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A black tide of Iron Sand erupted from the ground like a waterfall, surging to meet Gaara's advancing sand wave.
The Third Kazekage's Iron Sand couldn't match Gaara's sheer quantity of sand, but in terms of power, it was more than a fair contest.
The two forces clashed, suspended in a stalemate, before crashing back to the earth, transforming the terrain into an expansive desert covering thousands of square meters.
As expected, Wind Country shinobi are land destroyers…
Only now did the four resurrected Kage see the five figures floating beyond the sandstorm along with the white glow of Dust Release forming in Ōnoki's hands.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
The Second Tsuchikage reacted instantly, unleashing his own cylindrical Dust Release to counter Ōnoki's conical attack. The two techniques didn't follow conventional logic rather than one overpowering the other, they clashed with equal force.
Brilliant white light exploded from the impact, obliterating everything in the vicinity. The ground beneath them didn't shatter or burn it simply ceased to exist.
Dust Release disassembled all matter into atomic fragments. To the naked eye, it looked like complete erasure.
Naruto, watching from afar, couldn't help but wonder:
Does this technique even make sense?
Sure, Dust Release breaks things down to the atomic level, but shouldn't all those atoms still exist in that space? Shouldn't there be chemical reactions, or some new compounds forming?
Science needs to have a word with Orochimaru about this one.
Gaara set the Mizukage, Raikage, and Killer Bee down while he and Ōnoki remained hovering just above the battlefield.
The five living Kage stared down their predecessors, their emotions mixed.
"Still alive, huh, Ōnoki? Though you look even older than before," the Second Tsuchikage commented. He didn't necessarily want to fight, at least not before hearing about Iwagakure's current state.
"Your Dust Release hasn't lost any power, Lord Mū," Ōnoki responded, keeping a hand behind his back as if steadying himself. Please don't give out on me now, old spine…
"Ay, Bee, you've both matured. But let's see if your skills have kept up," the Third Raikage said, sizing up his son. He had died holding the line for his men, leaving his son to inherit his mantle.
The Fourth Raikage's body sparked with blue lightning. "Come and find out, you troublesome old bastard!"
Killer Bee posed dramatically, holding seven swords in seemingly impossible positions under his arms, between his knees, even gripping one with his neck.
"Time for a showdown—hachi-bai-yarou!"
"Fine by me! Show me how much you've grown!" the Third Raikage roared, his body bursting into a cloak of lightning as he lunged into battle.
Unlike the other Kage, who were engaging in conversation, the Raikages had no patience for words they were men of action.
Meanwhile, the others took advantage of the lack of direct combat to exchange a few words, at least long enough to understand the situation.
"A Five Great Shinobi Nations alliance? And stronger than the last one at that?" The First Mizukage mused. "That aside, what the hell did that fool Gengetsu do to put Kirigakure in such a state? A child leading the village?"
There was a strange warmth in the old man's eyes a paternal kindness that Yagura absolutely did not appreciate.
His face darkened. "I am not a child!"
Enough talking.
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
The First Mizukage countered with the same technique, and the two torrents of water crashed together in a violent struggle.
In seconds, they had created an artificial lake. The others wisely distanced themselves from the area, allowing the two to settle things on the water.
"Hah! Impressive, young man!" the First Mizukage said with a grin. He had little interest in fighting, after all; he had learned enough about the current world to be satisfied. If he could, he would have gladly let himself be defeated and returned to the afterlife.
Unfortunately, his body moved on its own.
"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu."
This wasn't just to obscure vision it was a classic Mist Village assassination technique. Even if the two Mizukage had similar experiences, their side had Mū, a skilled sensor. If the mist stayed up, they would have the advantage.
"Wind Style: Gale Surge!"
Yagura wasn't about to let that happen. A powerful gust scattered the mist before it could take full effect.
Weapon in hand, Yagura charged forward.
Edo Tensei made its victims virtually immortal but what would happen if he used his Coral Palm? If his opponent became immobilized by coral growth, would he be stuck in place permanently?
Only one way to find out.
Meanwhile, on Gaara's battlefield…
Compared to the other confrontations, Gaara and the Third Kazekage's exchange was relatively calm.
Gaara had taken the time to explain the current state of Sunagakure, even going so far as to describe Sasori's fate.
The Third Kazekage sighed, somewhat regretful. "Sasori… What a waste of talent. To think he'd turn his blade against his own village."
After a pause, he studied Gaara more closely. "You're Rasa's son, aren't you? Taking the Kazekage title at your age… quite remarkable."
Gaara's expression remained neutral. "A lot has happened."
The Third Kazekage chuckled. "It seems so. It hasn't been easy for you, has it?"
Gaara responded evenly. "I have a duty to lead my comrades and bring Sunagakure toward a better future. The burdens left behind by my predecessors, whether helpful or troublesome, are mine to bear. I accepted that when I became Kazekage."
The Third Kazekage smiled at that.
"A fine successor indeed. Knowing that… I'm at peace."
Then his eyes sharpened.
"Now, come. Prove yourself, Fifth Kazekage!"
"That goes without saying!"
Gaara swung his arm, sending another tidal wave of sand forward.
The Third Kazekage answered in kind, his Iron Sand surging like a living storm.
The golden sand and black iron clashed midair, shifting between fluid and solid forms sometimes waves, sometimes writhing dragons, sometimes torrents of bullets or towering shields.
The battlefield was a storm of metal and dust.
And at any moment, either shinobi could be swallowed whole.
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