Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 432: Self-Inflicted Misfortune

Nagato was about to throw out another harsh remark, but he had no time.

Just as he opened his mouth, Minato's powerful whip kick was already in his face.

He instinctively wanted to use Shinra Tensei but held back, raising his arms to block the attack.

"So heavy!"

Nagato felt firsthand the power boost Sage Mode had given Minato as he was sent flying.

Boom!

He crashed into the yellow earth, stirring up a massive cloud of dust.

"That strong?"

Rōshi's eyes widened in disbelief. When did this yellow-haired kid from Konoha become so powerful?

Kitsuchi was just as stunned, his mouth slightly agape. Landing a hit on Nagato wasn't shocking in itself, but this was the first time anyone had gained the upper hand in a direct confrontation.

Even if he didn't want to admit it, he knew Minato was now in an entirely different league.

"Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasengan!"

To make the act convincing, Minato had to press the advantage.

A massive Rasengan formed in his hands, radiating terrifying energy. Rōshi could tell that even a fully transformed Tailed Beast would struggle to withstand such an attack, though Kitsuchi, lacking a Tailed Beast, didn't perceive the full danger. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"Damn it, is he trying to kill me?"

Nagato groaned internally as he got up, watching Minato charge toward him.

Despite his complaints, he wouldn't actually let Minato hit him. Taking a kick was one thing, but getting smashed by that Rasengan? Even if no one suspected he was holding back, his body might not survive it.

"Blocking Technique Absorption Seal!"

An invisible barrier formed around Nagato as Minato slammed the Sage-enhanced Rasengan down without hesitation.

"What a shame."

Rōshi frowned as he watched the Rasengan shrink away, though he wasn't surprised.

If Nagato were that easy to take down, he and Kitsuchi might as well give up being shinobi.

"It's not over yet!"

Kitsuchi's tone was excited as he spotted a figure rapidly descending from above.

In his hands was a normal-sized Rasengan.

Blonde hair, a confident smile—it was Minato's clone.

Neither Rōshi nor Kitsuchi had noticed when Minato had used the Clone Technique.

"As expected of you."

Nagato's lips moved slightly in a silent acknowledgment. Only now did he fully grasp Minato's intent.

"Can't be helped—you're just too strong."

Minato mouthed back, his face full of mock helplessness.

"No way!"

Their brief exchange ended as the Big Ball Rasengan was completely absorbed.

Nagato looked up, feigning shock, his voice even cracking slightly. The calm demeanor from before was gone.

"I told you—I'm avenging Sensei's wife."

Minato added a dramatic flair to his words, and to Rōshi and Kitsuchi, it looked effortlessly cool.

Boom!

In front of everyone, Nagato was slammed into the ground by Minato's clone.

The Rasengan exploded on impact, carving a massive crater into the battlefield.

"Don't waste this chance!"

Rōshi didn't hesitate—whatever condition Nagato was in, he wasn't letting up.

Taking a deep breath, he rapidly formed hand seals.

Seeing this, Kitsuchi followed suit, pressing his palms to the ground.

"Lava Release: Scorching Stream Rock Technique!"

"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spears!"

Rōshi spewed out several massive magma spheres, launching them straight into the crater. Minato swiftly stepped aside to avoid getting caught in the blast.

The magma balls exploded, expanding the pit even further.

Immediately after, countless stone spikes erupted from the ground, stabbing into the crater's depths.

The smooth execution of their combo was impressive—even Minato felt a twinge of concern for Nagato, wondering if they'd gone too far.

If something really happened, he'd have to step in, even if it meant blowing his cover.

"You've officially pissed me off."

A powerful gust of Wind Release blew the dust away, and Nagato's voice echoed from the pit.

"He's still alive?!"

Rōshi felt a chill down his spine.

"Move!"

Minato let out a breath of relief—time to act again. He shouted at Rōshi and Kitsuchi before vanishing, showing no intention of helping them.

He hadn't expected these two to be so eager with their finishing moves. At least it gave Nagato a chance to vent some frustration.

"Five Release Great Combo Technique!"

The moment Minato's voice faded, a massive, multi-elemental attack surged toward Rōshi and Kitsuchi.

Above the crater, five ragged-looking Nagato clones hovered, their clothes tattered, bloodstains marking their bodies. They actually looked injured.

His red hair whipped in the wind, and the fierce glow in his Rinnegan was undeniable.

"There's no dodging this."

"Earth Release: Adamantine Golem!"

"Lava Release: Granite Armor!"

Though Rōshi and Kitsuchi weren't the strongest shinobi, they weren't blind.

They instantly recognized that the incoming attack had too large a range to evade.

With no other choice, they poured all their chakra into their most powerful defensive techniques.

There was no time to think about what would happen if they survived but had no chakra left.

If they were drained, they'd be sitting ducks.

At that point, their only hope was that Minato would step in—and that he could actually stop Nagato.

As Kitsuchi infused the ground with chakra, a massive rock golem formed, shielding them both.

Rōshi's magma barrier couldn't stack with it, so it became the first line of defense.

"Looks like he's really mad."

"Guess that's on me."

Minato muttered to himself, thinking he should apologize to Nagato later.

As for Rōshi and Kitsuchi's survival? That was on them.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion roared across the battlefield as the Five-Element Barrage crashed into the lava wall, sending shockwaves everywhere.

Every shinobi on the battlefield turned to look, hearts pounding.

So this... is the true power of Akatsuki's Nagato?

Lord Nagato is terrifying!

The magma barrier shattered almost instantly, its fragments shooting out like burning shrapnel.

No one wanted to be anywhere near those searing projectiles.

It had barely lasted two seconds before collapsing, but at least it had weakened the incoming attack.

Unfortunately, the rock golem—Kitsuchi and Rōshi's last hope—was struggling.

Even after the elemental barrage had been somewhat weakened, it was still beyond Kitsuchi's ability to withstand.

If it had been Ōnoki, maybe things would've been different.

Flames engulfed the rock golem, leaving Rōshi and Kitsuchi at the mercy of the explosion.

When the dust finally settled, only scattered embers flickered across the battlefield.

There was no trace of the rock golem—only two barely breathing figures lying motionless in the dirt.

"Get them out of here! I'll hold him off!"

Minato, now fully in character, rushed toward the five Nagato clones, shouting for nearby shinobi to evacuate Rōshi and Kitsuchi.

If they could still be saved, they should be.

After all, it wasn't time to get rid of them just yet.

That revenge? It was best left to Fugaku Uchiha.