The huge flames carried by Wind Release ninjutsu were still blooming brilliantly inside the 'Four Violet Flames Formation'.
This indicated that the Second Hokage's 'Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags' was still ongoing. Endless explosions were contending against endless recovery!
After a long time.
The First Hokage, who was watching from the side, frowned first.
Then, the Third and Fourth Hokages, who were maintaining the Wind Release ninjutsu, also noticed something strange, their expressions all becoming solemn.
Tayuya asked: "What happened?"
No one present answered.
Across the 'Four Violet Flames Formation' and the chaotic continuous explosions inside, even Yakushi Kabuto, who had the strongest sensing ability among the few, could not judge the battle situation inside the barrier at this moment.
Hiss hiss hiss...
At this time, a huge cloud of black smoke appeared within the Wind Release. This smoke gradually suppressed the flames of the explosion, causing the brilliant firelight in the Wind Release to gradually dim.
"How is this possible!?"
The Third Hokage showed surprise and doubt.
Unlike the other three Kage, he had experienced the Land of Grass battle against 'Upper Rank Demons' during his lifetime. Afterwards, he deployed operations to exterminate some Demons remaining in the Ninja World as Hokage, so he understood Demons very well.
But the 'Upper Rank One' in front of him was obviously somewhat abnormal, exceeding the strength a Demon should have.
The black smoke was still expanding!
In just a moment, not only was the explosion of the Second Hokage's 'Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags' completely suppressed, even the Wind Release ninjutsu jointly activated by the Third and Fourth Hokages was suppressed by this inexplicable black smoke.
Swish...
With a flash, the Second Hokage leaped out of the battle circle wretchedly and fell to the ground.
Although the 'Reanimated' body was immortal, the Second Hokage withdrawing from the battle circle at this time still looked incredibly miserable and wretched.
The scorch marks left by the explosion on the Second Hokage's body needless to say. What was truly eye-catching were the marks of corrosion by black smoke on his body. It seemed that due to this black smoke, even the self-healing of the 'Reanimated' body was affected to a certain extent.
"Uh... damn it!"
The Second Hokage cried out in pain.
One must know that the continuous explosions of 'Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags' were bidirectional. In other words, both the target and the caster must endure the pain brought by the ceaseless explosions.
This showed what kind of person the Second Hokage was to develop the jutsu 'Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags'.
Even such a person couldn't bear the pain brought by the black smoke corrosion, showing how terrifying this black smoke was!
Glancing at the Second Hokage, the First Hokage instantly made a judgment and said solemnly: "You guys retreat first!"
The Third and Fourth Hokages looked at each other, then silently retreated.
In the central area of the explosion just now, Tanjiro wrapped in black smoke slowly stood up.
At this time, his body looked as if it were dissolving, flesh and skin gradually loosening, and even the characters 'Upper Rank One' in his pupils began to blur.
Undoubtedly.
Even cultivating 'Breathing Style' to the extreme, reincarnating as a Demon, and becoming 'Upper Rank One' among Demons, Tanjiro's body could no longer fully bear the Hegemon's power.
Therefore, when the Hegemon's power began to fully awaken, his body irreversibly moved towards dissolution.
This was not dissolution at the cellular level, nor even at the soul level.
But some kind of conceptual law, so that Tanjiro possessing terrifying flesh and blood power could not reverse, or even slightly delay the speed of body dissolution.
Perhaps it was the madness before approaching destruction. At this time, Tanjiro exuded a dangerous aura from inside out.
Clearly separated by a 'Four Violet Flames Formation', the few people maintaining the barrier couldn't feel safe at all.
"This guy..."
Orochimaru furrowed his brows.
He had tried his best to overestimate the opponent's strength, but at this moment, he found he still underestimated the power of this Demon!
Among the few maintaining the barrier, only Yakushi Kabuto was slightly better.
Others, even Jugo, showed irrepressible fear on their faces. This was the instinct of living beings when facing natural predators!
As for Guren and Tayuya, they were even more unbearable.
That they could still maintain the 'Four Violet Flames Formation' in place without fleeing was already the result of summoning all their courage!
Inside the barrier.
The First Hokage advanced instead of retreating, taking a step forward, clasping his hands fiercely: "Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!"
Instantly, two eyeshadows representing natural energy appeared on the First Hokage's face. Immediately after, the chakra on his body surged and rapidly transformed from ordinary chakra to senjutsu chakra containing natural energy!
Swish...
In the next moment, a red torii gate descended from the sky, easily breaking through the dome of the 'Four Violet Flames Formation', pressing on Tanjiro covered in black smoke.
Tanjiro couldn't bear the heavy pressure and instantly half-knelt on the ground.
But he reacted quickly, supporting the torii gate pressing on him with both hands, trying to lift the torii gate up.
"This..."
Seeing Tanjiro actually lifting the torii gate, the Second, Third, and Fourth Hokages couldn't hide the surprise on their faces.
Swish...
But just as Tanjiro was about to stand up and fully lift the torii gate, another torii gate descended from the sky, pressing on him, pressing him back to a half-kneeling posture again.
Swish swish swish...
Before he could exert force a second time, the third, fourth, fifth torii gates descended from the sky in sequence, pressing on Tanjiro layer by layer, thoroughly crushing him from a half-kneeling posture to lie flat, firmly suppressing him on the ground.
Outside the barrier.
"As expected of the First Hokage-sama hailed as the 'God of Shinobi'!"
Orochimaru raised the corners of his mouth, his face recovering the usual teasing expression.
Yakushi Kabuto also breathed a sigh of relief, saying: "Orochimaru-sama, it seems the new sacrifices indeed greatly enhanced the strength of the Hokages!"
Undoubtedly.
After receiving Shinji's order, Orochimaru immediately rushed to the forefront of the seesaw battle between the Akatsuki organization and the Ninja Village Alliance, capturing several White Zetsu clones with lightning speed.
Then using these White Zetsu clones as sacrifices, he replaced the 'Reanimated' bodies for the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Hokages.
Otherwise, with the strength of previous sacrifices, even if Orochimaru completely released the suppression on the Hokages' intellect, the First Hokage couldn't have used 'Sage Art' easily.
The wrestling began again.
Only this time what consumed Tanjiro was no longer explosions and ordinary ninjutsu, but senjutsu containing natural energy, the 'Sage Art: Gate of the Great God' that could suppress the Ten-Tails!
So although the black smoke on Tanjiro was also trying to corrode the 'Gate of the Great God', with the endless infusion of senjutsu chakra from the First Hokage, whenever a 'Gate of the Great God' was corroded and decayed by black smoke, a new 'Gate of the Great God' would immediately fall from the sky, firmly suppressing Tanjiro.
As the consumption continued, Tanjiro's body dissolved more rapidly. Slowly, even the outline of his body became somewhat unclear...