A thick, red tail extended from Roshi's back, swaying in the air, and his entire body steamed.
After a moment, Roshi's body was completely enveloped in high-temperature lava, exuding an imposing aura.
"Whoa, whoa, it's not that serious, is it?"
Ren looked at Roshi in front of him, a difficult expression on his face, but a hint of cunning and joy in his eyes.
He hadn't expected that the Jinchuriki sent by Iwagakure would be the Four-Tails; it couldn't have been more to Ren's liking.
He knew that his Water Release was a natural counter to Lava Release, and even if Roshi was a Kage-level expert, under the suppression, Ren had a good chance of fighting him to a draw.
Of course, if he entered Tailed Beast Mode, that would be another matter entirely.
Then he turned to Shibi Aburame beside him and whispered, "Shibi-senpai, I'll leave Hiroki to you.
I'll take on this guy."
"He's the Four-Tails Jinchuriki from Iwagakure, do you think you can handle him?"
Shibi Aburame asked with some doubt.
Although Ren's achievements on the Sand Battlefield had already earned their recognition, Shibi Aburame still had concerns about a Jinchuriki, a being whose strength rivalled that of a Kage-level expert.
"Don't worry, don't forget what kind of Ninja I am.
Besides, it's not a death match; we'll retreat after a bit more commotion."
"Okay, I understand."
Shibi Aburame nodded, then turned and controlled his Kikai Bugs to swarm towards Hiroki.
Roshi took a step forward, intending to block the swarm of Kikai Bugs, but Ren, who had flashed close, blocked his path.
"Uncle, your opponent is me.
It's perfect, just us two."
Ren toyed with a Kunai, smiling as he looked at Roshi, as if this was just an ordinary sparring match.
"Brat, I don't have time to waste with you here.
Get out of the way."
Roshi's face was frosty.
He stomped his feet, then charged forward, his fists covered in thick magma, striking fiercely.
Ren didn't choose to meet the attack head-on, quickly retreating while forming hand signs.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
In the blink of an eye, an area of over ten meters was covered in a thick mist, and the figures of both men disappeared within it.
"Annoying brat."
Roshi stopped, quickly formed hand signs, then took a deep breath, beginning a brief period of power accumulation.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A powerful gust of wind blew out, dispelling Ren's Hidden Mist Jutsu in moments.
Just as Roshi was looking around for Ren's whereabouts, a sharp cry came from above.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Roshi's pupils constricted as he looked up, seeing a massive sphere of water falling like a waterfall from the sky.
Unable to react in time, he could only form hand signs again.
"Lava Release: Granite!"
Blocks of granite covered Roshi's body, greatly increasing his defence.
As Roshi was submerged by the waterfall, the lava armour on his body continuously made contact with the water, producing incessant sizzling sounds.
After a few breaths, the water dissipated.
The small pits on the ground caused by the battle were filled with water, and Roshi stood in place, lowering his arms while breathing heavily.
Water Release was a natural counter to Lava Release, and even with his current strength, taking on such a high-level Water Release was somewhat strenuous.
Based on the current situation, he might not be able to defeat Ren quickly.
Thinking of this, Roshi secretly gnashed his teeth.
Unless he entered his Partial Tailed Beast transformation state, but that state caused too much environmental destruction and could easily affect nearby allies.
"Damn it!"
While Roshi was secretly annoyed, Ren had no intention of stopping his attack.
After returning to the ground, his palms moved rapidly.
"Water Release: Surging Water Strike!"
As Ren spoke, all the water nearby that had remained from the previous battle was controlled by his Chakra, condensing and spreading across dozens of meters of the ground.
At a glance, it looked like a sky-blue glass pane lying on the ground.
"Lava Release: Scorching Stream Rock Technique!"
Roshi also mobilised the Four-Tails Chakra within his body, and several basketball-sized lava fireballs appeared.
After pausing in the air for a moment, they all struck towards Ren.
"Taste this move..."
Ren said softly, then took two steps to gain momentum and leapt, landing on the water's surface and beginning to slide rapidly, moving at a speed that even surpassed the Instantaneous Body Technique, making it difficult for Roshi to track him.
Flashing across the water, Ren dodged each incoming lava fireball, finally rushing to Roshi's immediate vicinity.
The Kunai in his right hand gleamed coldly, and in the blink of an eye, it was enveloped in a layer of Water Release Chakra, making it even sharper.
"Not good..."
By the time Roshi reacted, it was too late.
A figure flashed past in an instant, slid a short distance forward, then turned back to its original position.
"Drip!"
Blood dripped to the ground, blooming into crimson flowers.
Roshi, clutching his waist, knelt on the ground, blood flowing from between his fingers, staining his clothes nearby.
"Roshi-nii!"
Seeing Roshi injured, Shou quickly broke free from Shibi Aburame, left the battle, and rushed to Roshi's side to help him up.
Shibi Aburame also recalled his Kikai Bugs and walked over to Ren.
"Good boy, that Water Release of yours, it's almost on par with Konoha's Second Hokage."
Roshi managed to stand up, looking at Ren.
Although still a bit unsteady, he had at least managed to stand firm.
"Lava Release, what a powerful ability, I almost didn't make it."
Ren wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, speaking with some lingering fear.
His clothes were burnt and tattered, and he had seven or eight burn injuries on his body.
The most severe one was on his ankle, where the burnt pant leg revealed a wound that looked charred, emitting faint wisps of heat.
"Roshi-nii, how could you..."
Hiroki looked at the injured Roshi in front of him with some shock.
Although both sides looked similarly injured, Roshi clearly appeared to be more severely wounded.
Shou's mind was a bit chaotic now.
What was going on?
Were Konoha's brats this strong now?
Could just anyone who came out suppress a Jinchuriki?!
"Are you alright?"
Shibi Aburame looked at Ren, who was covered in scalds, asking while stepping forward to shield Ren behind him.
"I'm fine, Shi..."
"Prepare to retreat, that's enough!"
Before Ren could finish speaking, a voice suddenly came from beside them, invigorating both of them.
They both turned to look.
Minato Namikaze had flashed in front of them, and even though he had been surrounded by many Jonin, he hadn't sustained much damage, only some dust on his clothes, making him look a bit dishevelled.
In the distance, a group of Iwagakure Ninja were yelling and rushing after them.
Gamabunta and GamaHiro had already disappeared; it seemed they had already returned.
"Let's retreat, the objective of the night raid has been achieved."
Minato Namikaze said, with a clear look of fatigue on his face.
It seemed that even for him, holding off a group of Jonin was by no means easy.
"Alright. x2"
The two responded and quickly stood on either side of Minato, while the latter sensed the nearest Flying Thunder God marker.
In the blink of an eye, the three of them vanished from the spot.
Only the pursuing Iwagakure Ninja were left looking at each other in bewilderment.
Where did they go??