Nagato erupted with an incredibly powerful repulsive force, pressing down all the soaring branches heavily. Under this strong repulsive force, his body flew even higher, surpassing the range of extended tree branches.
As for Nagato's two shadow clones, they couldn't withstand the pressure and, with a puff, turned into white smoke and dispersed.
"If you don't want to be caught in the crossfire, stay back; things are about to get dangerous," Mokgetsu shouted while clearing the wooden twigs approaching him with Wind Release.
Although Mokgetsu's control ability is strong, the ninjutsu he is about to use will have a remarkably large range, easily causing collateral damage to the ninjas still in the forest.
After hearing Sosuke's words, Hanzo hesitated not a moment and swiftly jumped away.
The other Rain Ninjas saw their leader leave and quickly followed suit.
Since Shimura Danzo didn't attack them at all, they easily retreated from the forest.
"Wood Release is indeed not simple," Hanzo thought as he watched the branches attacking Mokgetsu from all directions.
The Wood Release by Shimura Danzo not only covers a large area but can also quickly attack enemies from every angle within, making it indefensible.
Mokgetsu quickly formed a hand seal and summoned a shadow clone, then promptly switched his breathing to enter the Breath of Flame Chakra Mode.
He swiftly raised his right hand, extending his thumb, slightly tilting his index and middle fingers, bending his little finger and ring finger, and formed a single-handed Tiger Seal.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Dance!"
A scalding deep red flame was expelled by Mokgetsu.
The wooden twigs near Mokgetsu touched the flames, instantly burning into black ash and dispersing.
Soon, a deep red sea of flames surrounded Mokgetsu, consuming all the nearby trees.
At this moment, the shadow clone's chakra was fully gathered.
Shadow Clone Mokgetsu also formed a single-handed seal, extending and slanting the little finger while bending the other four fingers, forming a Dragon Seal.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Hurricane Dragon!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!
A terrifying hurricane was expelled by Shadow Clone Mokgetsu, and aided the blaze, rapidly expanding the sea of fire around Mokgetsu, swallowing everything and turning it into scorched earth.
"So hot!" The Rain Ninja consolidated chakra at his feet to prevent being blown away, while feeling a chilling fear from the incoming heatwave.
Although the Land of Rain is usually shrouded in clouds and exceptionally cool, at this moment he felt as if he was inside a giant furnace.
"Combined Ninjutsu: Double Dragon Annihilation!"
Mokgetsu and his shadow clone exerted force simultaneously, increasing the output of chakra.
Roar!
With an earth-shaking roar like that of a giant dragon, the sea of flames expanded rapidly again with the help of the Wind Dragon, instantly turning the entire forest into a sea of flames.
The vast sea of fire, the rising deep flames, and the rapidly increasing temperature left everyone feeling as though they were trapped in a fiery world.
"How could this be!" Shimura Danzo looked at the scene, incredulous.
How could the invincible bloodline limit of the God of Ninjas in the Ninja World be defeated by mere combined ninjutsu? This is the Deep Forest Emergence capable of altering regional terrain!
"Even stronger than that time!" Hanzo recalled the showdown with Sosuke in the valley as he watched the dense forest turn into a sea of fire in an instant.
Fire Dragon Dance is a Fire Release Ninjutsu so powerful that Hanzo could never forget it, making the battle in the valley the clearest memory of his life.
Thus Hanzo instantly realized, Sosuke has grown even stronger.
The combination of Fire Dragon Dance and Vacuum Hurricane Dragon far surpasses the singular Fire Dragon Dance. If Sosuke mastered this combined ninjutsu during the valley showdown, at the first clash of ninjutsu, Hanzo could have been killed by its terrifying power.
After all, before fighting Sosuke, Hanzo couldn't possibly foresee the incredible strength of Sosuke's ninjutsu.
"Glad we got out," a Rain Ninja said with some lingering fear while watching the sea of fire that seemed ready to consume everything.
If they had hesitated any longer, they wouldn't have survived under such Fire Release.
Thinking of this, the Rain Ninjas had complicated looks when gazing at Sosuke.
The Rain Ninjas standing here are mostly Hanzo's confidants, absolutely leaning towards Hanzo.
Some even advised Hanzo to unite the entire Rain Village's strength against Sosuke, but it didn't pass.
Hanzo's decision was driven by the intention to avoid overconsuming the Land of Rain's strength. Employing all Rain Ninja forces against Sosuke would be contradictory.
Shimura Danzo sensed the unfavorable situation and tried to evade.
Such Fire Release is evidently not something a ninja can withstand.
Whoosh!!
Under Mokgetsu's control, the entire sea of fire divided into ten enormous fire dragons, blocking all paths Shimura Danzo could take to escape.
Mokgetsu looked calmly at Shimura Danzo, knowing this combined ninjutsu that consumed vast amounts of his chakra was not just meant to burn all the trees.
Unless Shimura Danzo possessed Space-Time Ninjutsu like Flying Thunder God or Amenotejikara, he couldn't evade and could only use ninjutsu to resist.
Finding no way to dodge, Shimura Danzo stayed put, not even using Defensive Ninjutsu, seemingly ready to embrace death.
"Sosuke, wait," Hanzo began gathering chakra, intending to save Shimura Danzo.
Despite hating Shimura Danzo and wishing to kill him with his own hands, Shimura Danzo cannot die.
Being Konoha's senior member, he represents Konoha in Rain Village.
An easy defeat, Konoha might merely tolerate the merger of Ninja Sect and Rain Village, recognizing their strong alliance.
If Shimura Danzo were killed, Konoha would undoubtedly view the Land of Rain as an enemy and take action against them.
Yet Hanzo was a step too late, not due to slow speed but because of the distance.
Boom!!!
Ten gigantic fire dragons simultaneously charged at Shimura Danzo from various directions, detonating vast flames, creating a deafening roar.
In an instant, the sky was ablaze, and Shimura Danzo and everything surrounding him were enveloped in deep crimson flames.
Hanzo halted his movement and sighed deeply.
He didn't believe Shimura Danzo could physically withstand such an overwhelming attack, even with chakra defenses, it's impossible.
This terrifying Fire Release could instantly evaporate a lake; ordinary Water Release defenses can't withstand it, let alone human flesh.
"Out of control..." Hanzo's brows furrowed slightly.
Hanzo expected Sosuke to avoid angering Konoha and spare Shimura Danzo, but he didn't anticipate Sosuke's decisive aggression using unprecedentedly strong combined ninjutsu, leaving him unable to intervene.
"Hmm?" Hanzo froze upon noticing a silhouette not far away.
Shimura Danzo stood unharmed on charred ground, except his mask had vanished, bearing no burn injuries.
"Sosuke!" Shimura Danzo's face was dark, staring at Sosuke with his remaining Three Tomoe Sharingan.
If looks could kill, Sosuke might have already been shredded by Shimura Danzo a thousand times.
The imagined battle to annihilate Sosuke involved Shimura Danzo showcasing his mighty Wood Release, with Sosuke's shocked expression as he slays Sosuke.
The real battle to annihilate Sosuke saw his strongest Wood Release instantly turned to black ash, with Sosuke's mere two ninjutsu forcing him to use Izanagi to survive.
"What's going on, are there foreign invaders?" Some Rain Ninjas noticed the commotion near Mokgetsu and hurried over.
That beaconing flame was far too conspicuous; not only for ninjas, even ordinary people couldn't fail to notice it.
The difference being ninjas would rush towards the firelight while civilians would avoid it.
As numerous Rain Ninjas gathered and tried to approach, Rain Village's Anbu appeared immediately.
"Lord Hanzo's order—no passage ahead," Rain Village's Anbu coldly declared.
Hanzo had long prepared to prevent ordinary Rain Ninja's involvement.
Though the Rain Ninjas were baffled, they obeyed Hanzo's order and halted.
Some Rain Ninja turned back; others stayed to observe from afar.
Mokgetsu calmly watched Shimura Danzo; now Shimura Danzo only had two Sharingan remaining, with one used, Shimura Danzo had only two lives left.