Under the incineration of the blazing white flames, those so-called fire-resistant Kikaichū could no longer hold on.
They didn't even have time to let out a mournful cry; the moment they touched the white flames, they evaporated completely, turning into sparks that scattered and extinguished.
The black storm that was enough to swallow everything was forcibly burned through, leaving a massive void.
At the same time.
Just as Aokawa was maintaining his Fire Release.
From the shadows of the woods on both sides of him.
Two figures wearing white masks lunged out silently, like ghosts.
They held short swords firmly in their hands, the blades glinting with a cold, eerie light under the firelight.
One from the left, one from the right.
Without a sound or a single wasted motion, they struck at Aokawa's neck and heart with pure Killing Intent from an extremely tricky angle!
Assassins from Root!
Asuma Sarutobi and the others felt their hearts tighten suddenly!
However, facing this lethal pincer attack, Aokawa didn't even turn his head.
At the very instant the two short swords were about to touch his body.
"Bagua Palm: Return to Heaven!"
Boom—!
A massive, suffocating amount of Chakra erupted from within him!
The blue Chakra transformed into a perfect sphere, spinning rapidly with him at the center!
The pupils of the two Root assassins constricted suddenly.
The speed and stealth they took pride in became utterly meaningless at this moment!
Clang! Clang!
The two short swords struck the spinning Chakra wall, letting out the crisp sound of metal clashing, and were instantly repelled.
Immediately after, an irresistible and immense force slammed into them!
Pfft!
The two assassins spat out mouthfuls of blood, their bodies flying backward as if hit by a high-speed train, crashing heavily into the distant woods and going completely silent.
The rotation of the Chakra slowly came to a halt.
Aokawa withdrew his hand.
Beneath his feet, a massive circular crater over five meters in diameter was clearly imprinted on the cracked earth.
The edges of the crater were neat and smooth.
He stood quietly in the center of the crater, slowly raising his head. His gaze bypassed the shocked and dazed Aburame Ryoma and landed on Danzo Shimura.
Aokawa's gaze was as calm as a pool of deep water.
A slight commotion stirred in the surrounding tree shadows.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Over a dozen figures wearing the same white masks emerged from the darkness, landing on the surrounding tree trunks and surrounding the small clearing completely.
The aura on each of them was exactly the same as the two assassins who had just been blown away by 'Return to Heaven'.
Cold and deathly silent.
Asuma Sarutobi and the others instantly felt their scalps tingle, subconsciously huddling together.
This formation... Danzo truly had Killing Intent!
Aokawa's peripheral vision swept over these Root Ninja, and he took a subtle look at Danzo Shimura's right arm, which was covered in bandages and Seals.
This is a bit troublesome; it won't be an easy fight.
He calculated quickly in his mind.
Right now, his Quincy abilities haven't recovered yet. If it really comes to a fight, he'd have to use Sage Mode.
But that old dog Danzo—the Sharingan in his right hand is also a significant combat force.
Even though the Third Great Ninja War has just begun, there might not be as many Sharingan as in later generations.
But since Danzo has already sealed it, there are bound to be one or two in there.
He didn't expect himself to be like Sasuke, able to bait out ultimate moves with basic attacks.
In a head-on clash, there was no chance of victory.
However, this wasn't like the Battlefield; he didn't have to worry about Asuma and the others as much.
No matter what, that old dog Danzo wouldn't dare to slaughter the Third Hokage's son here.
He couldn't win against this lineup, but if he wanted to leave, it wouldn't be a problem.
Thinking of this, Aokawa already had a plan.
Danzo Shimura stared at Aokawa, the surging anger in his single eye turning back into a bottomless coldness.
"Aokawa." His voice was low.
"I will ask you one last time."
"As long as you nod now and join 'Root', everything that happened today can be forgiven."
"Otherwise..."
He didn't finish his sentence.
But the Killing Intent suddenly surging from the surrounding Root Ninja said everything.
A major battle was on the verge of breaking out.
Asuma Sarutobi gritted his teeth hard, his Chakra blades already in hand, prepared for a desperate struggle.
In this moment of tension where the air almost solidified.
Ting!
An extremely crisp, light sound rang out in the field without warning.
The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a sharp sword, instantly breaking the suffocating atmosphere.
Everyone looked toward the sound.
They saw a Kunai with a peculiar shape and three blades quietly embedded in the ground between Aokawa and Danzo Shimura.
This is... In the next second.
A golden light flashed and vanished beside the Kunai.
A young man with brilliant golden hair appeared in the field without any warning.
He wore a gentle smile on his face, like the midday sun, instantly dispelling the coldness of the forest.
"Elder Danzo."
Minato Namikaze bent down to pick up the Kunai from the ground and looked at Danzo Shimura with a smile.
"Hokage-sama sent me to meet these children who have completed their mission."
"I didn't expect to run into you here. What a coincidence."
His voice was warm and peaceful, yet it carried an unquestionable power.
Danzo Shimura's single eye stared fixedly at Minato Namikaze, his expression turning incredibly ugly.
Hiruzen sent him?
Dammit, Hiruzen is still in Konoha, why would he send you?
Who would believe that!
"Minato." Danzo Shimura squeezed out the name through his teeth.
"I am handling some internal affairs of the forces; it has nothing to do with you."
"Oh? Internal affairs of the forces?"
The smile on Minato Namikaze's face remained unchanged as he turned his head to look at Aokawa.
"Aokawa-kun, I recall you were specially approved by Hokage-sama to be temporarily assigned to my direct combat squad, weren't you?"
"When did you become Elder Danzo's subordinate?"
Aokawa looked at the man before him who was like the sun, and his heart stirred slightly. He shook his head cooperatively and said, "I have never been Elder Danzo's subordinate."
"I see." Minato Namikaze nodded, looked back at Danzo, spread his hands, and looked completely innocent.
"Elder Danzo, this seems to be a misunderstanding."
"My team member has caused you trouble."
He was saying sorry, but he had no intention of backing down.
"You!"
Danzo Shimura was so angry his chest heaved, and he slammed his cane hard against the ground.
He stared fixedly at Aokawa, the Killing Intent in his eyes almost solidifying.
He really wanted to make a move.
He really wanted to teach this brat who didn't know the heights of the heavens a lesson!
But he knew that with Minato Namikaze here today, it was impossible to move against Aokawa anymore.
"Humph!" Danzo let out a cold snort and gave Aokawa a deep look, his eyes like a venomous snake.
He set off, walking into the woods without a word.
The surrounding Root Ninja also vanished into the darkness like melting shadows.
A potentially fatal crisis was thus resolved effortlessly by Minato Namikaze.
Asuma Sarutobi and the others let out a long sigh of relief, feeling their backs soaked with cold sweat.
However.
Just as Danzo Shimura passed by Aokawa's side.
His footsteps paused slightly, and he suddenly spoke: "Do you know..."
"Why the Hyuga Main Family has always opposed the Branch Family learning Ninjutsu other than the Gentle Fist?"
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