"Assault!" Uchiha shouted. Before Raizen could process, a dark figure surged from the trees: a Hyuga ninja in full attack stance.
"Eight Trigrams·Sixty-Four Palms!"
Hands blurred into afterimages, striking Uchiha with devastating force. Trees snapped like twigs. Uchiha's body slammed into a tree before vanishing into smoke.
"Clone Technique!" the Hyuga called, Byakugan scanning all angles.
Raizen and Madara readied their Kuwu, back-to-back. Shadows leapt from the woods—two Hyuga and a Ueshi clan ninja, a force that immediately demanded respect. One was clearly Jōnin level; the other two special Jōnin.
"How did the Hyuga get here?" Uchiha thought, terror mingling with calculation.
The leading Hyuga ninja charged Uchiha, while the other two rushed Raizen and Madara.
"Madara, ready!" Raizen called.
"Hah! Don't need you to tell me!" Madara shot back, fingers gripping kunai.
Raizen smirked, shaping clay into a giant bird and leaping skyward.
"Amamiya Raizen, you idiot!" Madara shouted, frustrated at his reckless flair.
"Watch your back!" Raizen tossed a clay biplane toward the rushing Hyuga ninjas.
The clay zipped through the air. Byakugan detected the chakra, and the Hyuga responded: "Revolving Heaven!"
Chakra whirled around the attackers, neutralizing the initial assault.
Raizen cursed inwardly. Attacking in open sight of Byakugan was nearly suicidal.
Explosions, fireballs, and detonating clay filled the battlefield. Grasshopper units leapt, but were crushed by Eight Trigrams Air Palm before reaching the enemy.
Raizen's thoughts raced: "Advantage in the sky—can't kill him fast. Better deal with the other one first!"
The Hyuga ninja pivoted, abandoning Raizen, and charged at Madara.