Roshi and Han, who had rescued Ōnoki, spoke mockingly — but their gazes stayed locked on Aoyama Ryuyun.
"Tch."
Having spent so much time with them, Ōnoki already knew what kind of men Roshi and Han were. Their jabs didn't anger him anymore.
"You two aren't that much younger than me," he muttered, scowling. "Others call me an old man, and you two do too — as if you're in your prime."
"Be careful. That one's not simple," Ōnoki warned sharply, floating behind the two Jinchūriki.
"Don't worry," Roshi replied, tone dismissive but eyes sharp. "You don't need to tell us. We already know."
After all, anyone who could beat the Third Tsuchikage this soundly was no ordinary ninja.
"I'll go first."
Han's voice was steady. Steam hissed from the valves in his armor as he charged.
"Boil Release: Unrivaled Strength!"
The Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchūriki both possessed unique kekkei genkai derived from their beasts — Roshi with Lava Release and Han with Boil Release, superheated steam that amplified physical power to monstrous levels.
Combined with Han's formidable physique, his taijutsu was unparalleled among Iwa's shinobi.
White vapor enveloped him as he surged toward Aoyama Ryuyun like a cannonball.
"Heh."
With a disdainful grin, Ryuyun sheathed both Withered Wood and Sakura Ju. Instead, he clenched his fists, coating them in Armament Haki before meeting Han head-on.
Their fists collided — the shockwave split the air.
"Nani—?!"
Han's eyes widened. He'd assumed Ryuyun's choice to discard his blades meant arrogance — but in that instant, he realized he'd gravely misjudged him.
"Lava Release: Scorching Stream Rock Technique!"
As their fists locked, Roshi's body ignited with molten chakra. He launched several massive spheres of lava, each the size of a wagon wheel, hurling them toward Ryuyun.
"Zanpa!"
Ryuyun disengaged and swung one of his blades in a smooth, vicious arc. The lava orbs split cleanly down the middle, molten fragments sizzling across the ground.
But before the smoke could clear —
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Ōnoki's cube of white energy expanded, engulfing Ryuyun entirely. Space itself shimmered — and then disintegrated into nothingness.
"Ha! The old man's still the same," Roshi muttered, crossing his arms. "Only knows how to sneak-attack."
Han gave a short laugh. "Figures. Guess that's one way to end it."
Ōnoki, hovering nearby, glared at them. "What do you two know? Victory is all that matters. A shinobi uses every means available!"
The two Jinchūriki exchanged glances — they disagreed with his methods, but they also knew he wasn't entirely wrong. Ōnoki was doing it for Iwagakure's survival, even if his approach was ruthless.
Down below, the Konoha shinobi were momentarily stunned.
"Lord Ryuyun!" someone shouted, but the only one who remained composed was Yūhi Kurenai, who had been with Ryuyun since the start.
Her crimson eyes softened. Don't worry… Brother Ryuyun will be fine. He always is.
Ōnoki's expression hardened. His gaze turned toward the remaining Konoha forces.
"Now, it's your turn," he said grimly. "Once you're gone, Iwagakure will have this war in its grasp."
A slow, wicked smile crept across his face —
—until a voice came from behind him.
"So confident, are we?"
Ōnoki froze. That voice—
"Nani?!"
He turned, trembling, only to see Aoyama Ryuyun, completely unharmed, hovering casually in midair behind him.
Before Ōnoki could form a single hand seal—
Bang! Bang!
Two wet cracks echoed.
Ōnoki's scream tore through the battlefield as he collapsed, both legs shattered.
"Ahhh!"
Pain surged through him like molten fire.
"Boil Release: Unrivaled Strength!"
"Lava Release: Granite Armor!"
Roshi and Han reacted instantly. Though their attacks appeared aimed at Ryuyun, they veered aside at the last second, moving in perfect sync to retrieve the fallen Tsuchikage.
"Father!" Kitsuchi's panicked voice rang out as he rushed to his crippled parent.
Ōnoki, face contorted in agony, glared up at Ryuyun with burning hatred.
"You bastard!"
Losing his legs wouldn't stop him from fighting, but the humiliation would haunt him forever.
Ryuyun tilted his head slightly, mocking amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Well, well, well. Why so angry?" he asked coolly. "I heard your relations with the Hidden Cloud aren't exactly friendly. I took an arm from their Third Raikage, and now your legs. Doesn't that make things… balanced?"
"...You—!"
Ōnoki's jaw clenched so tightly he couldn't even form a curse.
Ryuyun gave a lazy shrug.
"Besides, you fly, don't you? You don't need those legs anyway. I just helped lighten your load."
"You expect me to thank you then?!"
Ōnoki's fury burned hotter than his pain, and he shouted to his subordinates, veins bulging on his neck.
"Kill him! I don't care what it takes — if Aoyama Ryuyun lives, Iwagakure will never defeat Konoha!"
Roshi and Han exchanged a look. Truth be told, they no longer wanted to continue. The man before them didn't feel human anymore. But with their Tsuchikage's order hanging heavy, they sighed and stepped forward.
Ryuyun smiled faintly, his tone almost amused.
"Going all out, are we?"
He straightened, his blades gleaming faintly in the sun.
"Come then, Roshi. Both of you."
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