Hibari's shout made everyone on the battlefield pause for a moment, but it was only for an instant. Then, they resumed their fierce fighting.
Ginkaku, who had just punched the Second Raikage and sent him flying, didn't relent. He rushed forward again, grabbing the Second Raikage, who was covered in blood with a battered head and seemed dazed, from the ground. Then, he raised his fist, looking utterly unlike a shinobi, with a ferocious expression like a fiend from hell, and punched the Second Raikage's head again.
"Old fool, today you'll learn how powerful my brother and I are! Die!" Ginkaku cursed cruelly as he brutally hammered the Second Raikage.
The Second Raikage's skull was fractured, and he looked like he was barely breathing, clearly having sustained a fatal injury.
This was normal. A shinobi was still human. The Second Raikage didn't have any superhuman physique, and after taking two punches to the head from the madman Ginkaku without any defense, it was only natural for him to be in this dying state.
However, in his final moments, he still stared at Ginkaku and said, "You... two... madmen... will drag Kumogakure into a bottomless... abyss... a war..."
Before he could finish, Ginkaku punched him in the head again, directly interrupting him, and laughed wildly, "Hahahaha, you're about to die, so stop worrying about these useless things! Don't worry, we'll go kill that Tobirama later. Without him, Konoha is nothing to be afraid of. With the Hokage dead, they'll fall into disarray, and that will be our moment of victory! We're the heroes of Kumogakure! You, old fool, can just die here with your 'spineless' title!!!"
After saying this, Ginkaku raised his fist again, preparing to end the Second Raikage's life. But at that moment, a bolt of lightning flashed at an incredibly fast speed and kicked Ginkaku in the back, sending him flying. Then, the bolt of lightning embraced the Second Raikage's body, its eyes filled with sorrow.
"Sensei, what happened?" the future Third Raikage asked mournfully, holding the Second Raikage.
Although he asked this, seeing the terrible state of the Second Raikage's head, which was caved in, he already understood what had happened.
"From now on... you will inherit my title of 'A'... and become the Third Raikage of Kumogakure... Remember, don't let those two bastards, Kinkaku and Ginkaku... succeed... You must bring Kumogakure back from the edge of the abyss... Be a good Raikage... Don't be a failure like me..." the Second Raikage said haltingly, looking at his disciple.
Ginkaku climbed to his feet from the ground and glanced at the Second Raikage's situation, knowing full well that he was going to die. Therefore, he didn't bother pursuing him.
This 'rebellion' had two priority targets for them: their own Second Raikage, and the Second Hokage of Konohagakure, Tobirama.
Since the Second Raikage was clearly on his last legs, killing Tobirama was the correct course of action!
He looked over again and saw that Tobirama was still being guarded. After 'A' ran over and kicked him away, his brother Kinkaku was also free, and without any hesitation, he began fighting the Konoha shinobi who were protecting Tobirama.
Meanwhile, his subordinates, who had been lying in ambush, had already eliminated the few Kumogakure shinobi in the area and were gradually surrounding Tobirama and his escorts...
Thinking of this, Ginkaku didn't waste any time. Without even glancing at the Second Raikage again, he turned and rushed towards Tobirama's group.
At the same time, Hibari and Hitenn also rejoined Tobirama's group. Hibari 'supported' Tobirama's staggering body and said softly, "The plan was a success. The Second Raikage is certainly dead..."
Tobirama, who was previously staggering, brightened his eyes upon hearing Hibari's words and said, "Let's begin the evacuation. Keep Kinkaku and Ginkaku chasing us..."
In truth, if they wanted to cause more trouble for Kumogakure, they should have left the two madmen, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, behind. But both Tobirama and Hibari were worried that if these two were captured alive by Kumogakure, and an investigation were to reveal some clues, then this incident would become highly suspicious.
So no matter what, they had to 'silence' Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
Another point was that it was unclear whether, if they were left behind, they would seek revenge against Kumogakure or Konoha. Even more uncertain was whether, if these two madmen succeeded in usurping power, Konoha would be plunged into an endless war. So regardless of the reason, these two bastards could not be allowed to live.
Hibari also had this thought. He had been wanting to kill Kinkaku and Ginkaku for a long time, and he certainly wouldn't miss this opportunity!
Therefore, upon hearing Tobirama's words, Hibari immediately said to the subordinates and comrades who were protecting them, "Execute Plan B! Disperse and retreat!"
After speaking, Hibari took the 'gravely wounded' Tobirama from Kagami's hands, carried his Hokage grandfather on his back, and said, "The task of holding the enemy and covering our retreat is now in your hands. Don't worry, I'll get the Hokage-sama back safely!"
Although Kagami and the others knew that Hibari was just saying some formalities, they all cooperated, each showing a sense of noble sacrifice, as if they would fight to the death here.
Then, without any delay, Hibari, carrying Tobirama, 'escaped' toward the rear.
At this moment, Kinkaku was clashing with Hiruzen. Seeing Tobirama, the person he had 'severely wounded', being saved and carried away, he became anxious. Just then, his brother Ginkaku arrived.
With the two of them working together, their strength increased dramatically, and it didn't take long to suppress Hiruzen. If it weren't for Danzō and Kagami's cooperation, they might have actually suffered a small loss.
"Damn it, that Tobirama was saved!" Kinkaku said angrily.
Ginkaku didn't think too much of it. He glanced at the situation around them. His subordinates were surrounding the Konoha shinobi, so he immediately said, "These are all insignificant guys. Only that Tobirama is the most important. Kinkaku, let's go after him!"
At this moment, Kinkaku and Ginkaku felt that the operation they had planned was going incredibly smoothly, as if divine providence was on their side. Thus, Kinkaku was a bit conceited. He recalled how Tobirama couldn't even walk straight just now and felt that if they missed this opportunity, it would be as difficult as climbing the heavens to kill him in the future.
Furthermore, he and his brother Ginkaku were experts at pursuit. The guy wearing the bird mask... Senju Hibari was carrying Tobirama on his back. Even if they gave them a half-hour head start, there was no way they could outrun the two brothers.
As the saying goes, 'opportunity knocks but once'! After a moment of thought, Kinkaku and Ginkaku decided to go after Tobirama first!
As soon as they prepared to move, Hiruzen and his team 'desperately' tried to intercept them.
Several times, the two were caught up and couldn't escape. Fortunately, they had brought enough subordinates. After some struggle, the two guys finally 'shook off' Hiruzen and the others, successfully broke away from the battle, and chased after Tobari and Tobirama.
After the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers were far away, Hiruzen looked at 'A' who was protecting the Second Raikage's corpse and retreating while fighting, then said, "Execute Plan B! Disperse and retreat!"
Hiruzen was as cunning as a monkey. Now that the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers had taken the bait and were chasing Hibari and the Hokage-sama, they had no need to stay here and fight to the death with these Kumogakure traitors. The correct course of action was to quickly retreat, allowing those guys to encircle and kill the person who looked like the Second Raikage's successor.
Regardless of whether it ended with them sending that guy off with the Second Raikage, or him retaliating and killing them, or Kumogakure's reinforcements arriving and wiping out all the traitors, these scenarios all resulted in Kumogakure's forces being diminished.
This was their goal: to maximize Kumogakure's losses and leave them utterly devastated!
Therefore, after Hiruzen, the Anbu Commander, gave the order, all the members of the personal guard, including Danzō and Torifu, unhesitatingly turned and began to break through the defensive line, dispersing and retreating.
The people Tobirama brought this time were not many, but they were all the best of the best. They were just putting on a show for these Kumogakure guys before. Now that the audience was gone, there was no need to continue the act. Their breakthrough was incredibly fast, and before long, the only ones left in the chaotic area were a group of bewildered Kumogakure traitors.
What happened? When they were protecting their Hokage-sama, we didn't feel you were so strong; we were constantly suppressing you. But now that you've started to disperse and run for your lives, you're all like different people, incredibly fierce? You broke through the siege in the blink of an eye? What happened to the posture of noble sacrifice and fighting to the death? It's all gone?
Could it be that you guys were all 'traitors'? Just how terrible must the Second Hokage be for none of the people around him to be willing to protect him to the death? It's all so confusing.
Meanwhile, Hibari, who had been running for a while with Tobirama on his back, stopped in his tracks and said, "Ojiisan, there's no one here to watch us anymore. Why don't you get down and walk a little? Me carrying you all the time isn't a good look..."
Tobirama righteously said, "If you're going to act, do it right. Don't talk nonsense; keep moving. The Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers are experts at pursuit. If our trail suddenly changes to two people running, they'll definitely notice. It wouldn't be good if they became suspicious and caused some kind of trouble..."
"I'm pretty sure you just want me to carry you..." Hibari muttered to himself, then started running again, carrying Tobirama through the dense forest.
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