"Rock Fist Technique."
Ōnoki, cornered by Tsunade, had no choice but to fight. His right fist was instantly encased in rock as he prepared to retaliate. Knowing the devastating power of her strange strength, he reinforced his attack by combining it with the Added-Weight Rock Technique.
"Ahhh!" Tsunade yelled as their fists collided.
An invisible shockwave rippled out from the point of impact. Both fighters were sent hurtling backward, their formidable strength evenly matched. Tumbling through the air, neither could regain their balance. Tsunade hit the ground with enough force to make it tremble, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. For an ordinary person, such a blow would have been instantly fatal.
Ōnoki, however, had prepared for his fall. He transformed the ground beneath him into a swamp, cushioning the impact and escaping with only minor injuries.
"I underestimated you," Tsunade stood, wiping her mouth as if the injury was nothing. Her resilience was unsettling, like an indestructible cockroach.
"Slug Princess, your regenerative abilities are truly enviable," Ōnoki remarked, hovering cautiously in the air. Yet his focus faltered—he couldn't afford to think about Rōshi's predicament anymore. All he could do was silently hope for his comrade's survival.
Tsunade's strength left him rattled. Her rapid growth was alarming. The last time he had heard of her, back in the Land of Rain, she and her three comrades had barely survived a battle with Hanzō of the Salamander. Now, she was holding her own against him and even managed to wound him.
"Again!"
Tsunade's wings flared behind her as she launched another charge at Ōnoki. Her erratic movements were calculated, ensuring he couldn't deploy his Dust Release. She was relentless, refusing to let him get a chance to aid Rōshi.
Her plan was clear. If Kawakaze succeeded in eliminating Rōshi, Ōnoki would have no hope of escape.
"Not bad for defense."
Kawakaze pressed his foot against Rōshi's head, but the attack yielded no significant results. Most of the impact had been absorbed by the lava wall, and Rōshi's Lava Release armor had barely managed to protect him. Even so, the cost was steep—Rōshi spat out two more teeth.
Dodging Rōshi's retaliatory kick with ease, Kawakaze stepped back calmly, brushing the flames off his leg. The grotesque burns left behind were already beginning to heal, barely qualifying as an injury for him.
Rōshi rose to his feet, fully aware of the disparity in power between them. It was no wonder Ōnoki had been bested by this man. Kawakaze's strength was overwhelming, and even if Rōshi could fully transform into a Tailed Beast—a feat currently beyond him—he wasn't confident he could win.
He cast a quick glance at Ōnoki, locked in battle with Tsunade, before a thought struck him.
"You are very strong," he growled, his voice low and deliberate. "But I will not give up just like that."
With chakra surging in his hands, Rōshi slammed them into the ground.
"Lava Release: Flower and Fruit Mountain!"
The ground where his palms touched transformed instantly into a bubbling pool of black and red magma, spreading rapidly. Beneath Kawakaze's feet, the terrain shifted, turning into molten, red-gold lava. The searing magma churned and surged, threatening to engulf him.
A sudden eruption of magma shot up from the ground, forcing Kawakaze to pause. His mind, oddly detached, entertained a fleeting thought: If I could fly, would this technique fail to touch me?
Rōshi, watching Kawakaze closely, felt a flicker of triumph. The man seemed frozen in shock, awestruck by the magnitude of his attack. Without hesitation, Rōshi turned and sprinted toward Ōnoki, his confidence swelling. He didn't glance back, certain of Kawakaze's demise.
Moments later, a deafening explosion erupted behind him. The smile on Rōshi's face widened.
No matter how strong your recovery is, can you rise again after being burned to ashes?
The black-and-red lava surged violently, transforming into a sea of molten destruction. It erupted into the sky like a volcanic explosion, creating a fiery display that resembled the most spectacular fireworks.
"Quickly, get out of the way!"
The technique's blast radius was massive. Ninjas within range screamed in alarm, scattering desperately in every direction. Those who failed to escape in time were instantly engulfed by molten drops of lava, their bodies incinerated before they could even cry out.
Rōshi paid no mind to distinguishing friend from foe. His only focus was reuniting with Ōnoki as soon as possible.
"You think you can escape?"
Kawakaze's voice was suddenly in Rōshi's ear—not loud, but chilling, like a thunderclap. When did he get here? Rōshi thought, alarmed. He rolled to the side instinctively, hoping to evade the attack.
"Thunder-Style Crushing Fist."
The attempt was futile. Marked by the Flying Thunder God Technique, Kawakaze reappeared beside him in an instant, delivering a direct, unfaltering punch.
Rōshi was sent hurtling through the air, slamming into an Iwa Ninja, who met a grim end under the impact. The force barely diminished as Rōshi tumbled several meters before crashing to a stop.
All around him were Konoha Ninjas. The braver ones edged closer, blades drawn, though trepidation lingered in their movements. The sight of Rōshi encased in lava filled them with unease. Yet the thought of killing a Jinchūriki was an achievement too grand to ignore.
Rōshi's body was wracked with pain, his entire frame numb from the effects of lightning-attribute chakra ravaging his internal organs. His consciousness blurred as the destruction spread. Inside him, Son Gokū roared in agony, thrashing wildly.
"You may not be able to break his defenses. I'll handle it," Kawakaze said, before he appeared before the Konoha Ninjas, startling them.
"Yes, Lord Kawakaze," they responded, retreating without question. They knew he wasn't here to steal credit—his legendary combat record made such accolades meaningless to him.
"Die with your Four Tails," Kawakaze sneered, lifting his foot for the finishing blow.
Let's see how you defend yourself now.
"Now I'll take over his body." Even in his unconscious state, Rōshi managed to grab hold of Kawakaze's foot.
His arm, mangled beneath Kawakaze's weight, was grotesquely deformed, yet the strength within it was undeniable. Kawakaze felt an intense burning sensation from the contact, forcing him to instinctively lean down and deliver a punch.
Rōshi's body began to shift again, swelling as changes rapidly overtook him. With a powerful motion, Kawakaze was flung away.
In an instant, Rōshi had transformed into a massive red ape.
"I want you dead!" Son Gokū growled, pounding his chest furiously as his four tails lashed the air behind him.
"So it's you who's come out," Kawakaze remarked lightly before his tone darkened. "So what?"
His words dripped with killing intent. Kawakaze had already fought and defeated numerous Tailed Beasts. This was nothing new.
Son Gokū roared, charging at Kawakaze, molten lava cascading around him. Every step left behind massive, eroded craters in the ground.
"Bigger is better?" Kawakaze mocked, bending to pick up a random tachi sword discarded on the battlefield. The blade was stained with dried blood.
"Rōtetsu's craftsmanship is the better, after all," Kawakaze murmured as lightning enveloped the blade.
"Kenjutsu: Flaming Thunder God!"
The chakra infusion overwhelmed the sword, its structure beginning to crack under the strain. Kawakaze's body erupted in electric sparks as his form blurred, morphing into a flaming Thunder Dragon that lunged straight for Son Gokū.
Boom!
Son Gokū's powerful fist struck the ground, missing Kawakaze entirely. The force shattered the earth, causing torrents of lava to erupt and forcing nearby ninjas to scatter. Observing the battle from a safe distance, they knew better than to interfere with a clash of such magnitude.
"Oww~"
Son Gokū let out a pained howl. A deep, charred wound now marred his left side, faint traces of lightning crackling along its edges. Grimacing, he clutched his waist with one massive hand, half-kneeling, while the other hand slammed into the ground. The impact transformed the terrain before him into a molten pit, bubbling with lava.
Gurgle, gurgle...
In the blink of an eye, Kawakaze closed the distance once more, appearing behind Son Gokū. The tachi in his hand had already disintegrated into powder.