Ichiro, Third, and Fourth finally synced the technique, and it turned out exceptionally strong and dangerous. After discussing all plan details, Kenshin double-checked the formations on his sons' talismans, then went to bed to rest properly before the battle ahead.
In this operation, Kenshin was the "commander"—only he could see the entire nearby area in fine detail, especially useful in pitch darkness. Though enhanced physical stats let shinobi see in the dark anyway, Genin and Chunin couldn't boast great night vision.
By nine PM, Kenshin was awake and first checked outside. Seeing the two intruders in their cave, he relaxed and gave his sons another briefing.
By one AM, Kenshin confirmed the two intruders were asleep. Taking Ichiro, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth, he moved to the target cave—conveniently just 400 meters from his shelter. He wasn't worried about footsteps, as the formation on all talismans had been upgraded to muffle user sounds.
Once at the cave, everyone took pre-assigned positions, ready to act. Kenshin took a deep breath, checked the intruders' positions again, and mentally commanded: "Begin!"
His three sons instantly synced telepathically and formed seals with millisecond precision, then all three shouted:
"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" They unleashed a five-meter fireball that shot deep into the cave. They'd poured 70% of their chakra into it, pushing their limits.
Without delay, Kenshin deployed his makeshift formation of sewn hare skins with five talismans sewn at key points as the core. As the fireball launched, he threw it centered at the cave entrance and barely managed to activate it.
Small fire bursts erupted from the cave—if not for the formation, they'd have scorched Kenshin's face. The ground formation was a modified version of the family talisman one, with changes: it worked one-way, allowing oxygen through so the fire could burn freely.
As the fireball formed, Izao and Toru snapped awake—their battle instincts kicked in. Seeing the massive fireball at the cave's end with no escape, each tried to save himself.
"Suiton: Suijinheki!" Toru shouted, raising a thick water wall just as the fireball closed in meters away.
The water wall did nothing—evaporated in a second, and the fire consumed Toru, leaving no bones.
Izao was luckier, sleeping behind a small rocky outcrop by the wall for natural cover. He formed seals and shouted:
"Doton: Shoheki!" A rocky slab about 40 cm thick rose before him. He'd poured extra chakra for strength. As it formed, Izao started new seals—but the complex technique slowed him. The initial glancing fireball hit was mostly blocked by the outcrop, but time was short.
Seconds later, the fireball slammed the cave end, flames spreading everywhere. Seeing side flames rushing at him, Izao sped up to his limit—and at the last second, one flame tongue licked him.
With his face burned and hair scorched, Izao recoiled, held his breath, and sank into the wall, tunneling through rock seeking exit.
As soon as the technique launched and barrier activated, Kenshin used Fifth to climb the nearest tree and watch inside the cave.
Seeing one intruder burn up, he was noticeably pleased and telepathically messaged: "One dead, but stay alert!" Then he watched the second.
As Izao vanished into the wall, Kenshin messaged: "Doton user in the wall—scatter and hide!" His sons took concealed positions, awaiting the enemy.
Half a minute later, Izao emerged, took a deep breath. He planned a quick escape, not eager for a risky fight with an unknown foe. His life still mattered, so he tried to flee.
But Kenshin wouldn't let him. If one escaped, the Nakayama family could face constant attacks and revenge. Spotting Izao on his "radar," he commanded:
"Eight o'clock, fifty meters—Ichiro, engage!" Hearing his father, Ichiro glanced that way, activated Sharingan, spotted the enemy, threw two shuriken, and pursued.
Izao instantly saw the incoming shuriken and dismissed them as harmless. But at five meters, they vanished—one reappearing at his heart, the other at his femoral artery.
Stunned, he barely deflected the first and twisted to avoid the artery hit. The second embedded halfway, making him wince in pain. He yanked it out, realizing escape was impossible.
"Doton: Iwadeppo no Jutsu!" Izao shouted, exhaling four small stones like bullets at approaching Ichiro.
Thanks to Sharingan, Ichiro tracked the stones' paths perfectly—but his body wasn't fast enough. He dodged three; the fourth hit his right shoulder but stopped at an invisible barrier.