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Even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn’t withstand a single elbow strike from the Third Raikage puppet, let alone these Konoha Shinobi. The puppet could kill several of them with a single punch.
A Jonin took a direct hit from the puppet’s fist and was sent flying, crashing into the Shinobi behind him and killing them instantly.
This thing was a monster!
Elite Jonin couldn’t even block one punch. Furthermore, the Tailed Beast cloak’s defense was incredibly strong; a barrage of concentrated Ninjutsu attacks couldn’t even break through it.
After taking a moment to recover, Hiruzen immediately ordered the Shinobi below Jonin rank to fall back. Sending Chūnin and Genin would just be sending them to their deaths.
Jonin could at least try to stall, though the risk of death was still extremely high.
“We can’t just stand by and watch. Let’s attack together.”
Nara Shikaku said to Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza.
They hadn’t wanted to fight the Hyūga earlier due to their decent relationship. But facing an external enemy, they had to act.
“<Shadow Manipulation Technique!>”
Nara Shikaku attempted to control the Third Raikage puppet with his clan’s secret technique. However, while the Nara Clan’s jutsu was effective, the power difference was too vast.
He couldn’t even restrain the puppet for a single moment.
With a ‘thud’, Nara Shikaku fell to one knee. Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza quickly rushed to support him.
“Shikaku, what happened?”
“The jutsu backfired. I’m afraid I can’t help anymore,” Nara Shikaku said with a wry smile. He had already used most of his chakra in that attempt, yet still failed to control the opponent.
“Inoichi, stay here and look after Shikaku. I’ll join the fight,” Akimichi Chōza said to Yamanaka Inoichi.
Among the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, only Chōza excelled in direct combat. Shikaku and Inoichi’s techniques were better suited for support roles.
“Alright. Be careful. Don’t get hurt,” Yamanaka Inoichi said, patting Chōza’s shoulder.
———
“<Earth Release: Earth Flow River!>”
Hiruzen finally remembered his specialty was Ninjutsu.
He manipulated the ground, turning the earth beneath the puppet into flowing mud, attempting to knock it off balance.
“<Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!>”
Similar to the previous technique, this turned the ground beneath the puppet into a swamp. Combined with the effects of the Earth Flow River, the puppet began to sink rapidly.
“Hiruzen Sarutobi’s skills are still sharp.”
Shin watched Hiruzen deploy his Ninjutsu. Putting aside Kekkei Genkai, which Hiruzen lacked, his mastery of Ninjutsu truly earned him the title of “Professor”—a genuine master, not just someone with the title.
Though age might have weakened his Taijutsu, Hiruzen’s Ninjutsu skills were among the best in the Shinobi world.
“<Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!>”
Having trapped the puppet in the swamp, Hiruzen followed up with a powerful Fire Release technique, aiming to solidify the mud with intense heat and completely immobilize the puppet.
“Hokage-sama is is incredible!”
Some Konoha Shinobi watched Hiruzen with awe and reverence.
They had felt despair when Hiruzen seemed to be easily overpowered earlier.
But now, seeing him expertly use Ninjutsu to turn the tables, their image of the Third Hokage grew tall and mighty once more.
Hiruzen, seeing the enemy seemingly neutralized, allowed a faint smile to grace his lips.
“Celebrating a bit too early, aren’t you?”
Shin murmured faintly, observing Hiruzen and the Konoha Shinobi.
Did they really think such simple tactics could defeat the Eight-Tails and the Third Raikage puppet?
They were far from finished…
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The entire village of Konoha trembled as the massive form of the Eight-Tails erupted from the ground, letting out a furious roar.
Full Tailed Beast Transformation! The Eight-Tails had arrived.
“The Eight-Tails?!”
Hiruzen’s smile froze, his expression turning increasingly grim.
“Retreat! Evacuate the villagers!”
With the Tailed Beast fully manifested, the situation became far more dangerous. Having experienced the Nine-Tails’ rampage, Konoha knew the devastating power of these creatures.
Even if the Eight-Tails wasn’t as strong as the Nine-Tails, it was still a Tailed Beast. The difference wouldn’t be that significant. They’d sacrificed the Fourth Hokage to stop Kurama; would they need to sacrifice another Kage this time?
The Eight-Tails immediately began forming a Tailed Beast Ball, wasting no time on pointless chatter.
To avoid interruption, The Eight-Tails formed the Tailed Beast Ball quickly, which slightly reduced its potential power.
But even a smaller Tailed Beast Ball could easily level a small mountain.
“I wonder if Konoha has any more tricks up its sleeve.”
Shin watched The Eight-Tails prepare its attack but didn’t intervene. He was curious to see if Konoha had any hidden defenses.
Of course, even if Konoha couldn’t block it, Shin didn’t particularly care. His relationship with the village wasn’t good.
There weren’t many people in Konoha he cared about. He might step in to save Shikaku and his friends, given their past connection, but that was it.
“Everyone, fall back!” Hiruzen yelled as The Eight-Tails prepared to fire.
As the Konoha Shinobi retreated, Hiruzen used the Shadow Clone Technique, creating four clones.
Then, the main body and the four clones simultaneously performed Ninjutsu, unleashing techniques spanning all five basic nature transformation—Wind, Earth, Lightning, Water, and Fire.
“<Five Release Great Combo Technique!>”
The Five different elemental jutsu combined, striking The Eight-Tails and colliding with the incoming Tailed Beast Ball.
This was likely Hiruzen’s strongest combination jutsu, a technique that had shone brightly in the original story. Even Shin couldn’t help but pay attention.
“This combination jutsu is quite good—I’ll copy it.”
Shin said with satisfaction. He didn’t need a Replication Card; his Nine-Tomoe Rinne-Tenseigan could copy any Ninjutsu instantly.
The collision between Hiruzen’s Great Combo Technique and The Eight-Tails’s Tailed Beast Ball shattered every window in Konoha.
Looking at the hundred-meter-wide crater before him, Hiruzen sighed in relief. He had managed to block the attack.
However, the cost was significant. Hiruzen had expended more than a third of his chakra. He could maybe use the Great Combo Technique twice more.
“The Third Hokage’s strength is truly unfathomable.”
Fugaku Uchiha clenched his fists, watching Hiruzen’s display of power.
Any rebellious thoughts Fugaku might have harbored were significantly dampened. Seeing Hiruzen’s strength, those ambitions suddenly seemed less achievable.
Even if he revealed his hidden Mangekyō Sharingan, he might not be able to defeat Hiruzen. And challenging Hiruzen meant opposing the entire village.
Hiruzen was unaware that his display of power had inadvertently curbed Fugaku Uchiha’s ambitions, at least temporarily.
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