Boom!
Jirōbō slammed hard against the edge of the rooftop.
He pushed himself up from the ground with difficulty.
The opponent was just a kid, yet the power in that punch was terrifying.
How could something like this even be possible?
Grinding his teeth, he snarled, "Damn brat… I won't let you get away with this!"
The curse mark on Jirōbō's body spread, black lines crawling across his skin as the first stage activated.
But Yuichi raised his hand, forming a seal with ease.
"Sorry, I don't have time to play with you."
His sword gleamed as he pointed it toward Jirōbō, the corner of his lips curling into a smirk.
"Burst."
The other three Oto-nin whipped their heads toward Jirōbō in alarm.
On his chest… a detonation tag was burning.
"Jirōbō! Your chest—!"
But it was too late.
Those weren't ordinary tags—Yuichi had been holding on to these five explosive charms ever since the Academy, treasuring them for the right moment.
He narrowed his eyes at the dazed Jirōbō.
No doubt the fool was wondering when the tag had been planted.
The answer was simple: the instant Yuichi's fist connected, the talisman had been attached.
Boom!
A violent explosion engulfed Jirōbō in flames.
The shockwave blasted outward, the heat and smoke washing across the faces of the remaining Oto-nin.
Kidōmaru, Sakon and Ukon, and Tayuya all darkened with rage.
But when they turned back to Yuichi—
He was already gone.
The three of them spun around just in time to see Yuichi rushing straight toward the First Hokage's position.
"Damn it! Don't let him interrupt Orochimaru-sama's battle!"
Kidōmaru instantly released his curse mark transformation and prepared to chase, but Konoha shinobi blocked his path.
"Oto-nin! You're not worthy of battles on that level… but against you, we're more than enough."
Not just Kidōmaru—Tayuya, Sakon, and Ukon were also surrounded by Leaf ninja.
They could only watch as Yuichi stormed toward Orochimaru.
Orochimaru, locked in combat with the First Hokage and striking at the Third, suddenly heard the sharp whistle of air behind him.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
He had expected Yuichi to eventually take down the Second Hokage and interfere—but not this quickly.
When he glanced back, he saw Tobirama lying on the ground, a gaping hole through his chest as the Edo Tensei body slowly repaired itself with drifting ash.
That wound… caused by Rasengan!
No seals. Pure chakra. The Rasengan truly was a troublesome technique.
Orochimaru swung the Kusanagi blade toward Sarutobi.
The Third had just driven the First back and barely twisted away in time.
Shoo!
As he leapt aside, a kunai flashed past, aimed directly at Orochimaru.
Sarutobi's eyes lit up.
Yuichi!
Thud, thud, thud!
The kunai buried themselves in Orochimaru's body, and a white hand shot forward, shoving another kunai straight toward his throat.
The steel pierced clean through Orochimaru's neck.
But in that instant, the Kusanagi sword swiveled, lunging straight at Yuichi's heart.
And then—Orochimaru's body melted into mud.
Yuichi's eyes narrowed.
Earth Substitution?
Whoosh!
White light flashed as the Kusanagi sliced past his cheek.
Behind him, Orochimaru reappeared, catching the flying blade in his hand. His eyes glimmered with something close to admiration.
"Impressive reflexes…"
"Yuichi, you—"
The Third stared at the boy standing beside him. It was hard to believe… this child now had the strength to contend with a Kage-level opponent.
For the first time, regret stirred in Sarutobi's chest. Yuichi's existence might destabilize his position in Konoha, yes… but if he had accepted the boy as his disciple, he would have secured a future powerhouse for the village.
"Master Third, I won't slow you down."
Hearing Yuichi's firm words, Sarutobi's expression softened. Of course, he knew it already.
Anyone who could defeat the Second Hokage's Edo Tensei so quickly was not a hindrance—he was an asset.
"You've done well," Sarutobi said warmly. "Protecting everyone by holding off the Second Hokage… the old man is proud of you."
His eyes shifted to Orochimaru and Hashirama.
"Yuichi, can you hold off the First Hokage? I'll focus on Orochimaru. If I can defeat him, the Edo Tensei will collapse."
But just as he spoke, another presence emerged.
The Second Hokage stepped forward, fully restored.
Sarutobi's face darkened.
He hadn't expected Tobirama to recover so quickly.
"Do you think so little of me, old man?" Tobirama sneered. "That even with help, you could kill me? How disappointing."
"Orochimaru," he said coldly, "I'll deal with the boy."
Orochimaru's lips curled.
He wanted to see it—the look of despair on Yuichi's face when he realized the Second had returned so soon.
But no such expression appeared.
Yuichi's calm made Orochimaru uneasy.
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Two voices roared the same words at once.
Both Tobirama and Yuichi inhaled sharply, then unleashed massive torrents of water, colliding in a deafening roar.
The flood crashed down, sending sheets of water pouring off the rooftops.
Sarutobi's eyes widened as he watched Yuichi.
The boy's movements, his jutsu… they mirrored Tobirama's perfectly.
So alike…
The deluge thundered across the battlefield.
And then—
"Wood Style…"
"The Tree World is Born!"
Countless heads turned at the familiar voice.
Wood Style?! The First Hokage's Wood Style?!
Sarutobi's heart sank.
The First's Wood Style was among the most fearsome of all techniques.
"Yuichi!" Sarutobi warned. "Keep your distance, that Wood Style will—"
But before he could finish, Yuichi's hands moved.
Mirroring Hashirama's seals.
The same technique.