"Ohhhhh!"
Most of the Konoha shinobi didn't fully grasp how much probing and countering had just taken place in that brief clash of jutsu.But it didn't matter—they understood enough. Konoha's rising prodigy, Mitsuki, had once again unleashed a powerful jutsu, striking fear into the shinobi of Suna.
And how could they be so certain? Because Mitsuki's ninjutsu had never disappointed when it came to spectacle.
Even the Konoha forces stationed kilometers away could clearly see it—that massive orb of dark purple light, rising like a second sun into the sky. Around it floated burning debris, like a belt of meteors, glowing ominously in the violet radiance.
It was a sight both breathtaking and terrifying. That jutsu had already consumed hundreds of Suna shinobi, yet it shone with an eerie beauty.
Minato's sensory perception was exceptionally sharp. He had tracked the entire process—from the moment Mitsuki began molding chakra until the jutsu fully detonated—and he was almost certain. This jutsu, both in difficulty and destructive force, was on par with, if not beyond, the infamous Forbidden Jutsu he had once seen recorded in the Scroll of Seals.
Watching the technique still raging in the distance, Minato finally voiced the question every Konoha ninja nearby wanted answered.
"Mitsuki, does that jutsu have a name yet?"
Minato was already itching with excitement — if Mitsuki said no, he was ready to offer his own naming ideas on the spot.
Unaware of Minato's hidden intentions, Mitsuki simply replied:
"This jutsu is called Blazing Wind Annihilation. I created it by accident, but… I didn't expect it to work this well."
A lie.
Since awakening his Six Eyes, Mitsuki had been tirelessly experimenting with different chakra ratios, seeking to develop kekkei genkai–level elemental fusions.
With the precision of Six Eyes—allowing him to perfectly control chakra and directly perceive its flow—he could safely attempt countless combinations that would cripple or kill any other shinobi who tried.
Through endless, risk-free trial and error, Mitsuki had discovered the precise fusion ratio of Wind and Fire chakra that produced a qualitative transformation.
Thus was born this devastating fire release — a jutsu whose dark-purple fire burned at a temperature far surpassing ordinary Fire Release.To date, Mitsuki hadn't found a single thing it couldn't consume.
And as if that weren't enough, the flames could devour surrounding Wind and Fire chakra, converting them into fuel.
When Minato realized the jutsu already had a name, he was a little disappointed. But then, as always, he pulled out his "signature routine" at camp.
"Amazing! Mitsuki, you truly are the most gifted, most talented shinobi I've ever met!"
Minato—the second greatest Mitsuki fanboy in Konoha. (The first, of course, being Kakashi.)
"Here they come."
"Prepare for battle!"
For shinobi, a few kilometers was nothing. Before long, Konoha and Suna shinobi had already clashed head-on.
"Shhhht! Shhhht!"
A barrage of shuriken whistled through the air toward Mitsuki and Minato.
Mitsuki unsheathed Mistcutter, effortlessly deflecting several shuriken.
"You there, brat from Konoha. That jutsu just now—it was yours, wasn't it?"
Chiyo's voice rang out. Her chakra sensing wasn't bad, and she could still feel the residual traces of that same chakra signature radiating from Mitsuki.
The sight of his white hair made her frown, stirring up unpleasant memories.
"Chiyo of Sunagakure" Mitsuki said calmly, "your village no longer has any chance of victory. Instead of wasting the lives of your shinobi, why not surrender now?"
Minato tried to help with words, hoping to avoid a full-scale battle. He knew Suna still faced the looming threat of Iwagakure.No harm in trying.
But Chiyo only laughed, like a mischievous old neighbor.
"Hahaha! To think the Yellow Flash of Konoha could be so naïve."
Minato sighed.
"So, there's no avoiding it after all…"
"This war has already reached the point of no return, hasn't it?"
Unfurling a scroll, Chiyo summoned seven puppets with a puff of smoke—the remnants of the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets, hastily repaired from battle.They weren't at full strength, but they'd do.
Seeing her resolve, Minato drew a Flying Thunder God kunai, ready for combat.
The seven puppets surged forward, weapons gleaming, clashing violently with Minato.
And so Chiyo's attention shifted away from her original target—Mitsuki.
Mitsuki knew well: in the shinobi world, there was no shame in numbers. While Minato tangled with the puppets, Mitsuki prepared to strike directly at Chiyo herself.
But another figure suddenly stepped into his path.
"You're not going anywhere until you defeat me."
At a glance, Mitsuki recognized her immediately—Sunagakure's hero, Pakura of the Scorch Release.
"I've actually always wanted to ask you something." Mitsuki's voice was calm.
"…What?" Pakura blinked, surprised by the strange question.
"In the Land of Wind… don't you get sunburned, wearing backless clothes like that?"
"… … …"
"Incinerating Flare!"
Four blazing orbs of orange-red light floated from Pakura's palms.
Her unique kekkei genkai—Scorch Release—like Mitsuki's Fire Release, was also born of Wind and Fire chakra fused together. The difference lay in its form and function.
Though small in appearance, each orb contained terrifying power.Even the slightest contact was enough to instantly evaporate every drop of moisture from a full-grown shinobi's body.
Now, under Pakura's precise control, the four orbs arced through the air in deadly trajectories, converging on Mitsuki from all directions.
Blade in his right hand, his left hand flashing through seals—Mitsuki surged with lightning chakra.
"Flash Step!"
Blue lightning crackled violently over his body, stimulating every cell.
The electricity danced up Mistcutter's blade as Mitsuki vanished in a burst of speed, slipping cleanly past the scorching orbs.
And then, from above, he brought his sword down in a lightning-charged slash.
Ninjutsu may have been Mitsuki's forte, but close-quarters combat was by no means his weakness.