Chapter 115: Han’s Rescue

Ōnoki's Dust Release struck the Rock Golem with pinpoint precision. The massive construct dissolved into nothingness within the translucent barrier, taking Kawakaze's sword with it. In the aftermath, only a single fragment untouched by the Dust Release fell to the ground alongside the remnants of the rock.

At the same moment, Kawakaze's Heavenly Thunder of the Nine Skies descended from above. Ōnoki, still finishing his Dust Release, had no time to evade. His expression shifted drastically as he saw the lightning, as thick as an arm, streaking toward his head. With no other options, he swiftly encased himself in a thick layer of rock, wrapping himself tightly for protection. He activated the Added-Weight Rock Technique, dropping toward the ground at a faster speed.

However, even with his accelerated descent, he could not escape the lightning. It struck him midway with a deafening crack.

"Ah~!" A scream escaped from Ōnoki. Though his rock-covered face betrayed no expression, Kawakaze imagined it would have been quite something to see.

"Old man, let me see you fly again," Kawakaze taunted, his voice filled with disdain.

"Fists of Thunder!" With a burst of power from his feet, the ground beneath Kawakaze blackened and scorched as he vanished in an instant, reappearing in front of Ōnoki.

"Pay for my sword!"

Kawakaze's punch landed squarely on Ōnoki, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The lightning-split, blackened rocks encasing Ōnoki shattered with a resounding crack. He was launched through the air, electricity still crackling across his battered form. Upon hitting the ground, he rolled several times before coming to a stop, his tattered clothes hanging from his frame and his face charred.

"Cough~"

A mouthful of blood erupted from Ōnoki's lips as he knelt, struggling to remain upright. Kawakaze's lightning-imbued Chakra coursed through his body, paralyzing him momentarily and leaving him unable to stand.

For all his injuries, Ōnoki's Earth Release training had rendered his defenses extraordinary. Even after such a devastating blow, he clung to life.

"You're quite resilient," Kawakaze remarked, unimpressed by the old man's endurance.

Not letting up, Kawakaze darted toward him once more. Even if he couldn't kill Ōnoki outright, he was determined to render him utterly useless.

"Lord Third…"

Han's attention wavered as he caught sight of Ōnoki's miserable state, his heart sinking with anxiety. He had never expected that even the Third Tsuchikage could be so thoroughly outmatched by Kawakaze Hatake. The intelligence reports had only emphasized Kawakaze's unparalleled Kenjutsu, but they hadn't prepared anyone for the sheer destructiveness of his Lightning Release techniques.

Partially transformed into a beast, Han could no longer afford to worry about Tsunade's presence. Desperation overtook him as he opened his mouth and launched a massive Tailed Beast Ball toward Kawakaze, hoping to save Ōnoki's life.

"Hmph."

"You still have time to worry about others?" Tsunade scoffed coldly. She wasn't concerned about the potential threat the Tailed Beast Ball posed to Kawakaze.

The battle between Tsunade and Han had been evenly matched until now, but Han's move to rescue Ōnoki exposed a glaring vulnerability. With the power of the Seven-Tails coursing through her, Tsunade's body glowed with a brilliant crimson radiance, brimming with Tailed Beast Chakra.

In a flash, she unfurled her wings, leaving behind a crimson afterimage as she shot toward Han with incredible speed.

"Heavenly Spear Foot!"

Ever since delivering a devastating kick to Shukaku, Tsunade had grown fond of this attack. She struck mercilessly, targeting the lower part of Han's body with unrelenting force.

"Owww~!"

Han let out a pained scream, his body reeling from the blow just as the Tailed Beast Ball left his mouth. His old injuries had barely healed, and now a fresh wound had been added to his torment. Both he and Kokuō were sent hurtling through the air like a rocket.

"Are all the ninja from Konoha this despicable?!

"You're still a woman—don't you have any shame?"

Kokuō's voice thundered in Han's mind, filled with exasperation. Inside his host, the beast cursed furiously.

It's only been a few days, and my rear has taken two devastating hits! This is unbearable.

Following Han, it seemed, had brought Kokuō nothing but indignities and injuries that were too humiliating to mention.

At this moment, Kawakaze caught sight of the incoming Tailed Beast Ball. He had no choice but to abandon the perfect opportunity to finish off Ōnoki.

Without a weapon in hand, and with the battlefield behind him teeming with ninja from both sides, dodging was easy enough for him—but what about the Konoha ninja? In that instant, Kawakaze made his decision. Even unarmed, he refused to let the Tailed Beast Ball threaten his comrades.

Turning sharply, Kawakaze's feet lightly touched the ground, giving the impression of effortless movement.

"Rumble!!"

The ground around him quaked violently, the epicenter of the vibration forming beneath his toes. The shockwave created a massive crater a few dozen meters wide in front of Ōnoki. The Tsuchikage stumbled and fell into the pit, ending up with a mouthful of sand, his appearance more disheveled than ever.

As dust and debris flew into the air from Kawakaze's high-speed movement, his figure blurred. He dashed toward the Tailed Beast Ball with lightning-like speed, his resolve unwavering. Behind him, ninja from both sides broke into a panic, scattering from their positions. None, not even the Konoha shinobi, dared to trust that Kawakaze could block the attack unarmed.

Amidst the chaos, the doubt was palpable. Unlike Tsunade, the others did not share her confidence in Kawakaze's capabilities.

"Sage Art: Thunder-Style Crushing Fist!"

Kawakaze channeled a massive surge of chakra into his right hand, clenching his fist into a defined shape. Compared to the colossal Tailed Beast Ball before him, his figure seemed almost insignificant.

"Are you insane?!" Lady Katsuyu's panicked voice sounded from his shoulder. "You could die!"

"Trust me." Kawakaze's words exuded unshakable confidence. Though his defense couldn't rival that of the Third Raikage, he was certain of his offensive power.

"I can't die, so don't gamble with your life!" Lady Katsuyu pleaded. "If you get blown up—"

Before she could finish, Kawakaze's fist collided with the Tailed Beast Ball.

"Boom~!"

A deafening explosion erupted as the violent force of his Senjutsu Chakra clashed with the destructive energy of the Tailed Beast Ball. A massive shockwave rippled outward, blanketing the battlefield in a thick cloud of dust and debris.

The less powerful ninja staggered, barely able to keep their footing amidst the aftermath. For a brief moment, the thick cloud of smoke and dust obscured everything from view.

As the air cleared, Kawakaze's figure emerged, standing tall and unharmed.

The battlefield fell silent. Neither side resumed fighting; all eyes were fixed on Kawakaze, disbelief etched onto their faces.

The man simply stood there.

"Hurry, hurry," Kawakaze muttered under his breath to Lady Katsuyu perched on his shoulder, his back turned to the others. "Tsunade is looking at me."

"Where's the hero from a moment ago?" Lady Katsuyu teased, though she continued channeling Chakra into Kawakaze's body, helping him recover.

The punch had indeed been powerful enough to obliterate the Tailed Beast Ball, but his defense had proven less than perfect. His torn clothes and the wounds hidden from view on his front told a different story. Even his normally smooth hair was in disarray.

"Lord Kawakaze is invincible!"

Some unknown Konoha ninja shouted in admiration, charging headlong at the Iwa ninja. Inspired by the cry, the melee between the two sides resumed as the immediate danger of the Tailed Beast Ball subsided.

Kawakaze's body recovered quickly. Thanks to the formidable healing properties of Sage Mode, all visible wounds healed in no time. However, the large amount of Senjutsu Chakra he had expended forced Sage Mode to deactivate, returning him to his normal state.

Meanwhile, Ōnoki had managed to climb out of the pit. It was a stroke of luck that he had fallen in during the explosion; otherwise, the sheer force of the blast would have been too much for him to survive. Now on solid ground, he opted to stay grounded, unwilling to risk returning to the sky after experiencing the terrifying lightning strike.

Tsunade, focused entirely on her own battle, paid no attention to Kawakaze's situation. She had already caught up to the man who was descending from the air. This was her moment—a perfect opportunity to strike a defeated foe while he was vulnerable.