At the border of the Land of Water, shrouded in thick mist.
A ninja hawk flew through layers of fog before landing at Kirigakure's frontline headquarters.
An intelligence ninja quickly removed the scroll tied to its leg.
After only one glance, his expression changed dramatically.
"The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, has personally led a combat unit to the frontline battlefield?!"
The news was like a stone thrown into still water.
The entire headquarters instantly erupted into chaos.
"The Third Hokage is here?! Then doesn't that mean we're..."
"That's right! They say the Third Hokage is Konoha's strongest Hokage! What are we supposed to do?"
"..."
Every ninja looked as though they were facing a formidable enemy.
In one corner.
Seven figures with cold eyes stood up at the same time.
The sound of their weapons clashing rang sharply through the room.
"So, a worthy prey has finally arrived."
"I hope he won't be like that Hyūga coward, hiding all day."
Jūzō Biwa gently stroked the blade of the Executioner's Blade.
His shark-like teeth gleamed coldly in the shadows.
"I've been killing nothing but trash lately."
"My blade is starting to rust."
"I heard that old man is called the Professor of Ninjutsu."
"And they even call him the strongest Hokage?"
"I'd like to see what the strongest Hokage is really made of."
Mangetsu Hōzuki grinned, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
Samehada on his shoulder squirmed excitedly.
"I wonder what his chakra tastes like..."
"If we manage to kill a Kage..."
"Won't we become famous?"
"Just like Kinkaku and Ginkaku back then?"
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen spoke one after another.
There wasn't a trace of fear in their eyes.
Only excitement.
The seven exchanged glances.
Then they walked toward the exit together.
Kirigakure's commander hurriedly tried to stop them.
"Wait! We need to come up with a battle plan..."
"A plan?"
Jinpachi Munashi turned around and threw the Explosive Blade: Splash.
The explosion instantly blew apart the battlefield map behind the commander.
"This is our plan!"
The seven figures instantly disappeared into the thick mist.
Only shredded paper and the commander's dark expression remained.
"Those people..."
"Someone, hurry and report this intelligence back to the village!"
...
Meanwhile.
"Ten more kilometers ahead is the canyon."
Danzo stood on a tree branch, looking into the distance.
A trace of caution flashed through his lone eye.
"The terrain is complicated."
"It's perfect for an ambush."
Hiruzen Sarutobi rested the Adamantine Staff on his shoulder.
His white beard swayed gently in the wind.
"If those lunatics from Kirigakure receive the news, they definitely won't let this opportunity slip away."
"And this fog seems to be getting thicker."
The moment he finished speaking.
The sound of metal slicing through the air suddenly echoed through the forest.
The Third Hokage's expression immediately became serious.
The Adamantine Staff instantly crossed in front of his chest.
Clang!
The cold blade of the Executioner's Blade collided with the Adamantine Staff, sending brilliant sparks flying.
Jūzō Biwa's savage face appeared right in front of him.
"Not bad, old man!"
Almost at the same moment.
Six black figures attacked from different directions.
Danzo quickly formed hand seals.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
The sharp wind blade forced back two attackers.
But even more Ninja Swords had already been drawn.
"Ninja Art: Thousand Needles!"
Kushimaru Kuriarare swung the Longsword: Needle.
Countless steel wires carrying senbon needles shot toward them like a torrential downpour.
The Third Hokage slammed one hand onto the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
The rising earth wall blocked most of the attack.
Even so, several senbon pierced through the defense and cut across his cheek, leaving behind streaks of blood.
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Mangetsu Hōzuki finished forming his hand seals.
An enormous tidal wave suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Just as the Third Hokage was about to respond.
His foot suddenly tightened.
Without anyone noticing.
The steel wire from the Longsword: Needle had already wrapped around his ankle.
"Got you!"
Jinin Akebino leaped into the air, raising the Blunt Sword: Helmet Splitter high above his head.
At the critical moment.
Danzo suddenly appeared.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
The compressed wind blast sent Jinin Akebino flying.
But the Explosive Blade: Splash had already been attached to the Third Hokage's back.
A flash of light shone from the blade.
Boom!
At the same time as the explosion.
Steel wires burst from the ground.
The wire wrapped around Hiruzen's leg suddenly tightened, attempting to slice it apart.
Smoke filled the battlefield.
"Did he die?"
Jinpachi Munashi shouted excitedly.
The smoke gradually dispersed.
Only a pile of mud remained.
"Earth Clone Technique?!"
Just then.
The spotless Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly walked out from the distant shadows.
Looking at the seven swordsmen.
A long-forgotten fighting spirit ignited within his eyes.
"Seven against two..."
"This reminds me of my younger days, Danzo."
"What do you think?"
"Stop talking nonsense!"
"Get serious, Hiruzen!"
Danzo replied impatiently as he stared at the seven before him.
He knew every one of them possessed dangerous and unique abilities.
They had to remain extremely cautious.
Otherwise, they could easily be caught off guard.
In the distance.
Raiga Kurosuki swung the Kiba Blades.
Lightning transformed into a giant wolf that charged toward them.
The Third Hokage seemed to have anticipated it.
His hands formed seals so quickly that they almost became afterimages.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
The ground within a hundred-meter radius instantly softened into a swamp.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were caught completely off guard and began sinking into the mud.
Mangetsu Hōzuki's Samehada frantically devoured chakra.
But the Third Hokage changed techniques even faster.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
The blazing fire dragon rushed toward the trapped enemies.
Jūzō Biwa hurriedly raised the Executioner's Blade to block it.
Even so, the intense heat turned the blade bright red.
Jinpachi Munashi was just about to throw the Explosive Blade.
When Danzo's Wind Release shuriken had already reached him.
"Wind Release: Shuriken!"
The humming shuriken burst out from within the flames.
Forcing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to retreat repeatedly.
Kushimaru Kuriarare suddenly laughed sinisterly as he hooked his finger.
"Longsword: Needle, Heavenly Net!"
The steel wires scattered across the battlefield suddenly tightened.
Trapping the Third Hokage and Danzo inside a tiny area.
"Lightning Release: Kiba!"
Raiga Kurosuki slammed his twin swords together.
Lightning raced along the steel wires toward the two of them.
The Third Hokage struck the Adamantine Staff against the ground.
"Enma!"
A cloud of white smoke exploded.
The gigantic Monkey King, Enma, appeared and tore apart every steel wire with a single pull.
Taking advantage of the opportunity.
Danzo bit his thumb.
He wasted no time.
"Summoning Technique: Baku!"
The whirlwind-like summon opened its enormous mouth.
Its terrifying suction made the Seven Ninja Swordsmen lose their footing.
"Five Release: Great Linked Barrage Technique!"
The Third Hokage used the Shadow Clone Technique.
Creating four shadow clones.
Together, they formed hand seals and unleashed Fire, Lightning, Water, Earth, and Wind Release simultaneously.
Empowered by Baku's Wind Release.
The combined attack became a devastating torrent of ninjutsu.
Mangetsu Hōzuki hurriedly raised Samehada to block it.
But half of his body was still burned black by the flames.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
Shimura Danzo infused Wind Release chakra into the kunai in his hand.
The blade instantly became as sharp as a sword.
The first one!
Danzo used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Jinpachi Munashi.
His strike pierced straight through the man's heart.
Before the Explosive Blade could even leave his hand.
His body was shredded into pieces by the Wind Release chakra.
Kushimaru Kuriarare had only just wrapped his steel wire around Enma's arm.
Before both he and his sword were smashed deep into the ground.
The only thing left sticking out was his head.
Enma's enormous strength promptly relocated it.
"Damn it!"
Watching one companion after another fall.
Fear finally appeared on Jūzō Biwa's face.
Raiga Kurosuki completely abandoned his dignity and turned to flee.
The Third Hokage was just about to pursue them.
When a violent explosion suddenly erupted ahead.
"That's enough, Hiruzen."
Danzo instantly appeared beside him.
His lone eye remained fixed on the two escaping figures.
"Don't forget our plan."
"The bait plan has already succeeded."
"Next, Kirigakure's main force will definitely chase after us relentlessly."
Hiruzen nodded and stopped.
The setting sun stretched the shadows of the two old comrades across the ground.
Looking at the Ninja Swords scattered on the battlefield.
Hiruzen suddenly smiled.
"It's been many years since I've enjoyed a battle this much."
Danzo gave a soft snort.
Yet beneath the bandages.
The corner of his mouth curved upward slightly.
"Hiruzen."
"You've gotten weaker."
"Oh?"
The two looked at each other.
Then Hiruzen burst into hearty laughter.
"This feeling..."
"Is truly refreshing!"
In the distance.
The surviving Kirigakure ninja watched the scene in horror.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had actually been completely crushed by two old men.
The news spread across the battlefield like a storm.
Everyone who heard it realized one thing.
Konoha, the sleeping lion...
Had finally revealed its claws.
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