Before long, more and more Kiri Ninja arrived as reinforcements, surrounding Kawakaze both inside and out.
Despite their overwhelming numbers, they hesitated as they looked at Kawakaze, his body shrouded in crackling lightning. Fear was evident on their faces.
For a moment, no one dared to make the first move.
The name Kawakaze Hatake had already spread throughout the ninja world with his many victories. He was a ninja considered comparable to, if not stronger than, a Tailed Beast.
They understood all too well that this was not an opponent who could be overcome with sheer numbers.
If they could resolve this through discussion, none of them wanted to fight.
"Kawakaze Hatake, why have you come to Kirigakure?" asked a Kiri Ninja who appeared to be in charge. His expression was solemn as he stepped forward, holding his weapon defensively across his chest, ready to counterattack at a moment's notice.
"I've come to find someone," Kawakaze said plainly. "If you move aside obediently, I'll let you live."
He knew that the Kirigakure ninjas had nothing to do with the root of this problem. Kirigakure itself had been manipulated and thrown into chaos by Madara Uchiha—they were victims as much as anyone else.
For now, Kawakaze had no intention of killing anyone.
However, to the Kiri Ninja, his words sounded unbearably arrogant.
We may fear you, but you're just one person. Isn't this going too far?
How dare one man go up against the entire Kirigakure? Did he think they had no pride?
Since Kirigakure's founding, nothing like this had ever happened. Kawakaze was setting an unprecedented example.
"You destroyed the front gate of Kirigakure. Now you want to walk in and find someone? Don't you think that's going too far?" the leader of the Kiri Ninja said, barely suppressing his anger.
He hated the fact that Kawakaze was still alive. If I could beat you, do you think I'd let you stand here talking to me?
"Going too far?" Kawakaze replied with a faint smile. "I've already been very polite."
Inwardly, Kawakaze thought, I didn't even use True Several Thousand Hands to flatten Kirigakure. How is this excessive?
"You~"
The Kiri Ninja was left momentarily speechless at Kawakaze's response. He had never encountered such an audacious person before.
"Kawakaze Hatake, by acting this way, are you saying that Konoha wants to go to war with Kirigakure? Can you bear the consequences?"
The Kiri Ninja shifted their approach, escalating the situation to the threat of war.
"I can bear it," Kawakaze replied without hesitation. "But can you represent Kirigakure?"
Kawakaze stepped forward, his gaze piercing.
"I..."
The Kiri Ninja faltered, taking a few steps back in fear. They couldn't bring themselves to say "yes."
Right now, Kirigakure was essentially a one-man show, and only the Third Mizukage held the authority to make such decisions.
The Kiri Ninja hadn't expected Kawakaze to be so unyielding. A fight seemed inevitable.
"Don't waste my time. Tell your Mizukage to come out and talk to me," Kawakaze said, a mocking smile forming on his lips.
What status? What position? And you want to negotiate with me?
"Lord Mizukage isn't someone you can meet just because you want to," the Kiri Ninja retorted, though they were inwardly desperate for the Mizukage to arrive. Still, they clung to their posturing.
"Heh, if he won't come to me, I'll go to him," Kawakaze said, taking a few more steps forward. His body radiated even stronger lightning energy, making the air around him crackle.
"Stop! If you take another step, we won't hold back!" the Kiri Ninja shouted, retreating further as Kawakaze advanced.
"I'm done wasting time with you," Kawakaze said flatly.
"My patience is running out. You have three seconds to decide. Give up, or else..."
Kawakaze glanced around, his disdain for the gathered Kiri Ninja clear.
To him, their numbers meant nothing. The human wave tactic had long since lost its effectiveness against someone of his caliber.
"One."
"Two."
As Kawakaze Hatake began to count, the Kiri Ninja could no longer contain their anger.
"Kawakaze Hatake, you're going too far! Do you really think we—"
Before the Kiri Ninja could finish his sentence, he felt a massive surge of Chakra emanating from Kawakaze's body.
"Three."
Pop!
Kawakaze, uninterested in their protests, clasped his hands together and formed the hand seals for a technique.
"Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
Boom!
The ground trembled, the earth cracked, and massive trees erupted from beneath the surface, rapidly growing into towering giants.
The area in front of Kirigakure's gate was instantly transformed into a dense forest.
The trees' branches moved as though alive, binding the Kiri Ninja who hadn't escaped in time.
With a single move, the Kiri Ninja were completely routed.
The legendary power of the Konoha Shinobi, which had once pacified a troubled world, showed its terrifying fangs once more.
"Ahhh... Help me! Help me!"
"What kind of Ninjutsu is this? It's terrifying!"
The Kiri Ninja wailed in agony, hanging helplessly from the trees like lambs awaiting slaughter. Their fear of Kawakaze intensified—he was on an entirely different level.
To them, Kawakaze wasn't fighting; he was overwhelming them like a lord disciplining disobedient children.
"These trees are absorbing my Chakra!" one perceptive Kiri Ninja exclaimed, realizing that their power was being drained by the branches.
Meanwhile, Kawakaze continued walking toward the village. His Chakra replenished itself constantly, thanks to the effects of his Wood Release.
It was no wonder this Kekkei Genkai had the power to suppress even a Tailed Beast. Kawakaze was satisfied with its effectiveness.
"This is Wood Release—the technique of the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama!"
"I thought Wood Release was lost!"
Several knowledgeable Kiri Ninja recognized the legendary origin of the technique.
"I don't care about that. Stop him first. Attack!"
The remaining Kiri Ninja, unable to rescue their captured comrades, rushed to block Kawakaze's advance.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"
"Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!"
...
In an instant, all kinds of Ninjutsu and ninja tools equipped with Explosive Tags were hurled at Kawakaze.
"With such a trivial skills, how dare you show off in front of a master," Kawakaze sneered as he dodged effortlessly.
The attacks missed and merged into a newly formed lake at the same spot.
The Kiri Ninja, fully focused on Kawakaze, immediately adjusted their positions as he moved.
But as they tracked his movements, their faces shifted to expressions of shock.
He was too fast!
All they saw was a flash of lightning, and in the next moment, Kawakaze appeared in front of them.
Not even the swiftest shinobi of Kirigakure, renowned for their speed, could keep up with him.
"Ahhh!"
Screams erupted as several Kiri Ninja were sent flying, knocked aside by Kawakaze's overwhelming force.
"This guy is just too strong!"
With Wood Release's devastating wide-area attacks and his impossibly fast single-target strikes, the Kiri Ninja couldn't fathom a weakness in Kawakaze.
Even his defense was unyieldingly strong. Could someone like him truly be defeated?
"Damn it, block him!" one of the Kiri Ninja shouted desperately. "Lord Mizukage will be here soon!"
The ninja struggled to rise from the ground, trying to rally his comrades.
If Kawakaze managed to get into the village, it wouldn't just be an embarrassment—the real fear was facing the Mizukage's wrath.
"What are you going to use to block me?" Kawakaze asked, his gaze full of disdain.
"Your head?"
His words stung. It was clear the Kiri Ninja still hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation.
"Lightning Release: Thousand Thunderclaps!"
With a one-handed seal, Kawakaze pressed his hand against the water's surface.
Lightning surged outward with him at the center, covering the entire lake.
The Kiri Ninja twitched and convulsed, paralyzed by the electricity.
Their own Water Release techniques had unwittingly created the perfect environment for Kawakaze to unleash his power.
Looking at the Kiri Ninja—hair standing on end, faces blackened, and bodies incapacitated—Kawakaze saw that no one remained capable of blocking his path.