expanded.
Boom!!
A colossal explosion erased the forest.
When the dust settled—nothing remained.
Except silence.
Inside the base, Shennong felt the tremor and broke into a cold sweat.
Thank god… I ran.
He rushed into the hangar—
And saw Aomizu waiting.
"How—how are you here?!"
Aomizu smiled faintly.
The moment Shennong tried to flee, he had already sent out a Shadow Clone.
The real body had arrived first.
"Please—don't kill me!" Shennong begged.
"I can give you everything… even eternal life!"
Aomizu raised his blade.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)