Dozens of figures appeared in quick succession, each masked and radiating an oppressive killing intent. It was clear—they were all ANBU, and more specifically, Root Division operatives.
The flames from the explosion still roared, crackling in the night.
"Did we get him?"
"Don't be careless. Remember who we're dealing with."
Every eye stayed locked on the burning blast zone until a voice, dripping with disdain, echoed from the far side.
"Heh... heh heh. As expected of that old fox Danzō. Even now, he's scheming to catch me off guard."
"Too bad. Tricks like these won't be enough to trap me."
Kazuyama Gekkō stood calmly atop the lake's surface. Over the years, he'd formed a habit of setting a Flying Thunder God marker whenever he arrived somewhere new—just in case. That little precaution had saved him yet again today.
"Striking at his own subordinates? That bastard Danzō really doesn't hold back."
"But he's giving himself far too much credit."
Scanning the battlefield, Kazuyama Gekkō counted thirty Root shinobi. Including the three who had gone into the lab earlier, Danzō had deployed more than forty people just to deal with him.
"Squad One, form up with me!"
"Squads Two through Seven, attack!"
"Squads Eight and Nine, identify all of his techniques!"
"Squad Ten... move!"
At the captain's barked command, the forty Root operatives sprang into action, each moving into their designated role. Only the three of Squad Ten rushed straight toward the lake where Kazuyama stood.
Four figures leapt forward first—the captain and his Squad One comrades.
"Four Purple Flames Formation!"
Four violet walls of fire surged skyward, sealing off an area with the well-known Fūinjutsu.
Kazuyama nearly laughed aloud. Did they really think they could hold him with this? But then he realized—the barrier wasn't aimed at him at all. They'd sealed off the base entrance, clearly intending to protect it from him.
"Ninja Art: Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Lightning Release: Ground Walk!"
The rest unleashed their attacks in a barrage. Secret techniques and ninjutsu crisscrossed through the air.
Two squads even began collecting the Flying Thunder God kunai Kazuyama had scattered around the perimeter.
Shaking his head, Kazuyama muttered,
"Your intel is still lacking."
"I'll admit, your tactics aren't entirely unreasonable."
"But they're still useless."
"I can still fly, after all."
With a casual flick of his wrist, countless crystals scattered outward, each inscribed with his Flying Thunder God seal.
Calm under the storm of attacks, Kazuyama had no intention of tanking the blows head-on. Unlike Danzō, he had no desire to slaughter his own comrades.
No—his plan was to capture all thirty of them and deliver them to Fugaku, who could break them down and rebuild them.
"Damn it! That Flying Thunder God Jutsu again!"
"Flitting around like a fly! Water Release: Thousand Rain Senbon!"
"Don't stop! Keep pressing him! Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
The curses rang out as attacks rained down.
Credit where it was due—the Root operatives were skilled. Their ninjutsu carried power, and the relentless interplay of fire and water kept Kazuyama constantly dodging with Flying Thunder God.
Outnumbered, even he couldn't simply overpower the tide of jutsu.
And then there were the feints.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu..."
Members of the Yamanaka Clan were among them, their secret technique far more dangerous than the elemental barrages. Kazuyama could avoid fire and water, but if he got caught by that... in this situation, it could be fatal.
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
The ground shifted just as Kazuyama touched down. He sprang away, only to see massive hands thrusting out of the soil beneath him. The ambush made his brow furrow.
"Damn it—Morata!"
Before he could curse further, another presence appeared beside him. By the time he reacted, it was nearly too late—a figure cloaked in a strange purplish-black aura was already upon him.
"The hell—?! A little purple man?!"
"What the hell is this?!"
Kazuyama reflexively warped away, only once he'd put distance between them did he realize the truth.
Not some purple monster—it was Aburame Shihei of the Aburame Clan.
"Shihei, I've got a good relationship with Shibi. Are you sure you want to come at me?"
Kazuyama retreated further, landing atop a distant tree. From his perch, he looked down at the "little purple man" with something like pity.
Shihei said nothing. His gaze was as cold and unyielding as his silence.
Kazuyama sighed.
"So that's how it is. No helping it, then."
"I'll just have to drag you all back."
"Crystal Release... One-Sided World!"
Naming jutsu had never been his strong suit, but that hardly dulled their power.
Clapping his hands together, his chakra shifted form.
The unique aura of Crystal Release poured out wildly.
Everything around him began to crystallize, the transformation spreading steadily outward.
"It's his Crystal Release! Don't touch it!"
"Use ninjutsu—stop it from spreading!"
The captain's command was hardly necessary; everyone had already started reacting. The slow advance of the crystalline tide was enough to terrify even hardened operatives.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
One Root shinobi abandoned all thought of conserving chakra, unleashing a massive water technique. Torrents surged from the lake, which had not yet succumbed to crystal.
The others immediately fell back, retreating from the advancing crystals.
Meanwhile, the Yamanaka ninja continued to pester him with Mind Transfer attempts.
"Tch, you're such a nuisance."
"Fire Release!"
"No—!"
"Defend!"
The moment Kazuyama's hands blurred into seals, Root operatives felt an oppressive pressure descend on them.
A heartbeat later, they scrambled into defense.
Water Formation Wall. Earth-Style Wall. Any defensive jutsu they knew, they threw out in desperation.
"Great Fire Annihilation!"
Flames burst forth like an erupting volcano, a blazing tide that swept so wide it engulfed even the Four Purple Flames Formation.
Fwoosh!
Eight Water Formation Walls rose up at once, but even together they weren't enough. The blaze tore through, steam hissing white into the air.
Only the combined effort of the Earth-Style Walls barely managed to withstand Kazuyama's inferno.