Hiruzen had just finished settling the children at the Academy, which was why he arrived a bit late. When Hibari called out to him, he didn't even think twice and followed Hibari away from the Hokage Residence.
"Are Tsunade and the others okay? Nothing happened, right?" Hibari first asked about his beloved little sister.
"Don't worry, Tsunade has already been taken back by your Senju clan. Your Shadow Clone is also with her," Hiruzen said with a smile.
Before Hibari could speak, Hiruzen's smile faded, and he asked with a serious expression, "I was just in class. I still don't understand the situation. What's going on? If I'm not mistaken, that was a Tailed Beast Ball just now, right? Did Tobirama-sensei make a move?"
"Yes, you're right. It was a Tailed Beast attack, but this time it's different. Tobirama-jiisan confirmed it. Madara Uchiha is controlling the Nine-Tails Fox with his Sharingan. Hashirama-jiisan has already gone to confront him. The other shinobi units in the village are performing their duties, maintaining and stabilizing the village, and simultaneously guarding against potential enemy attacks from other forces," Hibari nodded quickly and said.
"Madara Uchiha???" Hiruzen was surprised at first, then quickly asked, "Then, does this involve—"
Hibari glanced at Hiruzen and said, "It hasn't been confirmed yet, but your father and the others have gone to monitor. In my opinion, it shouldn't."
Hearing Hibari's reply, Hiruzen relaxed slightly, then said, "If that's the case, what do you want to do, kid? What's your mission?"
"I don't have a mission. I'm free to improvise. You arrived late, so you don't have a mission either, right? I was thinking we could patrol together..." Hibari said with a smile.
Looking at Hibari's expression, Hiruzen, who was already familiar with the kid's schemes, had a suspicious look in his eyes. He then asked, "What exactly do you want to do? Tell me clearly..."
Hibari was a bit embarrassed that Hiruzen had seen through his little plan. He then didn't continue to hide anything, but his expression turned serious, and he said, "Madara-jiisan... You've had contact with Madara before. He's always been ruthless in his actions, and this time he's clearly prepared. Hashirama-jiisan considers Madara his good brother. With his personality and way of doing things, he absolutely cannot be as cold-blooded and ruthless as Madara. Plus, with the Nine-Tails Fox assisting him... I'm worried Hashirama-jiisan might not be able to handle it."
Hearing Hibari's words, Hiruzen's expression became somewhat somber for a moment, then he said, "You mean, you think Hokage-sama might lose?"
"No one can say for sure about something like that, but if that were to happen..." Hibari stopped there, not continuing.
But Hiruzen had already understood the meaning behind his words. If Madara lost, perhaps Hashirama would be merciful and spare his life, but if Hashirama lost, then Madara would absolutely not leave him any chance to live.
"Then what do you want to do?" Hiruzen frowned and asked.
"We both have experience dealing with Tailed Beasts. If we can help Hashirama-jiisan at the right moment, perhaps we can change the entire course of the battle?" Hibari said without hesitation.
"Are you crazy?! This isn't just a simple Tailed Beast problem anymore. With our strength, getting involved in this kind of battle would most likely just hinder Hokage-sama. And fighting the Nine-Tails Fox? You're too idealistic, kid!" Hiruzen immediately retorted when he heard Hibari's words.
"What's the rush, you guy? Didn't I say we need to wait for the right moment?!" Hibari looked at Hiruzen helplessly and said.
"The right moment? What moment?" Hiruzen finally fell silent for a bit, then asked.
Hibari stood on the rooftop, glanced at the Senju clan's residence, then at the massive Wood Golem and Nine-Tails Fox battling further and further away outside the village. He then softly said, "I haven't thought of it yet. We'll just wait... Anyway, we don't have any missions right now, do we?"
If Hibari remembered correctly, his clan's matriarch, Mito Uzumaki, would assist Hashirama in this battle. At that time, she would seal the Nine-Tails inside herself, becoming the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, thus marking Konohagakure's acquisition of the strongest Tailed Beast.
The moment Hibari was waiting for was precisely that moment. He knew he couldn't help much in the battle between Hashirama and Madara; he would only be a hindrance if he went. But he still wanted to try to do something. Otherwise, if he just stood there, waiting for the outcome he remembered, he would definitely regret this day in the future!
As if sensing the fierce determination and persistence in Hibari's heart, Hiruzen looked at Hibari's somewhat small back and finally sighed, saying, "Then what do you plan to do?"
Hibari smiled at that, then said, "It's not too much trouble. If the timing is right, wouldn't it be great if we unleashed a collaboration ninjutsu?"
Hearing Hibari's words, Hiruzen also smiled, then said, "You'll have to be careful, though. No matter what, if you get caught in it, people will die."
Leaving Hibari and Hiruzen secretly discussing how to get involved in this situation, a fierce battle was simultaneously raging between Madara and Hashirama!
Under Hashirama's conscious effort, their battlefield had begun to gradually move away from Konohagakure, continuously heading towards what would later become the Valley of the End.
Madara seemed unconcerned by this. In truth, he didn't intend to destroy Konohagakure, which he had personally built, right here. His main objective for returning this time was actually Hashirama—to obtain the 'thing' he desired from him, using it as a medium to accomplish his future plans.
Controlling the Nine-Tails Fox, Madara held a massive gunbai in one hand and the sickle hanging from it in the other. A small Tailed Beast Ball was directly spewed from the Nine-Tails Fox's mouth, aimed at Hashirama.
It felt like only a short time had passed, but in reality, much time had elapsed. From the Tailed Beast attack that began around noon, the sun was now starting to set.
Watching the Tailed Beast Ball flying towards him, Hashirama stood atop a giant tree. He softly formed a hand seal and murmured, "Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
The next second, the tree beneath his feet transformed. A gigantic wood dragon emerged from the branches, biting down on the Tailed Beast Ball, seemingly crushing it directly. At the same time, the wood dragon also exploded into fragments.
"Madara!!! Even if you're angry, isn't it enough already?" Hashirama, after blocking the Tailed Beast Ball, looked at Madara standing on the Nine-Tails Fox's head and sternly rebuked him.
Madara frowned slightly upon hearing this and said, "Even now, do you still think I'm throwing a tantrum, Hashirama?"
"Why has it come to this? If you're in trouble, can't we just sit down and talk like before? I will definitely help you!" Hashirama looked at Madara and spoke again with great sincerity.
This time, as Madara looked at Hashirama's expression, a hint of hesitation appeared between his brows. However, he ultimately steeled his heart and softly murmured, "No, Hashirama... You won't understand me."
As his voice fell, the tomoe in his pupils spun again. Then, the Nine-Tails Fox he stood upon let out a ferocious roar, and a colossal Tailed Beast Ball began to coalesce.
Without giving Hashirama a chance to say anything more, Madara controlled the Nine-Tails to fire a blast at Hashirama. Hashirama's heart sank. At this point, he completely understood: Madara truly wanted to kill him and destroy Konohagakure.
He pressed his hands together in front of his chest, then roared, "Wood Release: Wood Golem Jutsu!"
The massive Wood Golem, which had previously battled the Nine-Tails Fox all the way to the Valley of the End, reappeared beneath Hashirama's feet. Just before the Tailed Beast Ball hit, it violently grabbed the Tailed Beast Ball, and then the gigantic Wood Golem, still clutching the Tailed Beast Ball, extended its arm towards the Nine-Tails Fox.
Due to the continuous intensification of chakra energy, the Tailed Beast Ball also continuously expanded. Immediately after, a flash of fire broke through the Wood Golem's palm. The next moment, a colossal explosion directly enveloped Hashirama, Madara, and the Nine-Tails Fox, utterly obliterating the entire ground into a deep chasm.
Even though they were now very far from Konohagakure, Hibari and Hiruzen could still see the massive mushroom cloud erupting near the horizon.
Watching this scene, Hibari's heart involuntarily tensed. He said, "It should be about time!"
As his voice fell, he saw the main gate of the Senju clan's residence open. Then, a woman with delicate features stepped across the threshold, her gaze fixed with determination towards the battlefield.
That person was none other than Hashirama's wife and Hibari's grandmother, Mito Uzumaki!
The explosion of the Tailed Beast Ball had enveloped both Madara and Hashirama. As the smoke cleared, the originally reddish-orange Nine-Tails Fox had undergone a massive transformation. An armor formed of chakra energy completely covered it.
This was a Mangekyo Sharingan ability, a powerful ability Madara bestowed upon the Nine-Tails Fox: Susanoo: Armored Nine-Tails!
With this absolute defense, neither Madara nor the Nine-Tails Fox were harmed by the previous Tailed Beast Ball explosion.
Looking at Hashirama's situation, the primeval forest that had continuously grown during his battle had been directly incinerated into ashes, and even the Wood Golem that had crushed the Tailed Beast Ball had disappeared.
Only a massive wooden box remained in its place. The next second, the wooden box opened from the middle, and Hashirama's figure appeared there, completely unharmed, looking up at the Nine-Tails Fox now covered by the Susanoo: Armored Nine-Tails.
At the same time, Madara also looked at Hashirama's figure and softly murmured, "Is that the Hōbi no Jutsu? Its defense is still incredibly formidable..."
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