"I understands."
Jiraiya's voice was calm, but the weight in his tone was unmistakable. His eyes remained fixed on Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, his expression resolute, though his heart undoubtedly ached.
Minato stood silently beside his teacher, glancing at him briefly. He knew Jiraiya better than most and understood that beneath his composed exterior, a storm of emotions brewed. Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato weren't just new enemies—they were Jiraiya's students, his responsibility, and in many ways, his family.
Yet, circumstances had forced them all to take opposing sides.
Minato's gaze shifted to the three young leaders. They too wore masks of determination, though the weight of their choice was evident in the tension in their posture. Like Jiraiya, they were caught between personal ties and the duty to protect their people.
As the conversation ended, the atmosphere grew heavy with anticipation. On the opposite side, Hanzo and the other leaders watched intently, their expressions darkening.
"Are these three kids here to die?" Hanzo thought to himself, his brow furrowing.
Rōshi, standing nearby, crossed his arms, his expression betraying his unease. He could sense Nagato's chakra—a vast, imposing energy that seemed far too powerful for someone so young. The others, including Rasa, were less perceptive, dismissing Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato as mere children who had wandered into a battle they couldn't hope to survive.
Hanzo's thoughts were more pragmatic. While he acknowledged Akatsuki's growing influence in the Land of Rain, he doubted that its young leaders could contend with the likes of Jiraiya, Minato, and Uchiha Yoruki.
But Minato, standing among his allies, thought otherwise.
"Don't underestimate the enemy," Minato said softly, his words directed at Uchiha Yoruki.
Yoruki turned to Minato, surprised by the warning. His trust in Minato's judgment outweighed his doubts, and he gave a curt nod.
In an instant, Yoruki moved.
Swish!
The air seemed to ripple as Yoruki surged forward, his Mangekyō Sharingan blazing with intensity. He began forming seals, preparing to unleash his attack.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Before Yoruki could complete his jutsu, a surge of water erupted from the mist. Nagato had stepped forward, his movements almost imperceptibly quick, and countered with a powerful water dragon that roared through the air.
Yoruki's eyes narrowed as he adjusted his stance. The sudden attack had caught him off guard—not only because of its speed but also because of its precision. Nagato hadn't just reacted to his movements; he had anticipated them.
"So fast!" Yoruki thought, his heart pounding.
The water dragon struck with immense force, its serpentine form weaving through the battlefield with unnatural grace. Even without a large body of water nearby, Nagato's jutsu carried a power that rivaled techniques performed under optimal conditions.
Yoruki quickly countered.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
He formed seals in rapid succession, exhaling a torrent of flames that coalesced into a fiery dragon. The two elemental forces collided with a deafening roar, creating a cloud of steam that enveloped the battlefield.
Minato watched the exchange intently, his expression a mix of admiration and caution. "Nagato's no ordinary shinobi," he murmured, his gaze shifting between the young man and Yoruki.
The mist that rose from the clash obscured the field, but Yoruki's Sharingan cut through the haze effortlessly.
"Lightning Style: Ground lightning!"
Nagato's voice echoed through the fog, followed by a crackling wave of electricity that surged across the ground. The arcs of lightning illuminated the battlefield, forcing Yoruki to leap back as the attack threatened to overwhelm him.
"What a powerful lightning jutsu," Yoruki muttered, impressed despite himself. He steadied his stance, gripping the hilt of his sword as he prepared his next move.
With a swift motion, Yoruki drove his blade into the ground.
"Fire Style: Flame Formation!"
Flames erupted from the blade, spreading in a circular pattern around Yoruki. The fire created a barrier that clashed violently with the encroaching lightning, the two forces exploding in a shower of sparks and embers.
Nagato remained calm amidst the chaos. His black-robed figure moved like a shadow, blending seamlessly into the mist.
Yoruki narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan searching for any sign of movement.
"I found you!"
A silhouette emerged from the haze, and Yoruki wasted no time, rushing toward it with his sword raised. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun, the flame-like patterns within its scarlet depths flaring with power.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
Nagato's voice rang out again, and the ground beneath Yoruki's feet trembled. Four massive walls of earth rose around him, forming an imposing barrier that momentarily cut off his path.
"Tch, this kid's no joke," Yoruki muttered.
Nagato's mastery of multiple chakra natures was becoming increasingly evident. Water, lightning, earth—each technique was executed with a level of skill that suggested years of experience rather than the youthfulness Nagato's appearance betrayed.
"Let's see how your defenses hold up," Yoruki growled, his left eye glowing ominously.
"Rekka no Ken!"
A fiery red light burst from his eye, manifesting as an ethereal blade that descended upon the earthen walls with devastating force. The barrier crumbled under the onslaught, shards of rock scattering in all directions.
But Nagato was already prepared.
"Wind Style: Wind Slash!"
Dozens of razor-sharp wind blades sliced through the mist, targeting Yoruki with surgical precision. The wind howled as the blades closed in, leaving Yoruki with little room to maneuver.
"This kid's chakra control is insane," Yoruki thought, his respect for Nagato growing despite their clash.
Yoruki countered with a swift series of strikes from his flaming blade.
"Uchiha Style: Explosion Flame Dance!"
The fiery arcs collided with the wind blades, creating a dazzling display of light and heat. The battlefield erupted in chaos, the mist thickening as elemental forces clashed violently.
In the midst of the pandemonium, Nagato moved again. His black-robed figure blurred as he closed the distance between himself and Yoruki.
"Where is he?!" Yoruki's Sharingan scanned the area, but for the first time, he couldn't predict his opponent's movements.
Nagato's speed was overwhelming. By the time Yoruki sensed his presence, Nagato was already upon him.
Under the black robe hood that covered his face, a pair of strange eyes suddenly looked over, and at this moment, the swirling patterns in Uchiha Yoruki's pupils suddenly solidified!
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