Chapter 59: Chapter 59
Sarutobi Hiruzen was struck by the sudden impact of the crowbar, his vision exploding into stars. Fortunately, Zixu hadn't used his full strength. This wasn't his fight—it was a battle between Orochimaru and his master. He only needed to uphold their agreement and ensure Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't escape.
"Hiruzen-sensei, there's no way out of here. Just accept your fate," Orochimaru sneered, his twisted grin making his pale face even more unsettling. With a flick of his fingers, he commanded the reanimated First and Second Hokage to press their attack.
"Katon: Karyū Endan! (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!)" Sarutobi Hiruzen, realizing escape was impossible, quickly adapted to the situation. A massive fire dragon erupted from his mouth, sweeping through the debris before surging toward Orochimaru. However, something was off—the trajectory of the attack wavered strangely, as if the flames themselves were intoxicated.
Sarutobi rubbed his head, still disoriented from the earlier blow. But seeing that the mysterious crowbar-wielding figure wasn't interfering, he refocused on Orochimaru, steeling himself for the battle ahead.
Despite there being no visible water source on the roof, the Second Hokage clapped his hands together. "Suiton: Suijinheki! (Water Release: Water Formation Wall!)" A towering water barrier surged forth, spanning the entire Four Violet Flames Formation. Sarutobi's fire dragon crashed into it like an insect caught in a web, its flames extinguished instantly. The water wall then retaliated, sending a wave of scalding steam and liquid toward him.
But it didn't end there. The Second Hokage pressed his advantage, weaving hand seals at lightning speed. A swirling vortex of water erupted, filling the confined space within the barrier before crashing down like a torrential flood.
Thinking fast, Sarutobi slammed his hands onto the ground. "Doton: Doryūheki! (Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!)" A massive rock wall, nearly three meters thick, surged upward. The flood smashed into it with brutal force, sending water and debris flying in all directions. Though the impact left cracks in the barrier, it successfully blunted the full brunt of the attack.
Zixu remained crouched at the edge of the battle, watching with great interest. The Second Hokage's mastery of Water Release was unparalleled—perhaps even greater than any Hokage's understanding of it. Zixu committed each movement to memory, already considering how he could guide Hyuga Chinano to develop in a similar direction.
The fight pressed on. Taking advantage of the water pooling on the rooftop, the First Hokage lunged forward. Effortlessly slapping away several incoming fireballs, he closed the distance in an instant and drove his fist into Sarutobi's face with bone-crushing force. The sheer impact twisted Sarutobi's features, nearly exposing his molars.
The moment he sent Sarutobi reeling, the First Hokage rapidly formed hand seals. Enormous tree roots burst forth from the shattered rooftop, surging toward Sarutobi like grasping hands. Even though the space was limited, his Mokuton (Wood Release) was on an entirely different level compared to Tenzo's. The sheer thickness of the roots alone made the difference undeniable.
Sarutobi dodged and weaved, but the Four Violet Flames Formation left him with little room to maneuver. Within seconds, the roots wrapped around his limbs, restraining him completely.
Before they could fully entangle him, Sarutobi reacted swiftly. He slammed his palm against one of the thick roots, performing a summoning jutsu.
A cloud of smoke erupted, revealing a towering white-haired monkey. Enma, the Monkey King, scowled down at Sarutobi.
"Hiruzen, even in your old age, you still summon me? You humans are truly weak," Enma huffed, his sharp eyes locking onto Orochimaru. "I told you to kill that snake years ago, but you hesitated. Now look where you are! Also… who's the idiot standing over there with a crowbar?"
"Enough talk, Enma! Transform! Kongō Nyoi! (Adamantine Staff!)" Sarutobi commanded.
Enma sighed but obeyed, his body elongating and hardening into a massive black staff with golden ends. With a mighty swing, Sarutobi shattered the wooden restraints and regained his footing.
Zixu, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. When he first saw Enma, something about his appearance felt oddly familiar—like a low-budget version of an aging Sun Wukong. But when Sarutobi shouted "Kongō Nyoi," Zixu's expression darkened.
"You call that a golden cudgel?" Zixu muttered, gripping his crowbar tighter. "Let me show you what a real one looks like."
His sudden movement made Orochimaru hesitate. The snake-like shinobi, always cautious, immediately suppressed the urge to summon his Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Kusanagi Sword), watching to see what Zixu would do.
Sarutobi, confused by Zixu's sudden fixation on Enma, decided not to overthink it. With a swift motion, he swung the Adamantine Staff at Zixu.
The crowbar-wielding figure didn't flinch.
A loud clang echoed through the battlefield, followed by a sharp crack.
Sarutobi's eyes widened in shock. The impact had shattered Zixu's crowbar cleanly in two.
Zixu stared at the broken weapon in his hands. Then, without a word, he turned around, walked back to his original spot, and squatted down once more—completely uninterested.
Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the crowbar-wielding man had lost interest. Now, all that remained was finishing his battle with Orochimaru.
Gripping Enma firmly, Sarutobi prepared to strike—but something was off.
"…Enma?" he called out.
There was no response.
Frowning, Sarutobi scanned the battlefield. When his gaze landed on the edge of the barrier, his heart nearly stopped.
There lay Enma—burned, severed at the waist, his once-defiant expression reduced to an agonized grimace. His entire body was charred, his fur blackened, and his limbs convulsed as if still suffering from some unseen torment.
He was dead.
He hadn't even been able to return to the summoning realm.
A sinking feeling settled in Sarutobi's gut.
"This… This is it. I really am going to die here."
Orochimaru licked his lips, savoring the moment. "Sensei, your chakra must be nearly depleted. What will you do now?"
Sarutobi exhaled deeply, his mind clouded with regret. "Orochimaru… I once believed in you. You were my most talented student—the one I hoped would inherit the Will of Fire. And yet…"
A bitter smile crossed his lips.
"…Perhaps it was my indulgence that led us here."
As he spoke, he formed three shadow clones, their hands pressing together in unison. Orochimaru's smirk faltered, his instincts screaming at him to move. Without hesitation, he retreated, commanding the First and Second Hokage to intercept.
Zixu, who had been content to spectate, suddenly tensed.
Something about the chakra Sarutobi was gathering sent a chill down his spine.
A dreadful, suffocating aura filled the battlefield—one that felt eerily familiar.
It was a sealing technique.
And not just any sealing technique…
It bore the unmistakable essence of the Uzumaki Clan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you want to read Advanced Chapters?
Visit this link:
Påtreon.com/Fanficlord03