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"Sasuke has certainly learned a lot from you, Kakashi," Kurenai remarked as she revealed her true form.
Because their opponents were Uchiha, she had stayed out of the fight for most of the time, instead sneaking back to where the Anger of the Heavens was released earlier and bringing back the dazed Hotaru.
As a Konoha ninja, they also had to complete the mission to rescue the Tsuchigumo Clan. Kakashi glanced at the trembling Hotaru, who was clutching onto En, then calmly drew another kunai from his pouch, holding it in a reverse grip. "I don't feel any pride in this right now. I'll take the lead, Kurenai, you provide support, and the others will seal off all escape routes."
Kurenai nodded.
As a fully qualified Jonin under Konoha's strict promotion standards, even without using genjutsu, her taijutsu and ninjutsu were at Jonin level. Otherwise, she would have been labeled as a Tokubetsu Jonin.
Supporting Kakashi in an offensive was simple enough for her.
The other Konoha Twelve members also followed orders, spreading out to further restrict Sasuke's movement.
Boom!
In the distance, Guy and Gensou clashed again with explosive force.
With a swift "whoosh," Kakashi and Kurenai, moving in perfect synchronization, charged at Sasuke from both sides using the Body Flicker Technique.
Sasuke knew he couldn't afford to be careless.
He had heard Kurenai's earlier comment.
Indeed, the tactic of using ninjutsu to obscure vision and then seizing the opportunity to deploy a new technique was something he had learned from Kakashi a long time ago.
However, Kakashi usually used Earth-Style Wall to obscure the enemy's vision, then deployed Shadow Clone Jutsu, leaving the clone behind while he hid the real body, ready to strike at the right moment.
As a tactician who often used his head, this was Kakashi's usual approach.
Many enemies had fallen prey to this tactic.
Sasuke had just employed a similar strategy.
He hadn't used Shadow Clones, though, mainly because his chakra reserves were running low.
Unlike Naruto, who could afford to waste chakra freely, Sasuke was very cautious with its usage.
But in front of Kakashi, a trick that worked once wouldn't work twice.
Under heavy pressure, Sasuke, with his blade crackling with lightning, didn't retreat. Instead, he advanced, launching an attack as Kakashi and Kurenai approached.
To avoid collateral damage, Guy had purposefully lured Gensou to another location for their battle from the very beginning.
Noticing that the nearby area included a pond, Gensou went along with Guy's intentions.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Dodging Guy's punches and kicks with a large backstep, Gensou formed hand seals. A massive water dragon rose from the lake and lunged at Guy.
"Even his Water Style is this proficient?" Guy thought as he punched through the water dragon with a flurry of blows.
He had brought this "Uchiha Uzumaki" to the water's edge, partly to limit his Fire Style.
But it turned out that, despite usually awakening fire-affinity chakra, this Uchiha was equally skilled in Water Style.
Rain from the shattered water dragon poured down, drenching the battlefield.
With the heavy burden of maintaining the Seventh Gate, Guy wasted no time and charged at Gensou once more.
Bam, bam, bam!
After a few intense exchanges, Gensou's figure exploded, transforming into a stream of water.
"A water clone," Guy narrowed his eyes, quickly spinning and kicking the Gensou who appeared behind him, shattering the clone into water once again.
For the next few moments, using the ample water supply from the pond, Gensou repeatedly formed water clones, launching attack after attack against Guy.
As Guy grew impatient, readying a powerful move to take down the hidden Gensou in one decisive blow...
Bang!
Guy instinctively shattered the water clone that rushed at him. Then, out of habit, he swept This right leg back, preparing to deal with the clone behind him.
But this time, his foot made solid contact.
"There's a real body behind me!" Guy's expression changed slightly. He was about to counterattack when he noticed the water from the shattered clone falling in front of him, reflecting Gensou's image behind him.
Their eyes met.
Mangekyō Sharingan's genjutsu activated!
Guy froze for a split second.
"Got him," Gensou muttered, relaxing slightly. But then he noticed Guy's body twitch, as if he was about to break free.
His brow furrowed, and without hesitation, Gensou delivered a powerful kick that sent Guy flying off Katsuragi Mountain. As he rushed to Sasuke's aid, he had a moment to think:
"My Mangekyō Sharingan's genjutsu can only hold Guy for an instant. Is Guy's resistance to genjutsu really that strong?"
"No, it's the Eight Gates!"
The Eight Gates technique unlocks the body's chakra limits, temporarily granting immense
power.
Once the gates are opened, the amount of chakra in the body increases by dozens of times, and the chakra itself becomes extremely volatile.
Genjutsu, by nature, disrupts the target's five senses using chakra, causing them to fall into
illusions.
To break a genjutsu, one only needs to disrupt their internal chakra flow, either by themselves or with someone else's help.
In the Seventh Gate state, Guy's chakra was constantly in a state of violent turmoil. While Mangekyō sharingan's genjutsu could control him for an instant, it would be quickly broken by the rampant chakra within his body.
The only genjutsu that might completely affect Guy in this state would likely be the ones beyond ordinary illusions, like the Mangekyō's special abilities or the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Realizing the danger, Gensou had immediately kicked Guy, who was regaining his senses, off the mountain.
By the time Guy, who couldn't fly, managed to return, it would be too late.
Whoosh!
With Guy no longer keeping him occupied, Gensou dashed rapidly toward Sasuke.
On the perimeter, Neji, through his Byakugan, saw the figure speeding toward them. His face changed, and he turned to assume his Gentle Fist stance.
Boom!
In an instant, Neji was sent flying like a bowling pin, crashing through several walls before coming to a stop.
"So fast!" Neji muttered, stunned by what he had seen through his Byakugan just before he
lost consciousness.
Sasuke's situation was dire.
With Kakashi and Kurenai, two Jonin, attacking him with full force, and the support of the other Konoha Twelve members, Sasuke's injuries were piling up.
His once-dazzling sword now slashed horizontally, temporarily pushing Kurenai back. Breathing heavily, Sasuke prepared to face Kakashi, who was applying relentless pressure.
Sasuke realized he had been mistaken.
Kakashi wasn't as ordinary as he had thought.
On the contrary, Kakashi was quite skilled at handling him.
"I can't hold out much longer."
Sasuke, his chakra nearly depleted, recognized the situation.
Kakashi, sensing the opportunity, moved in.
Just as the two were about to clash, a figure suddenly intervened.
"Well done," Gensou nodded at Sasuke.