Because they were only using two Shadow Clones, Fūmori Masaki and Hiruzen Sarutobi chose not to engage Kinkaku and Ginkaku in a direct confrontation, but instead circled them in a protracted struggle.
After all, Shadow Clones are merely formed by Chakra mimicry and depend entirely on the stability of that Chakra; once they encounter a strong attack that causes the Chakra to become unbalanced, they cannot maintain their own form.
The two either dodged Kinkaku and Ginkaku's attacks or used some Ninjutsu with restraining effects, attempting to trap them, but it was all in vain.
For instance, Hiruzen Sarutobi used an Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld to turn the ground into a swamp, preventing the enemies from breaking free. However, Ginkaku simply waved his basho fan, and the rising flames scorched the swamp until it solidified. With his brute strength, Ginkaku easily climbed out of the dirt.
This left Hiruzen Sarutobi with no options. The nature transformation unleashed by the basho fan after being infused with Nine-Tails Chakra was truly terrifying. To maintain his Shadow Clone, he had to control the power of his Ninjutsu, and such Ninjutsu was completely unable to block Ginkaku's counterattacks.
Hiruzen Sarutobi once stubbornly tried to counterattack, but his Ninjutsu was easily broken by Ginkaku's basho fan. If Fūmori Masaki hadn't pulled him away, this Shadow Clone would have almost been dispersed by Kinkaku.
After that thrilling experience, Hiruzen Sarutobi chose not to continue. This Shadow Clone was still very valuable, so he just dodged back and forth with Fūmori Masaki, avoiding Kinkaku and Ginkaku's attacks.
To the others, the two Shadow Clones appeared to be fleeing in panic under the torrential, storm-like offensive of Kinkaku and Ginkaku, without even a chance to counterattack, making it seem as if they could vanish at any moment.
Danzo was somewhat worried, but he could not go to help. Because he had a very important role in seizing the basho fan from Ginkaku's hand, he could not expose his presence while hiding. Therefore, sending out a Shadow Clone was meaningless and would only let Kinkaku and the others know that another expert was hiding nearby.
Danzo could only hope that the two Shadow Clones would hold out a little longer. Against experts like Kinkaku and Ginkaku, there was only one chance, and he had to strike at the most opportune moment.
While the two were fighting, the others who had entered the Barrier stayed far away, eyes wide as they watched the battlefield where explosions were constant. The intensity of the battle was completely beyond their imagination; it was not something people at their level could participate in. In the terms of another world, this was a Kage-level battle.
"Damn it, I can't find an opening at all." Hyūga Kei stared at the figures flashing everywhere, sweat streaming down his cheeks.
He wanted to use the Gentle Fist to seal Kinkaku and Ginkaku's Nine-Tails Chakra. If he could seal them in their normal state, they would still rely on their own Nine-Tails Chakra to break through the restrictions of the acupoints. But now that they were already using the Nine-Tails Chakra, he could take the opportunity to seal the meridians and acupoints through which the Nine-Tails Chakra flowed. Although it might still be broken through, it could at least weaken Kinkaku and Ginkaku for a period of time.
However, Hyūga Kei could barely even track the opponents' movements, let alone accurately strike their acupoints. After all, he was not Hyuga Neji, who possessed talent surpassing the main branch despite his status as a branch family member. With his current strength, he could not keep up with the disciples of the Second Hokage, such as Fūmori Masaki and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It was not just Hyūga Kei; the others were also trying to find ways to intervene in the battle, but they similarly found that they had no options. Yamanaka Takuma wanted to do as before and use the Mind Body Switch Technique to control Ginkaku or Kinkaku's body; even if there was a possibility of backlash, he had to try his best to stop them. However, their speed was too fast, and Yamanaka Takuma's spirit simply could not enter their bodies.
Upon realizing this, everyone wore expressions of unwillingness and clenched their fists tightly, while Satomi watched the occasional flashing figure of Fūmori Masaki and prayed silently in her heart.
"Hahaha—" Kinkaku laughed wildly, waving his weapon and using Ninjutsu while saying, "Brats, what's wrong with you? You lured us here, and I thought you had some method to kill us. Is all you're doing just running around here?"
Kinkaku knew that Fūmori Masaki's squad had intentionally led them here. Although they knew it was a trap, out of confidence in their own strength, they had followed Fūmori Masaki's wishes and came along. Originally, they had expected some surprises, but it only left Kinkaku disappointed.
Neither Fūmori Masaki nor Hiruzen Sarutobi replied. As soon as they spoke, they might be caught in a vulnerability by Kinkaku. With the power reinforced by the Nine-Tails Chakra, even a slight graze would cause the Shadow Clone to disappear.
Even though the two maintained an extremely high level of concentration and dodged the attacks by a hair's breadth, it was not a sustainable solution. Chakra was constantly being consumed, and the moment the Chakra was exhausted, the Shadow Clones would immediately vanish.
Fighting up to this point, Kinkaku and Ginkaku saw Fūmori Masaki and Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed into a dead end and subconsciously relaxed their vigilance. This was a habitual flaw of these two conceited individuals, and this was the opportunity Danzo had been waiting for. After transmitting the information via mental connection, he attacked without hesitation.
Danzo's Root was established under the name of the Anbu Training Department. Although it later became his private armed force, it was indeed training members according to Anbu requirements. One could even say it was more like an assassination unit than the Anbu directly under the Hokage. As the leader, Danzo was naturally someone skilled in assassination.
While Kinkaku was pursuing Hiruzen Sarutobi and Ginkaku was facing Fūmori Masaki, Danzo appeared silently from behind Ginkaku, his hands already having formed seals, and a large amount of air was inhaled into his lungs—
"Wha..." The moment Danzo appeared, Ginkaku sensed his presence. At this time, the distance between the two was close at hand. He had no time to think and could only infuse Chakra into the basho fan, waving out a scorching flame.
At the same time, Fūmori Masaki voluntarily dispelled the Shadow Clone, and the remaining Senjutsu Chakra returned to his body. He acted almost simultaneously with Danzo. Ginkaku only noticed after waving the fan. Having undergone Tailed Beast transformation, his reactions were extremely fast, and he hurriedly withdrew his hand to deal with Fūmori Masaki. However, when he saw Fūmori Masaki's appearance, his heart could not help but tremble slightly.
At this moment, Fūmori Masaki's appearance was exactly the same as during the battle at the grain storage site. The senmon on half of his face stimulated Ginkaku's vision, making him involuntarily recall the scene when his arm was severed. Although he did not admit it, he could not forget the strong impression that day had left on him.
Ginkaku was a person who was fierce in appearance but cowardly in heart. When the opponent's strength exceeded his imagination, he would involuntarily become timid. Just like during the Fourth Ninja World War, Ginkaku was accidentally stripped of his Kotodama. Originally, he was very familiar with the six paths treasure tools, and under normal circumstances, he should not have triggered the Kotodama. However, in the end, he panicked all of a sudden and directly triggered the Kotodama, leading to being sealed into the red gourd.
It was because of this that Ginkaku was somewhat fearful for a moment. It was in this instant that Fūmori Masaki swung his ninja sword. Ginkaku thought it was the same as last time and that he was going to cut off his arm, so he dodged in a hurry, but he did not expect that Fūmori Masaki's target was not that.
Ginkaku only felt the basho fan in his hand vibrate and could not help but let go. The basho fan slipped from his grasp. Subsequently, Fūmori Masaki hurriedly twisted his body and kicked Ginkaku hard, using him as a stepping stone. While flying out himself, he used Natural Energy to pull the basho fan and flew out together with it.
"Ginkaku, what are you doing!" When Kinkaku saw Danzo appear, he gave up on Hiruzen Sarutobi and intended to come to help, but seeing the basho fan being taken away, he was immediately furious. He was about to strike to stop him, but Hiruzen Sarutobi also dispelled his Shadow Clone, and his main body rushed out from the ground. With one hand, he cast the Swamp of the Underworld, trapping Kinkaku in the ground. This time, there was no Fire Release to help Kinkaku solidify the mud, so even with his immense strength, he could not immediately break free.
Fearing that Kinkaku might still be able to get out, Hiruzen Sarutobi performed the Summoning Technique, calling out his Summoned Beast, the Monkey King Enma. This old monkey possessed an indestructible body and could also transform into a weapon called the adamantine staff. After appearing, Enma immediately transformed into the adamantine staff. Hiruzen Sarutobi hugged the adamantine staff and smashed it down towards Kinkaku with great force.
Kinkaku let out a shout and blocked the adamantine staff with one hand, but the immense pressure still caused his body to sink deeper into the Swamp of the Underworld. For a time, he was unable to help Ginkaku and could only watch Fūmori Masaki flash past his eyes.
"Satomi!" Fūmori Masaki, carrying the basho fan, moved away from Kinkaku and Ginkaku and called out to Satomi in the distance.
Just by that one call, Satomi understood Fūmori Masaki's intention, immediately rushed over, and grasped the basho fan together with Fūmori Masaki.
"Foolish! How could you, who are not descendants of the Six Paths Sage, possibly use a treasure tool?" Kinkaku blocked the adamantine staff and climbed out of the Swamp of the Underworld. Seeing their actions, he mocked them.
And the scene that followed made the mocking expression on Kinkaku's face slowly freeze.