"What is the meaning of this?"
Even with his chakra sealed, Aoshi remained perfectly calm, showing not the slightest trace of panic.
It was as if the one restrained wasn't him at all. He looked at Mui and questioned him with absolute composure.
Mui sneered in response.
"Hmph. So this is the famous hero of the Konoha—Hirakawa Aoshi. Nothing special at all. You still haven't realized that everything here was arranged just to deal with you."
Disdain filled his expression. Under normal circumstances, Mui would never dare speak to Aoshi this way.
But now, with Aoshi's chakra sealed by Fire Release: Heavenly Prison, he could no longer use it.
In Mui's eyes, Aoshi was nothing more than a tiger that had lost its fangs. The moment the seal took effect, the outcome was already decided.
That was what Mui believed.
What he didn't know was—aside from medical ninjutsu, Aoshi was also highly skilled in sealing techniques.
With top-tier talent in fūinjutsu, combined with the sealing knowledge of the Uzumaki clan, there were very few ninjas in the entire world whose sealing arts could surpass his.
Mui thought he had successfully sealed Aoshi's chakra. In reality, Aoshi could break Fire Release: Heavenly Prison whenever he wished.
After all, it was only a hereditary sealing technique of the Grass Village.
It had its strengths—but how could it compare to the Uzumaki clan, whose sealing arts were renowned throughout the ninja world?
The reason Aoshi hadn't broken it yet was simple. He wanted to draw out the true mastermind behind everything.
Mui alone would never have had the courage to attack him.
"Aoshi—!" Nono cried out in alarm, about to strike at Mui.
But Aoshi raised his hand, stopping her. "Don't worry, Nono. I'm fine. Focus on protecting Kurenai, Rin, and Shizune."
He never spoke those words aloud.
Instead, he used Mind Transmission Jutsu, sending them straight into Nono's mind.
The anger on her face wavered. In the end, she chose to trust him, stepping in front of the bewildered Kurenai and the others.
"Is Brother Aoshi really okay?"
"Why is he attacking Teacher Aoshi?"
To their questions, Nono only replied, "Just protect yourselves. Brother Aoshi will be fine."
Reassured by her words, Kurenai and the others slowly steadied themselves.
At the same time—the elders of the Grass Fruit Faction, who had been hiding in the shadows, finally revealed themselves.
They shared the same belief as Mui. Once Fire Release: Heavenly Prison took effect, the outcome was already sealed.
Otherwise, with their cautious nature, they would never have dared appear before Aoshi so openly.
"Heh, Hirakawa Aoshi, the so-called hero of Konoha. You ruined our grand plan back then. Did you ever think this day would come?"
The moment they appeared; the elders couldn't help but mock him.
Their faces were filled with the smug satisfaction of petty men who believed they had finally won.
The thrill of revenge made them eager to see fear and regret on Aoshi's face.
But they were destined to be disappointed. Even with all of them standing before him, Aoshi remained calm.
His expression didn't change in the slightest. When he looked at the Grass Fruit elders, there was even a trace of disdain in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Aoshi said coldly. "My chakra is already sealed. And you're still only brave enough to crawl out now?"
His words weren't really meant for Mui or the elders. He wasn't certain who the true mastermind was—but he knew it wasn't this group.
They were nothing more than opportunists.
Aoshi's contemptuous attitude struck the Grass Fruit elders even harder. Because he was right.
Without Orochimaru, they would never have dared lay a hand on him.
And that truth made it all the more unbearable.
He pointed at Nono and the others and barked at Mui, "Mui, kill them right now! I want to see what the hero of the Leaf can do when his people start dying!"
Clearly, he wanted to use their lives to force Aoshi to beg. But that plan was doomed from the start.
The moment Mui prepared to act—
Aoshi moved.
A flash of white light cut through the air.
In an instant, he had severed Mui's arm.
Fire Release: Heavenly Prison still affected him, slowing his movements just enough for Mui, a jōnin, to avoid a fatal strike.
Under normal circumstances, that attack would have ended Mui's life on the spot.
"What?! How is that possible?!" Mui froze.
The Grass Fruit elders turned pale with terror.
Their confidence had rested entirely on one assumption—that Fire Release: Heavenly Prison had completely neutralized Aoshi.
Normally, a ninja without chakra was reduced to less than a tenth of their strength.
No matter how powerful Hirakawa Aoshi was, could he really surpass a jōnin like Mui under those conditions?
Reality answered them.
They were wrong.
Terribly wrong.
"Impossible… this is impossible!"
"His chakra is sealed! Attack together—kill him!"
Any man who became an elder naturally possessed jōnin-level strength.
In an instant, some formed hand seals, while others drew their kunai and rushed at Aoshi.
"Aoshi—!"
"Don't worry about me," Aoshi said calmly. "Remember your mission."
After reassuring Nono, he raised his blade and charged forward.
Even with his chakra restricted, his combat ability was more than enough to handle these elders—men who had spent years in high positions and long neglected real battle.
The Hatake Sword Style, famous for its speed, was the perfect technique for cutting down weakened opponents.
Almost as soon as the fight began, the Grass Fruit elders fell into chaos.
Some were wounded.
Others were cut down where they stood.
Aoshi showed no mercy.
"So… strong…" The sight left Kurenai and the others completely stunned.
They couldn't even begin to understand what they were witnessing.
At that moment, Mui stepped forward. He condensed his fire chakra into a crimson, sword-shaped blade and hurled it at Aoshi.
Fire Release: Heavenly Prison—Fire Sword!
An S-rank technique effective at both close and long range.
It forced Aoshi back at last.
"Mui, finish him!" The elders screamed in desperation, clinging to this sliver of hope.
Only now did it show how deeply Aoshi had frightened them moments before.
Even with his chakra sealed, he still possessed such terrifying power. He didn't feel like a ninja at all.
Mui continued launching long-range attacks with Fire Sword. With one arm severed, he no longer dared fight Aoshi up close.
But Aoshi pressed forward relentlessly, closing the distance and overpowering him.
Seeing the situation collapse—one of the elders finally shouted in panic, "Orochimaru! How long are you going to stand there and watch?!"