Kazekaze activated full taunt mode, relentlessly chipping away at Kinkaku and Ginkaku's mental defenses.
After all, this was the Land of Fire's border—hoping for reinforcements was unrealistic. Besides… Kazekaze was never the type to place his hopes on others.
"A battle between ninja is often a battle of information. And as someone who has transmigrated here, I hold an absolute advantage in intel." Kazekaze locked eyes with Kinkaku, maintaining a cautious distance.
To avoid any accidents, he didn't even let his shadow clones get close to Kinkaku. If Kinkaku charged at a clone, it would immediately dispel itself— Giving him zero opportunity to land a hit with the Kōkinjō (Golden Canopy Rope).
Meanwhile, Kazekaze's provocations were beginning to take effect. Especially when he transformed into Hashirama— Kinkaku's face turned downright ugly.
"What did you say?"
If Kazekaze's words were true, then it meant that night— He had missed the perfect chance to eliminate him! It also meant that he had failed to see through Kazekaze's Transformation Jutsu. That he, a high-ranking Jonin, had been completely fooled by a seven-year-old kid!
"No! That's impossible!" Kinkaku shook his head furiously, refusing to accept such a humiliating truth. "That chakra... only the man known as the God of Shinobi, the First Hokage, could possess such a presence!"
Kinkaku clung to what he thought was a fatal flaw in Kazekaze's claim, trying to deny it.
"You mean... like this?" Kazekaze smirked.
As he spoke, Hashirama's chakra surged and enveloped his body. A powerful shockwave blasted outward in every direction, shattering the ground beneath and fracturing it like a spiderweb. A purplish chakra cloaked Kazekaze's body— Resembling the shroud of a Tailed Beast. It was identical to what Kinkaku had seen that night when he believed he'd encountered the God of Shinobi!
"Surprise! Turns out the Hashirama you met that night was just my shadow clone. Shocking, isn't it?!" Kazekaze continued to mock them mercilessly.
Just as he had anticipated— The revelation was too jarring. Kinkaku and Ginkaku froze in place, struggling to mentally process what they were hearing.
"Now!" Kazekaze called out to Uchiha Kagami as he dashed straight for Ginkaku.
"Got it!" Kagami responded sharply, closing his left eye and leaping into Kinkaku's field of vision.
The tomoe in his right Sharingan began to spin— Activating one of the Uchiha clan's signature abilities: Genjutsu.
Ordinarily, putting someone like Kinkaku—who had Tailed Beast chakra—under a genjutsu was a long shot. Even as a Uchiha, Kagami's genjutsu skill didn't compare to the likes of Shisui or Itachi. But this time, it worked.
All thanks to Kazekaze's psychological assault. The truth bomb had shaken Kinkaku— He regretted not seeing through the transformation that night.
Why hadn't he attacked? Even when facing the terrifying Nine Tails, he hadn't flinched. So why had he hesitated in front of Hashirama? If he had just attacked that night, he would've realized it wasn't the real Hashirama! He had missed the perfect chance to kill Kazekaze!
This momentary lapse was all Kagami needed. Kinkaku's eyes widened as he found himself standing under a crimson night sky— The peaceful daylight gone. They were back in the forest from that night!
"Kinkaku."
"Kinkaku."
"Kinkaku."
The same voice echoed around him. Kinkaku turned to find himself surrounded by countless Hashiramas. Just as he moved— Two thick vines burst from the earth, coiling around his ankles and climbing rapidly. His Bashōsen (Banana Palm Fan) dropped from his hand. In the blink of an eye, Kinkaku was completely bound to a tree.
"Stand down, Kinkaku."
"Stand down, Kinkaku."
"Stand down, Kinkaku."
Hashirama clones encircled him, chanting those words like a mantra. Meanwhile— To trap Kinkaku in this genjutsu, Kagami had used nearly all of his chakra. Now, he crouched, gasping for air.
"Well done, Kagami," Kazekaze praised as he charged toward Ginkaku.
"Hey—Kinkaku!" Ginkaku was stunned. He hadn't expected their coordination to be so thoroughly suppressed!
BOOM!
Kazekaze clenched his fist, unleashing monstrous strength—a direct Cherry Blossom Impact punch. Ginkaku hastily raised the Shichiseiken (Seven Star Sword) to block, but didn't anticipate Kazekaze's raw power. The overwhelming force slammed into him, forcing him to retreat several steps.
The other Kumogakure ninja tried to intervene, but were blocked by Kazekaze's shadow clones.
"Gate of Life—Open!"
Every clone activated the Eight Gates Released Formation, their skin reddening as green energy flared from their bodies. With both strength and speed drastically increased, they forcefully pushed back the enemy ninja, keeping them from interfering.
Ginkaku fell into panic.
Though his power wasn't much weaker than Kinkaku's— His mental fortitude was nowhere near as strong. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say— The moment things got rough, Ginkaku would instinctively wait for Kinkaku to rescue him. He had no concept of how to fight his way out.
Kazekaze exploited that. Relying on raw strength, he launched a barrage of brutal attacks— Until he finally kicked the Shichiseiken (Seven Star Sword) from Ginkaku's hand.
"D-Don't come any closer!" Panicking, Ginkaku released his Tailed Beast chakra.
But Kazekaze's Hashirama chakra was just as powerful—if not more so.
"Aren't you always clinging to Kinkaku?" Kazekaze growled. "Then let me send you over to him."
With Hashirama's form giving him longer reach and larger hands— Kazekaze smashed a fist into Ginkaku's gut, then grabbed his throat in one motion. Targeting Kinkaku, still trapped in genjutsu— He let loose a mighty punch, hurling Ginkaku like a missile.
BAM!
Ginkaku's back crashed directly into Kinkaku's Kōkinjō (Golden Canopy Rope). The two brothers were blasted through the air together. Ginkaku's Tailed Beast chakra resonated with Kinkaku's, throwing his chakra into chaos— And breaking Kagami's genjutsu!
But— The moment Ginkaku made contact with the rope, his word soul was forced out. Kazekaze reached out and snatched the falling Shichiseiken (Seven Star Sword) midair. And then— With one stomp, the ground beneath him split apart like cracked ice.
In a flash, he launched toward Ginkaku faster than the eye could follow. He swung the Shichiseiken (Seven Star Sword)— And severed the glowing blue word soul.
Curse technique and sealing technique—activated!