"Hmph, let's see what you've got."
Minato's face turned red, then pale, frustration written all over him—it looked almost too real.
"I'd like to see how much of Kawakaze Hatake's strength you possess."
Nagato swiftly scanned the battlefield, spreading his arms as two long black rods erged from his wide sleeves.
"Be careful! Those black rods are dangerous!"
Rōshi shouted a warning, having suffered from them before.
"Annoying."
Nagato shot Rōshi a glance before launching the two black rods straight at his face.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Kitsuchi stepped in to block the attack, but as the black rods shattered the earthen barrier, Nagato was already gone.
"Above!"
Minato looked up just in ti to see Nagato diving down, the black rods in his hands growing larger in his vision.
Kitsuchi's Earth Wall seed to have created the perfect opening for Nagato's attack.
"Don't engage directly!"
Rōshi shouted, rushing to assist, while Kitsuchi ford hand seals to support Minato.
"He won't land a hit on ."
Minato smiled confidently—and vanished in an instant.
"So fast!"
Kitsuchi and Rōshi's eyes widened. They had completely lost track of his movents.
If Minato were an enemy, could they even stand a chance against such speed?
Before they could find an answer, Rōshi realized Nagato was already within striking distance.
Just a few more inches and his fist would connect with that insufferable face.
But Nagato wouldn't give him the chance.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A massive repulsive force erupted, sending Rōshi flying before he could react.
Kitsuchi's Earth Release technique was also obliterated in an instant, completely ineffective.
"Big Ball Rasengan!"
The mont Nagato's attack ended, Minato reappeared in his original position, hurling a massive chakra sphere larger than half a person straight at Nagato's head.
"Good timing."
Nagato's deep voice carried over as he placed a hand on the Rasengan's surface.
Chakra Absorption activated.
Minato's attack was nullified, the Rasengan dissolving into nothing. He exchanged a few quick blows with Nagato before retreating using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"You're quick to run, I'll give you that."
Nagato didn't bother chasing. He knew speed wasn't his strong suit.
He might not know the Flying Thunder God, but he was all too familiar with it.
"Regular ninjutsu won't work on him."
Rōshi dusted himself off as he climbed out of a crater, showing no major injuries.
"I see that."
"Buy so ti."
Minato pressed his hands together, as if preparing a secret technique.
"Got it."
Rōshi agreed imdiately and entered Lava Release Chakra Mode in the next second.
Molten rock engulfed him, and the overwhelming surge of chakra drew the attention of countless shinobi on the battlefield.
"Is that all you've got?"
Nagato scoffed. A loser would always be a loser.
"Shut up."
Rōshi bellowed as he charged forward, recalling the pain of his last defeat at Nagato's hands.
"Earth Release: Fist Rock Technique!"
Kitsuchi encased his right arm in hardened rock, increasing its weight and durability—a powerful technique passed down from his father, Ōnoki.
The two closed in from both sides, forming a pincer attack against Nagato.
But neither dared to rush in recklessly, wary of Shinra Tensei.
For a mont, the battle reached a stalemate.
"What's wrong? Too scared to make a move?"
"Then I won't hold back."
Nagato read their hesitation and lunged at Kitsuchi—between the two, he was the easier target.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The black rods clashed against Kitsuchi's stone-covered fist, sending sparks flying.
Kitsuchi's speed was inferior, and he soon found himself on the defensive.
Crack!
A black rod shattered the stone casing around Kitsuchi's right fist.
Nagato smirked, thrusting another black rod straight at Kitsuchi's chest.
If it landed, there was no chance of survival—unless his heart was on the right side of his body.
"You dare?!"
Rōshi abandoned his strategy of waiting for an opening.
He didn't get along with Ōnoki, but he wasn't about to stand by and watch his son die.
A fist the size of a boulder, wreathed in flas, ca crashing toward Nagato.
There was no ti to aim—only attack.
"Consider yourself lucky."
A single punch from Rōshi wouldn't be fatal, but Nagato wasn't about to take unnecessary damage.
He sidestepped in a blur, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Kitsuchi, still shaken, gasped for breath—he had never felt death so close before.
"You alright?"
Rōshi shot him a quick glance before locking eyes with Nagato again.
He wouldn't let Kitsuchi fight him alone ever again.
"I'm fine... Thanks."
Kitsuchi was grateful to Rōshi for saving his life.
"Next ti, you won't be so lucky."
Nagato pressed forward. Facing two opponents head-on ant nothing to him.
With Rōshi in the mix, Kitsuchi was no longer under as much pressure and even managed to land a few counterattacks.
But neither of them noticed—Rōshi's lava armor was fading, while Nagato's chakra never seed to run out.
After another exchange, Rōshi was forced back, unable to maintain Lava Release Chakra Mode.
His pale face made it obvious—his chakra was nearly depleted.
"My chakra... it's being drained."
Rōshi hunched over, looking like he could collapse at any mont.
"Minato, are you ready yet?"
Kitsuchi knew they couldn't hold out any longer. Based on past experience, it was ti to retreat.
"What good is that kid gonna do?"
Nagato glanced at Minato, who had remained untouched the entire ti.
To Rōshi and Kitsuchi, this seed logical—Nagato simply didn't consider Minato worth his attention.
"You two did well."
"Now, leave the rest to ."
As soon as Minato spoke, he appeared between them, shielding Rōshi and Kitsuchi with his back.
To them, that seemingly frail figure now felt like the sturdiest shield.
"You seem... different."
Nagato's gaze fell on Minato's familiar face. The crimson markings on his cheeks only added to his striking appearance.
Minato-senpai... He really has mastered Sage Mode!
"Are you sure about this?"
Kitsuchi hesitated, unsure if Minato could handle it.
"Trust ."
Minato was brimming with confidence.
It was his first ti using Sage Mode in battle, and the raw power surging through him was incredible.
But he couldn't help but think—why did it take so long to activate?
Would he ever be able to enter Sage Mode instantly like his sensei?
"You talk big."
Nagato's lips curled into a smirk, full of disdain.
"Try and find out."
Minato vanished in a blur.
Even without using the Flying Thunder God, his speed was astonishing.
With Sage Mode, both his speed and strength had reached new heights.
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