"It blocked my attack head-on!"
With a roar, he effortlessly deflected Tobirama's formidable ninjutsu and swiftly breached the barrier, emerging unscathed.
In terms of speed, strength, or defense, the figure before him was on par with Ai when he unleashed his full power, coupled with the six Treasured Tools of Sage of Six Paths...
Gazing at the beastly figure before him, Tobirama couldn't help but breathe rapidly, as if dredging up unpleasant memories.
"Heh... is that all? What kind of battles haven't I seen before?!"
Tobirama sneered, evading the swift strikes of Ginkaku once more. Countless water currents coalesced around him, forming water constructs, and then clashed head-on with Ginkaku.
"Roar!"
Once again, Ginkaku let out a thunderous roar, his chakra materializing into a protective barrier of wind. His six tails swished, effortlessly deflecting all attacks.
"In this state, he seems flawless... If only I had Big Brother Hashirama's Wood Release!"
Dodging Ginkaku's assaults once more, Tobirama couldn't help but muse.
"Last time, when Genjiro unleashed his full power, he briefly subdued two opponents, catching them off guard.
But they didn't push themselves as hard back then, and Genjiro's weakness with the Wood Release was too fatal, allowing them to retaliate..."
Instead of engaging Ginkaku in close combat, Tobirama chose to summon more water to replenish his expended chakra, sustaining the fight.
"Although he's formidable in this state, the strain is evident. It won't last long. Even with the legendary Sage of Six Path bloodline, I just need to outlast him!"
Tobirama refrained from resorting to the Flying Thunder God technique for now. He had an equally potent move - Water Domain.
With minimal chakra consumption, Tobirama could teleport instantaneously as long as there was water present. It was a technique far superior to Minato's Flying Thunder God, which relied on Kunai coordinates.
Tobirama's water manipulation had reached its zenith, garnering even the acknowledgment of the Mizukage.
"Roar! Curse you, insect!"
Perhaps fueled by the influence of the Nine-Tails' chakra or driven by pain, Ginkaku was clearly enraged. Its six tails thrashed wildly like claws, even transforming into sharp appendages aimed at tearing Tobirama apart.
Tobirama's intuition proved correct: the power not inherently his own exacted a hefty toll. Each time Naruto's frenzy subsided, he lay gravely wounded and unconscious.
Maintaining composure in this state was a Herculean task for Ginkaku. His being endured relentless assault from the Nine-Tailed Chakra.
The unbridled use of such power would rival the devastation wrought by formidable foes and even some tailed beasts. Ai Leiying's seat of power teetered on the brink of upheaval.
"As long as I teleport swiftly enough, your strikes shall never reach me!"
Tobirama seemed to have devised a strategy to counter Ginkaku's assaults, deftly evading its onslaught while relentlessly chipping away with ninjutsu.
"This method proves effective!"
Tobirama resembled a skiff navigating tempestuous waters, never capsizing.
Yet, in an instant, a scarlet beam streaked towards Tobirama like a harbinger of doom. Caught off guard after just teleporting, Tobirama's reaction was delayed!
"Whoops!"
"Ahh—!"
The scarlet beam transformed into a comet, cleaving through the water's surface as if parting the Red Sea, crashing headlong into the startled Tobirama!
"Boom————!!"
The scarlet energy erupted, its formidable shockwave mingling with monstrous waves, laying waste to the forest in its wake. A colossal mushroom cloud ascended slowly, prompting Cloud Ninja, who witnessed the spectacle from afar, to pale in astonishment and dread!
"This... emanates from the chakra of the two titans!"
"Dreadful!"
Cloud Ninja, a retainer of Ginkaku and Kinkaku, approached from a distance, his gaze fixed on the awe-inspiring shockwave.
"Ahem... Kinkaku, I underestimated you; you indeed harness the Nine-Tails' power!"
Kinkaku, now in a six-tailed form, emitted wisps of verdant smoke from his mouth.
Though silent earlier, he had covertly gathered energy, unleashing the Tailed Beast's ultimate technique: Tailed Beast Ball!
Tobirama materialized back on the water's surface. The devastating blow moments ago had vaporized the surrounding waters, leaving behind a colossal crater. Gradually, it filled with water from the surroundings, noticeably lowering the water level.
The might of the mighty could instantaneously incinerate mountains and boil seas!
Tobirama's countenance paled, his left arm dripping blood. Despite evading, the Tailed Beast Ball, akin to a map cannon, wielded astonishing power.
With a beast-like posture, Kinkaku executed a move that caught Takeshi off guard. This very technique had swiftly defeated the Raikage in the past.
"Quack quack! Swift indeed, in hiding."
Kinkaku's voice grew hoarse, a testament to the strain this move placed upon him.
His tail fanned out like a peacock's, gathering numerous clusters of chakra, resembling a barrage of fiery cannons bombarding Tobirama relentlessly.
"Roar--!"
Ginkaku also bellowed, indicating their unsustainable state; Tobirama needed to be dispatched quickly.
Facing the dual assault from a distance, the wounded Tobirama unleashed a single attack.
However, if Tobirama remained standing when the tailed beasts could no longer sustain themselves, they would meet their demise instead.
"Ha...!"
The scarlet figures, resembling starving wolves fighting for survival, pursued Tobirama. The intense flames vaporized water, while powerful shockwaves pulverized the carrier of the Flying Thunder God, making Tobirama's evasion more arduous.
"Am I supposed to fear you?"
Tobirama, incensed, disregarded chakra depletion in this life-or-death moment, launching a potent ninjutsu.
"Water Release: Double Dragon Bite!"
"Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade!"
Waves clashed, flames raged, and the world seemed consumed by the collision of red and blue.
At this juncture, all strategies and techniques appeared feeble and futile. The three-way battle had escalated to its zenith. Whoever faltered first would meet their end.
.....
"This fluctuation... it's the power of the Nine Tails. It must be those two with Ginkaku and Kinkaku. I never imagined they could reach us from such a distance."
Observing the scarlet sky in the distance, Koharu turned around abruptly, her expression filled with horror.
"What sort of adversary is our sensei facing?"
Several disciples were horrified. They hadn't witnessed Madara Uchiha and Hashirama's decisive battle in the Valley of the End firsthand, their memories hazy.
Tobirama and Ginkaku and Kinkaku's explosive power seemed to redefine their understanding of the ninja world.
"Sensei will prevail!"
Hiruzen clenched his fists, his voice low. Unbeknownst to them, the Cloud Ninja's shadow had vanished, their target likely the sensei from the outset.
Perhaps they were safe for now, but after these tumultuous days, could their sensei escape unscathed?
"This is true strength. I'm still far from reaching it. When will I ascend to such heights?"
Danzo's expression was grave as he clenched his fists, his thoughts dwelling on another matter.
"If our sensei doesn't return, will Konoha fall to me and Hiruzen, as he mentioned?"