"Earth Style: Decapitation Technique!"
But before the crowd could even cheer, a pair of young hands burst from the ground beneath Hiruzen's feet, yanking him neck-deep into the earth.
"Raikiri!"
No hand seals. No sound.
Lightning compressed to the limit roared silently around Kakashi's right hand, shaping into a conical edge smooth as glass.
Over the past six months, Kakashi had studied the seal-less Rasengan, merging its principles with Chidori. By pushing lightning's nature transformation to its absolute extreme, he created a new silent assassination jutsu: Raikiri!
Unlike the A-rank Chidori, which required hand seals and echoed with the cries of a thousand birds, this technique needed neither. Its difficulty was S-rank—but Kakashi had made it his own.
"Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole!"
Just before Raikiri could pierce his skull, Hiruzen sank his head into the ground with an Earth Style escape.
"Tch. Ducking underground? That's a very Madara-style dance."
Kakashi sneered, then slipped below the surface with the Mayfly Technique.
A minute later, in front of countless stunned onlookers, a battered and bruised Hiruzen clawed his way up, looking like he'd been pummeled by an angry mob.
The Third Hokage's face darkened.
Isn't he a Lightning-style specialist? How the hell is he outclassing me with Earth Style underground?!
Worse still, that strange ninjutsu—moving through soil as if it were thin air—he'd never even heard of it. The so-called "Professor of a Thousand Jutsu" had been reduced to a punching bag in his own domain.
Humiliation burned.
Without hesitation, Hiruzen slammed his palms down.
"Summoning Technique: Monkey King, Enma!"
The great ape appeared in a cloud of smoke, only to freeze at the sight of his summoner's swollen face.
"Sarutobi, what in the world—why do you look like that?!"
"Ahem. Now's not the time. Enma, the Vajra Staff, if you please."
Embarrassed, Hiruzen dodged the question.
"Hatake Sword Technique: Sealing Thunder Slash!"
Kakashi erupted from the ground, sword blazing. Without hesitation, he aimed for the giant ape's neck.
Clang!
Sparks flew.
Kakashi blinked. His slash had left nothing but a faint white mark.
"Oh? Indestructible body, huh? Great. So you're basically the boss monster with no weak points. Love that."
Enma, seizing the opening, transformed into the Vajra Staff.
Kakashi arched a brow. "Wow. Even the legendary staff makes an appearance. What's next? You gonna tell me it weighs 13,500 kilograms too?"
"…What did you just say?" Hiruzen faltered mid-grip.
"Oh, nothing. Just a little commentary on how many 'ancient treasures' Konoha keeps tucked away. Don't mind me, Elder Hiruzen—swing away."
"Snort!"
Fueled by anger and humiliation, Hiruzen leapt high, golden staff raised.
Bang! Bang!
The staff and cursed blade collided again and again.
Hiruzen poured his fury into every swing, determined to crush Kakashi with sheer might.
But Kakashi's movements were pure lightning—blinding, relentless, breaking every form with raw speed.
Round after round they clashed, neither gaining ground.
Hiruzen's teeth clenched. My family's inherited Monkey King Staff… and this brat makes it look like child's play!
Kakashi smirked behind his mask. "You really should've brought Jiraiya-sensei along, Hokage-sama. At least then you'd have some backup commentary to match the theatrics."
"Impudent brat!"
Rage boiling, Hiruzen roared and unleashed a storm of cudgel strikes, weaving shadows into an airtight net.
"Drink!"
With a final heave, the staff shot forth like a dragon.
Kakashi sidestepped—but Enma's form lengthened mid-swing, turning massive.
"King Kong Sweep!"
The golden cudgel spun in a full circle, smashing outward in a devastating sweep.
Kakashi vaulted upward, one foot tapping the staff's spinning surface like a swallow taking flight.
"Not bad footwork!"
Hiruzen used the momentum, hurling the staff skyward. Enma expanded once more, towering fifty meters thick, then dropped straight down toward Kakashi.
"Vajra Ruyi Drop!"
Boom!
The impact shook the world, airwaves flattening the forest, dust rising in a choking cloud.
When the smoke cleared, the battlefield had become a crater.
"Hah… hah…"
Hiruzen leaned on the staff, breath ragged, eyes fixed on the hundred-meter pit.
"Is it… over?"
"Sage Art: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A torrent of flame like a living tsunami erupted, swallowing the field. The temperature scorched the air, turning fallen trees to cinders in an instant.
Hiruzen's eyes widened. Such flames… even I can tell—they're far beyond ordinary Fire Style.
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
A wall of mud and water fused, hardening into cement—the defensive ninjutsu, Cement Flow Wall!
Ssshhhhh!
The fiery tide struck, white steam exploding into the sky.
When the smoke dispersed, the wall was cracked and crumbling, its surface charred and brittle.
The defense had held—for now—but only barely.