Upon hearing Kakashi's command, Shisui halted his retreat. With a sharp turn, he swiftly formed a series of hand seals.
"Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku!" (Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!)
A massive torrent of flames erupted from Shisui's mouth, forming a towering inferno that surged forward like a tidal wave. He had poured nearly all of his remaining chakra into the technique, determined to maximize its impact.
Kakashi, too, began forming hand seals—his movements fluid and precise.
"Fūton: Shinkūgyoku!" (Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!)
Small, yet powerful spheres of wind accompanied the fire, amplifying the inferno's reach and intensity. The combined chakra natures caused the fire to swell to unprecedented proportions. The blaze, initially only a few meters wide, now surged to a span of tens of meters, casting a fiery glow across the dark battlefield.
The fire roared skyward.
The air itself shimmered under the oppressive heat. The water-based jutsu previously summoned by the Hidden Mist shinobi hissed into steam, utterly overpowered by the hellish blaze.
The immense scope and blistering heat of the combination technique forced the Kirigakure ninja to halt their advance. Hands rose to shield faces. The heat was nearly unbearable—even from a distance.
"What an insane Fire Style technique!" a Hidden Mist ninja exclaimed, stunned.
Even their clothing began to smolder from the heat. Some fell back entirely, shielding their faces and gasping in shock.
"Silver, now's our chance to escape!" Shisui called out, hopeful. The wall of flame had successfully bought them some time.
But Kakashi shook his head, calm but grim.
"No."
"Why not?" Shisui asked, surprised. With the enemy repelled, escaping seemed like the logical choice.
Kakashi's expression hardened.
"This mission was meant to gather intelligence. But now that our identities are exposed, and we've killed several of their shinobi, Kirigakure could claim Konoha violated their sovereignty."
Shisui's eyes widened as he immediately understood the implication. If they allowed any survivors to report back, it could lead to diplomatic disaster—or even war.
"So… what do we do?"
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. His voice was firm.
"Konoha's peace is precious and hard-won. We can't allow this to spark a conflict. The only option left is to eliminate all witnesses."
Shisui's face darkened.
"You're serious?! There are dozens of them—even with your strength, this is suicide."
"Then I'll take that risk." Kakashi's voice was resolute. "Shun, fall back. The jutsu I'm about to use is powerful—far too unstable. I can't guarantee your safety if you're too close."
"But—"
"That's an order."
"…Understood."
Shisui obeyed. Though he wasn't sure what Kakashi had planned, he trusted him implicitly. If even Kakashi considered it dangerous, then the technique must be formidable. And Kakashi was right—the stakes were too high.
If any of the Mist ninja escaped, Konoha could be cornered into a political catastrophe. They'd either be forced to surrender Kakashi and Shisui as scapegoats, or face all-out war.
Neither outcome was acceptable.
As Shisui retreated, his eyes flicked over the battlefield. Could Kakashi really wipe out so many enemies alone?
Worry crept in.
Kakashi exhaled slowly, then looked up into the sky. Thunderclouds churned above—two dark, heavy cumulonimbus clouds rubbing together in the high atmosphere.
"Perfect," he muttered.
With the fire dissipating, the Hidden Mist shinobi finally caught a clear look at Kakashi.
Silver hair. Black trench coat. A blade crackling faintly with residual lightning.
"Huh? He's alone?"
"Must've been abandoned by his comrade. Pathetic!"
The group of Mist-nin chuckled, unaware of the storm about to descend.
Kakashi remained still, unbothered by the taunts. His calm eyes watched them, analyzing. There was a strange thrill inside him—an adrenaline that surpassed even the danger he'd once felt battling Orochimaru.
With a poof, Kakashi sealed away his blade, Chidori's light fading into the sealing tag on his wrist. His hands moved rapidly.
Lightning surged from his right hand.
"Chidori!"
The high-pitched birdsong echoed like a war cry through the night.
The Mist shinobi staggered.
"That jutsu—it's Hound Kakashi! The Copy Ninja!"
"That's Chidori! There's no mistake!"
"So it's really him! What's a Konoha shinobi like him doing here?"
"Could they be working with the Kaguya clan?"
"It doesn't matter. He's not leaving here alive!"
While the enemy shouted, Kakashi wasn't listening. His full focus was on the swirling storm above.
Suddenly, a dragon of earth erupted from beneath him—"Doton: Doryūdan!" (Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!)—propelling him into the air. Unorthodox, perhaps, but effective. He had timed its preparation while finishing the Chidori hand seals.
High above the battlefield, Kakashi stood atop the earthen dragon, the Chidori crackling in his right hand.
Every Hidden Mist ninja present felt a cold shiver crawl down their spine.
"What the hell is he planning?!"
"I don't know—but it's bad. Real bad."
Tension filled the battlefield.
The sound of Chidori suddenly cut off—and in its place, a bolt of lightning shot skyward, connecting with the black thunderclouds.
The storm answered.
"W-what is that?"
No one could answer. Eyes widened. Mouths hung open.
Kakashi's lone figure, high above them, seemed almost divine.
Shisui, watching from a distance, felt his breath catch.
"What… what kind of jutsu is that…?!"
Thunder cracked above. Clouds churned violently.
Blue lightning erupted.
And then—it came.
The roar of a divine beast shook the sky. Something massive stirred within the clouds.
"What is that sound?!"
Even Orochimaru, watching from the shadows far off, frowned with fascination.
"Such power… whose jutsu is this?"
In the black clouds, a luminous figure began to form.
Lion's head. Antlers. Tiger's eyes. Moose's body. Dragon's scales. Ox's tail.
A mythical Kirin, made entirely of pure lightning.
Kakashi's Sharingan spun rapidly, measuring the distance, waiting for the precise moment.
The creature roared—a bestial, thunderous howl that echoed across the Hidden Mist.
Kakashi raised his hand.
Then slammed it down.
"Lightning Release: Kirin!"
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