The power of combined techniques far exceeds that of ordinary single techniques, especially Hiruzen's Five Elements Continuous Fireball Technique, which was even stronger than regular Kekkei Genkai.
When two different chakra natures collided, they produced a more powerful explosion.
And when five elements were combined, the effect became vastly more devastating.
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, when Spiral Zetsu controlled Yamato to use a five-element combination technique, it even drove the Allied Shinobi Forces to despair.
Only when Hiruzen unleashed his Five Elements Continuous Fireball could he overcome it.
Hiruzen at this young age, though having only recently mastered the five-element combination technique, had no choice but to "torment" Danzō—for the sake of happiness below his waist!
All five of Hiruzen's clones simultaneously used ninjutsu.
Fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water—five elemental techniques released together.
However, due to lack of mastery, the clone on the far right using Wind Release made a mistake, exploding mid-process and failing to perfectly execute the Five Elements Continuous Fireball.
But even the Four Elements Continuous Fireball possessed tremendous power.
*SHUAAA!*
The four combined chakra techniques merged into a massive torrent, instantly engulfing half the arena—and swallowing Danzō across the way!
Nearby spectators gasped in shock.
Meanwhile, Kagami and Chiyo, who were most worried, suddenly stood up, their eyes filled with anxiety and fear, terrified that Danzō might die from Hiruzen's massive attack.
Especially Kagami—he never expected Hiruzen and Danzō would go so wild, as if this wasn't just a match anymore, but a life-or-death battle between them!
(It shouldn't be like this?)
(Have they both lost control?)
(Why hasn't Tobirama-sensei stopped them yet?)
As everyone panicked,
On the right side of the arena swallowed by the giant four-element torrent, a figure suddenly shot into the sky, leaping upward.
It turned out Danzō had boldly released Fūton: Shinkū Dai Gyoku downward, using the massive recoil force to launch himself into the air.
He had no other choice.
Danzō truly couldn't withstand the Four Elements Continuous Fireball head-on, so evasion was his only option.
Though he could have escaped underground using Earth Release, that wasn't safe, and Danzō wasn't very skilled in Earth techniques.
That's why he chose to use Wind Release to leap into the air and avoid the massive explosion.
Seeing Danzō shoot into the sky like an arrow, Hiruzen was shocked and at the same time felt pity.
This time, Danzō really did something foolish.
Evading attacks by fleeing into the air was fine—but only if you could fly! Or at least had help from a bird-type summoning beast.
Otherwise, jumping into the air made you a sitting duck. A ninja without ground support would find it extremely difficult to dodge or defend again.
(Danzō, you're definitely going to lose!)
Hiruzen's spirit surged. He quickly took control of his clones, preparing to redirect the Four Elements Continuous Fireball toward Danzō, who now had no footing in midair.
But at that moment…
*SLINGGG—!*
A piercing, ear-splitting hum suddenly echoed from the sky—the sound of an object spinning at high speed and frictioning against the air.
Hiruzen sensed danger and abruptly looked toward Danzō.
He saw Danzō's right hand in midair holding a dazzling spiral ball of light. That terrifying hum came from the spiral sphere itself.
"Fūton: Rasenshuriken!" (Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!)
Hiruzen was stunned: !!o(ﾟДﾟ)っ!!
(What kind of technique is that?)
(A new Wind Release?)
(Such intense chakra aura—I can feel sharp wind blades even from this distance.)
(So Danzō was hiding an ace like this? He mastered such an incredible technique?!?)
Hiruzen was deeply shocked.
Some techniques, just seeing them, make you sense their overwhelming power.
The Rasenshuriken, as an S-rank Wind Release technique, was certainly no exception.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In the highest spectator seats,
"Damn it!"
Tobirama from Parallel World 2 suddenly jumped to his feet.
Other than during arguments with his younger self, Tobirama from Parallel World 2's calmness was unmatched.
Even when he saw Danzō use a chakra laser cannon and Hiruzen unleash the Five Elements Continuous Fireball, he was only slightly surprised.
But now, seeing Danzō create a Rasenshuriken midair, even Tobirama couldn't suppress his shock!
He'd sent Danzō to Sunagakure for half a year to serve as a spy!
Not to learn techniques at some sacred place!
The artificial arm could still be forgiven, but now he was pulling out a Rasenshuriken? How was that possible?
Who taught him?
This made absolutely no sense!
Yet, amid his shock, Tobirama from Parallel World 2 quickly regained composure.
Danzō mastering Rasenshuriken was indeed unexpected and impressive. But defeating Hiruzen with just this technique? Unlikely.
Because the Rasenshuriken couldn't be thrown—it could only be used for close-range attacks.
Danzō was currently over a hundred meters from Hiruzen, and in midair. There was no way he could survive the Four Elements Continuous Fireball and then charge through to hit Hiruzen.
Unless he mastered Sage Mode, he wouldn't be able to throw the Rasenshuriken.
But that was clearly impossible!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Unfortunately, Tobirama's logic was sound—but Danzō immediately delivered another huge surprise to everyone!
In midair, Danzō, having finished charging the Rasenshuriken, suddenly swung his mechanical right arm, aiming it at Hiruzen below.
His backup mechanical right arm detached from Danzō's right shoulder, its back emitting a propulsion flame.
The arm flew forward, carrying the Rasenshuriken straight toward Hiruzen below.
Hiruzen: !!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ
Tobirama: !!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ
Spectators: !!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ
Hiruzen was utterly shocked—he never expected Danzō to have such a trick, a technique coming from the sky!
Clearly, Danzō had planned this all along.
Including floating into the air with Wind Release, switching to the backup arm, and using the Rasenshuriken—this was Danzō's true ace card!
Hiruzen frantically redirected the Four Elements Continuous Fireball to intercept, combining it to face the descending Rasenshuriken.
But the terrifying power of the Rasenshuriken couldn't be stopped by the already dispersed fireball barrage.
In the blink of an eye, the unstoppable Rasenshuriken pierced through all streams of technique, like a blue-white meteor from outer space, blasting through every obstacle and speeding straight toward Hiruzen's body.
Hiruzen panicked, immediately stopping the fireballs and moving right to dodge.
But no matter how fast his Shunshin no Jutsu, he didn't have time.
His body had just barely left the spot.
The next second, the mechanical arm, along with the entire Rasenshuriken, slammed into the ground.
*BOOOOOMM!*
The Rasenshuriken exploded, creating a massive white storm zone that spread violently, instantly engulfing Hiruzen too!
The Rasenshuriken's blast radius was enormous.
It nearly covered half the arena, forming thousands of tiny rotating wind needles that spun and shot wildly within the area—like thousands of lasers obliterating everything.
Don't even talk about Hiruzen's physical body.
Even Kakuzu, who was almost inhuman and had half an immortal body, wouldn't survive such relentless, horrifying obliteration.
The quality of the Rasenshuriken—the only S-rank Wind Release technique in the ninja world—was no joke!
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"Hiruzen!"
"Hokage-sama!"
"No!"
"Quickly drop the barrier!"
Seeing this scene, many outside the arena were shocked.
Especially Kagami and others—they were already preparing to activate Susano'o, break through the barrier, and rush in to save Hiruzen.
But in the end, someone was faster.
*SLINGG—!*
The Hiraishin no Jutsu flashed by, and Tobirama from Parallel World 2 vanished from the high platform.
When he reappeared, he was already outside the arena barrier, carrying a badly wounded Hiruzen.
Clearly, in the blink of an eye, Tobirama had saved Hiruzen from the Rasenshuriken's blast zone.
Jokes were jokes, bets were bets.
But Tobirama couldn't possibly let Hiruzen die from a Rasenshuriken.
This was a match, not a war.
As a Konoha ninja, what was wrong with prioritizing yourself?
Unhappy?
Only if you've destroyed several villages might you have the right to question Senju Tobirama.
Moreover, Tobirama knew that much of the reason these two fought so fiercely was because of him—and his own despicable self.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After exerting all his strength to launch the Rasenshuriken, Danzō's chakra was completely drained—he was utterly exhausted.
He fell from the air, landing hard on the ground, losing all combat ability.
Yet, he struggled painfully to lift his head, gazing toward the center of the Rasenshuriken explosion, anxiously searching for Hiruzen's figure.
He truly wanted to win—but he never wanted to kill Hiruzen!
The reason he dared use the Rasenshuriken against Hiruzen was because he knew Tobirama was there and would surely intervene.
Sure enough.
When he saw Tobirama carrying Hiruzen and appearing outside the barrier, Danzō finally relaxed completely, feeling immense relief.
"Sensei, I…"
Hiruzen, cradled in Tobirama's arms, stammered weakly, his heart full of shame.
He knew he had lost!
If not for his teacher's intervention, he might have died in that explosion.
"Don't speak. Rest first."
Tobirama raised his hand and flicked Hiruzen's forehead, knocking him unconscious so he could rest.
He immediately summoned prepared medical ninja to begin treating Hiruzen.
He didn't blame Hiruzen too much.
It was clear Hiruzen had given his all.
It was just that the surprises Danzō brought in this fight were too numerous—even far beyond Tobirama's own expectations.
Tobirama glanced toward Danzō inside the barrier, his eyes filled with slight complexity and joy.
In just a few months, Danzō had advanced to this level—proving that while being a spy, he had trained diligently without any laziness.
He truly gave everything to prove himself! To defeat Hiruzen!
The Rasenshuriken was likely learned from his older future self, right?
To obtain and master such a forbidden technique, Danzō must have suffered greatly.
Had he been too harsh on Danzō all along?
Right now, Tobirama saw none of the corruption and darkness future old Danzō possessed in this young Danzō.
All he saw was unwavering determination, courage to fight with full strength, and the desire to become Hokage!
And the desire to defeat Hiruzen!
Tobirama sighed, then quickly calmed his emotions. After all, they were both his students—he should be happy whoever won.
Then, he gave a slight approving nod toward Danzō and signaled the referee to announce the result.
"I declare: The winner of this match is participant Tanaka!"
Hearing the victory announcement—music to his ears—and seeing Tobirama nod at him, all obsession and dissatisfaction in Danzō's heart burst into joyful tears; he wept uncontrollably.
(I… I won!)
(I finally defeated Hiruzen once!)
(Tobirama-sensei acknowledged me!)
(I can finally become Hokage!)
(I… I…)
Danzō sobbed from overwhelming joy, feeling like he was dreaming. His paralyzed, exhausted body even made golden stars appear in the sky before him.
Until slowly, consciousness faded.
Fortunately, after the match ended, the barrier was lowered.
Chiyo and others rushed onto the arena, carried Danzō away, and immediately began using medical ninjutsu on him.
"You idiot, do you want to die?!"
"I won!"
"I know, I know! I mean—you didn't need to fight so hard! Do you know how worried I was?"
"Thank you! Besides, I really won! Hehehe…"
Danzō passed out laughing like a fool.
At that moment, he felt he wanted nothing more in life—everything felt perfect.
Even his desire to become Hokage wasn't as strong as before.
All he wanted, exhausted as he was, was a good night's sleep…
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The semifinal ended, but the result was beyond most people's expectations.
That nameless ninja from Sunagakure actually defeated the Third Hokage of Konoha Village!
It was utterly unbelievable.
Yet, every spectator who witnessed the intense battle couldn't help but be awed by the incredible strength of these two.
They fought to such a level—so whoever won or lost seemed no longer strange.
Only, they never expected the Second Hokage to personally intervene and save Hiruzen, making many spectators silently curse him.
But considering his ruthless power and reputation, it somehow made perfect sense.
Still, the fact that Tobirama ultimately didn't harass "participant Tanaka" from Sunagakure brought relief to many, who quietly praised Konoha for still being reasonable.
At least they didn't have to worry about retaliation.
Spectators continued cheering and discussing excitedly, while Konoha ninja assigned to repair the arena began working.
And Tobirama from Parallel World 2 himself returned to the highest seat with a gloomy expression.
Before he could even catch his breath, Tobirama from Parallel World 1—the younger one—immediately launched annoying verbal attacks.
"Oh, oh, oh, looks like someone got utterly crushed!"
"Hmph! They're both my students, so it doesn't matter who wins or loses…"
"I'm not talking about Hiruzen."
"You…!"
"Tch, don't tell me you're going to cheat?"
"Of course not. I, Senju Tobirama, always keep my promises!"
Tobirama from Parallel World 2 gritted his teeth, his heart filled with regret.
Gambling really ruined things!
He shouldn't have bet with this despicable version of himself. Now he'd lost everything.
But before Tenshō Sennin and his sister-in-law, no matter how despicable Tobirama was, he couldn't break his promise.
He could only swallow this bitter loss.
He just hoped the younger Tobirama, for his own sake, wouldn't ask for anything too weird.
Of course, Tobirama knew that was impossible…
"Good, good, you've got guts!"
"Just say it—what do I have to do?"
"Lord, I heard future ninja also created a Taijutsu technique called the One Thousand Years of Death?"
The younger Tobirama from Parallel World 1 smirked slyly, turning to ask Lux—he already had a wicked plan in mind.
"That's right."
Lux nodded, his heart secretly amused, looking like someone who loved chaos.
"You damn bastard, what are you planning?!"
Tobirama from Parallel World 2 cursed, instinctively tightening his buttocks, as if he already sensed something terrible was coming.
Tobirama from Parallel World 1 stepped closer, patted Tobirama from Parallel World 2's shoulder, and smiled kindly:
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. After all, I'm not a demon."
"You just need to use it once on Uchiha Madara here."
"It's not too hard for you, right?"
Tobirama from Parallel World 1: (乛ω乛")
Tobirama from Parallel World 2: o(ﾟДﾟ)っ!