The battlefield surrounding Minato had grown eerily silent, the once-crowded space now desolate as Cloud Ninja elites scattered in terror. His ruthlessness had left its mark—six lives extinguished in an instant.
A cold breeze swept through the area, but the tension was suffocating. The only sound was the rustle of movement as the remaining Cloud Ninjas tried to flee the area, their fear palpable.
"Kill him!"
A's voice thundered through the silence, his tone raw with fury. Though he only uttered three words, the weight of his command was enough to spur Killer B into action.
The two adjusted their stances, moving to flank Minato from both sides. Their movements were precise, calculated, and terrifyingly fast. Lightning crackled around A as his armor surged with power, and Killer B's tailed beast coat rippled like molten chakra, its solidified form radiating deadly energy.
Minato stood still, his expression unyielding. He didn't move toward the safety of the distant cliff or use his Flying Thunder God Technique to escape. Retreat was not an option.
The blond shinobi raised his hand, chakra swirling violently into a massive, spinning orb.
"Super Odama Rasengan!"
The immense ball of chakra glowed an intense blue, its light illuminating the battlefield as Minato leapt into the air. Like a meteor falling from the heavens, he brought the Rasengan down toward A and Killer B.
"Boom! Boom!"
The ground beneath the trio trembled and collapsed under the force of the impact. A and Killer B met the attack head-on, their combined strikes pushing back against the massive Rasengan.
For a moment, the world seemed frozen as the attacks clashed. Cracks began to web across the surface of the Super Odama Rasengan.
Then, with a deafening explosion, the chakra sphere shattered, its remnants dispersing into a shower of fluorescent rain that fell softly to the battlefield.
A and Killer B looked up, their eyes locking on Minato. Still in mid-air, he reached into his pouch and threw a special kunai toward them. At the same time, his free hand blurred as he performed a rapid series of hand seals.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The lone kunai multiplied, transforming into a storm of spinning blades that rained down upon A and Killer B. The two warriors didn't flinch.
Their armor and coats absorbed the barrage with ease, allowing them to leap into the air after Minato, intent on finishing him while he was exposed.
But Minato disappeared before they could strike.
Swish!
He reappeared beside Killer B, gripping another special kunai. The blade slashed forward, aiming for Killer B's neck, but the Jinchūriki was prepared.
Tentacles from the Eight-Tails erupted from Killer B's sides, wrapping around Minato's waist with lightning speed. Killer B's twin daggers swung up to block Minato's strike.
"Gotcha!" Killer B grunted, tightening the grip of his tentacles.
However, Minato's calm expression betrayed no sign of worry. His mind worked rapidly, analyzing the situation.
"His perception is excellent. He's reacting to the fluctuations from my Flying Thunder God Technique," Minato thought.
Unlike most opponents, Killer B wasn't fighting alone. The Eight-Tails' awareness and instincts were a second set of eyes and ears, enabling him to predict and counter Minato's movements.
Clang!
The clash of steel echoed as Minato's kunai collided with Killer B's daggers. Sparks flew, and the tentacles coiled tighter, threatening to bind Minato completely.
Before the Eight-Tails could fully immobilize him, Minato vanished again, slipping free of Killer B's grasp.
Swish!
He reappeared behind A, who had just landed on the ground, poised like a coiled spring. Without missing a beat, A launched himself upward, lightning exploding from his armor as he aimed a devastating punch at Minato.
The blow connected—almost.
Minato was gone again, his movements blurring as he reappeared in the air, now holding his kunai like a sword. Chakra flared around the blade, forming a sharp, wind-like edge.
"Buzz!"
The wind blade extended outward, cutting through the air with a high-pitched hum as Minato swung it at A and Killer B.
"Boom!"
A met the wind blade with his fist, the lightning chakra surrounding him dispersing the cutting edge in an explosion of sparks and energy.
From below, Killer B growled, "He's keeping the fight in the air. Smart move."
Minato's strategy was clear. By staying airborne and utilizing his teleportation, he nullified their overwhelming speed and physical power. With no foothold, A and Killer B struggled to keep up, unable to unleash their full strength.
"The man's a genius," Killer B admitted grudgingly. "Even the Third Raikage didn't have moves like this."
Their brief exchange lasted mere seconds, each warrior calculating their next move.
Suddenly, a disturbance rippled across the battlefield. Ahead of the retreating Cloud Ninja, a rain of kunai fell, striking the ground like thunderbolts.
"Boom! Boom!"
Tsunade's throws were nothing short of terrifying. Her immense strength turned each kunai into a deadly projectile, embedding them deep into the ground and scattering the fleeing ninjas.
Sakumo Hatake joined the assault, his kunai surrounded by crackling lightning as he hurled them with unmatched precision. The Cloud Ninjas were thrown into chaos, dodging frantically to avoid the incoming barrage.
"Not good!" Killer B's voice cut through the noise as his senses flared. He had memorized the chakra signature on Minato's kunai, and the subtle fluctuations now told him exactly what was about to happen.
"Minato's moving!"
The blond figure appeared among the retreating Cloud Ninjas like a phantom. A flash of light marked his passage, followed by the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground.
A's roar echoed across the battlefield. "Stop him!"
But it was too late. By the time A and Killer B reached the outskirts of the Cloud Ninja ranks, the carnage was evident.
Ten more lives had been claimed. Their bodies lay scattered across the field, the faint light of Minato's kunai glinting ominously beside them.
The surviving Cloud Ninja were paralyzed with fear. To them, the flashes of yellow light were more than just a technique—they were the promise of death.
Hatake Sakumo stood nearby, his blade at the ready. C, the Cloud Ninja commander, rushed toward him in a fury, but Sakumo intercepted him with a calm, deadly precision.
Minato reappeared beside Tsunade, his bloodied kunai in hand. The blade had curled slightly from overuse, and he discarded it without a second thought.
A's voice shook with rage. "None of you Konoha ninjas will leave here alive! Not a single one!"
His bloodshot eyes burned with desperation as he turned to Killer B.
"Bee!"
Killer B nodded grimly. Without hesitation, his right arm began to morph, swelling grotesquely as chakra surged through it. The transformation was swift, and within moments, the massive, gnarled arm of the Eight-Tails emerged, its raw power rippling through the battlefield.
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