Shimizu pointing a single finger at the Third Tsuchikage wasn't meant as mockery.
It was a warning.
A silent threat.
His lightning techniques required no hand seals—instantaneous, unpredictable, and impossible to guard against once unleashed. Against anyone, that alone was enough to instill caution.
But for someone like Ōnoki…
The pride of a Kage could not be provoked so easily.
"Shunshin Shimizu…" Ōnoki's voice turned cold, his gaze darkening. "Do you really think your little bit of speed will work against me—"
"The Five-Tails jinchūriki probably thought the same thing," Shimizu cut in lightly, his tone almost casual.
As he spoke, his eyes deliberately drifted toward Han.
The sight was striking.
Han was kneeling on one knee atop the water's surface, his once-crimson armor cracked and splintered. The red, umbrella-like structure above his head had shattered completely, and his body was riddled with dozens of deep, slashing wounds.
Shimizu's Wind Release chakra had finally pierced through the chakra cloak.
The once imposing, towering warrior now looked like a beaten, exhausted dog.
Shimizu tilted his chin slightly toward him, as if presenting evidence.
"As for how that turned out… you can see for yourself."
The moment those words left his mouth, not only the shinobi of Iwagakure—but even Kumogakure's forces—fell into stunned silence.
The Third Tsuchikage had always been known for his stubborn temper and iron-fisted authority.
And yet this rising star dared to provoke him so openly?
The already tense atmosphere instantly tightened to the breaking point.
Moreover—
After three consecutive battles, just how much chakra did Shimizu have left?
Could he even continue fighting?
At the same time, Jiraiya made no move to contradict him. On the contrary, his hands had already come together.
His appearance had changed.
A mane of wild white hair cascaded down his back, red markings spreading across his eyes, and perched on his shoulders were two elder toads.
This was Sage Mode.
In this state, Jiraiya's body had undergone a partial transformation, giving him an almost demonic, untamed presence.
They're actually going to fight?!
Has Konoha lost its mind?
"Jiraiya of the Sannin and Shunshin Shimizu… are they really planning to take on Ōnoki and the others with just the two of them?!" Killer B exclaimed, unable to hide his shock.
Even A felt shaken.
"Does Konoha have some kind of hidden plan…?" he muttered, frowning.
No matter how he looked at it—numbers, condition, momentum—Konoha was at a complete disadvantage. And yet they were the ones taking the initiative to provoke and escalate?
Did they really think Kumogakure would step in to help them?
Almost instinctively, his gaze shifted toward his father—the Third Raikage.
But the man stood perfectly still, showing no intention of interfering in the conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure.
The alliance between Konoha and Kumogakure had always been fragile—thin as ice. Given enough incentive, breaking it would be effortless.
As for offering help without gain?
From a Kage's perspective, that was meaningless.
A couldn't help but feel that his father's decision—to wait and reap the benefits—was the correct one.
Even if, on a personal level, he leaned slightly toward Konoha…
Now, all they could do was wait.
"Brother… we're not stepping in?" Killer B asked quietly, sharing the same inclination.
A shook his head slowly.
"We wait for Father's orders."
...
Meanwhile, in the air above the battlefield, Ōnoki let out a faint sigh, shaking his head.
"Shunshin Shimizu… do you really think your speed leaves me helpless?"
His eyes sharpened.
"I've already seen through the weakness of your Instant Water Technique."
Then, his tone turned colder still.
"Or do you truly believe that the agreement made before the fight has any power to restrain me?"
Floating midair, the Third Tsuchikage had already made his decision.
Even if it meant tearing apart the fragile truce—
He would kill this reckless young man.
After all, before the battle, Han had made a simple agreement with Shimizu:
Whoever lost would withdraw from Takigakure and cease interfering in the other's affairs.
But now—
That agreement no longer mattered.
The situation had already spiraled beyond control.
On the other side, Jiraiya seemed to have lost all patience. He stepped forward and spoke bluntly, his tone carrying no room for negotiation.
"I'm not interested in whether you Iwa follow the agreement anymore," he said flatly. "Let's fight."
A brief pause.
"Whoever survives… walks away."
"Fall back!" The Third Raikage reacted instantly, leading the four Kumogakure shinobi to retreat without hesitation.
"Rōshi, you're with me! Everyone else, withdraw!" Ōnoki shouted.
In the very next instant—
A massive wave of blazing flames surged forward, swallowing the Iwagakure forces whole.
The heat was overwhelming. The moment it touched the lake's surface, the water began to boil violently, sending up thick clouds of steam. Fire and vapor intertwined, blanketing the entire battlefield in a suffocating haze.
This was Jiraiya's senjutsu.
Sage Art: Fire Release – Big Flame Bullet.
By refining senjutsu chakra into oil within his body and igniting it with Fire Release as he expelled it, he created a massive flaming projectile—one that combined immense destructive power with a terrifying area of effect.
"Jiraiya… he's serious!" Dodai exclaimed in shock.
"Good," the Third Raikage replied in a low voice. "This gives us a chance to wear down Iwagakure. That Seven-Tails will be ours."
"Lord Raikage… do you favor Iwagakure in this fight?" Yugito asked, frowning.
Killer B clicked his tongue and answered for him, "No matter how you look at it, Konoha's at a disadvantage…"
"Exactly," Yugito murmured. "If it's that obvious… then Konoha must know it too. So why would they choose to engage head-on?"
What were they relying on?
No one had an answer.
Meanwhile, within the inferno—
Ōnoki and Rōshi made their moves simultaneously.
Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!
Originally developed by the Second Tsuchikage, this kekkei tōta combined Wind, Earth, and Fire natures—a power beyond ordinary bloodline limits. It could reduce its target to the atomic level, disintegrating them entirely, and trigger devastating explosions.
A glowing cube formed between Ōnoki's hands.
Without hesitation, he fired it toward Jiraiya.
At the same time, Rōshi targeted Shimizu.
Lava Release:Scorching Stream Rock Technique!
From his mouth burst dozens of massive magma spheres, each one radiating intense heat and destructive force. They scattered in all directions before converging toward Shimizu, sealing off every possible escape route.
By all rights, the collision of these techniques should have produced a catastrophic explosion.
And yet—
Seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
An eerie silence fell over the battlefield.
All anyone could recall was a flash—
A streak of yellow that had crossed their vision the instant those techniques were unleashed.
Who… was that?
Then, suddenly—
A series of sharp, rhythmic sounds echoed through the air.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Everyone turned to look.
Scattered across the surrounding trees were strange, three-pronged kunai, embedded deep into the trunks. Each one bore intricate sealing markings etched into its surface.
Those weapons…
They looked familiar.
"The Yellow Flash of Konoha?!" Rōshi's eyes widened in recognition.
During the previous war against Konoha, Jiraiya had only truly entered the battlefield at the final stage.
Before that—
It was a single young shinobi who had repeatedly crushed Iwagakure's vanguard forces, leaving them in disarray.
The reason he had dominated the battlefield so completely—
Was simple.
He possessed a speed so absolute… that no one could hope to match it.
...
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