The Konoha troops reacted instantly to the storm of kunai. Several Earth Release users moved forward, slamming their hands to the ground as tall stone walls rose up to shield the formation.
Orochimaru blurred past the defenses, leaping over the walls with serpentine speed. His hands flicked through hand seals.
"Earth Release, Rock Pillar Spears!"
Jagged stone spears erupted from the ground, forcing several Sunagakure puppeteers out of their hiding spots underground. Simultaneous attacks struck the front, center, and rear lines of the convoy, including the section guarded by the White Fang.
"Fire Release, Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Hayashi launched himself into the air, sending dozens of spinning fireballs streaking toward the enemy. Each one burst on impact, scattering flames among the Sunagakure shinobi.
Minato and Nawaki followed close behind, sprinting forward to join the counterattack. The rest of the Konoha ninjas, recovering from the ambush shock, roared and charged straight at the enemy.
For a brief moment, everything seemed suspended in time. Two forces lunged toward one another, the air trembling with chakra and killing intent.
Hayashi clashed with a Sunagakure jonin, kunai sparks showering between them. As they exchanged rapid blows, another enemy leapt from behind, aiming a kunai at Hayashi's back.
With a glance, Hayashi cast a genjutsu. The attacker froze instantly. Taking advantage of the opening, Hayashi pivoted and kicked the jonin captain backward.
The captain crossed his arms to block the strike, skidding several steps across the ground. Before he recovered, Hayashi leapt toward the immobilized enemy and drew his kunai across the man's neck.
The jonin captain exhaled, almost amused.
"Such strength at your age. Are you the one they call the Lightning Flash of Konoha?"
Hayashi blinked. Lightning Flash? He felt a strange satisfaction rising inside him.
"In Sunagakure," the captain continued, "we were warned. If we encounter the Lightning Flash, we are allowed to abandon the mission without consequences."
"Seriously?" Hayashi said, genuinely surprised. That kind of privilege sounded amazing. If only he had known earlier.
For a moment, he almost looked proud.
But then the jonin smirked.
"Of course, we must also spare no effort to kill the Lightning Flash."
"...Right, well," Hayashi said, pointing toward Nawaki who was fighting nearby, "that kid is the Lightning Flash."
The captain froze.
A snap echoed sharply in the air. The captain's pupils dulled as Hayashi trapped him in genjutsu.
"Fire Release, Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball erupted from Hayashi's mouth, roaring toward the stunned jonin.
Before Hayashi could confirm the result, another Sunagakure ninja dove from above with a sword raised in both hands. Hayashi blocked with his kunai, hooked the blade, spun his body, and kicked the attacker away.
No time to breathe. More than ten kunai rained from the sky.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Six serpents burst from Hayashi's sleeves, spiraling into a shield. The kunai bounced harmlessly off their scales before the snakes withdrew.
The instant Hayashi landed, he channeled chakra through his feet and dashed toward Nawaki in a streak of movement.
Sunagakure shinobi really didn't hesitate. Hayashi cursed silently.
A cloud of gravel suddenly erupted.
"Earth Release, Exploding Stone!"
Dozens of fist-sized stones shot toward Nawaki like bullets.
Nawaki's opponent noticed the incoming attack and instinctively retreated, leaving Nawaki exposed. At the same moment, two kunai flew toward him, diverting his attention. He didn't see the stones coming.
"Water Release, Water Formation Wall!"
A shimmering film of water spread behind Nawaki, blocking every stone cleanly.
Hayashi flashed past him in the same instant, slicing Nawaki's opponent cleanly in half with one precise strike.
"I'll handle this one," Hayashi said.
"Alright. I can't relax even a little. Thanks."
Nawaki didn't notice Hayashi's heavy breathing or the strain in his expression. He was simply grateful for the protection, touched that Hayashi was watching out for him even amid such chaos.
As Nawaki moved to support another section of the battlefield, Hayashi scanned the surroundings with a deep frown.
"We need to finish them quickly. If this drags on, the Genin teams will start collapsing."
The intensity of the ambush was already overwhelming. The situation was turning dangerous for Konoha's younger shinobi.