Kaito recognized the new arrival instantly—it was Han, the Steam Ninja and Jinchūriki of the Five-Tails. He chuckled inwardly.

There weren't many of them, but the chakra radiating from their bodies was unmistakably powerful. Every single one was Jonin-level, or higher.

Thirty to forty elite shinobi—undoubtedly the core military strength of Iwagakure.

Each of them stood silently, their gazes fixed on Kaito with a mix of caution and awe.

Kaito narrowed his eyes. "So this is the best Iwagakure has to offer? Even if you throw everything at me, do you really think you can keep me here?"

"Arrogant brat!" Ōnoki growled, his voice sharp and unwavering. "I told you—you're not leaving today!"

He had already recovered from his wounds thanks to the nearby medical-nin. Despite his age, he floated steadily in the air, fully prepared for another round.

Kaito let out a quiet sigh. "All I wanted was to ask for directions... and somehow it turned into this mess." Then his tone hardened. "Fine. If it's a fight you want, let's see if Iwagakure can actually stop me."

Ōnoki turned to the elite force behind him. "Withdraw, all of you. Same for the forces stationed nearby. Leave this to us. This battle is beyond your level."

He floated a bit higher, his voice composed but commanding.

Iwagakure had already lost tens of thousands of shinobi. The few elites and the garrison nearby—they were all the village had left. He couldn't afford to lose them too.

"Yes, Tsuchikage-sama!" the shinobi shouted in unison.

After a few quick leaps, they vanished into the distance, leaving only Kaito, Ōnoki, Han, and Roshi.

"Why didn't you strike earlier?" Roshi asked sharply once they were gone.

"I've killed enough ants," Kaito replied coldly. "They're not worth my attention anymore. You three are, though slightly bigger ants."

Han stepped forward, his tone grim. "Then let's see if your arrogance matches your strength."

As soon as he finished speaking, Han charged forward. Steam rose from his red armor, hissing into the air.

The pressure around him intensified. His speed doubled in an instant, turning him into a red blur that shot straight at Kaito.

His black fist, infused with blistering heat, hurtled toward Kaito's chest with terrifying momentum.

Kaito didn't flinch. He calmly raised a hand and caught the punch mid-strike, his grip tightening around Han's fist.

Bang!

A deep, resonant thud echoed through the air. Kaito showed no reaction to the extreme heat from Han's armor. Instead, his fingers clenched slightly.

Han scowled. Steam surged from his body and condensed into a massive white tail behind him, lashing toward Kaito's head with immense force and searing heat.

Kaito glanced upward, then clenched his other fist and swung upward in one fluid motion.

A tremendous burst of energy exploded from the impact.

Boom!

The shockwave struck Han's steam tail dead-on, shattering it midair with brutal force.

Han's eyes widened in disbelief.

What?!

That was pure taijutsu—no elemental chakra added. Yet it obliterated his Steam Tail like it was nothing.

"Grrngh—!" Han gritted his teeth as pain suddenly shot through his hand. Kaito was squeezing harder, bone threatening to snap.

"Earth Style: Rock Arm!"

Ōnoki intervened at that moment. The ground rumbled as a massive stone arm erupted from the earth, looming over Kaito and slamming down toward him.

Kaito's brows furrowed. He released Han's fist and instantly punched Han in the gut with his free hand.

Han gasped as the air was knocked out of him. A crushing force tore through his core and launched him backward like a ragdoll. Dirt and rock flew up in his wake as he carved a deep trench across the battlefield.

Without wasting a second, Kaito spun around. White lightning surged across his body, and in an instant, a massive sword of pure lightning crackled into existence in his hand.

He swung upward at the giant stone arm descending from above.

Flash!

A blinding arc of light split the sky.

The massive rock arm was cleaved cleanly in two, crashing to the ground in pieces.

Kaito blurred out of the strike zone just as the debris began to fall, landing safely a short distance away.

From the outside, everything had happened in a blink—but each move was sharp, calculated, and devastating.

In a blink of an eye, another figure appeared in front of him, radiating intense heat. Flames and molten chakra surged around him like a living inferno.

Roshi.

He charged forward, transformed into a walking magma titan, and hurled a molten punch at Kaito.

Crackle!

White lightning flared from Kaito's body as he activated Lightning Chakra Mode. Sparks danced across his skin as he met Roshi's blow head-on.

Their fists collided.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion rocked the earth.

Cracks spidered outward from the impact zone, and a hurricane-like shockwave erupted in all directions.

Roshi reeled in surprise. He blocked it...?!

His body, empowered by the Four-Tails' chakra, should've easily melted any opponent's flesh on contact. Yet the boy before him stood firm, unharmed.

What kind of chakra control is this...?

Before he could recover, pain shot up his arm. Kaito's punch carried a force like an erupting volcano—raw, unrelenting, and endless.

"What... What is this strength?!" Roshi shouted in disbelief as his body was blasted backward in a stream of fire, following the same fate as Han.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

Ōnoki hovered mid-air, forming a hand seal. A glowing white cube spun into existence between his palms, crackling with deadly power.

He hurled it down like a cannonball, the sheer force tearing through the sky with a shrieking whistle.

Kaito calmly raised his index finger.

The chakra within his body surged violently.

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Thanks for the Powerstones....send more ⁠(⁠￣⁠︶⁠￣⁠)⁠