In the next instant, Satoru was back amid the rubble, his body in the same state as before.
"Was that a dream? No, it didn't feel like a dream... Dreams aren't that real..." The youth stood and saw the four statues again.
"Four Sacred Beasts?" As he approached, everything shook, and the ancient well began changing again.
A human figure appeared before Satoru—familiar Sarutobi Sasuke.
But now, Hiruzen's ancestor no longer looked kindly. Clearly, he was under the Nine-Tails' chakra control.
"Who are you?!" Satoru demanded.
"Me? I don't even know my own name," the possessed Sasuke drew the Diamond Staff and continued. "The weapon in my hands is the Monkey King, and in my body is the Nine-Tails' chakra... but I'm not fully the Nine-Tails. I think I'm still Sarutobi Sasuke."
"Everything's jumbled in my head..." The man shook his head, his eyes filling with malice.
"I know one thing: killing you right here and now is the best fate!"
It really was Sarutobi Sasuke before him! And now, fully possessed!
He lunged at the young Uchiha with incredible speed—Satoru instantly recognized Wind Release nature transformation.
"Takamagahara!" Weaponless, Satoru used his Mangekyo Sharingan ability, creating a Yin-Yang staff. The demonic Sasuke version clashed with him immediately.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Both wielding staffs, they exchanged furious blows. The fight was spectacular, their strengths evenly matched.
Satoru used Monstrous Strength; his opponent, Wind Release enhancement. Each staff strike was faster than the last!
Soon, the young Uchiha felt mounting pressure.
"This guy's power is really Super-Kage level! The Third Hokage in his prime might not have been stronger!" Satoru decided enough time wasted and, mid-fight, attacked suddenly. "Amaterasu!"
He locked eyes on Sarutobi Sasuke, but the man was blindingly fast, effortlessly dodging the black flames.
"No wonder Sarutobi Sasuke told me to master five nature transformations. Can't beat him without it!" Satoru activated his own Wind nature transformation, his speed surging instantly.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!" The youth unleashed the Sarutobi clan's fire jutsu, combined with Wind Release.
Wind boosting Fire—a simple combined ninjutsu—rushed at the possessed Sasuke.
He instantly formed seals too.
"Wind Release: Fierce Vacuum Wave!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Both had mastered nature transformation in their techniques. After several ninjutsu exchanges, they panted heavily.
"Tailed Beast Ball!" Under Nine-Tails' chakra control, Sarutobi Sasuke could use it flawlessly even in human form.
Satoru knew this clash would decide his fate.
"Fine, time to test my new ultimate move!" He'd trained endlessly in the illusory space to master this.
"Wind Release: Rasen Shuriken!" Satoru raised one hand overhead, forming a spinning Wind Release shuriken. This technique already combined nature and shape transformation.
He extended his other hand, a lightning core forming in the palm—naturally, a Three Hundred Million Volts Thunder Ball, crackling fiercely.
Satoru smoothly directed the Thunder Ball to his raised hand, fully absorbing it into the Rasen Shuriken.
The high-speed Wind Release Rasen Shuriken now fused with lightning power.
The transformation wasn't done. A massive storm erupted! A super-powerful hurricane of lightning and vortices radiated from Satoru.
The Rasen Shuriken in the young Uchiha's hand became the Spiral Thunder Shuriken—an terrifying ninjutsu that could alter the weather.
The Tailed Beast Ball finally hurtled at Satoru. He threw his Spiral Thunder Shuriken to meet it.
Shrieeeek! A eardrum-shattering sound rang out! It was nearly impossible to watch! The activation disrupted the enemy's sight and hearing.
The Tailed Beast Ball followed Yin-Yang proportions, while Satoru's technique used Wind and Lightning. Which was stronger would soon be clear!
The two mighty forces finally collided. The Spiral Thunder Shuriken smashed into the Tailed Beast Ball. Its form warped instantly; the slicing shuriken vanished, resembling a black hole that tore apart the Tailed Beast Ball's energy. This made the Tailed Beast Ball wildly unstable, exploding the entire ancient well again.
The Tailed Beast Ball's Yin-Yang energy shattered instantly. Sarutobi Sasuke's body tore apart too.
Even Satoru hadn't expected his created Kekkei Genkai to be so horrifying.
When the youth opened his eyes again, the kindly Sarutobi Sasuke stood before him once more.
"Sarutobi Sasuke? You revived again?" Satoru didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the clan founder.
"I didn't revive—I've been dead a long time. I'm just chakra—how many times do I have to say it?" Sarutobi Sasuke didn't know whether to laugh or cry either. "But you're truly amazing. I didn't think you'd actually create a new nature!"
"Swift wind slicing, lightning destruction and fury... it formed a black hole devouring all existence. You should name this nature," Hiruzen's ancestor said.
"Let's call it Flash Release. Wind nature transformation allows ultra-fast movement, Lightning nature transformation does too, and their combined attack flashes like lightning. Flash Release fits perfectly!" Satoru declared.
"Incredible, Flash Release!" Sarutobi Sasuke looked at the youth and said, "You beat me under the Nine-Tails' control. Now, the final trial remains."
"Do I have to complete all trials?" Satoru asked doubtfully.
"Of course, and it's the most important," Sasuke replied. "The Nine-Tails' chakra, Previous Monkey King's chakra, even Gold Horn and Silver Horn's—all merged as one. You must absorb it all."
"What? Me absorb it?!" Satoru was baffled.
"It's the only way to let the Previous Monkey King live on. He's immortal; even without chakra, his body remains Indestructible," Sarutobi Sasuke explained.
"No, I'm worried about myself! I'm only six! You want me to absorb chakra from so many beings?!" Satoru thought it impossible.
"I believe you'll find a way!" Sarutobi Sasuke said. "You're only six, but your chakra's already Kage-level. Absorbing a bit more should be fine."