I, Konoha's Sage of Life-Chapter 136: Have You Ever Heard of "Blossoming from the Center"?

Chapter 136 - 136: Have You Ever Heard of "Blossoming from the Center"?

"Kyoichi-sama, what about us?"

"You're going to battle too. Even if you're not strong enough for direct combat, you can at least throw shuriken from the back, right?"

The Sealing Team were also combat assets.

More importantly...

What if Iwa-nin decided to counterattack and raid their camp?

So...

The best solution was—

Everyone joined the battle, leaving no opening for a sneak attack.

The Sealing Team hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded in agreement.

Kyoichi sealed the gap in the barrier and then formed hand seals, sending the small slugs that had separated from the larger one crawling toward the various Konoha shinobi in the camp.

The slug he summoned this time was massive—though not as large as the one Tsunade could summon at full power, it wasn't far off. However...

It was still just a fragment of the original entity from the Shikkotsu Forest.

Even so...

When it dispersed and spread out, the number of slugs was still insufficient.

But Kyoichi needed to conserve chakra. He still had to face Ōnoki, and he had to be in peak condition for that battle.

Quickly...

Kyoichi made his decision.

He guided the slugs with more precision, prioritizing key targets.

Each child received one.

Next were the elite combat squads assigned to spearhead the attack.

It still wasn't enough, but he did everything he could to cover those in the greatest danger. After that, he left behind a shadow clone.

"Kyoichi, you only have half your chakra left. Facing Ōnoki like this could be extremely risky."

The Third Hokage frowned, visibly concerned.

He understood why Kyoichi left a shadow clone—it was a backup for using the Slug Technique at a critical moment.

But...

What about Kyoichi himself?

"Hokage-sama, that's why I need everyone's help. I'd like the Sealing Team, the Interrogation Corps, and other non-combat ninja to lend me their chakra."

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"Uh..." The Sealing Team, who had just been relieved of guarding Roshi, were speechless.

So this was what he had planned?

Those who had fought alongside Kyoichi in the eastern battles were already used to this.

After all...

In a way, they were like "walking chakra batteries" contributing to Konoha—just in a different way than most shinobi.

"This... It won't harm them, right?"

The Third Hokage hadn't expected such an approach.

"Absolutely not."

As he spoke, Kyoichi grabbed an old acquaintance and began absorbing their chakra. Within moments, the energy he had expended creating his shadow clone was restored.

Chakra Absorption Jutsu really was a fantastic technique!

"...Alright, let's do it."

With all preparations in place, no one objected further.

Asuma looked at Kyoichi from a distance, gripping his trench knives tightly, his face clouded with frustration.

"I'd advise you not to overthink it. If sensei wants to do something, no one can stop him. And if he doesn't want to, no one can force him. This decision isn't the Hokage's idea—it's his own."

Shisui spoke quietly beside him.

Asuma froze for a moment before muttering, "Was I that obvious?"

"It's practically written on your face."

Kurenai sighed. "Let's go. This time, sensei won't be looking out for us, and it's going to be a real fight. Everyone needs to be careful."

The three of them fell silent.

It wasn't as if they'd never fought before.

From the sea battles to the Land of Earth, they had already experienced plenty of combat—but never once without Kyoichi by their side. As long as their teacher was there, they had always believed they would be safe.

However...

Now, Kyoichi was going to face Ōnoki and wouldn't have time to protect them. Although he had left a shadow clone behind, that clone's priority was to support those under the Slug's influence.

This battle... they would have to handle on their own!

The three of them tightened their grips on their weapons.

"Move out!"

Whoosh—

The entire force left the camp, including the medical nin, who carried their equipment as they followed. Asuma and the others stuck together, but behind them...

Maruboshi Kosuke watched the young shinobi with his lone right eye, reminiscing about the past.

His hand rested on his sword hilt, lost in thought.

"This time... I will protect you."

...

"What are you all doing here?"

Kyoichi walked at the front, accompanied by four ANBU.

There was no need to ask.

From their masks and their voices, he could immediately tell it was Gekko Hayate and his squad.

"The Hokage ordered us to support you and ensure your safety." Gekko Hayate stated simply.

"That's unnecessary. Just focus on taking down enemies."

"No. This is the Hokage's direct order!"

Gekko Hayate was stubborn.

The other three refused to leave as well, especially Kohinata Mukai, who had finally glimpsed a light in the darkness and wasn't about to let it slip away.

They all understood how powerful Ōnoki was.

Dust Release, Weighted Boulder Jutsu, Lightened Boulder Jutsu...

Simply put—

Kyoichi had zero room for error. If he got hit by the Weighted Boulder Jutsu, his speed advantage would be completely negated.

The presence of Gekko Hayate's team was meant to prevent that.

Kyoichi sighed.

Most of the time, these four would listen to him. But obviously, this was one of the exceptions. No matter what he said, they wouldn't leave.

He had no choice but to say, "Don't assume I'm reckless. I'm not going to engage Ōnoki in direct combat. So unless it's absolutely necessary, do not interfere in my fight with him."

More than anyone, Kyoichi understood the terror of Dust Release.

It was a Kekkei Tōta that could erase even Madara's Susanoo with ease!

"Yes!"

...

The rain poured down in torrents.

Ōnoki and Kitsuchi returned from their patrol.

Over the past few days, Ōnoki's back pain had finally subsided, and after much consideration, he was no longer worried about Kyoichi's floating, free-moving explosive tag technique.

The only real problem...

Was lightning.

Dust Release could counter it, but he couldn't rely on Dust Release for everything.

"We can't let our guard down until the rain stops."

"Yes!"

As soon as Kitsuchi returned, he issued orders to the troops.

The Kusa-nin battle had made one thing abundantly clear—if the weather conditions were right, Konoha could unleash that terrifying Lightning Release technique.

Unless they found a way to counter it, they had to be on high alert for a surprise attack.

And as it turned out...

Their caution was justified. Not long after, an Iwa Chūnin rushed back using Earth Release.

"Tsuchikage-sama, Konoha is attacking!"

"As expected! Move out!"

Onoki was furious.

He knew Konoha wouldn't let this opportunity slip—

If he were in their position, he wouldn't either.

Rain enhanced Water Release and Lightning Release, though it weakened Fire Release. But in truth, fire didn't do much damage to Earth Release anyway.

So...

This weather was perfect for Konoha.

The entire Iwagakure camp sprang into action.

All Iwa shinobi stationed in the Land of Grass advanced, preparing to defend against Konoha's assault.

However...

Onoki wasn't planning for an all-out battle. His goal was to repel Konoha and endure the rainy conditions.

This kind of weather was the last thing Onoki wanted for a battlefield.

But...

The moment he arrived at the front lines, Onoki knew he could no longer cling to wishful thinking—Konoha had even brought medical-nin to the battlefield.

A decisive battle it was!

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, I didn't expect you to be so aggressive, choosing to face Iwagakure in an all-out war."

Onoki floated forward, speaking coldly.

He was hoping Hiruzen would respond. If the man spoke, he wouldn't be able to control the lightning—such a technique required absolute focus, and there was no way the Third Hokage could afford to split his chakra into Shadow Clones while using it.

However...

Hiruzen didn't appear.

Instead, stepping forward was Kanda Kyoichi—that detestable man.

"Onoki, you and the army behind you... guess where we'll strike first?" Kyoichi said with a smirk.

He had just sensed the battlefield. Minato and the others hadn't arrived yet, so...

He needed to wait a little longer.

Onoki sneered. "You think I haven't figured out your technique after all these days? Controlling lightning requires extreme mastery of Lightning Release. The more precise the target, the higher the skill needed. And you expect that old man Hiruzen to strike me?"

"If I recall correctly, you're the older one here."

Kyoichi stepped forward.

"Age means nothing. Premature decline is entirely possible for someone like Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Both had their own objectives.

Onoki was focused on fortifying his defenses, while Kyoichi was waiting for Minato and the others. So, the two continued their back-and-forth, exchanging words without rushing into battle.

Then—

A surge of lightning erupted in the rear.

Onoki flinched and immediately dropped lower, wary of a direct strike while airborne.

But...

After a few moments, nothing happened.

Clearly...

The enemy wasn't actually using Kirin.

They had only wanted to scare him, but...

It worked.

Onoki took a deep breath and sneered. "Attack!"

In an instant—

A massive earth formation erupted from the ground, engulfing Konoha's vanguard. Two colossal walls of rock closed in with terrifying speed.

Dozens of figures emerged from the forest.

Iwa shinobi launched their full assault, with Onoki leading the charge. A chaotic mass of rock walls and stone barriers severed Kyoichi's retreat completely.

All Iwa shinobi swarmed toward Kyoichi.

"Hahaha! Boy, I was waiting for my technique to be ready. What were you waiting for?"

Onoki laughed, rising into the air.

Still wary of the lightning, he hovered just above the ground. In his hands, a chakra-formed cube began to take shape—

Dust Release!

Meanwhile, the other Iwa shinobi bombarded the area with Earth Release techniques to restrict Kyoichi's movements.

An overwhelming wave of earth jutsu rained down, blasting the ground around him. Yet Kyoichi stood still, smiling as he looked up at Onoki.

"Take a guess."

"Don't let this brat escape with Earth Release! Catch him first, then deal with the others!" Onoki barked.

In the next moment, he ascended directly above Kyoichi and hurled the glowing Dust Release cube downward.

Below—

The entire ground had already been saturated with Iwa's Earth Release chakra.

Escape through Earth Release? Impossible.

But...

What baffled Onoki was that Kyoichi didn't even try to run.

"You know, there's a strategy called 'blossoming from the center.' Its success rate isn't high, but I think I'll give it a shot. Because... I don't think you're strong enough to take me down quickly!"

As soon as he finished speaking—

He extended his hand.

The rain around them plunged into an icy chill.

Raindrops rapidly froze, transforming into hailstones that pelted the enemy forces. Onoki's Dust Release was instantly blocked by an ice barrier that materialized out of nowhere.

"Ice Release! You actually mastered Ice Release?!"

Onoki was in utter disbelief.

Ice Release was a Kekkei Genkai, and Konoha had no known bloodlines capable of using it!

Piecing together all the clues, an ominous realization crept over him.

"You can use Dust Release. Why can't I use Ice Release?"

Mist thickened, swirling across the battlefield.

A chilling voice echoed through the fog.

Kitsuchi launched an Iron Rock Cannon straight at Kyoichi—

But it only struck an afterimage.

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