The moment the Fourth Raikage, A, charged forward, C and the others immediately sprang into action.
This was not a situation that could be settled with just a few words.
Moments ago, Yamanaka Kaze had clearly attempted to assassinate the Fourth Raikage.
"This isn't what you think it is," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a frown. Though he had already guessed the truth, the fact remained—Yamanaka Kaze was still a ninja of Konohagakure.
There was no way he could simply stand by and watch him die at A's hands.
"C!"
A completely ignored Hiruzen's explanation. In his view, controlling Darui was far more offensive than attempting to assassinate him outright.
If he were to pretend nothing had happened here, then he would be far too unworthy of the title "Raikage."
"Yes, sir!"
C immediately understood the order.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion Flash Pillar!"
C was not only a sensory-type ninja but also proficient in genjutsu and medical ninjutsu.
That was precisely why A referred to him as his "left hand."
The Lightning Illusion Flash Pillar was one of his specialties. Once activated, his entire body transformed into crackling light, filling the room with a dazzling glow.
The jutsu seemed designed merely to obstruct vision—but in reality, it set the perfect stage for casting a genjutsu.
Its range was enormous—anywhere the lightning's radiance reached, he could project his illusions.
"Yugito! Darui!"
C's deep voice called his allies to aid the Raikage and pin down Sarutobi Hiruzen.
As for Senju Haruto… yes, his arrogance was undeniable, and his chakra and swordsmanship were both extraordinary.
But in battles between ninja, intelligence was often even more decisive than raw strength.
No matter how skilled, once trapped in a genjutsu, an opponent could lose all fighting capability in an instant.
And C had absolute confidence in his illusions.
In other words, as long as Yugito and Darui kept Sarutobi Hiruzen occupied, Yamanaka Kaze's death would be inevitable.
A trusted in his left and right hands completely. Leaving Hiruzen to them, he once again used his blinding speed to pursue Yamanaka Kaze.
Hiruzen's expression darkened—this was bad. In the small, enclosed room, the chakra of a tailed beast suddenly erupted.
He had never imagined that A would keep a jinchūriki at his side… let alone one who could freely use their tailed beast's chakra.
A crimson shroud of chakra enveloped Yugito's body, claws lashing straight toward Hiruzen's throat.
At the same time, Darui unleashed Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet, aiming to pressure Hiruzen and create an opening for Yugito's strike.
Meanwhile, C cast his genjutsu amid the blinding light.
It was, admittedly, an impressive combination attack—enough to make even Hiruzen take note.
If it had been anyone else, they might have been killed outright.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Hiruzen shut his eyes tightly to avoid the illusion's effects, his hands flying through seals as he raised a defensive earth wall.
Rumble!
A thick rock barrier rose from the ground in a ring around him, breaking Darui's Water Dragon apart.
Yugito's claws only managed to gouge a hole in the wall, failing to touch the Hokage within.
But defeating him wasn't the point—they had forced the legendary Third Hokage to remain in place, buying A precious time to strike.
However, in the next instant, the blinding light from C's jutsu began to fade, shrinking until it vanished entirely.
And A's hand, which had been poised to crush Yamanaka Kaze's throat, was suddenly caught by a strange, massive tree trunk.
"Wood Release…?"
Yamanaka Kaze's eyes widened in disbelief.
As a Root operative, he knew far more than the average shinobi. He was well aware of A's legend—a man who had once fought Namikaze Minato during the Third Great Ninja War, whose sheer speed rivaled the Flying Thunder God.
Blue Lightning—that was the name given to him.
His destructive power was just as terrifying.
Yamanaka Kaze had been certain that if A's strike landed, he would be gravely wounded, if not killed outright.
Yet somehow, such an unstoppable assault had been completely blocked.
"Lord Raikage…"
C stared in disbelief. The same shock was mirrored in Darui, Yugito, Mifune, and even A himself.
"My attack…"
A drew in a sharp breath. He knew C and Darui had Hiruzen restrained—it couldn't have been the Hokage who stopped him.
"Senju Haruto?!"
A whipped his head around, staring at Haruto in astonishment.
C, Darui, Yugito, and Mifune all followed his gaze toward Hiruzen's right side.
At that moment, the Earth Flow Wall crumbled away, revealing the truth to Hiruzen as well.
"He even stopped A's attack…" Hiruzen muttered in surprise.
He had known Haruto could use Wood Release—but Wood Release was not invincible.
With A's speed and power, Hiruzen hadn't believed Haruto could block him.
It would require hand seals faster than most eyes could follow.
"Wood Release…" A murmured, his eyes fixed sharply on Haruto as he tore his hand free from the wooden bindings.
"A member of the Senju Clan, are you?"
"This farce ends here," Haruto said, meeting the stunned gazes around him.
"You call this… a farce?"
A let out a cold laugh. He could now see why Haruto had been so bold in front of him. But merely inheriting Wood Release didn't make him Hashirama Senju—the man once hailed as the God of Shinobi.
In A's eyes, letting Haruto grow unchecked could threaten the Cloud Village's standing in the shinobi world.
More importantly, Yamanaka Kaze's assassination attempt gave him a legitimate reason to strike.
Not even Mifune could stop him now.
No… he wouldn't just kill Haruto here—he would capture him, bring him back, and let the Cloud's researchers study his kekkei genkai.
Yes… they might have failed to obtain the Hyūga's Byakugan, but this time, they could secure something even greater.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Ox – Hot Knife!"
With a low growl, lightning chakra surged across A's entire body. The floor beneath him cracked apart as he shot forward like a streak of blue lightning.