Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 23: Hard-Fought Victory

The coordinated attacks of Hayama and Uchiha Fugaku came simultaneously, both thrusting kunai toward the Suna jonin's ribs.

Ikemoto Eiichi's face darkened with frustration. What were these Konoha ninjas thinking, using the same tactic again and again? Did they really take him for a fool?

Instinctively, he grabbed their wrists, intending to fling them away as he had done before. But just as he prepared to exert his strength, Fugaku suddenly raised his head, the tomoe of his Sharingan spinning wildly. A surge of illusionary energy overtook Eiichi's senses.

"Binding Illusion!"

For a brief moment, Eiichi felt his body restrained, held down by illusionary stakes of earth that pinned his limbs. His chakra flow stuttered, and his mind scrambled to dispel the illusion.

"Shlick!"

Although Fugaku's illusion only held for a moment, that single instant was enough. Tatsu's blade bit deep into Eiichi's side, leaving a gaping wound. Blood sprayed, splattering across Tatsu's face. He licked the taste of victory, relishing the accomplishment of injuring a jonin.

Eiichi clutched his chest, disbelieving. Moments ago, he had been in control—yet now, these kids had actually wounded him. His earlier underestimation and focus on Hayama had cost him dearly.

Realizing his predicament, a deep sense of regret welled within him, mingled with mounting fear. His once-ironclad confidence eroded as he faced the prospect of defeat. Desperation bubbled up, twisting his face into a mask of wrath. He knew retreat was no longer an option; if he couldn't return to the Rain Country, he would at least ensure his opponents paid dearly.

"Secret Technique: Blood-Boiling Jutsu!"

Hayama, sensing the shift in his opponent's chakra, tensed. The air around Eiichi grew heavy as his presence swelled. His body seemed to vibrate with barely-contained energy, the wound on his chest knitting itself together. Even his exhausted cells now pulsed with renewed vigor.

"Brace yourselves," Hayama muttered, readying his stance.

Eiichi roared as his battle vest shredded under the pressure of his expanding chakra. He radiated raw power, his body steaming as his blood boiled in his veins. Without hesitation, he launched his next attack.

"Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!"

A barrage of chakra-infused wind bullets filled the air, leaving no room for escape. Fugaku reacted quickly, his hands forming seals at a breakneck pace. Slamming his palm to the ground, he called forth a defensive measure.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A heavy, crimson iron gate rose from the earth, its imposing presence shielding them from the storm of wind bullets. Though the gate's surface dented and cracked under the relentless assault, it held firm, sparing the trio from immediate danger.

But Eiichi's speed and power had reached new heights. He closed the distance to Tatsu in an instant, his fist swinging toward the ninja's head. Tatsu barely managed to bring his sword up in defense, but Eiichi's blow shattered the blade and sent Tatsu reeling. Even Fugaku, standing nearby, was grazed by the flying shards.

Hayama and Fugaku knew they had to act fast. As Tatsu scrambled away from Eiichi's devastating strike, both of them unleashed their strongest Fire Release techniques, bathing the battlefield in flame.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song!"

The searing flames illuminated the ridge, consuming the space Eiichi had occupied. The blaze roared, a deafening cacophony that drowned out all else. When the flames subsided, Eiichi had vanished from sight.

"Stay close!" Hayama shouted, running toward Fugaku. In these moments, staying united was their only hope.

But Eiichi had already reappeared, targeting Fugaku from behind. His wind-infused kunai aimed for the Uchiha's heart. Fugaku's Sharingan caught the motion, but his body couldn't react in time.

Hayama's hands blurred through seals, and he stomped the ground with a shout.

"Earth Release: Earth Spikes!"

Earthen spikes shot up around Fugaku, forcing Eiichi to hesitate just long enough for Fugaku to twist his body unnaturally, evading the killing blow. Fugaku then grabbed Eiichi's arm, throwing all his remaining strength into a head-on counter. His Sharingan flared, casting another illusion to buy a critical second.

Hayama and Tatsu, despite their injuries, rushed forward. Their coordinated assault forced Eiichi to fight on multiple fronts, but the jonin's blood-boiling state made him relentless. He crushed Tatsu's arm with a single grip, using the injured shinobi as a weapon to strike at Hayama.

Though Hayama dodged, he pressed on, landing a powerful blow that fractured several of Eiichi's ribs. The fight devolved into a brutal melee, each ninja throwing their body into every strike, sacrificing everything for a chance to weaken their opponent.

Finally, with Fugaku's support and Hayama's unyielding attacks, Eiichi began to falter. His body, pushed beyond its limits by his forbidden technique, started to betray him. A final, desperate swing missed its mark, leaving him open. Hayama drove a kunai deep into Eiichi's neck, and Fugaku, seeing his chance, finished the job with a devastating blow to the head.

The once-unbeatable jonin fell, his blood pooling on the ridge. As the adrenaline faded, the survivors sank to the ground, gasping for breath. Hayama's body trembled from the accumulated pain, but a faint, victorious smile broke through the grimace.

As the first rays of sunlight touched the battlefield, Hayama and his team could finally rest, knowing they had prevailed against impossible odds.