28 - The Kilometre-Wide Slumber Party

Standing at the summit of the volcano in the center of the island, Kei shielded his eyes with one hand, observing the chaotic state of the Summoning Island while clicking his tongue.

The Ultimate Summoning Beast from the research institute had unknowingly influenced the genetic level of the island's creatures, instilling in them a heightened sense of crisis when facing a formidable enemy.

From the moment the first roar echoed, the entire island had descended into madness.

Most of the weaker creatures, intimidated by its presence, fled toward the coastline. Even those incapable of swimming leaped into the sea, desperately seeking a chance at survival.

Meanwhile, the stronger or more aggressive beasts gathered together and charged toward the location of the Ultimate Summoning Beast, determined to fight it to the death.

Several large and small birds of prey circled above the volcano's crater, staring at Kei, who stood at the summit's edge, shrieking restlessly.

Clearly, they sensed danger but were unwilling to retreat.

"Keek—!"

A falcon with crimson eyes, significantly smaller than its kin, finally lost its patience. After flapping its wings a few times to gain speed, it folded them back and shot toward Kei like an arrow.

"Heh—so it was you bullying my crows before."

Kei immediately recognized the bird.

Previously, when using his crows to scout the island, he had encountered numerous predators. However, none left a deeper impression than this peregrine falcon.

Despite being smaller than the other aerial predators, its strength and speed far exceeded its peers!

It could crush tree trunks as thick as a human head with a single claw, and its sharp beak could pierce through solid rock.

Its speed, in particular, was terrifying—enough to make one's scalp tingle.

Had his crows not been small and agile enough, combined with his expert maneuvering through the dense forest, his beloved birds would have long become nothing more than fresh droppings.

Whoosh!

A sharp sonic boom accompanied the falcon's dive.

Kei locked eyes with the falcon's sharp gaze, both refusing to look away.

"Mind Body Switch Technique!"

Snap—!

Under the secret technique of the Yamanaka clan, the falcon, which had been charging in a straight line, suddenly lost control.

Its head tilted as it veered off course.

Under Kei's manipulation, it flapped its wings frantically to slow down, eventually landing beside him.

Fortunately, the creatures in the ninja world possessed far denser bones and stronger cells than those of the previous Earth. Otherwise, such a reckless braking maneuver at high speed would have instantly broken the bird's wings.

The moment he released the technique, he seamlessly followed up with the Four Limbs Weighting Seal.

Before the falcon could react, it was slammed to the ground, almost coughing up its internal organs.

"Squawk—!"

"Keek—!"

"Chirp—!"

The other raptors in the sky were completely enraged upon witnessing their leader's defeat.

They flapped their wings aggressively, preparing to launch an attack on Kei.

"Hmm... looks like the timing is just right."

Kei glanced at the beast horde surging up the volcano, nearly reaching the research facility's entrance, while the birds of prey prepared to dive.

No longer waiting, he formed a series of hand seals and activated a large-scale A-rank genjutsu.

"Temple of Nirvana Technique!"

Snow-white feathers began to fall, drifting down like heavy snowfall from an icy tundra. Fueled by immense mental power, this genjutsu expanded to an unbelievable extent.

Centered around Kei, the illusion spread, covering everything in a flurry of falling feathers.

The raptors in the sky drooped their eyelids, spiraling downward in a slow descent. The rampaging beasts on the volcano's slopes staggered, their movements sluggish before collapsing one after another.

Even those that arrived slightly later soon met the same fate. The island grew silent. Insects ceased their chirping, and the cries of birds and beasts faded away.

In just under ten seconds, the entire battlefield was filled with nothing but the sound of deep, rhythmic snoring.

"Hah—"

Kei let out a breath of turbid air, feeling the depletion of nearly one-fourth of his chakra.

He silently made up his mind. He must find a way to increase his chakra reserves in the future.

A one-kilometer radius, this was currently the maximum range of his Temple of Nirvana Technique.

And don't think that's small.

For comparison, during the chunin exams in the original timeline, Naruto and Sasuke fought in an arena that, including the spectator stands, was no more than a few hundred meters wide.

Yet here he was, covering the equivalent of eight of those arenas by himself.

In the original story, it took Kabuto and several ninja from the Suna and Oto working together to put an entire audience to sleep.

If this genjutsu was unleashed on a battlefield, it could easily decide the outcome of a large-scale war.

Boom—!

A loud tremor and explosion erupted from within the volcano's crater.

Kei squinted and leaned forward, peering down in the direction of the sound.

Cracks spread across the inner walls of the volcano as something violently slammed against them.

Another intense explosion followed.

The heavily mutated Ultimate Summoning Beast was sent flying out of the cracks, smashing into the opposite volcanic wall.

From the newly formed hole, Minato emerged, holding Honoka around her slender waist with his left arm.

With a flick of his right hand, he hurled a Flying Thunder God kunai directly at Kei's location.

Meanwhile, he used the scorching volcanic walls as footholds, leaping into the air—landing directly above the beast, which had just struggled to its feet!

Honoka, having long prepared her technique, unleashed her Adamantine Sealing Chains, binding the beast's wings tightly.

Minato followed up immediately, slamming a massive Rasengan straight into the creature's skull.

Already battered and exhausted from endless regeneration and energy depletion, the beast let out a horrific wail before plummeting straight into the churning lava below.

Whoosh—

With a flicker of movement, Minato vanished, reappearing beside Kei, now carrying Honoka in a princess carry.

The beast's dying screams echoed from below, slowly fading as thick black smoke billowed into the sky.

Its powerless body was completely engulfed by the molten lava.

Minato said he wasn't good at flirting?! You definitely know how to charm women.

Kei stared at Minato, whose seamless transitions between waist-holding and princess-carrying were way too smooth.

This script was even better than he expected.

A male lead and female lead working together to take down a terrifying monster, way more romantic than a simple "hero saves the beauty" moment.

He never expected that a freshly hatched little "Kaiju" could be exploited to this extent by Minato.