Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 22: Surrounding the Jonin

The situation on the battlefield shifted in an instant, as Ikemoto Eiichi's arrogance and carelessness provided Hayama with a chance to turn the tide.

A flash of lightning illuminated the ridge, casting a pale light over Ikemoto Eiichi's now deeply grim expression. He took a few deep breaths before disappearing in a burst of speed, determined to make up for his mistake and rescue his remaining teammates.

Amid the low rumble of thunder, Hayama and Uchiha Fugaku each dispatched a Sunagakure shinobi. But before they could catch their breath, a massive wave of fire—an eruption of Eiichi's seething fury—swept toward them.

"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"

The intense heat of the fire, infused with transformed fire-nature chakra, left Hayama's lips dry and cracked from the sheer heat even at a distance. His heart raced with alarm as he bent his legs and leapt away, narrowly avoiding the destructive flames.

Landing a short distance away, Hayama quickly noticed the soil beneath his feet was oddly loose. Glancing down, recognition flashed across his face as he muttered, "Earth Release: Antlion Technique!"

The ground underfoot churned like quicksand, forming a funnel-shaped pit that threatened to swallow him whole. Knowing all too well the deadly nature of this technique, Hayama swiftly formed hand seals, channeling chakra into his feet as the ground shifted violently beneath him.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

A rough, uneven wall of earth shot up from the swirling ground, propelling Hayama out of the pit just as the ground beneath him collapsed. But before he could celebrate his escape, the Suna jonin unleashed another jutsu.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!"

Compressed wind chakra gathered in Eiichi's mouth and erupted as high-speed projectiles. The air around the bullet whistled ominously, the attack's sheer velocity creating a dreadful, wailing sound.

Hayama clenched his teeth. His limited arsenal of jutsu left him at a disadvantage. All he could do was jump off the wall, hoping the brief moment of obscured vision would buy him time.

Ikemoto Eiichi smirked. He could see that Hayama was stalling for his teammates to provide backup. But he didn't intend to let Hayama hold out long enough. Taking a deep breath, Eiichi began gathering his chakra, causing his combat vest to bulge slightly as it contained the massive surge.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

The inferno that followed roared as it devoured everything in its path. Even the rocks along the ridge began to char under the relentless heat.

Tatsu and Fugaku could only watch helplessly. They weren't close enough to intervene in time, leaving Hayama to endure the full brunt of the jonin's relentless assault.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the devastating fire jutsu subsided. The ridge was left scarred, a deep trench of scorched earth stretching across the terrain. Smoke rose from the ground, a silent testament to the devastation.

Eiichi stared intently at an inconspicuous hole in the charred landscape, his expression dark. He held his breath, remaining fully alert to his surroundings.

Nearby, not far from Fugaku, a hand suddenly broke through the ground, startling the Uchiha. Fugaku instinctively raised a kunai to attack but paused when he realized who it was.

Tatsu quickly stopped Fugaku. He recognized the technique—Hayama's hardening jutsu. Indeed, it was their team leader clawing his way out of the earth.

Hayama emerged, coughing and gasping for fresh air. But as he tried to breathe, a bout of coughing forced him to spit blood. The memory of the near-death encounter still fresh in his mind, he lay on the ground, trembling at the thought of what could have been.

It turned out that Hayama's instinct to kick off the wall and put some distance between himself and Eiichi was what saved him. Just as he landed, the heat from behind warned him of the impending inferno. Without looking back, he burrowed underground to escape. But the flames followed him into the tunnel, rapidly consuming oxygen and scorching the air. Hayama barely managed to construct three earth walls to shield himself before retreating further underground. When the suffocating heat and smoke threatened to overwhelm him, he surfaced at the first safe spot he could find.

Now, he lay on his back, his throat raw and burning, each breath a struggle. But his cells seemed to demand he keep moving, pushing him to endure the pain and stay alive.

Fugaku gazed at Hayama's battered form, his expression complex. He felt no sense of superiority or scorn—only profound respect. He had to admit that if he had been the one targeted so relentlessly, even with the Sharingan, he might not have survived.

Gulping down a few mouthfuls of water, Hayama croaked hoarsely, "Press him with taijutsu. Don't give him the chance to use jutsu!"

His voice was rough and painful to hear, as if each word scraped his throat. But there was no time for pity. Tatsu silently drew his sword, charging toward the Suna jonin with resolute determination. Fugaku flanked behind him, looking for an opening.

The clash of blades and kunai filled the ridge. Tatsu, skilled in kenjutsu, fought valiantly but couldn't match Eiichi's strength and experience. He was quickly sent flying. Fugaku stepped in, his Sharingan spinning, allowing him to anticipate and react to Eiichi's movements. Although Fugaku was able to land a few counterattacks, Eiichi's superior skill kept him at bay.

Eiichi attempted to launch another jutsu, but Hayama—wary from their previous exchanges—struck from below. His hardened fist erupted from the earth, grabbing Eiichi's ankle and attempting to pull him down.

With a cold snort, Eiichi released a burst of chakra from his feet. The resulting explosion tore through the ground, propelling him upward with Hayama still clinging to his leg.

Fugaku watched, his eyes narrowing. He hurled kunai to disrupt Eiichi, buying Hayama precious moments. Hayama, seeing no other option, let go and began to fall.

Eiichi's grin widened. "Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"

A massive blade of wind tore through the air toward Hayama, slicing apart Fugaku's kunai and bearing down on the airborne chunin.

As the razor-sharp wind approached, Hayama noticed a massive windmill shuriken flying toward him. A glimmer of hope lit his eyes. Using his hardened fist, he struck the side of the shuriken, altering its trajectory and sending himself hurtling out of the wind cutter's path.

Landing roughly on the ground, Hayama wiped the cold sweat from his brow and nodded appreciatively at Tatsu. If it weren't for his teammate's timely intervention, even with his hardening jutsu, he would have been severely injured.

Their bond, forged through countless missions and battles, had once again proven to be their greatest strength. And while Eiichi was still formidable, the three Konoha shinobi began to see glimmers of hope.

Eiichi's frustration grew. His chakra reserves were dwindling, and the three younger shinobi, though battered, remained tenacious. If he couldn't end this soon, he might not make it back to Suna alive. The thought of reinforcements arriving kept him fighting, but the drawn-out engagement was wearing him down.

As the battle continued, the sun began to rise, the night's rain finally ceased, and the forest came alive with the sounds of a new day. But on the ridge, the fight raged on, reaching its critical climax.

The outcome, whether triumph or tragedy, was moments away.