Kitsuchi knew he couldn't possibly be a match for the people before him.
He wasn't clear about Naruto's strength, but the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki, B, was just standing there.
After scanning the group, Kitsuchi directly formed hand signs with one hand.
"Earth Release: Sandwich Technique!"
Huge rocks, like crab pincers, clamped down on Naruto from both sides.
Although it was a B-Rank Ninjutsu, this technique's upper limit was quite high.
Now that Kitsuchi had reduced the hand seals and even used one hand, its range and power were much smaller.
But it could still temporarily restrain a Jonin.
Seeing Naruto, even completely wrapped in stone, still maintaining that interested expression, Kitsuchi felt puzzled but also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good, one down!"
Little did he know, the others who heard him didn't take it seriously at all.
This included Yugito, who had only recently joined.
A Jutsu of this level… even she could easily break free from.
"Ninjas of Konoha and Kumogakure, I must ask you to stop here. Next!"
The confident Kitsuchi charged his fist and swung at the group.
Don't be fooled by the Fist Rock Technique looking like just a layer of mud covering the arm… the hardness and weight of these stones, enhanced by high-density Earth Attribute Chakra, had become terrifying.
Coupled with Kitsuchi's own physique, he was confident that even the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki would be sent flying by this punch before fully transforming into a Tailed Beast.
This showed the consistent combat style of Iwagakure's Ninja.
Often, those earth-shattering moves were just for restricting movement, while the real killing blows were hidden in inconspicuous actions.
The target of this punch was the Eight-Tails's Jinchuriki, B.
But Sasuke stepped forward first.
"Let me."
After so much team training, he had almost digested the experience gained from the last battle.
His Three-Tomoe Sharingan fixed on Kitsuchi's figure, clearly capturing his every move.
"Sharingan? From the Uchiha Clan?"
Although Kitsuchi was somewhat out of touch with news, he had heard rumors about the Uchiha Clan's massacre.
But now, with a fight at hand, there was no time for random thoughts.
'Since you want to block, then try to see if you can withstand it.'
Thinking this, he increased the output of his Earth Attribute Chakra a bit more.
The fist covered in what seemed like diamond-hard rock collided with Sasuke's noticeably smaller fist.
[Hasshoken: Wind Fang]
Boom!
Sasuke's body flew back uncontrollably, smashing straight into the nearby rock wall.
It seemed like Kitsuchi had the upper hand.
But his expression turned grim.
At the moment of contact, countless biting forces had directly penetrated the protective rock and struck into his arm.
Crack, crack, crack...
The Fist Rock Technique on his right arm was forcibly terminated. Yellow stones fell away, revealing an arm now covered in dense, fine cracks.
Blood dripped from the cracks.
Kitsuchi held his drooping right arm, looking at the thrown Sasuke with shock and uncertainty.
'What a bizarre Taijutsu!'
'My ever-reliable Fist Rock Technique offered no defense at all against this Taijutsu.'
'But at least, I had taken down another one.'
Just as Kitsuchi thought this, the dust from the impact cleared, and Sasuke, now in his hybrid form, walked out, flexing his wrist.
Black-red flames wreathed his arm, and his werewolf-like face showed a smile.
"Not bad. Let's begin, round two."
"You... what kind of Jutsu is this?"
Looking at the other's completely transformed appearance, Kitsuchi couldn't help but associate it with a Jinchuriki.
'But... is there a wolf among the Nine Tailed Beasts?'
Before he could continue thinking, Sasuke's clawed fist was already upon him.
"Hey... Sasuke, don't go too hard..."
Behind him, Jiraiya, who seemed to have given up, shouted weakly.
He knew well that a fight was unavoidable this time.
But he wasn't too worried.
Look at their lineup.
Two Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit Users, three Jinchuriki, plus himself, a Sage.
To put it bluntly, this force was more than enough to sweep through the Land of Earth.
Of course, the most unstoppable one was Naruto, whose power limit seemed forever out of sight.
Don't ask, just know that they were truly formidable.
Looking at Naruto, whose entire body was restrained by the Sandwich Technique, leaving only his head outside to watch, Jiraiya sighed helplessly.
He knew Naruto must have figured out the opponent's strength and was now waiting for someone worthy of him to appear.
So, who in Iwagakure was worth this kid making a move?
Who else but the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki...
Speak of the devil.
Upon receiving news of intruders and that his son Kitsuchi was holding them off alone, Onoki immediately took flight and rushed towards the village's outskirts.
When he arrived at the scene, he saw Sasuke, transformed into a flaming werewolf, suppressing Kitsuchi single-handedly.
No matter what Earth Release Ninjutsu Kitsuchi used, it wasn't very effective against the defense-penetrating Taijutsu and the flame that decayed inorganic matter.
With one arm injured and forced to form hand seals with one hand, Kitsuchi felt relieved upon seeing Onoki arrive, but his movements slowed for a split second.
This gap was immediately detected by Sasuke, who had learned Observation Haki.
The Calamity Flame turned the rock wall blocking his path into a 'brittle biscuit'.
Then, Sasuke's whole body tensed like a fully drawn bow, his claws carrying flames thrusting towards a specific spot.
If it hit, Kitsuchi wouldn't die, but he would be seriously injured.
"Stop, brat!"
Earth Release: Rock Arm.
Floating in mid-air, Onoki casually formed a hand seal. A giant rock arm emerged from the ground, lifting Kitsuchi up.
Sasuke's attack hit the forearm part of this arm. Under the effect of the Calamity Flame, its structure immediately became brittle.
Onoki lived up to his age, possessing considerable combat experience.
As soon as he felt the rock arm being affected, he increased his Chakra Output.
With the Chakra supplement, the 'brittle and aged' rock arm became sturdy again.
"Strange method..."
Onoki could sense that the flame didn't seem like a Ninjutsu.
While carefully examining Sasuke transformed into Huodou, he didn't notice a head on top of the rock also examining him.
"He's really flying..."
Looking at Onoki floating with both feet off the ground, Naruto's eyes lit up.
This was different from his 'pseudo-flight' that relied on kicking the air.
That casual way of hovering and moving in the air was truly enviable.
Onoki could probably be considered the only Ninja in the Ninja World who could fly without being a Sage or an Otsutsuki.
Of course, at this point in time, he was the only one.
Crack.
The rock encasing Naruto was effortlessly broken free.
The next moment, Naruto's figure appeared below Onoki, even continuously closing in.
"Wow... old man, how are you flying?"
He asked with a serious face, like an elementary school student asking a teacher a question, his face full of curiosity.
'So fast! When did he-?'
Onoki's pupils constricted sharply at being approached so silently.
At this distance, using Dust Release would probably be too late.
Both he and the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, needed some time to gather power when using Dust Release.
That's why they used the Ultralight-Weight Rock Technique to keep themselves in a safe position, acting as 'artillery'.
[Rock Fist Technique]
Like father, like son… their reactions were identical.
Rock covered his fist, smashing towards Naruto.
Onoki's Rock Fist Technique was much stronger than Kitsuchi's.
Boom!
The rock fist was caught bare-handed by Naruto.
'Incredible strength! But it's not over yet!'
Onoki was also shocked by the monstrous strength Naruto displayed. Most importantly, Naruto was still in mid-air! So he wondered where was he borrowing force to resist.
Unbeknownst to him, the air under Naruto's feet was being stomped with explosive sounds.
"Earth Release: Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Technique!"
The Ninjutsu took effect. The already terrifying weight of the fist rock increased again, violently pressing Naruto down towards the ground.