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Seeing this seemingly scrawny figure, resembling a monkey, even the Third Raikage dared not show any contempt; instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression cold.
"After sensing my Chakra, he didn't retreat, but instead advanced?"
"He has some courage, at least."
The Third Raikage took a step, his burly and heavy body, like a small giant, slowly approached. Subtle Chakra patterns, like lightning, faintly appeared on his body, seemingly enveloping his beard and long hair, emitting faint 'crackling' sounds.
Since both of them had become Ninja bearing the title of 'Kage,' it had truly been a long time since they last met.
"However."
"What makes you think that just because you are also a 'Kage,' you are qualified to stand before me?"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen!"
Almost as soon as the words fell, the Lightning Release Chakra, which was already coiled around his body like a lightning snake, suddenly burst into a brilliant flash.
The Third Raikage's speed sharply increased, and his entire body seemed to be covered by armor made entirely of lightning, forming a thin membrane on his body.
Even his burly and heavy body instantly turned into a blurry afterimage.
He suddenly charged forward!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression immediately became extremely serious. The Metal Staff: Adamantine Prison, formed from Enma in his hand, immediately thickened and lengthened, and he swung it forward fiercely, creating a scorching wind.
This level of speed was not fast enough!
"Boom!"
The Metal Staff: Adamantine Prison collided with the Third Raikage's chopping hand, emitting a deafening roar at this short distance.
The dust beneath their feet spread outwards like ripples on water.
"Everyone, spread out!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was urgent, and he immediately gave orders to the Konoha Ninja who had followed him.
Their level of combat was far beyond what those youngsters behind them could intervene in.
The Konoha Ninja behind him immediately realized this and retreated dozens of meters.
During the short time it took for that sound to spread, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Third Raikage had already exchanged more than ten brief blows.
From his seemingly shriveled and small body, an unparalleled immense force erupted. The limits that a body enhanced by Chakra could reach were far beyond what ordinary people could imagine. With Sarutobi Hiruzen's strength, even the Nine-Tailed Fox in its prime could not withstand it; it would be flung hundreds of meters away by a single strike.
However, this strength was still not enough in front of the Third Raikage, who specialized in Taijutsu.
His two thick, dark arms were covered in a clear azure Lightning Release Chakra. The sharpened blades formed by it could not even be resisted by steel, and they were also extremely fast.
"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—!"
The sounds of collision between the Metal Staff and the Lightning Release hand blade continuously echoed. Even though they had retreated far, everyone present couldn't help but feel their internal organs churn from the dull sound waves.
"Is this what a Ninja bearing the name of Kage is like?"
One of the Konoha Ninja couldn't help but ask.
However, a Jonin beside him said in a steady tone: "This is merely a test."
As if to confirm his words, after another dull collision, Sarutobi Hiruzen thrust the Metal Staff in his hand into the ground, and his entire body suddenly rose into the air, supported by the rapidly extending staff.
Support, swing.
The Metal Staff, which instantly extended to over a hundred meters, was, under the force exerted by Sarutobi Hiruzen as he flipped in mid-air, lifted from the ground with a roar, throwing up large amounts of dust, sweeping through a hundred-meter arc from mid-air, and heavily smashing down towards the Third Raikage, seemingly weighing a thousand tons.
Staff thrust! Staff chop!
"Rumble—!"
An extremely dull explosion echoed in everyone's ears. In front of where the Metal Staff landed, a vast cloud of smoke and dust suddenly surged, looking from a distance as if it had pierced through the entire forest.
The farthest end of the staff head was even deeply embedded more than ten meters into the ground.
"Ha!"
However, the Third Raikage's figure had already moved several meters away, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at this old monkey.
Truly unparalleled monstrous strength.
But, it's not enough yet.
After only a brief pause, the Third Raikage's figure transformed into a stream of light, charging towards Sarutobi Hiruzen with a bang.
This brief moment was enough for him to complete multiple hand seals.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Immediately after, he formed the 'Tiger' hand seal with both hands and took a deep breath.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Suddenly, an extremely violent, roaring blaze immediately spewed from Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth, taking the shape of a full fire dragon, instantly traversing dozens of meters. The super-large Ninjutsu range, supported by massive Chakra, completely enveloped all the space the Third Raikage could maneuver in.
At the same time, the other two Shadow Clones also began to form hand seals simultaneously.
"Wind Release: Gale!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Three large, dragon-like Ninjutsu were released almost simultaneously and merged completely, without any interference, instead doubling their power.
"Combined Ninjutsu: Three Elemental Consecutive Blasts!"
The intensely burning flames and earth flow, under continuous enhancement, transformed into blazing light and heat. The area of several hundred meters in front was almost completely swallowed by these three continuously overlapping large-scale elemental Ninjutsu, causing the lush trees and soil in front to be completely pulverized and collapse.
Even the Konoha Ninja standing far away now had no choice but to firmly adhere their feet to the ground with Chakra, while also shielding their faces with their arms.
If an ordinary person were caught within such a terrifying range of Ninjutsu, they would probably be annihilated into fine dust in an instant, right?
However, everyone present, upon seeing this scene, was invigorated.
"What a terrifying Jutsu!"
"Is this Hokage-sama's power?!"
"He definitely hit him just now!"
As previously mentioned, the current Sarutobi Hiruzen was in his prime. Although he was not yet fifty years old and his physical condition had begun to show a downward trend, he was still at the tail end of his peak.
No matter how much one might mock his political acumen and infighting ability, his pure strength was undeniably at the pinnacle of the Ninja World.
The title of 'Ninja Professor' was not an exaggeration.
Even within the power level of a 'Kage,' he was among the stronger ones.
However, the 'That Person' opposite him was the Third Raikage, who had honed the offensive and defensive states of his Lightning Release Chakra Mode to the extreme.
Almost as the surrounding Konoha Ninja cheered, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was releasing the Three Elemental Consecutive Blasts, had already detected the problem.
His perception was off!
The moment he realized this, he didn't hesitate at all. The three Shadow Clones almost simultaneously cut off their Chakra output, and all three simultaneously swung their Metal Staffs in different directions.
"Clang—!"
A buzzing sound, almost like the clash of metal, suddenly echoed in his ears.
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
It turned out that the Third Raikage had used the cover provided by the large-scale elemental Ninjutsu just now to suddenly rush in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen at a speed too fast for the naked eye to catch, delivering a strike!
If his speed had been just a little slower, that hand blade strike might have been enough to sever Sarutobi Hiruzen's left arm.
However, despite this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze towards him remained fully vigilant:
"After more than ten years, have you actually honed your Lightning Release Armor to such an extent?"
"Truly impressive."
"Whoosh—"
The Third Raikage discarded the half-burnt outer garment that only covered half of his body, and looked up at him: "You're not bad either, Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"To be able to achieve such a level with just the most basic Five Elemental Ninjutsu."
"Your Ninjutsu has already reached the pinnacle of this Ninja World."
His voice was clearly speaking the truth, but coupled with his body, which emerged from the flames completely unharmed, it somehow sounded like mockery.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze grew even more solemn.
If he could withstand Ninjutsu of that level head-on, then to defeat him...
His gaze fell upon the thick electric currents still constantly flashing on the Third Raikage's body, and with an extremely dense frequency, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Lightning counters Earth, Wind counters Lightning.
If he wanted to break through this level of Lightning Release Armor, he would need to use equally sharp Wind Release at different locations simultaneously to have even a sliver of hope.
The moment he realized this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze suddenly became heavier.
"Enma, create an opportunity for me."
"Alright."
A steady response came from within the Metal Staff.
The Third Raikage, however, seemed to be at the height of arrogance. Even though he sensed that Sarutobi Hiruzen was contemplating a strategy, he didn't immediately move, instead looking down at him:
"Not coming? Then I'll go!"
As his words fell, he stepped forward.
Just that seemingly ordinary step, however, suddenly unleashed an astonishing recoil force, and his figure, hugging the ground, turned into a blur.
However, this level of speed was not enough to exceed the capture range of a 'Kage' level Ninja.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen formed hand seals.
At the same time, the Shadow Clones behind him increased from two to four.
The previously solid ground suddenly became muddy and slippery, and even the speed of his steps seemed to be delayed for a moment.
However, Ninja are capable of even walking on water. A mere swamp was only a momentary adjustment; the Third Raikage stomped through a large, spreading wave, and his entire body shot towards Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite!"
The fingers he thrust forward were four.
His entire body seemed to be bathed in a bubble of lightning, his long hair stood on end, and his muscles swelled to their maximum.
"Enma!"
"Genjutsu! Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly shouted!
Another Shadow Clone, meanwhile, formed hand seals.
The Third Raikage's vision suddenly turned completely black, and his heart immediately tightened.
At the same time, almost the moment the Third Raikage, who had charged with Hell Stab, paused in the Quicksand Swamp, the five Hiruzen Sarutobis simultaneously plunged their Metal Staff: Adamantine Prisons into the soil, creating a series of dull thuds.
"Adamantine Prison Wall!"
The extremely tough Metal Staff: Adamantine Prisons shot out from underground at perfectly synchronized speeds, converging slightly ahead of the Third Raikage's position.
Given the Third Raikage's straightforward nature, his immense inertia, and his vision obscured by genjutsu, he was now unable to stop his momentum.
"Bang—!!"
His body collided with the Adamantine Prison, producing an extremely heavy thud.
The Adamantine Prison, shooting out from underground, branched and converged, forming a triangular prism around the Third Raikage.
His robust body, covered in a Lightning Release Chakra Mode, slammed violently against the cage formed by the Metal Staff: Adamantine Prison, and the hardness of both was surprisingly equal, neither overcoming the other.
Only the arm, which served as the tip of the stab, suddenly extended through the gaps in the cage formed by the Metal Staff: Adamantine Prison.
It stopped a foot in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Heh."
A cold smile appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face.
At the same time, the five bodies almost simultaneously surrounded the triangular cage, forming hand seals.
Even the Third Raikage suddenly realized the problem, and immediately poured a massive amount of Chakra onto the surface of his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, erupting in a fierce electrical current.
He also flung his thick arms, attempting to break free of the Adamantine Prison with brute force and lightning blades.
However, it was too slow.
At this moment, the five bodies had already completed their hand seals.
"Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere Barrage—Five Consecutive!"
In a sudden burst, their highly inflated chests forcefully expelled the fully concentrated Wind Release Chakra.
Unlike Shimura Danzo's method of using this to blow back enemies, Sarutobi Hiruzen had now refined his Wind Release Chakra to its extreme sharpness. Although it was the hand seal for a Vacuum Sphere, when it was exhaled from his mouth, the originally complete spherical vacuum was compressed into a needle-like shape.
Penetrating! Sharp!
In just an instant, five vacuum needles, composed entirely of the sharpest Wind Release Chakra, struck the surface of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode at an uncatchable speed from extremely close range, forming columnar airflow with edges composed entirely of vacuum pathways.
As the Lightning Release Chakra and Wind Release Chakra canceled each other out, they erupted in this short distance into spreading arc-shaped shockwaves, striking the ground and leaving one scorched mark after another.
Under continuous infusion, the Wind Release Chakra constantly eroded the Lightning Release Chakra Mode on the Third Raikage's body, with massive amounts of both Chakras colliding at an extremely high frequency.
Until the very end.
"Bang!"
The Lightning Release Chakra Mode on the Third Raikage's body suddenly spread outwards like an explosion, shattering the Adamantine Prison that trapped him and the surrounding Wind Release Chakra in all directions.
He was immediately freed!
Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed not to have anticipated such a move from him. If he had been unilaterally eroded as before, it was clear that he would have had the advantage.
But thankfully, the next wave of attacks was already prepared.
Almost the moment the Third Raikage was freed, unable to construct a new Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and about to instantly move to another side.
The five Hiruzen Sarutobis simultaneously changed their hand seals.
"Rat"
"Tiger"
"Rabbit"
"Horse"
"Boar"
Five bodies, five different hand seals.
All hand seal processes were simultaneously omitted.
Only the final, full-power burst remained.
"Five Elements: Great Consecutive Spheres!"
Different Chakra natures suddenly spewed from Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth, continuously shooting towards the direction the Third Raikage was fleeing. The five elemental Ninjutsu fused into one, as if adding a brilliant splash of color to the dense forest, simultaneously mixing into a straight torrent extending forward.
"Buzz—!"
It pierced the clouds and split rocks, deafening all.
Everything within sight was engulfed by the five fused Ninjutsu, turning into a scorched, muddy trench.
All the Konoha Ninjas present, witnessing what was happening before their eyes, couldn't help but marvel at this scene, where the fundamentals of Five Elements Ninjutsu were pushed to their extreme.
Was this the pinnacle a Ninja could reach?
A height achievable even without a Kekkei Genkai or various secret techniques.
For ordinary Ninjas, everything Sarutobi Hiruzen was doing right now was their lifelong ideal and direction for advancement.
Even the Third Raikage would surely die from this attack!
Witnessing this scene firsthand, the hearts of all the Konoha Ninjas present burned as fiercely as a bonfire.
This was the Hokage!
However...
"Whoosh!"
In the center of this deep trench that extended an unknown distance.
A robust figure, completely blackened and covered in scorched marks left by violent Chakra, continuously emitting black smoke, stood in place with his arms crossed.
—He had actually endured that terrifyingly powerful Five Elements Great Ninjutsu.
The Konoha Ninjas couldn't help but freeze.
Upon seeing this, although he had somewhat anticipated it, knowing that a Ninja of his caliber was unlikely to be taken down in one go, Sarutobi Hiruzen still couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly.
"This guy is truly troublesome."
"Is that body made of iron?"
No, even if that body were truly cast from steel, it should have been completely melted by that last attack.
The only fortunate thing was that, probably because the timing was precise enough, the Third Raikage still bore sufficiently deep burn and impact marks.
Large areas of flesh were peeled back from his dark, robust body, leaving deep scars.
However, the Third Raikage's vitality was abnormally vigorous, unlike a normal human.
Even after suffering such a terrifying blow, he hadn't moved a single step, merely standing there calmly, looking at his opponent with cold eyes.
"Is that all you have?"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Hiruzen was startled. You're still talking tough even in this state?
He was clearly in the lead just now, wasn't he?
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was thinking this, he suddenly seemed to sense something, his eyes widening in disbelief as he looked at the man opposite him.
The other Konoha Ninjas' gazes also turned, then all turned to horror.
They saw that on the surface of the Third Raikage's body, a thin layer of abnormal reddish Chakra had appeared at some unknown point.
Inside the Chakra, tiny bubbles floated like plankton.
The massive wounds on his body were rapidly healing at high speed, eventually closing completely.
Vast vitality and an even more terrifying amount of Chakra than before radiated continuously in all directions like radiation, causing everyone present to feel an indescribable, heavy pressure.
This is, the Eight-Tails?!
Almost instantly, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind immediately recalled the news from last month: the Hidden Cloud Village's Eight-Tails Jinchuriki had lost control and died, the Tailed Beast had broken free, and the Third Raikage had subdued it with his bare hands.
His heart was greatly shaken.
"A."
"How could you, this guy..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him, unable to comprehend.
Why go to such lengths?!
Strong individuals like them, who already stood firmly at the pinnacle of the Ninja World based solely on their own strength, very rarely chose to become Jinchuriki.
Because, compared to the massive Chakra and vitality gained after becoming a Jinchuriki, the risk of dying at any moment due to a Tailed Beast going berserk far outweighed the benefits they could obtain.
Moreover, strong individuals at their level were the type who could fight when they wanted to and run when they wanted to. Basically, it was very difficult for anyone to kill the other, thus maintaining a delicate balance.
—Having reached their level, who would go to such extremes for that last sliver of power increase, like him?
Wouldn't it be better to raise the Village's overall strength by having another strong individual with similar power, rather than just raising one's own upper limit?
The benefits and risks were simply not proportional!
"It seems you can't understand."
The Third Raikage looked at him, his gaze steady: "But then again, Sawara Kiri is from your Village, isn't he?"
"You must be very proud, Sarutobi Hiruzen, having hidden him for so long, right?"
Sawara Kiri?
Sarutobi Hiruzen was startled, completely failing to understand what his risky power-up had to do with that child, Sawara Kiri.
However, he said nothing.
The Third Raikage slowly advanced towards him, and the tails behind him changed from one to two, then three, then four.
By this point, his will finally reached its limit, and he looked at the shriveled monkey opposite him with bloodshot eyes, gritting his teeth:
"No matter what, we will not allow Konoha to have another Senju Hashirama!"
"Even if it costs me my old life, I absolutely cannot leave that monster for future generations!"
He almost screamed this sentence.
The Third Raikage's body suddenly vanished from Sarutobi Hiruzen's central vision.
He had, in an instant, surpassed his Kage-level perception ability.
This, how could...?
Just as this thought flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind, his body's instinct already made him subconsciously dodge to the side, while simultaneously raising his Metal Staff: Adamantine Prison in front of him and shouting:
"Enma, Adamantine..."
"Bang!"
Before he could continue speaking, the Third Raikage's figure, like a massive bullet, without explanation, slammed his arm, imbued with a massive amount of Tailed Beast Chakra, into the Metal Staff: Adamantine Prison he had raised to block.
"Lightning Straight!"
"Bang—!"
The next moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen spat out a mouthful of dark red blood, his eyes wide.
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter