"You're asking for it!" Inagawa Akahide roared.
He swung a furious fist at Ebara's face.
Ebara, expecting it, dodged and slid back.
The sudden clash stunned the four ninjas nearby.
They couldn't fathom why Akahide would attack the warden.
But before they could process it, a long mane of white hair swept toward them like a whip.
"Lion's Mane Jutsu!"
They couldn't resist, entangled tightly.
They lost balance, flung into the air, and crashed into trees.
Pain overwhelmed them, sapping their strength.
Jiraiya, emerging from the genin's shadow, still in his Iwa disguise, had struck.
Ebara dropped his transformation, reverting to Daibi Toji.
"Daibi Toji! Shobi Saiji! I knew you were up to no good!" Akahide snarled.
"No more talk. Iwa wants those two women," Ebara said. "Step aside, and we'll pretend this never happened. Block us, and our villages meet on the battlefield."
"Daydreaming!" a voice shouted from behind Akahide.
Figures appeared, led by Ueto Miya, with a dozen chunin surrounding Ebara's group.
"Brother Ueto, fancy seeing you," Ebara said casually, unfazed by the encirclement.
"Daibi Toji, nice acting. You fooled me earlier," Ueto said.
He'd genuinely thought Ebara and Jiraiya were buffoons (Chapter 49).
His cautious nature led him to check on them before resting, but he couldn't reach their watchers.
At their room, he found only two unconscious bar girls (Chapter 49).
Suspecting an assassination attempt on Tomo Hikari, he rushed to the Flame Shadow's home.
Tomo was fine.
They realized Ebara and Jiraiya arrived soon after Kushina (Chapter 48), likely for her.
Tomo sent Ueto with reinforcements.
"Not bad, third in the ninja world," Ebara said modestly.
Ueto drew his sword. "Those women are high-priority prisoners. I can't let you take them."
Ebara shrugged. "Can't explain to the Flame Shadow? Then don't."
In his mind, he commanded, "System, use the Second Tsuchikage Mu Experience Card!"
[Second Tsuchikage Mu Experience Card: Grants peak Mu's strength for 10 minutes. Can be used multiple times until time runs out!]
It was Ebara's reward from the last choice (Chapter 50).
[Use Successful! Host gains Kage-level strength!]
A vast, ocean-like power surged into Ebara.
He felt like a human tailed beast, brimming with endless energy.
He could raze Yoen Village if he wanted.
"Is this what being a powerhouse feels like? Damn, it's awesome!" Ebara muttered.
He vanished from his spot.
Capture the leader first.
Like a silent wind, he appeared before Akahide and Ueto, seals already formed.
"Earth Style: Twin Rock Fists!"
His fists, coated in heavy stone, could crush boulders.
They slammed toward Akahide and Ueto.
The two jonin froze in terror.
They never imagined Ebara's strength.
They tried to dodge, but it was futile.
Mere jonin against a super-Kage.
Boom!
The rock fists struck, sending them flying ten meters into the woods.
Crack, crack, crack!
Trees snapped as they crashed through seven or eight.
Blood sprayed from their mouths.
Akahide and Ueto struggled to rise, but their chests were shattered, bones piercing organs.
Pain left them speechless, unable to stand.
This was super-Kage power—two jonin down in a blink.
Yoen's ninjas barely reacted.
Even Jiraiya was dumbfounded. When did Ebara get this strong?
Sawako and Kushina, one older, one younger, stared in disbelief, struggling to grasp the situation.
After dropping Akahide and Ueto, Ebara didn't stop.
He shattered the rock on his fists and formed new seals.
"Earth Style: Rock Arm!"
A massive hand erupted from the ground, sweeping the dozen ninjas.
Most didn't react, flung away, out of commission.
The few who did fled in panic.
But the rock arm outsped them.
Bang, bang, bang!
Like whacking moles, it smashed the stragglers into the earth.
"Done!" Ebara said, dusting his hands.
He told the system, "Turn off the card. How long did I use?"
[Five seconds!]
"Not bad for a five-second man!" Ebara smirked.
Mu's card was his trump card, letting him dominate the ninja world.
But with only ten minutes, he had to use it wisely.
"Let's go. We can't stay," he said to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya nodded, glancing at the prison, now lit with torches.
"They've noticed the commotion."
"Then quit standing around. Run!" Ebara said, scooping up Sawako and sprinting.
"Ah!" Sawako yelped, unprepared, her face as red as her waist-long hair.
Ebara grinned inwardly. Never seen a guy this fast, huh?
In the dark, he saw clearly.
Sawako's "assets" were big and bright.
He couldn't look away.
So he made the classic pervert choice: be a Cao Cao.
Kushina, left behind, panicked. "Auntie! Auntie!"
"Auntie? Not her mom?" Ebara asked.
"Mm…" Sawako murmured.
(Note: Jonin are split into regular and elite; Kage-level into regular Kage and super-Kage, with the Third Hokage as the benchmark—similar strength is regular Kage, stronger is super-Kage. God-level: Hashirama, Madara, Nagato, in that order; Nagato's weaker but above super-Kage. Six Paths-level: Hagoromo, Hamura, Ten-Tails Jinchuriki Obito and Madara, and soul-enhanced Naruto, Sasuke, and double-Sharingan Kakashi. Otsutsuki-level: Kaguya, Isshiki, Momoshiki, Urashiki.)