"Lava Release: Rubber Wall!"
There were still elites among the Cloud ninja—among them, Tōtai, assistant to the Raikage, who possessed Lava Release.
A long yellow rubber wall surged forward between the Konoha and Cloud forces, granting the Cloud ninja a window to escape.
Yako's expression darkened the moment he saw Darui trying to flee.
He couldn't afford to die to the same man twice. If Darui ambushed him again in a future battle, he might not get another chance. He couldn't let him go.
He fired off a Water Severing Wave—a high-speed jet of water—but was surprised to find that it couldn't cut through the rubber.
The rubber was too elastic. The water jet only made it ripple and squirm, unable to slice through.
At this level of defense, standard Water Release techniques weren't enough. He needed to upgrade Water Severing Wave going forward.
Still, even if the water failed, he would kill Darui himself.
Leaping over the rubber wall, Yako charged in pursuit.
Seeing Yako's urgency, Hatake Sakumo didn't hesitate. He led his forces forward as well.
At that moment, no one among the Konoha shinobi burned with more resolve than Yako.
The distance was far. Yako fired Water Severing Wave repeatedly, forcing Tōtai to stop again and again to summon his rubber defenses.
At the perfect moment, Yako switched tactics.
Just before the rubber wall descended, he used Earth Release: Earth Long Spear.
With a single seal, a field of stone spears erupted from the ground, propping the rubber wall up before it could fall.
Yako then switched back to Water Severing Wave, launching a jet straight at Tōtai.
Tōtai's heart sank.
He hurriedly tried to form another wall in front of him, but Konoha's ANBU water jutsu was too fast—he wouldn't make it.
Just then, a flash of light struck—the arrival of Darui's Storm Release: Lacerating Plasma Beam.
Tōtai had always thought the jutsu's name was dumb—like some halfwit ancestor had made it up.
But right now, he was nothing but grateful.
That jutsu was a lifesaver.
The combined force of lightning and water produced a laser that collided with Yako's jet mid-air.
Yako felt a tingle at the corner of his mouth as lightning shot back through his water stream. He had to stop the jutsu immediately.
At that moment, a brilliant white sword arc came crashing down on Tōtai.
Yako had stalled just long enough. Hatake Sakumo had arrived.
The White Fang's curved blade arc—several meters long—slashed toward Tōtai.
Tōtai countered with Rubber Orb, a hollow sphere of elastic rubber enveloping his body.
Yako watched with anticipation. That was a defense said to withstand even the Third Raikage's blows. Would it survive the White Fang?
The blade struck, and a deep gash split across the rubber orb.
Through the gap, Yako saw Tōtai's eyes filled with horror.
Even Lava Release couldn't withstand the White Fang?
Still, the blade didn't cut all the way through.
The Rubber Orb revealed its second function—upon taking a powerful hit, it compressed and bounced back, launching Tōtai away.
Pinned against the inner wall, Tōtai barely escaped as the orb rebounded away from the battlefield, just barely intact.
Darui sighed in relief. Tōtai was alive.
But he didn't have time to rejoice.
He was about to witness the perfect coordination between the White Fang and the Copper Fox.
Yako appeared before him in a blink and fired Water Severing Wave once again.
The White Fang didn't stop. With a heavy pivot, he shifted his blade and swung again—the arc that had nearly cleaved Tōtai continued straight toward Darui.
Darui reflexively tried to escape with Lightning Flicker.
But the water jet arced exactly into his escape route.
Yako had predicted his move?
Caught off guard, Darui was forced to change direction mid-step, throwing off his balance.
The water jet swept horizontally—slicing through both his legs at the knees.
No matter how powerful Darui was, he couldn't withstand the combined assault of the White Fang and the Copper Fox.
His legs vanished in a mist of blood.
Darui caught himself with his hands, pushing himself backward.
Yako didn't follow.
He suspected Darui still had a hidden technique. He couldn't afford another death—this time, there'd be no revival.
Sakumo, misunderstanding, thought Yako was leaving the final blow to him.
Victory on the battlefield could shift in an instant.
Sakumo lunged forward, swinging his blade. A ten-meter arc roared toward Darui at point-blank range.
Yako smiled to himself.
You owe me this one, Lord Sakumo. Time for you to take the hit if there is one.
No one could dodge at this range.
But Darui didn't.
He stood firm, hands forming seals. Lightning erupted around him.
His blood became the medium—he released the ultimate version of Storm Release.
The laser took on a crimson hue—he was self-destructing.
Yako's heart pounded.
Thank God I didn't charge in.
However was one second late.
Sakumo landed moments later. Darui was gone.
"Darui!!"
Tōtai screamed in grief, then turned and fled without looking back.
Shinma and the others gave chase.
Sakumo's thoughts lingered on Yako.
What a pure-hearted shinobi. Even in the face of glory, he holds back.
Killing a Cloud commander like Darui would bring immense prestige. And yet the Copper Fox let it go.
This man has the qualities of the ANBU from the Second Hokage's era—focused not on credit but the mission.
If I become Hokage, I'll entrust the ANBU to him without hesitation. His skill and heart are exactly what the ANBU needs.
Yako said, "Lord Sakumo, shall we press the advantage?"
Sakumo nodded, and the two gave chase.
Tōtai and his men leapt into the foggy ravine below.
Shinma followed.
Explosions rang out in the mist.
A kunai lodged into a cliff face, followed by Shinma climbing up a wire.
"There are traps down there!" he called.
He summoned a shadow clone to investigate.
More blasts echoed, mixed with kunai whistling.
Sakumo formed seals. "Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Dozens of clones jumped into the canyon.
The explosions didn't stop.
The Cloud ninja had turned the entire gorge into a death trap to protect their command post.
Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu was technically the weakest S-rank forbidden jutsu—if you could make a clone, you could make many.
The real issue was the chakra drain. Most ninja couldn't sustain it, and the rebound of simultaneous clone feedback could destroy the nervous system.
When the traps were finally cleared and they descended, they found nothing but wreckage—abandoned tents and scattered sandals.
The Konoha shinobi pressed forward, but the canyon splintered into multiple paths.
Six interwoven ravines created a natural labyrinth, filled with false trails.
Sakumo gave the order, "Back to camp. With Darui dead, now's the time to strike and end this conflict once and for all."