Minato swiftly leaped from atop Gamabunta's head, splitting into two separate attack routes alongside the massive toad, both charging directly toward Rasa.
Rasa, however, was not about to let either of them get close. Gamabunta was one thing, but if Minato managed to approach, it would be outright suicidal for him. He immediately formed hand seals, his voice echoing through the battlefield.
"Magnet Release: Gold Sand Drizzle!"
As soon as the words left his lips, a dense barrage of golden senbon materialized behind him, blotting out the sky like a sandstorm of death. The sheer number and speed of the attack made it impossible to evade.
"I'll handle this!" Minato declared, his hands moving in a blur as he formed his own jutsu.
"Wind Release: Pressure Black!"
A powerful hurricane erupted from Minato's mouth, engulfing the incoming golden sand senbon and sweeping them away in a spiraling storm. The gusts did not dissipate, instead surging forward toward the Shukaku Avatar, aiming to disrupt Rasa's position.
Rasa's sharp gaze remained steady. If it was Wind Release, he wasn't concerned—he was a master of it himself.
"Wind Release: Pressure Black!"
With the same jutsu, Rasa countered Minato's attack. The two violent gusts collided mid-air, creating an impenetrable barrier of swirling winds between them. The force was so immense that even Gamabunta struggled to remain stable, his massive frame being pushed backward.
"You live up to your title as Kazekage. That's some impressive Wind Release," Gamabunta admitted, his voice gruff.
After a moment of contemplation, he made a decision. "Minato, I'm not much help against a monster like this. Someone like Gamaken would be better suited for this fight."
Minato nodded in agreement. "I understand. Thank you for your help, Gamabunta-sama."
"No need for thanks. I'll take my leave now."
Minato would have preferred for Gamabunta to stay and assist in fending off the other Sand ninja, but summoning beasts into direct combat between human shinobi was not aligned with Mount Myoboku's principles. Gamabunta had only joined the battle as a special favor to Minato, but engaging in a prolonged war against ordinary Sand ninja would violate those unspoken rules.
As Gamabunta vanished in a cloud of smoke, Minato wasted no time forming another hand seal.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a puff of white mist, a large red toad wielding a black iron trident appeared before him. A massive iron shield rested on its back.
"Gamaken-sama! I need your assistance. Just hold off that creature for as long as possible."
Gamaken surveyed the battlefield, immediately recognizing the situation. His deep voice rumbled, "Understood. I may be clumsy, but I will do my best."
Rasa could only watch in silent envy. This was the strength of Konoha—their vast arsenal of powerful summons that could be called upon at any moment. Meanwhile, he had only himself to rely on.
Gamaken wasted no time. With a powerful leap, he spun his trident in the air and brought it down upon the Shukaku Avatar. Rasa reacted instantly, manipulating Shukaku's massive sand arms to intercept the strike. However, the moment their forces clashed, he felt an overwhelming pressure—Gamaken's raw strength was far superior to Gamabunta's. The impact reverberated through the Shukaku Avatar's entire form, sending tremors through its sandy body.
"What terrifying power…" Rasa muttered under his breath. If this continued, even the Shukaku Avatar wouldn't hold up against repeated blows like that.
Meanwhile, Minato had found his opening. Seizing the moment, he darted forward, closing the distance between himself and Rasa.
Rasa's instincts screamed at him. He immediately formed hand seals again. "Magnet Release: Gold Sand Drizzle!"
"I'll take care of it!" Gamaken interjected, raising his massive shield to absorb the golden barrage.
Minato pressed forward, closing the gap between him and the Kazekage.
Rasa scowled. "Troublesome pest." He slammed his hands together, causing two massive golden sand arms to erupt from the ground, aiming to ensnare Gamaken's legs.
"I've got this!" Minato's voice rang out.
"Wind Release: Slicing Gale!"
A series of razor-sharp wind blades flew through the air, severing the sand arms before they could take hold. The remains crumbled into fine particles, cascading from the sky like dust.
By this point, Gamaken had already reached the Shukaku Avatar's head. However, instead of striking with his bare hands, he raised his massive shield and let gravity do the work. With all his weight behind it, he slammed the shield down toward the Avatar's head.
Rasa cursed. He had no choice but to abandon the Shukaku Avatar, leaping backward to avoid the devastating blow.
"This is my chance!"
Minato's mind calculated everything instantly. First, he was already dangerously close to Rasa. Even if his Flying Thunder God Kunai was deflected, he could still use it to bridge the final gap. Once in close quarters, his mastery of Flying Thunder God and Rasengan would make Rasa nothing more than a helpless target.
Second, Rasa was airborne. Without solid footing, he had limited maneuverability. While this wasn't much of a disadvantage for a Kage-level ninja, even the smallest misstep could be fatal at this level of combat.
Without hesitation, Minato flung his kunai.
As expected, Rasa manipulated his gold sand, forming an iron whip to knock the kunai away. But before it could be fully deflected, Minato activated the Flying Thunder God technique.
In an instant, he vanished and reappeared, seizing the kunai midair. Before Rasa's whip could strike him, he slashed the kunai along the golden weapon and flung it toward Rasa once again.
The kunai zipped through the air, and Minato disappeared once more.
In a heartbeat, Minato materialized right before Rasa, a shining Rasengan in his palm.
Rasa's eyes narrowed. He clapped his hands together. "Gold Sand World Method!"
Golden sand exploded outward, forming a protective cocoon of razor-sharp spikes to shield him from Minato's assault.
However, just before impact, Minato vanished.
A split second later, a sharp sound sliced through the air.
"Got you."
Minato's voice came from behind Rasa. The Rasengan's brilliant light engulfed the Kazekage's figure.
And yet, Minato's expression suddenly darkened.
"Something's wrong."
The moment his Rasengan struck, the sensation was off—it didn't feel like hitting a solid body. Instead, it was as if he had struck sand.
His instincts screamed at him to retreat.
But Rasa didn't counterattack.
Instead, a voice rang out from behind him—Gamaken's voice, filled with alarm.
"What is this?!"
Minato turned sharply.
As he had attacked Rasa, the remnants of the Shukaku Avatar had suddenly shifted. The sand that had been scattered moments ago now surged toward Gamaken, engulfing him completely.
Gamaken struggled, swinging his trident and kicking out, but something was wrong. His strength was fading, his connection to Mount Myoboku severing.
"What… is this?" Gamaken grunted.
Glowing violet markings spread across his body, transferring from the Shukaku Avatar onto him.
Minato's eyes widened.
"A sealing technique?! This is bad!"
He moved to intervene, but it was too late.
In an instant, Gamaken was sealed within a massive pyramid of golden sand, only his voice echoing faintly.
"Forgive me… Minato…!"
Atop the pyramid, Rasa stood unscathed.
Minato turned back. The 'Rasa' he had struck had crumbled into nothing but golden sand.
"A sand clone? He prepared this in advance?"
Minato clenched his fists. This wasn't just a simple battle anymore.
And then, the realization hit him.
"Could it be… that Suna never intended to fight Konoha to the death?"