Saitama stared at The Third, his gaze constantly shifting. The Mangekyou Sharingan gave him an unmatched aura.
His chakra reserves were still abundant, and although his Mangekyou chakra had been somewhat depleted, it was more than enough to spare.
Across from him, after a brief exchange with The Third, Enma prepared for battle.
With a sudden "swish," he vanished from his spot, leaving behind a deep pit formed by the powerful recoil of his movement.
In a flash, he reappeared directly in front of Saitama, radiating raw power that bore down on him with crushing intensity.
He swung his elbow forward, launching his signature close-range strike—a move born from his hardened body and immense physical strength. With nothing but his rock-solid form, he could inflict devastating damage through pure brute force alone.
Saitama simply raised one hand, wrapped in Sage Chakra, and intercepted Enma's strike head-on.
At the same time, a surge of lightning erupted from his palm, locking down Enma's movements completely.
As for himself, he merely sank slightly into the ground with both feet.
"Hmm?" Enma suddenly halted, surprise flickering in his eyes. He hadn't expected this seemingly frail human to possess such immense strength.
But soon afterward, the current surging through Saitama's hand spiked dramatically, sending a chill down Enma's spine as he realized he had underestimated the opponent.
"Zzzt!" Saitama's hand crackled with energy, acting like a magnet, tightly locking onto Enma and refusing to let go.
Looking at the towering Enma and his massive, bulging muscles, Saitama showed no fear.
He lifted his right foot, channeling a surge of electric current into it.
"Bang!" In one precise motion, he drove his foot hard into Enma's thigh, bending the limb severely in the opposite direction.
"Aargh!"
Enma's pitch-black face twisted into a grotesque expression, his eyes seeming to spew flames as he glared furiously at Saitama.
He swung his other arm forward, the limb slicing through the air with a sharp hiss, aiming viciously at Saitama's head.
His enormous palm looked ready to crush Saitama's skull in a single grip.
Seeing the danger, Saitama released the elbow he had held and sprang upward with a quick jump.
Mid-air, he swept out a leg crackling with lightning, radiating incredible destructive force.
"Boom!" The kick landed squarely on Enma's chest, and Saitama felt a tremendous counterforce—an impact like kicking solid rock.
Even so, despite his impressive defense, Enma was sent flying backward by the blow, hurtling rapidly through the air.
"Enma!"
The Third called out, stunned. In the blink of an eye, Saitama had subdued Enma and seized the advantage.
Expressions flickered across his face, but he quickly regained composure—he was the Hokage, a leader who had witnessed far greater spectacles than this.
Planting both feet firmly, the Third Hokage raised his hands before his chest, fingers swiftly weaving through a series of ninja seals.
He took a deep breath inward, drawing power into his throat. Moments later, chakra surged violently around him.
[Fire Release - Great Fire Annihilation Jutsu!]
"This is a secret Fire Release technique passed down through the Sarutobi clan. Its strength ranks at B+."
As The Third spoke, Saitama instantly reacted. A glint of light flashed across Saitama's Sharingan.
He abruptly lowered his body, pressing both hands against the ground as a surge of powerful chakra poured into the earth at his feet.
[Earth Release: Earth Wall Formation!]
The ground cracked open and a brownish-yellow earthen wall rose with a thunderous boom, exuding a sense of solidity and safety.
Blazing flames roared toward Saitama, surging with intense heat, but finally halted at the wall in front of him, violently smashing into it.
Earth naturally resists fire, and instinctively, Saitama had infused some Sage Chakra into his technique.
"Tch!" Even behind the earth wall, Saitama could still feel the scorching heat from The Third's jutsu.
Fortunately, his defense was strong, and the flames couldn't break through.
After a long moment, all became quiet ahead. Saitama dismissed the earth wall and fixed his gaze forward.
The Third had already moved, and Enma had transformed into his Adamantine Staff form, now gripped tightly in The Third's hand.
[Zwoop!] Saitama pushed off the ground, retreating backward without immediately engaging in close combat.
Mid-air, he pressed his hands together in a prayer-like seal as chakra began circulating within his body.
[Fire Release: Blazing Dragon Flame Jutsu!]
This ninjutsu enhanced with Sage Chakra unleashed even greater power.
Saitama opened his mouth wide, expelling something that looked like chakra. It appeared dark-hued and radiated waves of intense heat.
The instant this chakra exited his mouth, it transformed into a gradually enlarging dragon's head, surging forth to strike The Third who was chasing after him.
[Hmph!]
The Third let out a cold snort. When it came to ninjutsu techniques, there was nobody in the entire Shinobi World he feared right now.
Having mastered thousands of techniques and being proficient in all five elemental releases, he earned the title of [Sage of Techniques]—not just empty praise from others.
Sticking the black rod into the ground, he halted his steps.
[Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet Jutsu!]
His hands formed hand seals, and a sludge-like substance appeared at his feet, quickly condensing into the skull of a dragon.
[Boom!]
From the earth dragon's mouth burst a stream of brownish-yellow earth rushing toward the fiery dragon conjured by Saitama.
One earth-colored and one crimson red—two opposing natures clashed repeatedly mid-air, each wearing the other down.
[Crackle, crackle!] As soon as the jutsu collided, Saitama shifted sideways, then rapidly closed the distance toward The Third.
Tens of meters vanished in an instant, and Saitama could clearly see the surprise reflected in The Third's eyes.
In his hand, the [Chidori] screeched loudly while arcs of electricity continued crackling.
With a swift slash of his right hand, a black line tore through the air—as if the very atmosphere had been scorched by Saitama's technique.
The Third ducked under Saitama's attack, his small frame proving remarkably agile.
Twisting the rod under his armpit, he switched direction in a flash.
Then, with a swift motion, he viciously thrust the rod directly at Saitama's shoulder.
[Shua!] Saitama Uchiha swiftly dodged aside, yet his right hand instantly seized The Third's weapon. He then slid along the staff toward The Third's hand gripping it.
[Ninjutsu - Enma's Arm!]
Unfazed, The Third kept one hand on his weapon and made a hand seal with the other.
Frowning, Saitama Uchiha saw a strong, muscular arm spiral out from the end of the staff. It quickly latched onto his shoulder, pinning one of his arms.
[Chidori Current!]
Without breaking stride, Saitama Uchiha turned his gaze toward The Third. One hand still grasping the weapon, the other lashed out toward The Third's chest.
The arm extended by Enma quickly lost its grip on Saitama Uchiha under the effect of the Chidori Current.
"Boom!" Their hands collided—Saitama Uchiha's and The Third's—sending both flying backward.
However, The Third was clearly outmatched in this clash. After the impact, his face flushed slightly as blood surged upward.
Seizing the advantage, Saitama Uchiha pressed forward relentlessly, crackling with electricity, and kept attacking The Third nonstop.
"Pa!" "Ding!" "Peng!"
Saitama Uchiha's assault was fierce and overwhelming, completely suppressing The Third for now, forcing him into purely defensive maneuvers and evasive actions.
[Rasengan!]
Kicking The Third airborne once again, Saitama Uchiha clenched his right hand, forming a large swirling sphere.
He then sprang from his position toward The Third, eyes locked on his opponent's movements.
"Get down there, you old fool!"
The Third's face paled somewhat. The earlier fight had been extremely brutal. After all, he was getting up there in years, and his stamina simply couldn't keep up with Saitama Uchiha's.
Gripping the staff tightly with both hands, he raised it overhead and swung downward toward Saitama Uchiha.
A light blue layer of chakra undulated over the staff like an outer garment.
[Hong!] The hand and staff collided instantly, and even the air seemed to pause momentarily.
Then, space around the point of contact distorted briefly before the force of the impact separated the two combatants.
Landing firmly, Saitama Uchiha inserted his left hand into the ground to halt his backward momentum while slowly rotating his right arm behind him.
"Impressive—the Adamantine Ruyi Staff (a legendary tool in ninja lore) does have some serious power."
Saitama Uchiha's eyes darkened with thought. Just now, The Third's staff had not only dispersed his Rasengan but also struck his palm.
Looking over, Saitama Uchiha saw The Third's expression and knew his opponent wasn't doing much better either.
The Third planted his staff into the ground, gripping it tightly with both hands. Upon close inspection, one could notice his hands trembling to varying degrees.
The reason The Third gripped the staff so forcefully was to help his arms adapt more quickly to the numbing sensation.
"I really underestimated him!"
While The Third contemplated, he acknowledged that whether it came to ninjutsu or taijutsu, this Saitama Uchiha had genuine skill, though his own advancing age did play a factor.
Truth be told, even now, he wasn't entirely confident about defeating Saitama Uchiha.
Plus, this Saitama Uchiha hadn't even used his Sharingan dojutsu yet.
Considering this, The Third watched Saitama Uchiha's eyes carefully, noticing the complex pattern within, causing his expression to darken further.
He once had a comrade named Kagami Uchiha, who had told him and Danzo that Sharingan eyes with three Tomoe or more possessed incredible abilities—powers even the Uchiha Clan's records hadn't fully documented.
Having served as Hokage for several decades, he also understood one crucial truth well.
It was when Madara awakened his three-Tomoe-level Sharingan that he became the terrifying existence he was known as.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, the Third didn't pause his movements at all. Instead, his actions accelerated.
He stepped forward, instantly dashing toward Saitama like a falling star.
[Ninjutsu - Water Release: Thunderous Dragon Clash!]
A mass of deep blue liquid materialized behind him from concentrated chakra, quickly taking the shape of a dragon.
"Roar!"
This water-formed dragon, its body laced with threads of eerie blue lightning, let out a deafening roar toward Saitama—like an evil force newly released, proclaiming its return to the world.
This was the Third's combined ninjutsu technique. As a ninja who mastered all elemental release jutsu, he'd developed many composite techniques.
This particular move was a complex combination of Water Release and Lightning Release he'd personally devised—it was far more powerful than the sum of its parts.
"Hehe..."
Saitama laughed while watching the approaching Third and the forming ninjutsu behind him.
At the same time, he began making hand seals.
Nowadays, Saitama rarely needed to perform hand seals when casting ninjutsu. When he actually did use them, it meant the technique wasn't ordinary.
[Ninjutsu - Wood Release: Wooden Dragon's Roar!]
Finally, clapping his hands together, Saitama slammed his palms down hard, releasing chakra between them.
From beneath Saitama's feet, the earth cracked open. A wooden dragon, comparable in size to the Third's technique, erupted from underground and surged upward to meet the incoming attack.
"What?! This... What is this?!"
The instant the Third saw Saitama's hand seals, a chilling realization hit him. Sure enough, the next second confirmed his fears as Saitama unleashed his ninjutsu, causing the Third's eyes to widen in shock.
"It's Wood Release!"
Increasing his chakra output, the Third made his technique swell again—the dragon roared fiercely, like it had encountered its archenemy, coiling aggressively toward Saitama's wooden dragon.
"Zizzzz—"
Both dragons entangled each other violently, biting and grinding their differently attributed bodies together, creating piercing sounds.
"Crash!"
Eventually, Saitama's Wood Release proved stronger. The Third's dragon technique was torn apart by the wooden dragon, splattering into water and electric currents scattered across the ground, losing its form entirely.
With a powerful upward leap, Saitama landed atop the wooden dragon. Controlled by Saitama, the massive beast slowly lowered its head, towering its enormous skull over the Third standing on the ground.
"So it truly is you!" the Third declared, raising his staff and pointing one end directly at Saitama.
Among the intelligence reports they possessed, there had been mentions of a mysterious wood-element ninja hiding somewhere in the shadows.
Only now did the Third confirm without doubt—Saitama was that hidden wood-natured ninja.
Orochimaru's defection, the Wood Clone, the night of the Jinchuriki birth, and that unknown enemy wearing a wooden mask...
They were all none other than this very Saitama before him!
The Third clenched his teeth in frustration, tightly gripping the diamond Ruyi staff.
"It appears even the legendary ninja must one day face old age. Time truly is a mysterious force."
Saitama stood atop the wooden dragon's head, feet planted firmly on the snout, eyes cold as he stared at the Third Hokage clad in black ninja armor.
"Even if I'm old, I can still slay a traitor like you!"
The Third spoke in a low, serious voice, gripping his staff with both hands and tucking the end under his armpit, his face stern.
"Roar!"
The wooden dragon let out a furious roar and lunged downward with its snapping jaws at The Third on the ground.
"Tat-tat-tat!"
The Third leapt up, dodging the dragon's attack, landing on its body before charging toward Saitama, weapon raised.
"Boom!" He slammed his staff down beside Saitama, leaving a shallow crater on the wooden dragon's tough body, splinters flying everywhere.
"Clang!"
Saitama planted one foot firmly on the staff while lightning flashed across his right hand. He rushed forward and slashed toward The Third's neck.
"Shsh!"
The speed was overwhelming. Caught off guard, The Third had his weapon pinned and hesitated for a full second.
Though he quickly recovered, it was just a beat too late. Saitama's palm strike grazed the skin beneath his chin.
A thin cut appeared there. Before blood could spill, the electricity from Saitama's hand instantly vaporized it, leaving nothing but charred blackness.
"Shsh!" He followed up with another kick with his other foot still planted on the staff, slicing through the air with explosive power.
"Damn it!"
The Third gritted his teeth, immediately releasing his weapon and jumping back. Only by the slimmest margin did he barely dodge Saitama's attack.
Seeing The Third willingly discard his weapon, Saitama stopped chasing. Instead, he kicked the staff off the wooden dragon.
Remaining motionless, the wooden dragon continued providing the battleground for the two fighters.
A faint smirk spread across Saitama's face as he gazed at The Third, crouched and wary.
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