Boom!
Suddenly, thunder cracked across the heavens, drowning out the word "duel" that Shisui was about to speak.
With the thunder, a violent wind swept away the clouds, rolling dark masses gathering above.
Everyone looked up in astonishment. Lightning flashed deep inside the clouds, heralding a storm thick with murderous intent.
So that's it. The earlier clash of fire and water, the steam billowing skyward—it had turned into thunderclouds?
They had literally changed the heavens with ninjutsu. What a battle!
…What a pity it would end like this.
The veterans in the crowd quickly pieced it together.
"It seems rain is coming. Since matters are nearly settled here, everyone can disperse. I'll handle the rest—"
"Hiruzen, tell me… have you ever seen a Lightning Style that falls from the sky?"
Just as Hiruzen narrowed his eyes at Shisui, about to dismiss the clan heads before speaking with Minato in private, a voice like thunder rang from above. It carried such weight it seemed to shake their very hearts.
That voice—Kakashi?!
Hiruzen's pupils shrank sharply as he snapped his gaze skyward.
In the churning black clouds, a monstrous beast of lightning loomed, fangs crackling with raw power.
And atop its head—
Kakashi stood casually, hands in his pockets, peering down at the battlefield.
The storm winds whipped his sleeves as if bowing before him. Against the thunder's glow, his figure looked less like a shinobi and more like the Thunder Emperor himself descending to earth.
Roar!
The thunder beast at Kakashi's feet let out a deafening cry, arcs of lightning dancing across its jagged fangs.
Hiruzen's face sank. His mood plummeted.
This Lightning Style… this was no ordinary display. Even he, who prided himself on mastery of every element, felt overshadowed.
"Hiruzen! Ready yourself!"
The voice boomed again, shaking the forest.
Tch… so that's his game.
Hiruzen instantly understood.
He had flaunted his unstoppable Five Elements Great Combination Bomb before the entire village.
Now Kakashi would crush him with an equally overwhelming ninjutsu, head-on.
The boy wasn't sneaking, wasn't dodging. He was declaring war in broad daylight.
And if Hiruzen avoided it now, he'd be exposed as a coward before every clan. The image of "invincible Hokage" would shatter.
"…Enma!"
"Understood!"
The Monkey King instantly understood, reverting from cudgel to true form before transforming into a set of golden armor that wrapped around Hiruzen.
The ultimate defense—Ape King Armor.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
Not enough. Hiruzen slammed his palms down, raising five colossal earth walls around himself, each ten meters thick, sealing him in on all sides.
From above, Kakashi's voice drifted down, dripping with mockery.
"Mm, no Water Wall? Guess you finally remembered water conducts lightning. Smart move. But an Earth Wall? You do know the old saying—Lightning beats Earth, right?"
His voice hardened.
"Elder Hiruzen, show me if the so-called strongest Hokage can block this!"
"Lightning Style: Kirin!"
The heavens split.
The thunder beast crashed down like a waterfall from the stars, the battlefield swallowed in blinding light.
Thunder raged across the forest. Trees vaporized, lightning branched in every direction.
In the next instant, Kakashi was already by Minato's side, three kilometers away, watching the destruction from safety.
At the epicenter, white light engulfed Hiruzen's position.
Then—
Boom!
A roar like the heavens themselves cracking apart.
Blazing lightning spread from the impact zone, obliterating everything within two kilometers.
Flames devoured the forest, turning it into a sea of fire.
Kakashi tilted his head at the sight. "Huh. Guess I finally understand what Deidara meant by art is explosion. Not bad, huh?"
"Mm? What did you say?"
Minato turned, raising his voice. The thunder had left his ears ringing; his hearing was only just recovering.
"Nothing important, Sensei!" Kakashi called back, tone light.
Everyone else stared at him in stunned silence.
That Lightning Style… they had never heard of anything like it. Not in Konoha. Not in the Cloud.
Could it be… his own creation?
The boy was barely fourteen!
The clan heads exchanged looks, their gazes toward Kakashi blazing with newfound intensity. Some even began scheming—were there daughters of marriageable age in their clans? Perhaps a convenient "assignment" under Kakashi's Anbu command? If luck smiled, they might secure him as a son-in-law.
Those without such prospects seethed silently. Why didn't I have another daughter back then?
Meanwhile, Kakashi's Anbu teammates stared in awe. They had sparred with him before, usually losing by only the smallest of margins.
Until today, they had thought of him as just slightly stronger than them.
But now… they saw the truth. Their captain wasn't slightly better—he was an entirely different league.
Shisui trembled with excitement. So this… this is Senpai's true strength?
Only the Hokage advisors' faces soured.
How could someone so young be this strong?
Would Hiruzen… lose?
Even their faith wavered.
"Nothing, really. Just going to check on Elder Hiruzen," Kakashi said calmly. His expression shifted, serious now. "If I end up taking him elsewhere, Minato-sensei, please stop the Third Hokage's direct Anbu from interfering."
"Fine. But remember—no killing." Minato's tone was firm. "If you strike down the Hokage, you'll bear the stigma forever. You'll never find footing in this village again."
"Relax, Sensei. I understand." Kakashi nodded.
He knew Hiruzen's greatest crime was protecting Danzo. Serious, but not enough to warrant execution.
Besides, Kakashi had worked tirelessly for years, earning respect among Konoha's ninja.
If he killed Hiruzen outright, he'd only stain Minato's reign and invite unrest.
No—the goal was to force repentance, to strip away the rot of favoritism and power-lust.
But if Hiruzen refused? If he still chose to shelter corruption?
Then Kakashi would cut him down himself, bearing the infamy alone if need be.
He didn't care for glory. He didn't care for the Hokage's seat.
If necessary, he'd become the "Shadow Killer."
Better him, than Konoha burning from within.
To be continued....