Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

Facing the massive Iron Sand Triangular Spike, several times larger than himself, Kawakaze did not choose to dodge.

Unable to wield his sword, he relied on his body as the ultimate weapon.

"Sage Art: Fists of Thunder."

Thunderous light enveloped Kawakaze's right fist as the lightning attributes combined with the sheer power of his strike, amplified by his Senjutsu Chakra.

Gathering his strength, he leapt into the air.

In an instant, his fist collided with the Triangular Spike.

Boom!!

With a deafening explosion, the iron sand pyramid shattered into fragments.

Landing smoothly, Kawakaze fixed a cold stare on the stunned Third Kazekage.

"Is that all you've got?" he sneered. "This isn't even close to the Raikage's level."

The Third Kazekage ignored the taunt, his voice low as he muttered, "This power... it's reminiscent of the Third Raikage."

Never had he expected someone from Konoha to master Nintaijutsu to such a degree. Kawakaze's threat level in his mind had surged dramatically. Initially, he'd assumed that without weapons, Kawakaze was akin to a tiger without fangs. Now, it was clear he'd been gravely mistaken.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Triangular Spike."

Snapping out of his shock, the Third Kazekage formed hand seals. The scattered iron sand in the air coalesced once more, forming an even larger and faster-spinning Triangular Spike.

With a loud "whoosh," the menacing weapon hurtled toward Kawakaze.

"You don't think I'm going to take it head-on, do you?" Kawakaze said mockingly, his eyes locked on the Kazekage as if amused by the idea.

In a flash, his figure disappeared. The spinning triangular spike smashed into the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.

The Third Kazekage's expression darkened instantly.

"Your technique is too slow," came Kawakaze's voice from behind him.

In the next moment, Kawakaze closed the distance. The Kazekage turned sharply, his pupils dilating as a massive fist loomed larger in his vision.

A blow from Fists of Thunder struck the tip of his nose.

The Third Kazekage's form disintegrated into a cloud of sand.

He reappeared a short distance away, visibly shaken. The close call left him rattled—had that punch connected, even the iron sand armor surrounding his body would have been insufficient to protect him. The violent lightning Chakra alone would have been devastating.

"Quite a reaction," Kawakaze remarked, unfazed. If the Third Kazekage could be defeated so easily, he wouldn't deserve the title of the "Strongest Kazekage."

"Don't try to argue with me," the Kazekage retorted.

An iron sand-made eye materialized on his shoulder, the very trick that had saved him moments ago.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wings."

From the wings on his back, countless iron sand feathers shot forth, targeting Kawakaze from a distance. These feathers were not only fast, almost imperceptible to the eye, but they also carried a paralytic effect, capable of incapacitating anyone they struck.

However, the Kazekage didn't expect this attack to defeat Kawakaze outright. While the wide-area assault unfolded, he prepared his most powerful Ninjutsu.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!"

Chakra surged as the Third Kazekage flapped his wings, advancing on Kawakaze. Using the iron sand, he constructed a massive barrier adorned with long, piercing thorns. The barrier not only restricted Kawakaze's movement but allowed the Kazekage to move freely within it. His speed increased significantly, giving him a distinct advantage.

Faced with the dual Ninjutsu assault, Kawakaze instinctively reached for the Flying Thunder God Technique. However, the Senbon he had thrown were drawn into the iron sand and absorbed, severing his connection to the technique's mark.

Left without his teleportation, Kawakaze relied on his agility to dodge the relentless feather attacks, attempting to escape the barrier. Yet the iron sand proved a formidable obstacle—it repaired itself almost instantly, its vast expanse giving the Kazekage the upper hand. Every attempt to break through was thwarted, slowing Kawakaze's progress significantly.

"Restricting me also restricts yourself," Kawakaze observed sharply.

"Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!"

With a series of rapid hand seals, Kawakaze unleashed his technique. From the sky, massive Red Torii Gates descended, crashing into the iron sand barrier. Against their immense power, the barrier crumbled effortlessly.

Kawakaze stepped out of the broken formation, regaining his freedom.

The Third Kazekage, however, acted swiftly. His reconnaissance eye fled the collapsing barrier, and the strain of the backlash forced him to relinquish his wings.

"Konoha has produced such a demon as you," he admitted grimly. This was the first time he'd been pushed to such an extent since becoming the Kazekage. Even Shukaku had been subdued by this move before.

"It's because you're too weak," Kawakaze replied coldly.

Though triumphant, he could feel his Senjutsu Chakra reserves dwindling rapidly. His absorption rate was no longer keeping up with his consumption.

This was the longest he had ever managed to maintain Sage Mode.

The Seal on his face faded, his pupils returned to their normal black color, and Kawakaze was in relatively good shape after releasing Sage Mode.

The Third Kazekage bit into the Military Rations Pill he had hidden in his mouth and began considering a retreat. With Kawakaze standing in his way, his objective was no longer achievable. If he delayed any longer, he feared he wouldn't be able to escape.

"We will meet again next time," he said coldly.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Funeral."

Without hesitation, the Third Kazekage tightened his expression, formed a hand seal, and slammed his hands onto the ground. Countless grains of black iron sand were extracted from below, instantly converging into a massive black wave that surged toward Kawakaze and the two warring factions behind him.

"Retreat!"

The Third Kazekage shouted the command and was the first to lead the nearby Suna ninja in their withdrawal. The approaching wave of iron sand forced the ninja from both sides to scatter. Being caught in it would render victory meaningless.

The Suna forces followed their leader in retreat, and Kawakaze made no attempt to stop them. Today, it simply wasn't possible. Without his sword, his own offensive power was slightly lacking.

Instead, Kawakaze focused on rescuing Konoha ninjas who hadn't evaded the attack in time. He remained unaware that the iron sand wave was a mere feint. It looked formidable, but its actual impact was weaker than expected.

In hindsight, Kawakaze regretted not pursuing the Third Kazekage, who was clearly at the end of his strength. It was evident he couldn't have fully activated such a technique.

"You are lucky today, but next time it won't be so easy," Rasa said, his voice steady despite the blood dripping from his mouth and the cracks marring his face.

"Next time, it won't be so easy for you to get away," Minato countered, standing beside Nawaki. Their combat uniforms were in tatters, their faces pale and strained. Despite their valiant effort, their youth had left them at a disadvantage against a stronger, more experienced opponent.

Rasa was indeed worthy of being the successor to the next Kazekage.

"Hmph," Rasa snorted, turning sharply to retreat toward his Sensei. Even so, the two young shinobi had left a deep impression on him.

Once the battle concluded, Kawakaze regrouped with the Konoha ninja and continued onward. The journey was uneventful, as the Third Kazekage had led his forces far away from the Konoha team.

But for the Third Kazekage, it was a different story. As the Suna troops retreated to a safe distance, he staggered, coughing up blood, and nearly collapsed. His face turned as pale as paper, his strength nearly at its limit. If he hadn't held on until now, his injuries would have been far less severe.

"Sensei, are you alright?" Rasa asked, stepping forward to steady him with a worried expression.

"Cough... cough..." The Third Kazekage's labored breathing broke the silence. "I've sustained internal injuries. I shouldn't have underestimated Kawakaze Hatake." His brows furrowed deeply, forming an unmistakable "8" shape. The grim expression reflected his pessimism about the battles yet to come.

For now, however, his injuries weren't life-threatening.

"Sensei, let's discuss this after we return," Rasa said, his tone firm as he continued to support the weakened Kazekage.

This ambush in Sunagakure had been a waste of effort, yielding no results. With the Third Kazekage seriously injured and Kawakaze emerging as a formidable opponent, it would be difficult for the Suna forces to withstand the Konoha offensive in the days ahead.