"The White Fang-senpai is in danger—and in serious danger. That jutsu is an esoteric-level Water Release technique," Minato said with a grave expression. When it came to understanding this technique, aside from Rin, he was the most familiar with it.
"Esoteric level…? Isn't that beyond S-rank? Uzumaki Rin can actually use a jutsu that powerful? Minato, you're not joking, are you?" Yamanaka Inoichi asked in shock.
"Look over there—besides Rin, is there anyone else?" Minato replied. "This esoteric-level Water Release is called Nine Dragons Vortex Formation. It's a jutsu Rin developed himself. After evaluation by the Third Hokage, it was classified as an esoteric-level technique.
"What you're seeing now is only the first half of the jutsu. It uses violently rotating and compressing water currents to trap the target, forcing them to remain at the vortex's core. Its attack power hasn't even reached its peak yet.
"When the nine water dragons rise to the highest point, merge into a single massive dragon, and then descend with overwhelming force onto the vortex core—that's the second half. That's when the true power of an esoteric-level jutsu is unleashed.
"If the White Fang-senpai hasn't escaped the vortex before that final impact…" Minato didn't finish, but everyone understood what that meant.
"Father… you can do it," Kakashi muttered, clenching his fists as he stared at the nine ascending water dragons.
As time passed, the nine dragons climbed higher and higher until they reached their peak.
A resonant roar echoed—
The nine water dragons collided and rapidly fused into a single, even larger dragon.
After fully merging, the colossal water dragon only revealed its head before plunging downward at terrifying speed, diving straight toward the vortex core. From the outside, all anyone could see was the towering column of water collapsing downward—they couldn't see what was happening inside.
Only Hatake Sakumo himself knew the pressure he was facing.
Even before the dragon struck, the descending air pressure alone had already pinned him firmly at the center of the vortex. Moving even slightly required immense effort.
As time passed, the pressure of the surrounding air grew heavier and heavier, as if the entire space had been sealed.
"This is bad… White Fang-senpai might already be unable to move," Minato suddenly said, his brows tightly furrowed.
"What do you mean?" everyone asked anxiously.
"In the second phase of this jutsu, the air inside is compressed, generating overwhelming pressure. Anyone at the vortex core will be subjected to that pressure and unable to move," Minato explained.
"Then make Uzumaki Rin stop the jutsu! It can't continue!" Inoichi immediately understood and turned to Minato. Among them, only he might be able to persuade Rin.
"It can't be stopped. Once Nine Dragons Vortex Formation enters its second phase, it's uncontrollable," Minato shook his head. He was also thinking of a solution, but faced with the rapidly rotating and compressed water barrier, even Flying Thunder God couldn't get him inside.
If only he had stopped Rin earlier… now it was too late.
"Damn it…"
While everyone worried for Sakumo, Rin himself was also beginning to feel uneasy—had he overdone it?
"Uncle White Fang, want me to pull you out?" Rin shouted toward the vortex. He had already placed a Flying Thunder God mark—he could extract Sakumo instantly.
But just as he spoke, before he could activate the technique, an immense surge of Lightning Release chakra erupted from the vortex core.
Even from outside, Rin could clearly sense that overwhelming lightning chakra.
"Draw Technique—Heaven-Splitting Thunder Blade Slash!"
As the massive water dragon descended, Sakumo, feeling the crushing air pressure, began channeling all his chakra into the sheath of his blade. The White Fang within gradually changed color—from pure white to a brilliant silver-blue—as immense Lightning Release chakra filled the blade.
When the gathered chakra grew so powerful that even the sheath could no longer contain it, arcs of electricity crackling all around, Sakumo let out a roar and drew the blade, slashing forward.
The moment the White Fang left its sheath, the oppressive air pressure binding him vanished. More precisely, the air around him had been blasted away by the sheer force of the draw.
Everything in the blade's path—air and compressed water alike—was cleaved apart instantly.
Then, the Lightning Release chakra erupted. A massive, silver-blue blade formed entirely of chakra appeared, slashing against the rotating water barrier in the opposite direction of its spin.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
A thunderous explosion resounded as the high-speed water currents collided with the chakra blade, unleashing terrifying force.
Even an esoteric-level jutsu could not remain unaffected under such an attack.
Although the enormous water dragon in the sky continued its descent largely unimpeded, the internal air pressure had already collapsed.
The moment the water barrier was cut open, the extremely compressed air inside found an outlet and burst outward violently.
Riding that explosive airflow, Sakumo's figure shot out of the vortex.
However, his condition wasn't good—blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his entire right arm had turned pitch black.
Seeing this, Rin immediately threw a special kunai and used Flying Thunder God to teleport Sakumo to where Asuma and the others were.
At that exact moment, the massive water dragon slammed into the ground.
BOOM!!!
An overwhelming explosion of power erupted.
After setting Sakumo down, Rin immediately stepped forward and formed hand seals.
"Summoning Jutsu—Triple Rashomon!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!!!
Three deafening crashes rang out as three enormous bronze gates rose up in front of everyone.
In the next instant, a devastating shockwave swept across the area, while torrents of water surged outward on both sides, carrying debris, broken stones, and shattered wood.
Only after everything settled and Rin dispelled the jutsu did everyone clearly see the aftermath.
Gasp—
All of them sucked in a cold breath.
The training ground was gone.
Even the surrounding forest within a kilometer had been completely wiped out.
Before them lay a massive vortex-shaped crater, at least twenty meters deep at its lowest point.
If Rin hadn't blocked the final explosion of Nine Dragons Vortex Formation, they might not have died—but they definitely wouldn't be standing here unharmed.
"Cough… what terrifying power…" Sakumo coughed lightly as he spoke.