Third kazekage shot

"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!"

"Wind Style: Wind Cutter!"

"Wind Style: Gale Claw!"

Across the battlefield, Namikaze Minato weaved through the chaos, unleashing a relentless barrage of Wind Style ninjutsu. These C-ranked techniques, though ordinary, were perfect for their purpose. Their low chakra consumption and potent slicing force allowed Minato to kill waves of Genin like a whirlwind.

The only drawback? Their limited range. But for Minato range was a minor concern. His true strength lay in his unparalleled speed.

"Brat, show some respect!"

Witnessing Minato's ruthless slaughter of their comrades, a squad of Sand Shinobi elites surged forward, bristling with murderous intent. A Jounin, flanked by three elite Chuunin, surrounded the lone Konohagakure Elite Chuunin.

A wry smile flickered across Minato's face. "Finally, some worthy opponents."

Unfazed by the odds, Minato retrieved several throwing stars, positioning them before his mouth. He then unleashed a torrent of bright blue Wind Chakra, enveloping the weapons. The blades pulsed with a crackling energy, transforming them into deadly projectiles.

"Wind Style: Chakra Stream!"

The Sand Shinobi's faces contorted in shock. Being masters of Wind Style themselves, they recognized this forbidden technique. Renowned for its immense power and immense difficulty, only a handful of their Jounin elite could even dream of mastering it.

This fight was about to take a sharp turn.

The sight of the forbidden Wind Style jutsu forming on a mere Konohagakure kid sent a jolt of terror through the Sand Shinobi. "First strike!" the Jounin bellowed, a sheen of sweat slicking his brow. "Don't let him unleash that technique!"

The other Sand ninjutsu users shared his urgency. They knew all too well the devastating power of Wind Style: Chakra Stream.

A cruel smirk played on Minato's lips as he witnessed the Sand Shinobi's frantic scramble. With a flick of his wrist, he launched the shuriken, each one a blur of blue wind.

"Impossible! The jutsu formation is too fast!" The Jounin's voice strained with panic. It was already too late. The Wind Style shuriken ripped through the air at blinding speed, their whistling passage the last sound the Elite Chuunin heard before darkness claimed them. Only the Jounin, with a desperate lunge, managed to evade the deadly hail.

But his reprieve was short-lived. A kunai materialized in Minato's hand, the familiar blue chakra swirling at its tip, solidifying into a deadly Wind Style kunai dagger. Despair clouded the Jounin's eyes as he realized the futility of resistance.

Meanwhile, Uzumaki Kushina, not to be outdone, unleashed her own brand of fury on the battlefield. Her prodigious chakra reserves and honed physical prowess allowed her to decimate the Sand ranks, sending them sprawling with each powerful blow. When faced with tougher opponents, the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques came into play, leaving them utterly subdued.

However, despite their impressive display, both Minato and Kushina were overshadowed by the spectacle unfolding in the distance. A figure, shrouded in an aura of raw power, roared in defiance:

"Eight Inner Gates, Open! 

"Eight Inner Gates, Third Gate, Open!"

"Eight Inner Gates, Life Gate, Open!"

Senju Nawaki unleashed a whirlwind of fury. With a single breath, he activated the first three gates of the Eight Inner Gates technique, his physical prowess surging dramatically. But he wasn't finished.

"Earth Style: Hardening!" A torrent of Earth Chakra coursed through Nawaki's body, darkening his skin and granting it a metallic sheen. This Earth Style jutsu not only bolstered his defense but also significantly enhanced his strength.

Nawaki roared, channeling his chakra into his right fist and unleashing a devastating blow – Tsunade's signature technique, the Force Fist!

The combined might of Nawaki's chakra reserves, his Senju clan physique, the Eight Inner Gates, Earth Style hardening, and the Force Fist created a force comparable to several exploding tags. A group of Sand Shinobi were obliterated in the blast, their bodies and organs sent flying.

If Uzumaki Kushina was a human armored vehicle, Senju Nawaki was a human tank! The sight of his power left even Sand Jonin speechless, their breath catching in their throats.

"Nawaki… I haven't seen him in years, and he's become this strong," Aizen muttered, a hint of surprise flickering across his face as he observed Nawaki's dominance from afar.

However, the surprise quickly faded as he considered the other rising stars. Aizen, Minato, and Nawaki all possessed exceptional talent. While Aizen and Minato excelled in soul-based techniques (likely ninjutsu and genjutsu), Nawaki's strength lay in his physical prowess.

Chakra, after all, is the harmonious blend of physical and spiritual energy. But in general, ninjas with superior physical fitness had an advantage in refining chakra.

Aizen, confident in his own impending promotion to Jonin, knew there was no need to rush. The same applied to Minato.

Suddenly snapping out of his contemplation, Aizen focused on the task at hand. He gripped the hilt of his katana, Kyoka Suigetsu, hanging diagonally across his chest. With a determined glint in his eyes, he unleashed its power.

Kyoka Suigetsu emitted a soft hum as its blade pulsed with a blue light. This spectacle wasn't missed by those keeping a watchful eye on Aizen.

Taking advantage of the Rain Country's naturally misty environment, Aizen effortlessly conjured a thick fog that blanketed a radius of several hundred meters. Within this swirling mist, he initiated his genjutsu – a technique specifically designed to manipulate his opponents' perceptions.

Disoriented by the refracted light and mental distortion caused by the mist, Sand Shinobi within the area began to turn on each other, their confusion leading to a bloody clash.

Aizen, shrouded in the fog, lurked with his blade, a predator waiting for the opportune moment to strike against the most formidable Sand Shinobi.

Meanwhile, at Konohagakure's temporary headquarters, Nara Shikaku, an elder of the Nara clan and their leader on the Rain Country front, couldn't help but express his admiration to Jiraiya standing beside him.

"Lord Jiraiya, your students are truly gifted! While I initially believed Minato and Nawaki's talents were unparalleled, I wouldn't have expected Aizen and Uzumaki Kushina to be on par with them!"

Shikaku, having witnessed Minato and Nawaki's development over the past two years, held them in high regard. He secretly considered them the pinnacle of Konohagakure's new generation. But the emergence of Aizen and Kushina, displaying equal prowess, forced him to reassess his evaluation.

Jiraiya, despite his playful response with a hearty laugh, couldn't conceal the pride brimming in his eyes. The rise of Konohagakure's new generation was undeniably shifting the tide of the battlefield.

Outmatched and overwhelmed, the Sand Shinobi army began to crumble under the relentless pressure of Konohagakure's forces. The fortified city, once a presumed defensive advantage, offered little protection against a relentless ninja onslaught.

Within a mere half-hour, the Sand Shinobi army teetered on the brink of collapse, a development that forced the Third Kazekage to take drastic measures.