The trapped ninja kept slashing at the bubble with his kunai—
but it was useless.
The massive orb encasing him felt like forged steel, impenetrable from within.
Using Fire Release would cook himself alive.
Not an option.
He could gamble—maybe burst it before the flames reached him.
But right now, all he could do was hope his teammates saved him.
He turned—
Only to see his comrade crumpled at the feet of a Hyūga.
Hyūga Tokuma had slipped between Ishiki Kujo's bubbles with surgical precision.
He was already on top of the Water Dragon Jutsu user.
And then:
Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
Even as a branch family member, Tokuma's technique was flawless.
The moment his chakra struck the target's tenketsu, the outcome was sealed.
With Ishiki's bubbles hemming the enemy in, Tokuma barely had to lift a finger.
Explosions echoed from the other side—Inuzuka Ze's one-on-two battle roaring like a thunderstorm.
Ishiki dashed forward—he wanted to capture the bubbled enemy.
But just two steps in, a kunai screamed through the air toward the orb.
"Watch it! Ninja tools and Earth-style!" Tokuma shouted—a crisp, tactical call.
A kunai specialist paired with an Earth-style user.
Perfect combo.
The kunai struck the bubble—
But instead of piercing it, it bounced off, deflected by a golden pulse.
Ripple energy.
Joseph Joestar had blocked bullets with Ripple.
Ishiki's control surpassed Joseph's by leagues.
A thrown kunai? Child's play.
Still—he couldn't waste time.
Ripple energy wasn't infinite.
Given enough pressure, even a trapped ninja might break free.
Ishiki slapped his palms together—more bubbles expanded between them and surged forward.
But before they could reach the enemy—
WHUMP!
A wall of earth exploded up, blocking their path.
Behind Ishiki, Mutaguchi's voice rang out:
"It's done!"
BOOM!
A mid-air explosion lit up the night—
Blazing flames tore across the sky like fireworks.
Tattered kites burned, tumbling from above like flaming leaves.
One body fell with them, limp and trailing smoke.
"Fart beetle and spark beetle—gas and ignition. Time just right and you light up half the sky,"
Mutaguchi smirked, glasses glinting as he adjusted them with a flair.
Behind him, more insects poured from his gourd.
"Need help, Ishiki?"
"Shut up and move."
Ishiki blurred forward.
He wasn't just a fire-style specialist—he was a taijutsu monster.
From the earth, a volley of stone spikes shot up, targeting his path—
But none landed. He was already gone.
He whipped around the stone wall and saw them: two masked ninja.
One was weaving hand seals.
The other opened his mouth and spat rocky bullets.
Earth Release again.
Ishiki pulled a kunai from his belt, spinning it once.
The bullets flew—
But every single one was deflected mid-air as Ishiki charged, eyes locked on target.
He didn't need Sharingan for this.
At three meters, Red Magician exploded into view at his side.
No seals. No prep.
Just flame.
Fire roared forward, searing into the shape of a burning cross—
a holy brand of death, straight at the two ninja.
The one still sealing jerked his hands into a new pattern—
A massive iron shield burst from a scroll, slamming into the ground.
The flames hit—
and then fists followed.
Red Magician's punches dented the shield like a drum.
With every impact, molten iron dripped from the metal like sweat.
The enemy duo paled.
Before they could respond, a golden blur zipped around the shield.
Ishiki himself.
The sealing ninja ditched the jutsu, yanking a short blade from his hip with one hand, a scroll with the other.
"Longer reach. I've got the advantage."
That was his last thought.
Ishiki tossed his kunai—bait.
The blade was smacked aside.
But now Ishiki was inside his guard.
His hand glowed.
Chakra Scalpel.
He sliced cleanly across the man's stomach as he passed—
not deep, but precise.
The blade tore through organs with surgical cruelty.
The scroll never opened.
The ninja collapsed, intestines spilling.
Blood painted the earth as the chakra scalpel vanished from Ishiki's hand.
Behind them, the iron shield—still glowing—was fully melted now, a puddle.
Red Magician stepped forward, visible only to Ishiki, flames roaring from his body.
The last ninja stared—he couldn't even see the Stand, only the fire.
"Too strong…"
He realized it instantly.
In ninjutsu. In taijutsu.
They weren't in the same league.
But Red Magician didn't wait.
He leapt.
Flames swirled into a blazing crucifix in the sky.
With a roar, Red Magician brought it crashing down.
The fire engulfed the last ninja before he could even scream.
Ishiki's kunai struck true—right through his burning heart.
Then Red Magician vanished.
Ishiki turned his eyes toward Leo in the distance.
That fight, too, was finished.
No corpses.
Likely a retreat—Leo had overwhelmed them.
What about Ze-senpai…?
Ishiki's eyes narrowed.
How's his battle going…?