Guy it seems like the Gekko clan member that joined kyōichi last time (the anbu squad) wasn't Hayate but someone else. I'll fix those errors if i get the time.
———-
"Kyōichi-sama, what about us?"
"You'll fight too. If you can't handle frontline combat, at least contribute by pelting them with shuriken from the rear."
Even the sealing squad was combat-capable.
Most importantly—
With only a few of them left, what if Iwa pulled a base trade?
Thus—
The best solution was:
Everyone marches to battle, leaving no opening for ambush.
After a moment's hesitation, the sealing team nodded one by one.
Kyōichi resealed the gap, then formed hand signs. The dispersed Katsuyu clones scattered, crawling toward the camp's shinobi.
This summon was large—not quite Tsunade's full-scale version, but close. Yet...
It was merely a tiny fraction of Shikkotsu Forest's true body.
Moreover—
Even after division, the numbers fell short.
But with Ōnoki awaiting him, Kyōichi needed to conserve chakra for peak condition.
Soon—
A decision crystallized.
He selectively allocated the Katsuyu clones:
Each rookie received one.
Assault teams took priority.
Still insufficient, but he'd maximized coverage for high-risk personnel. Finally, he left behind a shadow clone.
"Kyōichi, with only half your chakra, facing Ōnoki is dangerously risky."
The Sandaime frowned with concern.
He understood the clone's purpose—to activate Katsuyu's healing in emergencies.
But—
What about Kyōichi himself?
"Hokage-sama, that's why I need everyone's help. I want non-combat units—sealing squads, interrogation teams—to lend me their chakra."
"..."
The freshly relieved sealing team fell silent.
So this was the trap?
Veterans of the eastern campaign barely reacted. After all—
In a way, they'd always been "mobile chakra batteries," contributing uniquely to Konoha's efforts.
"Will this... harm them?"
The Sandaime hadn't anticipated such tactics.
"Absolutely not."
Kyōichi demonstrated by draining a familiar comrade. Within moments, his shadow clone's depletion reversed.
Chakra Absorption Technique truly is miraculous!
"Very well. Proceed."
With all arrangements set, no further objections arose.
———
Asuma glared toward Kyōichi's distant figure, gripping his trench knives, frustration plain on his face.
"Don't overthink it. What sensei wills, none can oppose. What he rejects, none can enforce. This decision wasn't the Hokage's."
Shisui whispered beside him.
Asuma blinked, then muttered, "Am I that transparent?"
"It's practically tattooed on your forehead."
Kurenai sighed. "Move out. Without sensei's direct oversight—and with real blades flying—we must be vigilant."
The trio fell silent.
They'd fought before—from Water to Earth Country—but never without Kyōichi's presence. With him, they'd felt invincible.
Now—
Their teacher would battle Ōnoki, leaving little bandwidth for them. Though a shadow clone remained, its priority was Katsuyu-linked allies.
This fight depended on them.
Weapons tightened in their grips.
"Advance!"
———
"Why are you here?"
Kyōichi marched at the forefront, trailed by four ANBU.
Their masks and voices betrayed them—Gekkō Kazuki's squad.
"Hokage-sama ordered us to support you. To protect you at critical moments."
Kazuki stated plainly.
"Unnecessary. Focus on eliminating enemies."
"Negative. This is the Hokage's command!"
Kazuki stood firm. His teammates mirrored his resolve—especially Hyūga Mukai, unwilling to lose the light he'd only just glimpsed.
All knew Ōnoki's prowess:
- Dust Release
- Weighted Rock Technique
- Lightened Rock Technique
Kyōichi's margin for error was razor-thin. One hit from Weighted Rock would negate his speed advantage.
Hence the ANBU escort.
Kyōichi relented.
These four usually obeyed—but clearly, this fell outside "usual." No argument would sway them.
"Don't underestimate me. I won't engage Ōnoki directly. Unless absolutely critical, do not interfere."
He understood Dust Release's horror better than anyone—
A kekkei tōta that had shattered Madara's Susano'o.
"Understood!"
———
Torrential rain soaked the land as Ōnoki and Tsuchi returned.
His back injury had healed, and after days of analysis, he'd countered Kyōichi's floating explosive tags.
But lightning remained problematic.
Dust Release could neutralize it—
Yet he couldn't spam that technique endlessly.
"Until this rain stops, we stay vigilant."
"Yes!"
Tsuchi relayed the orders.
Kusagakure's ordeal proved one truth:
Given the right weather, Konoha could summon that thunderous nightmare.
Without a true countermeasure, they remained vulnerable.
Their caution proved warranted. Soon, an Iwa-nin reported:
"Tsuchikage-sama! Konoha advances!"
"As expected. Move out!"
Ōnoki's fury simmered.
Of course Konoha would seize this chance—
He'd have done the same.
Rain amplified Water and Lightning Releases. Though Fire Release weakened, flames never threatened earth significantly.
This was Konoha's optimal battlefield.
The entire Iwa force mobilized, shifting toward the border to repel the assault.
But—
Ōnoki sought only to weather the storm—literally. This miserable weather was no place for decisive battle.
Yet upon reaching the frontlines, delusions shattered—
Konoha had even brought medical teams to the battlefield.
Total war.
"Hiruzen... I never imagined you'd grow so bold as to force a decisive battle upon us."
Ōnoki hovered forward, baiting the Sandaime into conversation—
A distraction to prevent lightning guidance.
Instead—
Kanda Kyōichi stepped forth, that infuriating grin intact.
"Ōnoki, care to guess where we'll strike—you or your army?"
He needed to stall.
Minato's team wasn't in position yet.
Ōnoki sneered. "You think I haven't deciphered your technique after all this time? Lightning guidance demands extreme precision. That old fool Sarutobi couldn't target me even if—
"Aren't you older than him?"
Kyōichi interrupted.
"Age means nothing. Sarutobi's spirit aged prematurely."
Both sides played for time—
Iwa erected defenses while Konoha awaited Minato's signal.
Then—
A blinding flash erupted from Konoha's rear. Ōnoki instantly descended, avoiding potential aerial targeting.
But—
No thunder followed.
A bluff.
And he'd fallen for it.
Ōnoki's face darkened. "Attack!"
The earth itself roared to life—
Twin mountainous slabs erupted, trapping Konoha's vanguard as they accelerated toward each other.
Dozens of Iwa-nin emerged, sealing Kyōichi's retreat with jagged earthworks.
All converged on him.
Hah! Brat, I was waiting for my technique's completion. What were you waiting for?"
Ōnoki levitated low, a glowing cube forming in his palms—
Dust Release.
Simultaneously, earth-style attacks restricted Kyōichi's movement.
Yet he stood unmoving, smiling up at Ōnoki.
"Guess."
"Don't let him escape! Crush him first!"
Ōnoki hurled the cube downward.
The ground beneath Kyōichi had been saturated with earth chakra—no subterranean escape possible.
But—
Kyōichi made no attempt to flee.
"Ever heard of 'Blossoming at the Center'? Low success rate, but... I think I'll manage. Because frankly—"
His hands flashed through seals.
"—you lot aren't capable of killing me quickly enough."
Raindrops crystallized midair—
A blizzard of hail pummeled the Iwa forces as an ice barrier intercepted the Dust Release cube.
"Ice Release! How?!"
Ōnoki's disbelief echoed across the battlefield.
A kekkei genkai Konoha shouldn't possess!
Kyōichi's voice drifted through the mist:
"You mastered Dust Release. Why shouldn't i be able to master Ice Release?"
Tsuchi's Rock Cannon barrage struck only phantom afterimages.