The memory of the Shadow Clone being destroyed surged into Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, causing a significant mental shock and simultaneously pulling his focus back from the wider battlefield. However, unlike his earlier uncertainty, Hiruzen Sarutobi was now filled with confidence.
Before the battle began, Hiruzen had intended to be the one carrying the momentum of the fight. Now, the situation had reversed; the flow of the battle itself was carrying him. As long as he could keep the Third Raikage tied down, preventing him from intervening in the main confrontation between the Konoha and Cloud forces, the Raikage would inevitably be forced to retreat after the Cloud ninjas were routed.
Thus, Hiruzen Sarutobi formed hand seals again, creating another Shadow Clone.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Combination Ninjutsu: Lava Flow Rock Bullet!"
To prevent the Third Raikage from realizing the dire situation on the main battlefield, Hiruzen Sarutobi brought out his true capabilities. Although the Sarutobi clan hadn't successfully fused bloodline limits during the long Warring States period, they possessed exceptionally high mastery in the research of Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Lightning Release ninjutsu.
"Combination Ninjutsu" was the foundation upon which the Sarutobi clan had established itself during that era. With this skill, although not a bloodline clan, the Sarutobi were no weaker than many who were. If one successfully mastered combination ninjutsu involving four or five elements, they were practically unrivaled below the level of the absolute strongest Kage.
...
"Not good!"
The Third Raikage was currently locked in a fierce battle with Hiruzen Sarutobi, completely engrossed and unaware that the Cloud ninja formation on the main battlefield had already been split by Konoha. However, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Blue B, noticed.
"A!" Blue B shouted the Third Raikage's name, trying to alert him. Unfortunately, amidst the ceaseless roar of the battlefield, his voice couldn't reach the Raikage's ears.
Blue B tried to move closer to the Raikage. But how could Kagami Uchiha possibly let him leave? Immediately, Kagami Uchiha formed hand seals rapidly, placing his half-bent right index finger to his lips.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Boom!
A massive torrent of flames erupted from Kagami Uchiha's mouth, blasting towards Blue B like an arrow with immense force.
"Damn it!" Blue B cursed inwardly. The Tailed Beast chakra flared around him, manifesting two more chakra tails behind him. He had now unleashed six tails' worth of the Eight-Tails' power. Even for him, maintaining this level wouldn't last long.
"If that's the case..."
"Gyuki, I'll leave the rest to you!"
Grimly holding back the onslaught of flames, Blue B sensed the battlefield situation through the Eight-Tails' power. Steeling his resolve and communicating briefly with the Eight-Tails, his body suddenly swelled, transforming into a giant octopus standing over ten meters tall. This was the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's complete Tailed Beast transformation, the true form of the beast.
"Moo—!"
Temporarily freed from the seal, the Eight-Tails, Gyuki, let out a roar before immediately moving towards the main battlefield. Although Blue B wasn't technically a "perfect Jinchuriki" due to issues with the original sealing jutsu user, his relationship with Gyuki was still strong. Therefore, after Blue B fully transformed, Gyuki was willing to help him achieve his goal.
At this moment, the Cloud and Konoha battlefield was in dire straits for the Cloud side. After their formation was split, many Cloud ninjas found themselves facing two or even three Konoha attackers simultaneously. Consequently, Cloud ninja casualties were mounting rapidly. Only the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, or the Third Raikage could potentially salvage the situation.
"Don't think you can escape!"
Blue B could see this, and so could his opponent, Kagami Uchiha. Thus, as Blue B underwent his full transformation, the three tomoe in Kagami Uchiha's pupils began to connect, merging into a complex pattern. This was the highest stage of the Uchiha clan's Sharingan – the Mangekyo Sharingan!
"Susanoo!"
Kagami Uchiha uttered in a low voice. Immense ocular power surged out of his body, forming a gigantic chakra avatar.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The appearance of the two colossal figures, the Eight-Tails and Susanoo, both towering over ten meters tall, shook the very earth. Ninjas fighting too close to their clash were directly caught in the shockwaves, severely injured or killed outright.
"B!"
Meanwhile, the Third Raikage finally noticed the deteriorating situation on the battlefield after Blue B's full transformation. He immediately tried to disengage from Hiruzen Sarutobi to go support Blue B.
Although the Third Raikage's strength was easily comparable to the Eight-Tails, in terms of battlefield presence and intimidation, a Tailed Beast was on a different level than a ninja. The Raikage believed that if Blue B could be freed up, he could inflict massive damage on the Konoha ninjas and turn the tide.
The Third Raikage knew this, and of course, so did Hiruzen Sarutobi. Therefore, Hiruzen also went all out, his real body wielding the Adamantine Staff formed from Enma, clashing fiercely with the Third Raikage.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Under the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, the Third Raikage's body was terrifyingly enhanced. Even tanking Hiruzen's three-element combination ninjutsu left him relatively unharmed. The Adamantine Staff naturally couldn't break his defense either. However, stopping the Raikage's advance was not a problem. Periodically, as the staff clashed with the Raikage's fists and feet, Enma's head, arms, fists, and feet would emerge from the staff itself, attacking the Raikage alongside Hiruzen.
"Damn it!"
The Third Raikage roared in fury, but he simply couldn't shake off Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And the Eight-Tails was completely entangled by Kagami Uchiha's Susanoo, unable to break free. This meant the only one currently capable of rescuing the Cloud forces from their predicament was the Two-Tails Jinchuriki fighting Sasuke Sarutobi.
"Roar!"
Eerie blue chakra erupted. Following Gyuki, the Two-Tails, Matatabi, also underwent a full Tailed Beast transformation. Caught off guard, Sasuke Sarutobi was instantly knocked back. After repelling Sasuke, Matatabi didn't pursue him but instead charged towards the main battlefield.
Woosh! Woosh! Woosh!
Matatabi's form, while smaller than Gyuki or Kagami's Susanoo, still stood seven or eight meters tall – a terrifyingly large monster to ordinary ninjas. Furthermore, blue chakra flames wreathed Matatabi's body. As it charged, any ninjas struck or trampled were instantly incinerated to ash by the blue fire.