Zi Zi Zi!!
Chakra spun at an extreme speed, compressed violently.
Within that compressed chakra, the light grew brighter and brighter—
and its volume swelled larger and larger.
At that moment, the Third Hokage stared blankly at Yuichi.
His wrinkled face was filled with shock.
"Rasengan… why do you… know Rasengan?"
This was the jutsu developed by the Fourth Hokage. In Konoha, only Jiraiya could still use this technique.
But now, before everyone's eyes, it wasn't Jiraiya who had made the Rasengan reappear.
It was Yuichi.
The Third Hokage's words made the three ANBU finally understand.
This ninjutsu that required no hand seals—was called Rasengan.
Kurenai handed the unconscious civilian to a fellow shinobi and leapt onto the rooftop.
She fixed her gaze on Yuichi's back.
"Rasengan… what a good name. Then let it be called Rasengan. I was still wondering what to name this technique. Lord Third Hokage, the name you chose is perfect."
Yuichi smiled.
Seeing that smile, Hiruzen felt even more uneasy.
Because from Yuichi's words, it was clear—he hadn't learned the Rasengan from anyone.
He had… developed it himself!
Could that really be possible?
It was. The "Hard Vortex Water Blade" Yuichi used earlier also relied on rotation.
Perhaps while creating that technique, he had stumbled upon Rasengan as well.
Only… if that were true, then Yuichi's talent was far greater than Hiruzen had imagined.
The only other one present who truly understood what Rasengan was—Orochimaru—narrowed his eyes slightly.
He knew full well that Jiraiya would never have taught this brat the technique.
Which meant… Yuichi really had created it on his own.
"Oh!! Incredible! Boy, your ninjutsu is fascinating! To be able to cast it without seals… that's invaluable in battle!"
The First Hokage's voice was full of admiration.
But the Second Hokage, standing beside him, shook his head faintly, "Boy, this ninjutsu is powerful, yes… but it won't break this barrier."
Everyone's eyes turned to the Rasengan swelling rapidly in Yuichi's hand.
No—it was no longer just Rasengan. This was the Big Ball Rasengan.
Before the astonishment of its sheer scale had faded, the words of the two ancestral Hokage struck even harder.
Hashirama's gentle tone was one thing. But Tobirama's blunt judgment cut deep.
"Tobirama, don't discourage the youth so harshly." Hashirama looked warmly at Yuichi. "Don't worry. Even if you can't break into the barrier to aid Sarutobi, he will manage. After all, he is the Hokage of Konoha."
The Konoha shinobi, drawn by the massive Rasengan, finally noticed the figures of the First and Second Hokage.
"Is that… the First Hokage and Second Hokage!?"
"It really looks like them! But… weren't they long dead? Why are they here again?"
"What on earth is happening up there!?"
Several Konoha jōnin passed the fainted civilians to the chūnin, then leapt onto the rooftops as well.
But just as they landed, Yuichi spoke:
"The destructive power of this technique… isn't enough to break the barrier."
Hearing Yuichi admit it himself, the three ANBU's masked faces twisted into mocking smiles.
So in the end, it was useless after all.
"Good. It's best that you understand that yourself," Tobirama said curtly.
Hashirama, however, nodded with satisfaction. "A shinobi should never grow arrogant. Especially not one with such talent. In the future, you'll grow into one of Konoha's great trees."
Yuichi smiled faintly. "But… my attack will still drain their chakra."
At those words, the four Sound shinobi maintaining the Four Purple Flame Formation broke into a cold sweat.
Even Orochimaru's eyes narrowed sharply.
The Third Hokage, too, was surprised. He hadn't expected Yuichi to think so far ahead.
Hashirama and Tobirama froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"You're right," Tobirama admitted, "but they are four working together… while you are alone. Do you truly believe your chakra surpasses theirs combined?"
"Not necessarily…"
BOOM!!!
Before his words finished, the Big Ball Rasengan slammed into the barrier.
A violent shockwave erupted, sweeping across the rooftops.
Waves of rippling energy spread across the glowing purple wall.
Yuichi's eyes locked on the clash. The Rasengan's blue light collided with the Four Purple Flames, sparks of chakra bursting violently.
The barrier's defense was indeed formidable. Even a kage-level attack wouldn't shatter it instantly—it would take time.
But Yuichi had already proven one thing: every strike against it drained the chakra of the four maintaining it.
"Then let's see… whose chakra runs out first!"
The Rasengan in Yuichi's right hand began to fade, chakra nearly exhausted.
But suddenly—he raised his left hand.
Whoosh!!
Almost instantly, another Big Ball Rasengan spun into existence.
BOOM!!!
It slammed into the barrier again.
The four Sound ninja paled, their faces drenched in sweat.
Continuous, high-intensity chakra drain was far worse than gradual depletion.
After all, a shinobi could normally replenish chakra slowly while casting.
But Yuichi… was spending massive amounts in an instant, again and again.
Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged a glance.
In each other's eyes, they saw the same unspoken thought.
BOOM!!!
Before the second Rasengan even dissipated, Yuichi conjured another in his right hand.
Two Big Ball Rasengan now hammered the barrier at once.
Orochimaru's expression darkened. He hadn't expected a genin from Konoha to have such sharp insight—that he could realize the Four Purple Flames couldn't last under sustained assault.
Clicking his tongue, Orochimaru drew two talismans, fastening them onto kunai before embedding them into the reanimated bodies of Hashirama and Tobirama.
"It seems… I'll have to end this quickly. There's no more time to let you play with your teacher…"