"Shadow Clone Technique!" Sarutobi Hiruzen roared, forming hand seals swiftly.
Bang!
Four identical Sarutobi Hiruzen clones appeared beside him, standing in perfect formation.
"Not good!" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed sharply as a solemn expression appeared on his face.
Even though the old man was aged, he had once been one of the top masters in the ninja world!
Everyone knew about the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, whose Wood Style had conquered the world and suppressed the five great nations.
And the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, whose arsenal of forbidden jutsu and overwhelming Water Style techniques made him a fearsome threat.
But what many had never truly witnessed was the strength of the Third Hokage.
Though Sarutobi Hiruzen was Hokage during the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha was simultaneously attacked by multiple countries.
Yet, during that period, he pushed forward Namikaze Minato, allowing the young Fourth Hokage to shine, while he himself stayed in the background and refrained from direct battle.
Thus, many believed Sarutobi Hiruzen was merely an average Kage-level shinobi.
But Orochimaru, once his most beloved disciple, knew better than anyone how powerful the Third really was.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had mastered all known jutsu in Konoha and was revered as the "Professor of Ninjutsu."
Even more terrifying—he was the only known shinobi in history without a bloodline limit to master all five chakra natures.
Now, with four clones created, it was clear he was about to go all out.
"Haha, I haven't seen the teacher fight seriously in ages," Orochimaru said with a sinister grin, licking his lips with his long tongue.
"Ugh, not again. So disgusting!" Haruto muttered from a tree nearby, rubbing the cherries in his hand against his clothes in exaggerated disgust.
"We're finally going to witness the old man's full strength!" Haruto's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
In his previous life, people always said Sarutobi Hiruzen was the strongest Hokage in history—even stronger than Hashirama.
But Haruto had never seen it firsthand.
Even in the battle against Orochimaru, Sarutobi had been too soft-hearted, dragging the fight into a stalemate where both he and Orochimaru died together.
As for the Fourth Great Ninja War—by then, Kishimoto had clearly forgotten the original setup. The Third Hokage only reappeared as a cameo, overshadowed by the so-called "battle of gods," without demonstrating his full capabilities.
"MMP, what even is late-stage Hokage? Everyone's just a god with cheat codes!" Haruto grumbled. "Ridiculous!"
But then Haruto remembered his own current strength could be considered god-level too...
"Hmm… mistakes were made. Let's just say everyone got a power-up, yeah!" Haruto nodded confidently to himself.
"Finally, the old man's real strength!" Haruto wiped his hands clean and sat up straight.
Below, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his four clones shouted, "Come, evil disciple!"
With that, they all charged at Orochimaru.
"Come on!" Orochimaru growled coldly, drawing the Kusanagi Sword and leaping forward to meet them.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Water Style: Water Shockwave Technique!"
"Earth Style: Earth Flowing River Technique!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
"Lightning Style: Thunderbolt!"
Each Sarutobi clone performed different hand seals, and together they unleashed a devastating barrage of ninjutsu. The rooftop was instantly engulfed in brilliant chakra light.
"What?!" Rasa was shocked.
He hadn't expected Sarutobi Hiruzen to be this powerful. It completely subverted his expectations!
He had once believed they were equals, but clearly, that assumption was naive.
If he had really attempted to assassinate Sarutobi Hiruzen directly, he might have died before realizing it.
Compared to Rasa's astonishment, the others were calmer.
Senju Hashirama was already powerful and unfazed by the attack, while Tobirama and Orochimaru both understood Sarutobi's strength well and weren't surprised.
"Sarutobi, you've grown tremendously over the years. I'm truly pleased," Senju Tobirama said with a rare smile, watching his former student in action.
It appeared naming Hiruzen as Hokage had been the right decision after all. Only a powerful Hokage could lead the village toward a brighter future.
"Thank you, teacher!" Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed, swinging the Adamantine Staff down at Orochimaru.
"Let's go!" Orochimaru sneered, lifting the Yin-Yang Sword to counter the strike.
Clang!
The weapons clashed, steel against steel, and Orochimaru successfully blocked the blow.
"Argh! That hurts!" the Monkey King, who had transformed into the Adamantine Staff, suddenly cried out. "When did the Kusanagi Sword get so hard?!"
"Grandpa!" Sanwa's voice rang out suddenly. "The sword the snake demon's using isn't the Kusanagi—it's the Yin-Yang Sword! It's a powerful magic weapon, harder than steel and softer than silk. I've suffered from it before!"
"Haha! Good grandson, grandpa understands!" Sarutobi laughed and suddenly delivered a kick to Orochimaru's chest.
Boom!
Orochimaru was sent flying into a nearby tree, smashing a human-shaped crater into the trunk.
Sarutobi immediately took the opportunity to target Senju Tobirama with one of his clones.
He had to eliminate the ones most familiar with him first.
"Well done!" Tobirama acknowledged. "Using your numerical advantage to eliminate those who know your weaknesses… Sarutobi, you've become a real shinobi."
"Yes, teacher!" Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, visibly moved. Then, without hesitation, he slapped an explosive tag onto Tobirama's face.
Boom!
Tobirama's head exploded into fragments.
"Wow, that's intense!" Haruto chuckled. "One second it's all teacher-student bonding—next second, kaboom! Such drama!"
"Who are you, young man?" Hashirama asked while fending off attacks from three Sarutobi clones. His eyes never left Haruto, perched calmly on a tree branch.
He could sense it—though this youth looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, his strength was the highest among everyone present.
Even in his prime, Hashirama wasn't sure he could easily bypass the Four Purple Flame Formation, yet this young man had done it effortlessly.
"He really reminds me… of myself," Hashirama thought silently.
End of the Chapter.