Not on his own turf, Nawaki unleashed his ultimate moves without hesitation. Two large-scale Water Releases had already wiped out a portion of the Kirigakure Anbu.
The trio led by Shishi watched in awe. It was the first time they had seen Nawaki fight so fiercely, and they could only imagine the sheer amount of Chakra he must have expended in their previous battles.
"Attack!"
Seeing that their attacks were ineffective, the Kirigakure Anbu grit their teeth and pushed forward. Retreat was not an option, nor could they dare to defy the orders of the Third Mizukage.
"Kill them all," Minato commanded, throwing countless specially-made kunai that darted across the battlefield.
Minato's combination of Kenjutsu and Rasengan claimed life after life. The Flying Thunder God Technique amplified his attack power, turning him into a force of nature. Though still young and limited by his age and Chakra reserves, Minato showed the beginnings of the Yellow Flash.
"He's too fast! I can't react!"
"Be careful, stay away from those kunai!"
As more Anbu fell to Minato, they began to realize his pattern. Minato always appeared near the kunai he threw. By keeping their distance from the kunai, they believed they could avoid being taken down.
"You underestimate my brother," Konan said with a smirk as she observed the Anbu avoiding the kunai.
"Explosion: Paper Senbon."
Konan spread her paper wings, launching a barrage of paper Senbon at the Anbu. Each Senbon detonated upon impact, leaving the ground riddled with craters.
Bang!
Caught off guard, the Anbu who thought they had evaded the attacks suffered heavy losses as the Senbon exploded.
Several Anbu managed to close the distance and grinned viciously as they aimed their long knives at Konan's vital points.
"This won't kill me," Konan said calmly, her body dispersing into confetti-like paper, rendering the physical attacks useless.
"Damn it, this is tough," one Anbu muttered, frustrated by her strange ability. Forced to regroup, they attempted to keep up their attack.
Meanwhile, Nagato's mastery of five types of Ninjutsu overwhelmed the Anbu near him. His techniques, when combined, created devastating effects. He resembled a human fortress, mowing down enemies with ease and preventing anyone from getting close. Many Anbu had already perished under his relentless Ninjutsu.
Yahiko, while skilled, was visibly less powerful. His Water Release was several levels below Nawaki's, and his combat abilities were average in comparison. Alternating between long-range Water Release and melee combat with his sword, he managed to hold his own against multiple Anbu.
For his age, Yahiko's performance was remarkable, but in the heat of the battle, the gap between him and the others was becoming more apparent. His strength, while impressive, was beginning to lag behind.
The trio led by Shishi, well-practiced in teamwork, methodically eliminated the Anbu caught in the Shadow Binding Technique. Their efficiency in dealing with enemies was remarkable.
At that moment, Nawaki landed from midair, drew his long sword, and charged into the thick of the Anbu. The group's coordination was seamless, their unspoken understanding evident in every move. They moved with lightning speed, cutting through their foes like a storm.
The Kirigakure Anbu were overwhelmed, suffering heavy losses. Those who weren't killed outright were retreating in disarray.
"So strong…"
"Are all Konoha's ninjas this powerful?"
"No wonder it's the number one village in the ninja world," murmured members of the Yuki Clan, watching in awe. They didn't need to lift a finger—Minato and his team were annihilating the Anbu effortlessly.
The battle was entirely one-sided. With only eight of them, Minato's group was slaughtering dozens of Anbu, an unbelievable sight for the Yuki Clan.
"The Yuki Clan won't be abandoned by fate," the Clan Head murmured as he rejoined his people, relief and joy evident after their narrow escape.
"Clan Head, do you think we should join Konoha?" one clan member asked, his eyes filled with hope.
"Well, this is our last value," the Clan Head replied with a heavy tone.
He understood perfectly that without the Yuki Clan's Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, Konoha would not have sent anyone to rescue them. Judging by the overwhelming strength of Minato and Nawaki, the Yuki Clan had no room to resist if they were forced to comply.
He could only hope that Konoha's Hokage would provide them with proper resettlement. The Clan Head, pragmatic and self-aware, knew his position clearly.
"Let's not talk about it. Just let them arrange it," the Clan Head said, cutting off the discussion as he saw the battle nearing its conclusion.
"Are you sure you want to make an enemy of Kirigakure? Aren't you afraid of being blamed by the Mizukage?"
The last remaining Anbu, wounded and unable to stand, looked up at the approaching Minato with fear in his eyes. The arrogance he'd displayed during the Yuki Clan's capture was long gone.
"Heh, you really are ridiculous," Minato replied coldly. Fear of the Mizukage had never been a consideration—after all, if Konoha had been afraid, Sensei's wife wouldn't have approved this mission in the first place.
With that, Minato drove his blade firmly into the Anbu's neck, ending him.
Not a single Kirigakure Anbu survived the encounter. This outcome, ironically, was partly thanks to the Mizukage's oppressive rule. Under different circumstances, at least one Anbu might have tried to escape.
"Let's call it a day," Nawaki said as he flicked the blood from his sword before sliding it casually back into its sheath.
"Let's go meet them," Minato added, sheathing his own blade without bothering to clean the battlefield. There was no time to waste—they needed to escort the Yuki Clan back to Konoha as soon as possible.
Together, they turned and walked toward the Yuki Clan.
"Thank you, my lords," the Clan Head said, lowering himself into a deep bow. It was only natural, as the two of them had saved the lives of the entire clan.
"You're welcome. This is our mission," Minato said kindly, helping the Clan Head back to his feet.
"Now, we'll be taking you back to Konoha. Any problems?" Nawaki's voice was firm, his demeanor a stark contrast to Minato's gentleness.
"No problem, no problem," the Clan Head replied quickly, nodding eagerly.
"That's good," Nawaki said, his gaze sweeping over the group. He frowned as he noticed the pale faces and bandaged bodies among the Yuki Clan members. Many were visibly weak, suffering from both old and new injuries.
"If we don't get medical attention for some of you soon, you won't make it, let alone keep up with the group," he remarked, his tone serious.
"Yes, but they're not serious. I promise you they won't slow down the pace of the march. Please don't leave them behind," the Clan Head pleaded, thinking Nawaki intended to abandon the injured.
"You're thinking too much. That's not what he meant," Minato quickly interjected to ease the tension. "We have Medical-nin."
He waved at Nagato.
"Coming," Nagato responded, jogging over.
"Go and heal them," Minato instructed, pointing at the injured members of the Yuki Clan.
"Yes, Senior Brother," Nagato nodded and walked over to the injured.
"Him?" The Clan Head was surprised. Medical-nin required a high level of skill, and Nagato looked so young. Considering the remarkable abilities he had already displayed, it was hard to imagine he could also perform Medical Ninjutsu.
"Don't underestimate him. He's my junior," Minato said proudly.
Under Tsunade's guidance, Nagato had become proficient in Medical Ninjutsu. Backed by his substantial Chakra reserves, he quickly healed all the injured Yuki Clan members.
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
The Yuki Clan members expressed their gratitude one after another.
"You're welcome," Nagato replied politely before returning to Minato's side, as if it were a trivial task.
"It's about time. We should set off," Minato said, glancing at the Clan Head for confirmation.
"Exactly," the Clan Head agreed, grateful and with no reason to protest.
"Let's go," Minato commanded.
With the group now much larger, they began their descent from the mountain. Under the cover of night, they moved swiftly as one.