Hiruzen Sarutobi presses one hand to the ground, his chakra dissipating through his arm.
“Summoning Jutsu! Monkey King: Enma!”
Boom! Amidst swirling white mist, a burly, upright walking monkey appears beside him.
“Yo! Hiruzen, long time no see.”
It speaks human language, displaying a very close bond with the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage’s expression is slightly grim as he speaks softly, “Hmm… let’s fight side by side!”
Enma looks around cautiously, his expression becoming serious.
“Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade… they are all enemies this time? Your teaching skills are somewhat lacking, aren’t they…”
Stung by the comment, Hiruzen Sarutobi snorts coldly and takes action.
He lowers his hands slightly in front of him, forming hand seals at a dazzling speed, making it difficult for onlookers to follow.
“Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!”
In an instant, many shuriken whistles were heard from Tsunade’s group.
The dense swarm of shuriken, like locusts, makes the skin crawl and palms sweat.
Though the name of this ninjutsu might not sound imposing, it is a solid A-rank technique uniquely devised by Hiruzen Sarutobi. It involves using chakra to multiply the number of shurikens, creating a net-like barrage, a combination of ninja tools and techniques.
“The old man’s skills are still sharp; he hasn’t completely neglected them,” Orochimaru comments with a slight upturn of his lips, a chillingly mischievous smile on his face.
This material-based shadow clone is more difficult than typical shadow clones; moreover, it requires no prior preparation, and each shuriken possesses significant lethality.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi unleashes a wide-range AOE skill to clear the area, the dust rises, obscuring the battle’s outcome.
“How did it go? How many did we take down?” Tenzo, anxious, calls out.
Homura Mitokado shakes his head and sighs, “None… everyone they brought this time is highly skilled.”
Initially, seeing many young faces on the opposite side, they thought they were just filler, but they turned out to be elites!
Without using any weapons, the emotionless white-haired young man clapped his hands a few times, precisely shattering all the shuriken that could reach him.
The purple-haired young woman uses crimson crystals for protection.
The heavily built young man with dark inscriptions swirling around his face…
The clearer they see the enemy’s strength, the more Homura Mitokado’s heart pounds with fear.
“Damn it!”
Tenzo, furious, exclaims, “It’s all the fault of those traitors! The Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Cho… they turned out to be fence-sitters at the critical moment! They’re practically traitors! After this, they’ll see!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi is much calmer than either of them. He had already recognized the formidable abilities of the other side; his attack was merely a test.
“Aren’t you going to take action?”
His gaze shifts beyond Tsunade’s group, landing on a nearby cluster of buildings.
“Hahaha… Worthy of the Third Hokage!”
A group of ninjas with white eyes slowly emerge, led by Hiashi Hyuga, who speaks, “Lord Tenzo, you’re mistaken about one thing. While other clans might be fence-sitters, our Hyuga clan has thoroughly sided with the Sannin!”
Seeing this, Tenzo’s face twists in rage: “Curse you! Your Hyuga clan is already the foremost clan in Konoha, yet you still want more? Just wait! You’ll end up like the Uchiha clan—annihilated!”
Hiashi sneers, “Advance further? I’ve never had such thoughts. As long as I can protect my clan, even bearing a criminal name is bearable. If it weren’t for Danzo acting foolishly, attempting to strike against my Hyuga clan, do you think I would have switched sides this quickly?”
These words leave Tenzo speechless.
After all, he has some understanding of his teammate’s quality.
Danzo.
Again, this damnable man was causing trouble behind their backs!
No one realizes that this is Hiashi deliberately slandering Danzo.
But then again, if Danzo did not take the blame, what use would he be?
“Danzo! He said he would bring support from the Anbu within a quarter-hour, but it’s been half an hour!”
Tenzo grinds his teeth in hatred.
“Forget it, and he’s always been like this. Haven’t we gotten used to it?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckles bitterly.
.
After Minato Namikaze’s death, discontent with his regaining power, Danzo sent Yamato and many Anbu experts to assassinate him.
After the failed attempt, he spared them from punishment out of sentiment, never expecting to indulge them to this extent.
Homura Mitokado clenches his fists and shouts toward the Hyuga clan members, “People of the Hyuga branch family, if you are willing to defect, I have a way to break the Caged Bird Seal! You won’t have to be confined by it now!”
After saying this, he looks at the serious, young-faced Hyuga member, “You’re Neji Hyuga, right? Your father, Hizashi Hyuga, died in place of your uncle! And you still listen to them?”
If it weren’t for that bastard Danzo and his Anbu deserting, why would an old man like himself need to engage in rhetoric here?
Neji Hyuga looked at Homura Mitokado emotionlessly. His voice was cold: “The truth about what happened back then, my uncle has already discussed it with me thoroughly. No need for your useless words. Also, the Hyuga clan no longer distinguishes between the main and branch families. I advise you not to waste your efforts.”
This statement sends a chill through the hearts of the Konoha loyalists.
The caged bird seal protects the purity of the Byakugan, preventing its degeneration, and second, prevents the leakage of the Byakugan.
Hiashi, does this guy have the guts to remove all the branch family’s caged bird seals? Doesn’t he understand what this means? Isn’t he worried about the consequences of such an action?
“I feel something is not quite right, Hiruzen, don’t act rashly…”
Homura Mitokado rubs his throbbing temples, feeling he might be overlooking something.
These days, many things seem off.
Could someone have cast a genjutsu on Hiashi Hyuga, causing him to act so out of character?
“Fight! What’s with all the talking? Old monkey! Let’s go!”
With tensions high during peacetime, the Third Hokage would listen to the advice of Homura Mitokado and Tenzo, but now, in war, he calls to Enma beside him, and they launch an attack together.
This move also becomes the spark that escalates the conflict to a full-blown clash.
Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, Genma Shiranui, Aoba Yamashiro, Raido Namiashi, Ibiki Morino, Ebisu, and Hayate Gekko…
All those loyal to them rush forward.
But…
There is no Kakashi.
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