At some point, the name had quietly spread across the shinobi world.
Before this, Rōshi had only heard rumors—that Konoha had a young ninja known as the "Yellow Flash."
It wasn't until facing him in battle that one could truly understand what that title meant.
That kind of speed…
It was enough to drive people into despair.
The number of Iwagakure shinobi who had died at his hands had long since reached a horrifying level.
Expressions across the Iwa ranks shifted instantly—anger, hatred, fear—all tangled together.
Even Ōnoki hesitated for a moment.
Didn't Jiraiya say there were only two of them?
Then what was this sudden appearance of the "Yellow Flash"?
Had they been bluffing the entire time?
What were they really planning?
Or could it be—
"Sensei, Shimizu."
A young man with bright golden hair appeared abruptly at the center of the battlefield, as though he had stepped out of thin air. A faint smile rested on his lips.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Jiraiya didn't look surprised in the slightest.
"When will Orochimaru and Tsunade arrive?" he asked calmly.
Minato held a tri-pronged kunai in a reverse grip, its tip slowly rising to point toward Ōnoki in the sky. His gaze sharpened, turning cold and focused.
"I'm faster, so I came ahead," he replied. "Orochimaru-san and Lady Tsunade should be here soon."
Jiraiya nodded, clearly satisfied.
"Good. Then we'll hold them here first—don't let these rats escape!"
Shimizu immediately followed up, his voice sharp: "Take out the two injured ones first!"
"Withdraw!" Ōnoki ordered decisively.
At the same time, he unleashed his signature technique—
Dust Release: Limit Detachment Technique!
An upgraded version of the Detachment of the Primitive World Technique, this jutsu boasted an even larger range, far greater destructive power, and a sustained effect. Anything that came near it would be reduced to atoms.
In front of Ōnoki, a blinding white light began to form.
It grew rapidly—brighter, wider—until it consumed the entire battlefield, erasing all visibility.
"Watch out!"
The three of them retreated at top speed, escaping the center just in time.
From a distance, it became clear—
A massive rectangular beam of white light had nearly engulfed the entire lake.
In the next instant—
The light shattered.
And everything within it…
Vanished.
The trees that once stood there.
The vast lake Shimizu had summoned.
All gone.
Erased without a trace.
Such a terrifying technique.
"…That jutsu is powerful," Minato murmured, unable to hide his shock as he looked at the empty space left behind.
Jiraiya exhaled slowly, his expression grave.
"That's the Third Tsuchikage's specialty," he said. "A technique known as a kekkei tōta."
He had seen it once before—
Back during the Second Great Ninja War.
"Little Jiraiya… are we going after them?" asked the elderly toad sage perched on Jiraiya's right shoulder, his deep green skin wrinkled with age.
"No need," Jiraiya replied with a relaxed smile. "Thank you for the help, Lord Fukasaku… and Lady Shima."
"Hmph. You old fool," the purple-and-white toad on his left shoulder—Shima—snapped irritably. "Do you really think it's wise to let Little Jiraiya charge after the Third Tsuchikage like that? Are you trying to get him killed?"
"And how do you know he can't beat that geezer?" Fukasaku shot back instinctively.
"Don't push it! That's a kekkei tōta we're talking about! One touch and it's over!" Shima retorted sharply. "We're leaving. Now."
With that, the two toad sages vanished, and Jiraiya's Sage Mode dissolved. His body gradually returned to normal.
Watching this, Shimizu couldn't help but feel a flicker of envy.
That power…
Even a casual Fire Release technique, enhanced by senjutsu chakra, had produced such overwhelming destruction. He had seen it clearly—the lake itself had partially evaporated under that attack.
And more than that—
After entering Sage Mode, Jiraiya's speed had risen to a level that could rival both him and Minato.
What a useful ability…
A pity.
He couldn't learn it.
"Are you alright, Shimizu?" Jiraiya asked.
Minato's gaze followed, silently assessing his condition.
"I can handle another fight," Shimizu replied without hesitation.
In truth, his chakra reserves were running low.
But the mission wasn't complete yet.
The Third Hokage's orders were clear—neither Iwagakure nor Kumogakure could be allowed to take the Seven-Tails.
This wasn't the time to show weakness.
Yes, they had just scared off Iwagakure by making them believe reinforcements were coming…
But Kumogakure had stayed.
And sooner or later, they would realize the truth.
There were no reinforcements.
Minato's arrival had only been possible because Jiraiya had summoned a small toad beforehand to deliver a message, asking the elder toads to reverse-summon him here.
That was why he had arrived so quickly.
Now the battle had ended—for the moment.
Only three from Konoha remained: Jiraiya, Shimizu, and Minato.
Facing them were five from Kumogakure…
And the utterly defenseless group from Takigakure.
Yet the so-called "reinforcements" never appeared.
Naturally, the Third Raikage spoke up.
"The battle is over. Thank you for your assistance, Jiraiya."
"We're allies, after all," Jiraiya replied with a hearty laugh. "Helping each other is only natural."
"In that case," the Raikage continued calmly, "we'll be taking the Seven-Tails."
"Hold on," Jiraiya said immediately.
"Oh?" The Raikage raised a brow. "Something else?"
"You just said it yourself—we're allies. So we should help each other, right?"
The Raikage's brow lifted slightly. "That's true. What do you want from us?"
Jiraiya grinned faintly.
"How about… returning the Seven-Tails to its rightful owner?"
For a moment, there was silence—
Then the Third Raikage burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! So this is Konoha's real objective?"
His gaze sharpened.
"You think the three of you can stop me?"
"Or are you still waiting for those 'reinforcements' of yours?"
"Yes," Shimizu replied calmly, nodding as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Hahahaha—!"
Even Killer B couldn't hold back his laughter.
It was obvious to everyone—they had used that bluff to scare off Iwagakure.
And now they were trying the same ridiculous trick on Kumogakure?
It was laughable.
Blatantly so.
"Something funny, black kid?" Shimizu's cold gaze shifted toward Killer B.
"Uh… first of all, I'm not 'black,'" Killer B said, casually digging at his ear. "It's called a healthy dark complexion."
"And second—don't look at me like that. It's creepy."
"Your stare's not gonna kill me."
"Eight-Tails jinchūriki?" In Shimizu's sensory perception, this deep-skinned boy of about fifteen, carrying twin swords on his back and wearing sunglasses, possessed an utterly terrifying amount of chakra.
This was a young, not-yet-fully-grown Killer B.
"Yes," Killer B answered simply.
"And you're this fearless… just because you're a jinchūriki?" Shimizu's hand moved once more to the hilt of his sword.
"Shunshin Shimizu, your threats are childish," Dodai said, stepping forward to shield Killer B.
"You think much like the Third Tsuchikage," Shimizu said, slowly unsheathing his blade. "Men are always limited by their own perceptions, leading to ignorant conclusions."
"For example—those three who thought they could defeat me earlier."
"Or the Tsuchikage himself, fleeing in such a panic."
"And now you…"
His blade lifted, pointing directly at Dodai.
"You believe the three of us would fear the five of you. That you're guaranteed to win."
His voice turned colder.
"So let me make this clear."
"The Seven-Tails is mine."
A faint killing intent spread through the air.
"Anyone who touches it—dies."
"Oh?" The Third Raikage stepped forward, moving to the front of his group.
Lightning crackled faintly around his body as he regarded Shimizu with interest.
"You sound very confident."
"Is there something else you're hiding?"
Jiraiya sighed softly, as if resigned to what was coming.
Then, once again, he brought his hands together.
"Well then…"
"…let's keep fighting."