Boom boom boom...
Huge rumblings echoed constantly inside the 'Four Violet Flames Formation'!
Sometimes, the massive impact of the explosions would even cause the barrier walls of the 'Four Violet Flames Formation' to bulge or even distort!
Yakushi Kabuto, Jugo, Guren, and Tayuya, responsible for maintaining the 'Four Violet Flames Formation', no longer had the relaxed look on their faces from before.
At first, they dared not speak up, but in their hearts, they still felt that Orochimaru making such a big fuss against a Demon might be making a mountain out of a molehill.
But after the four Hokages truly engaged Tanjiro, they realized the profound meaning behind Orochimaru's layered arrangements.
They even felt these arrangements might not be secure enough!
Inside the barrier.
With a swish, the Third Hokage's body was cut in half by the 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' in Tanjiro's hand. However, almost instantly, as a 'Reanimated' body, the Third Hokage began to recover.
The 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' in Tanjiro's hand could indeed suppress flesh and blood power. Wounds cut by the 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' were extremely difficult to heal even if treated with medical ninjutsu in time.
Unfortunately, what Tanjiro faced right now were not bodies of flesh and blood.
They were just 'Reanimated' bodies that could constantly recover. So although the 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' in Tanjiro's hand remained sharp, it lost the terrifying lethality it had when clashing with normal ninjas just now.
Boom...
In the next instant, a violent explosion occurred on Tanjiro's body.
It turned out that having his body cut just now was intentional by the Third Hokage.
As the 'Professor of Ninjutsu', he was very skilled at utilizing every available advantage. So relying on the characteristic that 'Reanimated' bodies fear no casualties, he deliberately approached the opponent. Taking advantage of the gap when the opponent cut his body, he stuck explosive tags on the opponent.
The explosion didn't affect Tanjiro much, only causing him to stumble forward.
Just then, with a swish, a slender water line drew an arc, severing the arm Tanjiro used to hold the sword.
Clang...
At the moment Tanjiro's 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' hit the ground making a sound, the Fourth Hokage flashed beside the 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' with 'Flying Thunder God Technique'. Then in the next instant, with a swish, the 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' disappeared from his hand.
The four Hokages were all ninjas with incredibly rich combat experience. As soon as they engaged, they discovered that Tanjiro, who studied 'Breathing Style' deeply, posed too great a threat with the 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' in hand. So they immediately adjusted tactics, finally allowing the Fourth Hokage to successfully transfer Tanjiro's 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' to a distant place using 'Flying Thunder God Technique'.
"Damn it!"
Tanjiro's arm severed by the Second Hokage's Water Release ninjutsu recovered in an instant, but losing the 'Crimson Red Nichirin Blade' still made him burn with anger.
As he was completely corroded by the Hegemon's power, he became less and less like the previous Tanjiro. Or rather, at this moment, he was just a creation bearing Tanjiro's appearance, memory, and experience, a puppet created by the Hegemon's power.
Clap...
At this time, the First Hokage clasped his hands together, activating 'Wood Release'.
Accompanied by the shaking of the earth, countless vines burst out of the ground, instantly entangling Tanjiro's body and burying him inside.
The Fourth Hokage asked: "Is it solved?"
The Second Hokage said: "Entangled by Big Brother's 'Wood Release', no one can break free!"
But the First Hokage shook his head: "Don't be careless, the chakra on the opponent is very weird, even my 'Wood Release' cannot suppress it!"
The reason the First Hokage's 'Wood Release' was powerful was that it possessed 'God Tree characteristics' and could suppress ordinary chakra. So even as strong as the Nine-Tails, once bound by 'Wood Release', it was difficult to break free.
But Tanjiro's situation was different. His chakra was mixed with the Hegemon's power, with an extremely high energy level, even above the God Tree, so 'Wood Release' had no special suppression effect on him.
Rumble...
Sure enough, amidst bursts of explosive sounds, Tanjiro broke free from the First Hokage's 'Wood Release' barehanded just by bursting chakra.
If it were anyone else seeing this situation, they would probably be scared silly directly.
But the four Hokages were different. Although they were equally surprised, they were not scared by this scene but pondered other tactics.
The Third Hokage, who died the latest, took the time to briefly recount the situation of 'Upper Rank Demons' to the other three Hokages.
Upon learning that Demons possessed extraordinary flesh and blood recovery capabilities, the Second Hokage said: "Biological recovery requires energy consumption. Even Big Brother cannot achieve endless recovery. So in this situation, just need to give enough attacks!"
The Third Hokage reacted instantly: "You want to use that move?"
The Second Hokage said: "Isn't 'Impure World Reincarnation' prepared for this move? Monkey, Fourth, cover me!"
Without superfluous nonsense, with just a simple look, the Third and Fourth Hokages completed communication.
Instantly, the small-scale mudslide created by the Third Hokage using Earth Release ninjutsu restricted Tanjiro's movement. Then with a swish, the Fourth Hokage activating 'Flying Thunder God Technique' flashed above Tanjiro's head, followed closely by a 'Rasengan' smashing onto Tanjiro's body.
Bang...
Amidst the muffled sound, Tanjiro was smashed onto the ground by the Fourth Hokage's unexpected 'Rasengan'.
Swish!
In the next instant, the Fourth and Second Hokages completed a swap. Taking advantage of Tanjiro's stiffness from being hit by the Fourth Hokage's 'Rasengan', the Second Hokage activated the forbidden jutsu 'Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags'.
Boom boom boom...
Soon, a continuous series of explosions erupted inside the 'Four Violet Flames Formation'!
To concentrate the power of the explosion more, the Third and Fourth Hokages joined forces to cast a Wind Release ninjutsu. Instantly, a whirlwind wrapped the explosion.
Wind aided fire's might, fire relied on wind's momentum!
The firelight of the explosion instantly had the momentum to soar into the sky, as if to overturn the dome of the 'Four Violet Flames Formation' together!
Orochimaru said coldly: "Strengthen the barrier!"
"Yes!"
Yakushi Kabuto and others dared not be careless, immediately pouring chakra continuously into the 'Four Violet Flames Formation', barely preserving the 'Four Violet Flames Formation'.
Subsequently, Guren with a shocked face said: "So this is the true strength of the Hokages?"
Tayuya couldn't help but sigh: "If I were inside, I would definitely be taken out in an instant!"
They had seen the Hokages fighting as 'Reanimated' bodies before. Although they thought they were powerful, trump cards sufficient to change the battle situation, it was far less shocking than right now.
Because putting themselves in Tanjiro's shoes, they found they would definitely die faster than Tanjiro!
It could be said that the Hokages with fully recovered intellect were completely different from their previous state!
Whether the choice and application of tactics, means of creating combat opportunities, or ability to analyze enemies, all were textbook-level powerful.
So at this moment, they truly experienced what the word 'Hokage' meant!