Chapter 172: Hiruzen Sarutobi vs. Kakuzu and Danzō
"There are more enemies! Danzō, you bastard…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened. After dodging the fire jutsu, he immediately took the pipe from his mouth, threw off his Hokage robes, and revealed the battle uniform underneath.
On the other side, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane did the same, but before they could move, Danzō's figure appeared before them.
"Your opponent is me."
"Danzō, do you know what you're doing?" Koharu gritted her teeth.
"Of course," Danzō said coldly. "I'm doing this for the future of the village. Hiruzen is too weak, and Tsunade is not suitable to be the Fourth. I am the most suitable candidate."
"Colluding with outsiders to assassinate the Hokage," Homura said coldly, "Danzō, you have lost the Will of Fire. You are now blinded by power. Look at what you've done!"
"All sacrifices are for the village," Danzō was unmoved. "You should also know that if it weren't for Hiruzen, the village could have obtained far more benefits. Did we need to share the spoils with the Sand Village? Does the Rain Village have the right to share benefits with us? And then there's Kinoshita Genichi. Such a talent, and he's not being used to his full potential."
"It seems there's no talking you out of this," Koharu said, taking out a kunai. "To think that former comrades would come to this."
"In that case," Homura said, taking out a scroll, "let's see if our skills have gotten rusty over the years."
On the other side, Hiruzen's gaze was fixed on the figure emerging from the woods.
This guy… He felt that the person was somewhat familiar. A rogue ninja from the Hidden Waterfall. Could it be him? Hiruzen's gaze hardened.
"As expected of the Hokage," Kakuzu said. His surprise attack had failed. To think that he could react so quickly even while his attention was diverted.
He formed a hand seal, then charged toward Hiruzen.
Noticing the hand seal, Hiruzen threw a shuriken, then formed his own. In an instant, the single shuriken multiplied into a dense cloud.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Kakuzu reacted quickly, pulling out a kunai and wildly deflecting the shuriken. But some still hit his body, only to be sent flying.
So he hardened his skin with Earth Release.
Hiruzen's seals didn't stop. Just as Kakuzu deflected the shuriken, a wave of mud erupted from under his feet, forcing him back. Hiruzen then opened his mouth, and a volley of fireballs shot out.
Close combat? I am the Professor of Ninjutsu!
However, the Kakuzu hit by the fireballs dissolved into mud. Immediately after, the forest in front of them visibly collapsed, and a torrent of wind and fire surged forward, destroying everything in its path.
Wind Release: Pressure Damage!
Fire Release: Searing Migraine!
The Kakuzu that had appeared was just an earth clone. The real one was hidden in the forest. Seeing Hiruzen's skill with ninjutsu, he had attacked without hesitation.
Hiruzen immediately created a shadow clone. The clone exhaled a cyclone of wind, while his real body used the Great Fireball Technique. The same Wind + Fire combination formed a terrifying firestorm that collided with Kakuzu's jutsu.
RUMBLE!
The air exploded. Two waves of fire crashed and then swept out to the sides.
Hiruzen suddenly looked up and saw a black, masked monster appear in the sky. Lightning began to spark.
Some kind of clone?
The main body and the clone both leaped away. The lightning shot down, strafing the ground like a machine gun, chasing after Hiruzen's real body. Just as the clone was about to form a hand seal, another masked monster appeared in the air and spat out giant, spherical blasts of wind.
Boom!
The wind blasts gouged a large crater in the ground and then formed a storm that swept outward. Hiruzen's clone dodged the initial blast but was then caught in the gale. A third monster appeared and hit it with a fireball.
Poof!
The clone exploded. After just a brief test, Kakuzu had gone all out. The "Strongest Hokage." He didn't dare to be careless.
Hiruzen moved like a monkey, repeatedly dodging the lightning attacks and darting into the woods. After the clone was dealt with, the fire and wind monsters breathed down on him again. A firestorm reappeared, destroying a large section of the forest.
Hiruzen stopped and pressed both hands to the ground.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!
Boom!
A giant wall of earth rose up. The firestorm crashed against it, causing it to crack, but it did not break. Hiruzen immediately formed new seals and created four more clones. He then bit his thumb and formed another seal.
Summoning Jutsu: Monkey King, Enma!
Poof!
Enma appeared. "Enma, transform into the Adamantine Staff!" Hiruzen shouted.
"Understood!" Enma leaped and transformed, falling into Hiruzen's hand.
The firestorm had passed. A clone leaped out, spitting a blast of lightning that collided with the lightning mask's Lightning Release: False Darkness. The two jutsu were almost identical, both condensing lightning into a spear for long and short-range attacks. They were evenly matched.
As the other two monsters were about to attack, two more of Hiruzen's clones countered with fire and wind. The last clone leaped onto the high wall, raised a hand, and a giant shuriken appeared.
Giant Shuriken Technique!
Swoosh!
The giant shuriken was thrown at the two monsters. As the clone raised its hand again, the single shuriken split into a dozen, forming an even wider attack. The two monsters immediately dodged, but the fire mask was a step too slow and was hit, its mask shattering as the black creature fell from the sky.
Hiruzen's real body, however, was charging straight for Kakuzu, staff in hand. At this moment, Kakuzu still had his water and earth hearts. A large number of black tendrils were released from his body. His expression was grave. This Hokage was indeed strong, proficient in all five nature transformations, just like him. This heart will be a fine prize.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Kakuzu charged forward, his tendrils shooting out. Hiruzen swung the Adamantine Staff, and the close-quarters battle officially began. Both had extremely rich combat experience. After more than a dozen exchanges, the staff suddenly extended, striking Kakuzu in the chest. Kakuzu wrapped his arms around it, his tendrils coiling around it at the same time. More tendrils shot out from the ground, trying to ensnare Hiruzen.
Got you! Kakuzu was secretly delighted. The staff's ability to extend was unexpected, but he had intended to feign an opening anyway.
However, just as he thought he could bind Hiruzen and take his heart, a hand extended from within the staff and grabbed his neck.
"What?" Kakuzu's eyes widened.
Snap!
His neck was broken.
Enma threw the body aside. The tendrils wrapped around Hiruzen went limp and fell away. But just as Hiruzen was about to retract the staff, the ground exploded. Kakuzu's hand shot out from underground and grabbed his neck.
Crack! Crack!
The neck snapped, and Kakuzu climbed out of the ground.
"This guy…" An eye appeared on the staff. "This guy isn't a normal person, Hiruzen. Be careful. Don't be careless."
"I know…" With that, Hiruzen's body turned to mud and collapsed when Kakuzu squeezed it.
The staff flew up on its own and smashed down at Kakuzu, who leaped away to dodge. But just as he landed, his feet were grabbed.
Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!
Thump!
Kakuzu was pulled underground, leaving only his head exposed. Hiruzen emerged from the ground not far away, caught the falling staff, and then brought it down on Kakuzu's head. If breaking his neck doesn't work, what about smashing his head?
But he had to give up the attack. A large number of tendrils shot out from the ground, forcing him to dodge.
Kakuzu, having dug himself out, was already thinking of retreating. Because his three other hearts… had all been destroyed. This Hokage was too strong. What he could do, Hiruzen could also do. And what he couldn't do, Hiruzen could still do.
However, just as he was about to retreat, Hiruzen, using the staff to launch himself into the air, formed hand seals.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Four more shadow clones. The previous ones had already been dispelled. Four clones plus the main body—five Hiruzens formed hand seals at the same time.
"Not good!" Kakuzu sensed danger. He formed hand seals, and his back split open.
And in the air, Hiruzen's ninjutsu was complete.
Wind, Fire, Water, Lightning, Earth: Five-Element Great Combo Attack!
The five nature transformations combined and collided. With a roar of air, a torrent of fire, lightning, and water surged, instantly sweeping over a hundred-meter radius and engulfing Kakuzu. The surging energy continued to expand, cracking the earth and destroying the plants in its path. The clearing created by Kakuzu's earlier jutsu had more than doubled in size.
The clones dispelled. Hiruzen landed on the charred ground, staff in hand, his gaze sweeping the area. There was no sign of Kakuzu. "Did he escape?"
"Who was that guy?" Enma's eye appeared on the staff.
"He should be the jonin from the Hidden Waterfall who once assassinated the First Hokage," Hiruzen said. "I didn't expect him to still be alive." To be able to escape from his Five-Element Great Combo Attack was no simple feat. No wonder he had survived after trying to assassinate the First.
Ignoring the escaped Kakuzu, Hiruzen turned and headed back toward Danzō.
Passing through the two battlefields that had been cleared by ninjutsu, he returned to the main road. The sight of Homura and Koharu lying on the ground, their life status unknown, made his pupils constrict. "Danzō, you…"
Danzō slowly turned, his expression flat. "Since they have become an obstacle to the village's growth, they must be eliminated. Hiruzen, you are just too soft. To have a talent like Kinoshita Genichi, and yet you let the village lose so many benefits."
"You bastard!" Hiruzen gritted his teeth. "Have you gone mad? They were your comrades who fought alongside you! Is the position of Hokage really that important?"
"Don't speak so lightly, Hiruzen," a scornful look appeared on Danzō's face. "If I hadn't been a step too slow back then, the position of Hokage would have been mine. Tobirama-sensei chose the wrong person. Hiruzen, if you truly have the village's best interests at heart, then you should commit suicide. I will lead the village to become the strongest in the ninja world!"
Madman!
Hiruzen was burning with rage, but he calmed himself down. "I will not let you succeed. Danzō, you have failed our teacher's teachings, and you have failed the trust of all of us. I will finish you with my own hands!"
Danzō was long prepared. His hands flew through seals. He then took out a kunai, opened his mouth, and blew. Wind chakra coated it, forming a chakra blade.
"Then let me see if you've gotten rusty over the years." Danzō charged toward him. He knew Hiruzen too well. In a ninjutsu duel, he had no hope. The Adamantine Staff was powerful, but it would also feel pain from his wind jutsu. He had to fight in close quarters, so he could rely on Izanagi to defeat him. Perhaps Hiruzen already knew about this jutsu, but it wouldn't be that simple to counter.
Watching him charge, Hiruzen immediately understood his intent. Danzō knew him, but he also knew Danzō. And he also knew about the Sharingan from Genichi. And the Wood Release… Hiruzen was on guard. He swung the staff, its length and thickness changing unpredictably, and engaged Danzō.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Just then, figures appeared around them. It was Shinnosuke, Shikaku Nara, and three other Anbu. The Root and Sky Ninja had all been dealt with.
"Captain, what do we do?" an Anbu asked.
Shinnosuke hadn't expected things to come to this. That Danzō had actually colluded with outsiders to try and kill them all. Shikaku was also shocked. "The two Hokage aides are both…"
"Don't act rashly," Shinnosuke ordered. It was best not to interfere in a battle between those at the Kage level; otherwise, they might just get in the way. And he knew his father's personality very well. He probably wouldn't want them to interfere at this moment. Comrades for so many years, and in the end, they were killing each other…
Shikaku also didn't interfere, just watching the battle in the center.
Slashing, sweeping, thrusting, jabbing, its length and thickness changing at will, Hiruzen wielded the Adamantine Staff with great prowess. After a dozen or so exchanges, he seized an opportunity and struck Danzō's right arm, knocking the chakra blade from his hand. He then thrust straight for his chest. With a thud, Danzō's chest caved in, and his body was sent flying.
However, just as he landed, his body vanished.
It's the forbidden jutsu Genichi mentioned! Shinnosuke's pupils constricted. He immediately turned and saw Danzō appear at his father's side, forming hand seals.
Poof!
A cloud of smoke, and a giant beast appeared. The summon, Baku. It raised its elephant-like trunk and, opening its mouth, began to suck in the air. A fierce wind blew back, sending sand and stones flying. The watching Shinnosuke and the others could barely stand and had to retreat. Hiruzen plunged the staff into the ground to anchor himself.
After summoning the Baku, Danzō immediately began to circle around from the side.
"Enma!" Hiruzen shouted. He let go of the staff, letting his body be pulled toward the Baku. His hands flew through seals, and he spat out a great fireball. The staff, in the air, transformed back into Enma, who landed in front of the Danzō who had just finished his seals. He threw a punch, sending the Danzō who was about to use a wind jutsu flying.
Danzō's body hit the ground, then vanished again. At the same time, the Baku, having taken a great fireball, cried out in pain and was unsummoned. Danzō appeared at Enma's side, formed hand seals, took a deep breath, and then exhaled. A sharp, intersecting current of air shot toward Enma.
Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!
Enma turned, but it was too late to dodge. He could only cross his arms.
Boom!
His body was sent back, and even with his adamantine body, blood sprayed from his arms.
"Damn it! Danzō, I'll kill you!" Enma roared.
"Enma, leave this to me," Hiruzen said, then spat out a stream of fire that converged into a ball, then exploded, condensing into a dragon's head that charged at Danzō at an even greater speed.
Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!
Enma obediently unsummoned. At this moment, Shinnosuke shouted, "Third Hokage! Each of his Sharingan can only last for seventy seconds!" He had noticed that one of the eyes on Danzō's arm had already closed.
"I know!" Hiruzen replied, his hands continuing to form seals. He created two shadow clones.
Lightning Release: Thunderclap!
His real body spat out a spear of lightning. Danzō, who had just countered the fire with wind, was hit in the chest and cried out in pain. His body vanished again and then appeared on the other side. But at this moment, Hiruzen and his two clones were back-to-back, with no blind spots. The moment Danzō appeared, he was met with Hiruzen's wind jutsu.
Wind against wind, a great vacuum sphere. The two spheres collided in the air, creating a storm. A flash of lightning passed through the storm, and Danzō, unable to dodge, was hit again.
He's completely suppressed. Although he has the secret Sharingan technique, unless there's another surprise, then…
The watching Shikaku secretly sighed in relief. Danzō could not win. The gap between the two was too great. The moment the Baku had appeared should have been his best, and perhaps only, opportunity. Shinnosuke also relaxed a little. The Sharingan's secret technique was indeed astonishing, able to reverse life and death. But right now, it was not enough for Danzō to turn the tables. Next was the Wood Release.
However, as the eyes on his arm closed one by one, Danzō panicked. He couldn't win. As for Wood Release, he hadn't been able to perfectly control Hashirama's cells and couldn't use it like Yamato.
Retreat, or look for an opportunity to fight to the death? Danzō looked at the last slowly closing eye on his arm, his heart torn. Only one was left. And his chakra consumption had also been enormous. He was even having trouble suppressing the Hashirama cells in his right arm.
Damn it… He was flustered, and also unwilling. If he escaped, he would become a rogue ninja of the Leaf. This was an unacceptable outcome.
I am a hero of Konoha! he roared internally. He activated a Sharingan genjutsu, then threw a shuriken enhanced with wind.
Poof! Poof!
Hiruzen's two shadow clones were hit one after another, and his real body's arm was also cut. Danzō took the opportunity to get close and, with another wind-enhanced kunai, pierced through his body.
"You lose, Danzō," Hiruzen's voice came from behind him. The Hiruzen in front of him dispersed like the wind. A genjutsu.
Danzō was stunned. He had cast a genjutsu, only to be caught in one himself. He felt the cold touch of a blade on his neck. "No…" he gritted his teeth.
He turned, and blood sprayed. He had actively used Hiruzen's kunai to slit his own throat.
Under Hiruzen's astonished gaze, his body vanished and then reappeared.
Thump! Thump! Thump!~
His abdomen, his chin, his face. Hiruzen took three consecutive punches from Danzō.
"Hiruzen, you are still too indecisive," Danzō said, grabbing his neck and lifting him up. At the same time, his right eye slowly turned white.
(End of Chapter)
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