Kazuki didn't spare them another glance as he walked forward.
No one dared to stop him.
"Kazuki! What are you doing?!"
Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado rushed forward to block his path.
If Kazuki forced his way in—
There would be consequences.
"Move."
The single word felt like a blade.
At that moment, Danzo, Koharu, and Homura all felt it—
The pressure rolling off Kazuki's body.
It made their legs weak.
It made them want to kneel.
Then they saw his eyes.
Red markings.
Golden pupils.
"Sage Mode…?!" Homura's voice trembled.
Before anyone could react—
Two figures landed behind them in flashes of gold and silver.
Minato Namikaze.
Sakumo Hatake.
They had just arrived.
The moment they saw the Nine-Tails and Two-Tails battling inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, their expressions hardened.
Koharu, seeing Minato and Sakumo, regained some confidence.
She straightened and shouted,
"Kazuki, are you trying to rebel—"
Before she could finish—
SMACK.
Kazuki backhanded her across the face.
The crack echoed across the training ground.
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Kazuki had just slapped Koharu Utatane.
One of Konoha's senior advisors.
Minato's pupils shrank.
Sakumo's eyes narrowed sharply.
The chakra radiating from Kazuki was overwhelming—like a mountain pressing down on them.
Even Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, felt the difference.
What had happened to Kazuki in just a few days?
Koharu hit the ground hard.
Her mind went blank.
Her mouth filled with blood.
Her front teeth shattered.
She touched her lips—
Blood.
Broken teeth.
"You… you dare?!"
Her voice trembled with fury and humiliation.
"Minato! Sakumo! Arrest this traitor!"
Minato instinctively stepped forward—
Then remembered the coffin he had just delivered.
The Third Mizukage.
Killed by Kazuki.
He glanced at Sakumo instead.
Better to let a senior handle this.
Sakumo frowned.
"What's going on? Who's inside the barrier?"
Koharu screamed,
"We asked Uzumaki Mito to reinforce the Two-Tails' seal!"
"He barged in and caused this chaos!"
"He assaulted a village elder!"
"He's a sinner of Konoha!"
Her composure was gone.
She wanted Kazuki dead.
Right now.
But Kazuki ignored her completely.
He stepped toward the Four Violet Flames Formation.
Inside—
Kushina, Uzumaki Mito, and the Two-Tails all noticed him.
Matatabi sneered.
"Heh. Another human? Will you finally drop this barrier?"
Before it could finish—
Uzumaki Mito, nearly fully transformed, slammed it away again.
Kushina saw Kazuki.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Kazuki!"
She ran toward the barrier—
"Don't touch it!" Mito shouted desperately. "The barrier burns anything that makes contact!"
Kushina froze.
"Kazuki, don't touch it!"
Too late.
He placed his hand on the barrier.
Sizzle.
The purple flames erupted.
His fingers burned instantly.
The fire began crawling up his hand.
"Kazuki!"
Kushina's voice broke.
Outside, Koharu laughed bitterly through blood.
"The Four Violet Flames Formation can't be broken from the outside without Kage-level power!"
"The Nine-Tails and Two-Tails running wild—this is your fault!"
"You're Konoha's sinner!"
Kazuki turned his head slowly.
His golden Sage eyes locked onto her.
"Today… I'll kill you."
The killing intent was no longer hidden.
It was absolute.