No matter what, Yuna was the client for this mission. If the Hidden Cloud ninjas took her away, then Kazekaze might as well give up being a ninja altogether.
More importantly, throughout the history of the ninja world, the relationship between the Hidden Cloud Village and Konoha had always been the worst. The Raikage would seize any opportunity to stir up trouble. If they got their hands on Yuna and uncovered the secrets of the Uzumaki clan, it would undoubtedly shift the balance of power.
"Weiming, Kazekaze, Sakumo—protect Miss Yuna. Leave Troyi to me."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was low and firm. Based on his mission experience, the enemy would not let this go, and a major battle was inevitable. Rather than waiting for them to make a move, it was better to strike first.
Troyi thought the same.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, it seems I'll have to defeat you first." As he spoke, he pulled out another scroll.
Boom!
With a puff of white smoke, another massive square shuriken appeared in his hand.
"Using such cumbersome ninja tools…?" Sakumo frowned, smoothly drawing his chakra short sword. He couldn't understand why a ninja would insist on using such heavy weapons. They were undoubtedly powerful, but their usage would consume far more stamina. Moreover, their speed in flight was inferior to kunai.
"Here it comes!" Sakumo shouted.
Troyi first hurled the shuriken with force, bending his knees and leaping up. The shuriken he had previously embedded in the tree trunk suddenly flew out on its own, pursuing Sarutobi and the others.
Sakumo and Weiming's eyes widened in shock. Troyi hadn't even touched the shuriken embedded in the tree, so why was it suddenly moving? Did his weapons have a will of their own?
"This is… Magnet Release?" Kazekaze's realization hit instantly, and he immediately forced Yuna to the ground.
Sarutobi formed hand seals. As a ninja with mastery over five chakra natures, he had an extensive arsenal of jutsu.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Slamming his palms onto the ground, the earth trembled. Using the terrain to his advantage, he infused his chakra into the soil, raising a thick wall of hardened earth.
With chakra reinforcement, the Earth-Style Wall had high resistance against both Water and Fire Release. However— Troyi's lips curled into a smirk as if he had expected this exact move. Just as Sarutobi's earthen wall was about to block the incoming shuriken—
Suddenly! The two shurikens shifted mid-air, spinning rapidly to the left and right, swerving around the Earth-Style Wall.
"Impossible?!" Sarutobi's eyes widened in disbelief.
He had never imagined that Troyi's shurikens could alter their trajectory without any external force. At the same time, this confirmed Kazekaze's suspicions. Troyi was a Magnet Release ninja. Anything he touched could be magnetized—his shurikens were to him what sand was to Gaara. With just a thought, a single command, he could manipulate them freely. And—
"This is bad." Sarutobi and Weiming spoke in unison, springing into action.
One brandished a kunai, the other swung his katana, intercepting the incoming shurikens. But— This was exactly what Troyi had planned.
"Heh… You've walked right into my trap."
From the moment Sarutobi and Weiming touched the shurikens, the battle was already over in Troyi's eyes. He focused his chakra into his feet, stepping onto Sarutobi's Earth-Style Wall. At the same time, he flung open new scrolls, summoning even more massive shurikens. For most ninjas, these weapons—while devastating—were too unwieldy. They were difficult to retrieve once thrown, and their sheer size made them impractical for assassinations.
However— For a Magnet Release user like Troyi, they were perfect weapons. His magnetization technique made the shurikens as fluid as his own limbs. Even more dangerous— By merely touching his target, he could transfer the magnetization effect onto them. In other words— The moment Sarutobi and Weiming blocked the shurikens, their bodies became magnetized.
"It's over, Konoha shinobi." Troyi's voice was heavy as he hurled his new shurikens.
Now magnetized, Sarutobi and Weiming were pulled toward the deadly weapons, unable to resist. In an instant, their expressions changed drastically. On the other side, the Hidden Cloud Chunin—seeing that Troyi had handled the most troublesome opponents—rushed toward Yuna.
As for Kazekaze and Sakumo? They weren't even worth acknowledging. How could two seven or eight-year-old kids possibly stand against them?
Yuna watched in horror as the situation spiraled out of control. Even Weiming—the man who had always been her protector—was now pierced through the abdomen by Troyi's shuriken, blood gushing from the wound.
And now— Several Chunin were closing in on her. A wave of pure terror consumed Yuna, and she let out a desperate scream.
"Kazekaze!"
At the critical moment, Sakumo stepped in front of her, gripping his chakra short sword with both hands, eyes locked onto the enemy. His body was rigid with tension.
"Kazekaze!" His voice was tight, urgent.
Their mission was to protect Yuna. No matter what— They could not let her fall into the enemy's hands. As for Sarutobi and Weiming? At this point, all they could do was trust in them.
"Get out of my way!"
"Die, Konoha brats!"
"Meeting us was your misfortune!"
The Hidden Cloud ninjas, their faces twisted in fury, looked like demons emerging from the depths of hell. Their hatred for Konoha burned in their eyes. Even Sakumo, usually composed, felt his legs turn to stone.
This… This was real battle. Completely different from training. That overwhelming, razor-sharp killing intent. The sheer pressure of it all made his heart pound violently in his chest. It felt like his heartbeat would rip through his throat. His lips went dry. His entire body froze in place.
And in his mind— One word flashed in blood-red letters. Death. If he did nothing— He would die.
Move. Move!
Sakumo screamed at himself internally— But his body refused to listen. The enemy was closing in— And all he could do was watch.
In that moment— Only Kazekaze remained calm. Troyi's full attention was on Sarutobi and Weiming. He had left this side to his subordinates.
"That… is a mistake." Kazekaze murmured to himself, stepping forward.
His small frame now stood between the enemy and his comrades. Yuna, staring blankly at Kazekaze's back— Suddenly realized how tall he seemed.
Then— Kazekaze unleashed Hashirama's chakra. A massive shockwave erupted from his body, sending powerful currents of air rushing outward. The Hidden Cloud ninjas—charging forward with murderous intent—were forced to halt mid-step.
Their eyes— Filled with unmistakable terror. Why— Why did a seven-year-old child possess such overwhelming chakra?!