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The fate of the entire Konoha unit, which had bravely defended the pass and ultimately became bait, was obvious.
In just three hours, this entire garrison, which had fought for seventeen bloody days, was completely overwhelmed by the Cloud Ninja who had discovered its 'weak point'.
"Kill—!"
Roars, shouts, wails.
The dull thud of heavy footsteps on the ground, the metallic clang of Ninja tools clashing, the scorching sound of Ninjutsu and blades tearing through flesh, and the bursting of water sacs...
All kinds of sounds filled Mura Ibari's ears.
The Konoha Jonin commander stared with bloodshot crimson eyes, watching helplessly as the Ninja of the rear guard unit cried out in pain, one after another, under the blades of the Cloud Ninja who outnumbered them several times over. His heart felt like it was being distorted.
All the Ninja behind him watched him silently with expressions of unwillingness or sorrow.
Mura Ibari tightly clutched the blood-stained order sheet in his hand.
In the end, he could only grit his teeth and shout:
"Retreat!"
For a Ninja, the Village's orders were absolute.
No matter what kind of order.
The last remaining units withdrew from the pass.
Shimura Danzo, perched on a distant cliff, quietly watched the Ninja, like ants below, retreating sparsely along the path carved through the forest.
The Cloud Ninja following behind shattered the last vestiges of the rearguard's resistance, and, led by the figure of a powerful man, pierced through the entire defensive line like a blade, heading straight for the rear.
Shimura Danzo's artificial right eye rapidly contracted, driven by Chakra, and the view in his sight continuously magnified, finally locking onto the man's face.
Third Raikage.
Even though he had never met him on the battlefield before, Shimura Danzo had seen countless photographs of him.
Now, having locked onto his true target, his expression immediately became serious.
If the sacrifice of Ninja had value, then they should be sacrificed.
Clearly, compared to the immensely valuable target of the Third Raikage, the lives of a few hundred Konoha Ninja were utterly insignificant.
In Shimura Danzo's view, a superior should possess such decisiveness.
Mercy does not command troops.
While observing the advancing Third Raikage, he asked the Root Ninja behind him:
"Are the preparations complete?"
"Yes."
A Root Ninja behind him knelt on the ground and quickly replied, "The ambush and barrier preparations are all complete, we are just waiting for Jonin Mura and his group to guide the target to the designated location."
"Very good."
Shimura Danzo nodded slightly, his expression calm.
Even before the battle began, he had made multiple contingency plans.
Given the Third Raikage's own strength, and now that he had become the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, although he didn't yet know how well he coordinated with that Tailed Beast, with his caution, he naturally estimated high.
To complete this ambush, he not only led a large number of Konoha Ninja to ambush on both sides of the canyon in the rear, but also prepared a large number of Sealing Squad personnel to set up a large barrier designed to limit the Third Raikage's speed.
With his Wind Release proficiency, breaking through the Third Raikage's Lightning Release Armor was not difficult; the problem was how to capture him.
As for the Tailed Beast, there was even less to discuss.
From the beginning of planning until now, Danzo had already searched all records within Konoha related to the capture of Tailed Beasts by Hashirama.
Every single one of those archives stated in an absolutely definitive tone that Wood Release's suppression of Tailed Beasts was absolute.
Any Tailed Beast entangled by Hashirama's Wood Release almost instantly lost all resistance and became a pet obediently held in his palm—the reason being Wood Release's ability to absorb Chakra.
Among these records, the Wood Release Ninjutsu that appeared most frequently were the combined Wood Release and Sealing Technique, and Advent of a World of Flowering Trees, used to restrict the Tailed Beast's range of movement.
The combination of these two Ninjutsu was undeniably devastating to Tailed Beasts.
And during this period, Shimura Danzo had already practiced the simultaneous use of these two Ninjutsu many times.
Wind Release counters Lightning Release, Wood Release counters Tailed Beasts.
Now that he, Shimura Danzo, possessed both Wind Release and Wood Release, the Tailed Beast-transformed Third Raikage was his best opponent to prove himself.
As long as he could complete the capture of the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails, how could mere accusations restrain him?
Thinking this in his heart, Shimura Danzo slowly revealed a calm smile on his face.
So, he instructed the Root Ninja behind him:
"Begin the plan."
"Yes."
The Root Ninja behind him immediately responded.
"Lightning Release: Ground Flash!"
Spiderweb-like lightning spread forward from the ground at an extremely fast speed, covering the bodies of several Konoha Ninja in just an instant.
Immediately following, the burly Cloud Ninja, skilled in sword techniques, flew out from mid-air, their blade, like a silver chain, easily tearing through the bodies of the screaming Konoha Ninja.
Figures, like locusts, shot up from the treetops and swept through the air, rushing densely towards the Konoha Ninja. Their sheer numbers, several times greater, were enough to negate the difference between Jonin and Genin.
Even if one or two determined Konoha Jonin occasionally stayed behind to cover their comrades' retreat, they were quickly torn to shreds by the swarming Cloud Ninja.
Ninja are a profession with extremely high offense and low defense.
Even a powerful Jonin like Hatake Sakumo would die quite messily if stabbed in a vital point by a Genin's Kunai.
This speed of advance, by all appearances, seemed to be entirely justified.
However, the Third Raikage, who was leading the entire Team, keenly sensed the abnormality within it.
Although this Konoha unit, which had been defending the pass for so many days, should indeed have been pushed to its limit, the process of being defeated during the troop rotation seemed too easy.
Immediately after, as if realizing something in that instant, a ferocious smile appeared on his face.
"Finally here, aren't you?"
"Sawara Kiri."
"This old man has been waiting for you for a long time."
The Third Raikage muttered to himself, then asked a Cloud Jonin behind him, "Are they still following?"
"Yes."
The Cloud Jonin immediately replied, "They are all following your unit in the Shadow Guard formation, as you requested."
"That's good."
The Third Raikage immediately felt confident, and the smile on his face became even more gleeful.
You want to ambush this old man?
Then this old man will let Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sawara Kiri, those two insidious fellows, taste what it's like to be counter-ambushed!
Following behind him was the Third Raikage's special Black Lightning unit, trained during this period with dozens of Cloud Jonin, as well as a group of elite Sealing Squad Ninja.
Specifically designed to target Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sawara Kiri!
With newfound confidence, the Third Raikage seemed to harden considerably as he charged, continuing his assault without hesitation on the retreating Konoha Ninja unit ahead.
The pursuit between the two sides continued along the entire road, with the Konoha side gradually evolving from initial resistance, to heavy casualties, and then to a large-scale rout where nothing else mattered.
Until, the pursuing and fleeing sides charged into a large canyon.
This must be it.
The Third Raikage immediately understood.
The smile on his face grew even wider, as if he couldn't wait to see the astonished expressions on the faces of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sawara Kiri, those insidious fellows.
"Whoosh—"
As expected.
Almost as soon as the Third Raikage led his troops deep into the middle section of the canyon.
The Konoha Ninja, who had been ambushing on both sides of the canyon for a long time, immediately emerged from the sides.
As their Chakra rapidly flowed into the corresponding barrier nodes, a hemispherical large barrier, almost encompassing this entire half of the canyon, suddenly covered the entire sky.
The unsuspecting Cloud Ninja were startled at this sight, and even their pursuit of the Konoha unit slowed significantly.
Countless Konoha Ninja emerged densely from the jungle on both sides of the canyon, a terrifying sight that made their hearts tighten.
The front unit immediately sent out a warning to the rear:
"Ambush!"
"There's an ambush on both sides of the canyon!"
However, just as the sound had barely managed to spread, the Konoha Ninja, who had endured for a long time, had already shot down from the canyon, pouncing towards the scattered Cloud Ninja ahead.
Even many Konoha Ninja who were running in front immediately realized the opportunity and launched a desperate counter-charge in twos and threes towards the Cloud Ninja behind them.
Suddenly, the two forces surged together like opposing tides, creating various sounds.
Just then.
A ferocious roar, like that of a wild beast, suddenly pierced through everyone's eardrums.
"Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite!"
Almost simultaneously with the sound, a majestic figure, like a streak of light, slammed into the opposing Konoha Ninja crowd with incredible speed, causing crisp sounds of bone breaking and muscle tearing.
Large amounts of blood misted up among the crowd.
The Konoha Ninja who stood in his way were no match for him.
Only after piercing through the entire counter-charging and pouncing Konoha Ninja crowd did the blood-soaked Third Raikage stand his ground and roar up at the canyon:
"Since you're here, come out quickly!"
"Don't let me look down on you, you little Konoha men."
However, the figure that slowly emerged from the crowd made the Third Raikage's expression freeze.
A middle-aged man, clad in a black robe with short, spiky hair like a hedgehog, slowly walked out from the crowd.
As he walked, he slowly peeled off layers of bandages wrapped around his right arm.
He gazed indifferently at the Third Raikage, his eyes like those of a man looking at the dead.
The Ninja around immediately realized the situation and retreated to both sides, clearing the battlefield for these two top powerhouses to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
"Is that you?"
The Third Raikage's tone seemed to carry a hint of confusion:
"The Darkness of the Ninja, Shimura Danzo?"
"Where are those two guys, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sawara Kiri?"
"Tell them to come out."
"How dare a guy of your caliber set a trap for this old man."
"Hmph."
Shimura Danzo flicked away the bandages in his hand, his eyes narrowed, staring coldly at the burly figure before him like a bear, his voice devoid of any fluctuation:
"Your big talk ends here, Third Raikage."
"Just watch closely."
"See what Ninjutsu you die by."
As his voice fell, he quickly formed hand seals and pressed them to the ground.
"Summoning: Baku."
With a bang, an orange-skinned leopard with an elephant's trunk appeared behind Danzo.
Seeing this, the Third Raikage merely scoffed.
But the next moment, his eyes suddenly widened, and a nearly web-like layer of blazing Lightning Chakra erupted from his muscular body, completely enveloping him, his furious roar deafening:
"Just this little trick?"
"Who gave you the courage to underestimate this old man!?"
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode!"
The instant his voice dropped, his figure suddenly vanished from his original spot, and a heavy boom echoed in the air.
The moment the Third Raikage's figure disappeared, the pupil in Shimura Danzo's right eye constricted to the extreme, rapidly mapping the direction of his opponent's movement in his brain with a high frequency of frames beyond ordinary imagination, and his body suddenly crouched low.
"Buzz—!"
A heavy hand chop suddenly struck the air where his head had been a moment ago, emitting a dull thud like a heavy drumbeat.
However, it missed.
The Third Raikage's expression changed, but he immediately kicked out towards the crouching Shimura Danzo.
"Bang!"
Even with his arms raised in a block, Shimura Danzo's body was sent flying more than ten meters by the heavy kick, his feet firmly planted on the ground, and a creaking sound of bones came from his arms.
However, he blocked it.
A cold smile appeared on Shimura Danzo's face.
Hashirama's power is unrivaled.
The Yang Release Chakra contained in just one arm had significantly boosted his physical abilities during this time, coupled with that eye capable of capturing his opponent's speed.
Even if it was just Taijutsu...
Before Danzo's thought could fully settle, his expression suddenly froze.
The Third Raikage, who had been standing opposite him, had vanished at some point, leaving only a cloud of rising dust.
Almost instinctively, Shimura Danzo immediately shielded his vital chest area with his right arm!
"Boom—!"
The next moment, an explosive roar suddenly resounded from his chest and abdomen, sending out rings of pure white ripples like waves.
"Ugh!"
Shimura Danzo violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.
But the moment he was injured, he immediately reacted, adjusting his body in mid-air, sliding down to the ground in a half-prone position, staring intently at the Third Raikage's figure.
At the same time, his almost broken right arm rapidly filled in the sunken void at an incredible speed, making the previously torn muscles plump again.
The Third Raikage, however, remained standing, seemingly savoring the feel of his previous blow.
At the same time, he turned his head to look in Shimura Danzo's direction.
"Is the capture range limited to your right eye's vision?"
"It seems you didn't replace both eyes after all."
"Besides that, there's also that arm..."
Shimura Danzo was suddenly alarmed.
What's going on?
In just an instant, he had completely seen through his trump card.
How did he figure it out?
The Third Raikage, however, seemed to have no intention of explaining to him, stepping forward slowly towards Shimura Danzo, a smile on his face.
"Is it strange?"
"Just now, I only moved horizontally for an instant, and you immediately couldn't track me. So, of course, it's an issue with your eye."
"It's truly unexpected that such a toy-like thing could give you such courage."
"Bastard!!"
Shimura Danzo seemed to have had a secret exposed, suddenly breaking down, letting out an angry curse accompanied by heavy breathing, and immediately forming hand seals with both hands.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Consecutive Wave!"
In an instant, dozens of invisible, blade-like air ripples were exhaled from Shimura Danzo's mouth, suddenly sealing off all of the Third Raikage's movement range.
But why should he dodge?
The Third Raikage stood calmly, watching these impacts, like gentle breezes, strike the surface of his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, raising layers of spreading ripples, his expression composed.
He walked forward, enduring the Wind Release impacts, towards Shimura Danzo.
If one observed closely, they would notice that within the inner layer of his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, there was actually a thin layer of dark red Chakra enveloping him.
The Third Raikage's voice was calm: "As early as my last encounter with Sarutobi Hiruzen, I discovered the flaw in this so-called Lightning Release Armor—or rather, the inherent flaw in all Five Element Release Ninjutsu."
"The mutual counter-effects between Ninjutsu can cause subtle gaps to appear between dense Chakra."
"Since then, I've tried to fill some of those gaps with the Eight-Tails' power."
"Look."
As he spoke, a sarcastic smile appeared on his dark face.
"Boom—"
The waves of extremely sharp Wind Release Chakra, at a distance of less than two meters, violently swept across the Third Raikage's body, exploding into gusts of air that spread outwards.
Even the ground between the two was scoured away by a thick layer of this extremely sharp Wind Release Chakra.
However, the Third Raikage didn't even move.
Shimura Danzo's expression seemed to turn somewhat stunned, and then somewhat incredulous.
How was this completely different from what he had expected?!
"Damn it!"
Almost enduring the powerful Wind Release Ninjutsu head-on, the Third Raikage suddenly extended his hand forward and, with a bang, seized Shimura Danzo's neck.
"I'll ask again, where are Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sawara Kiri!"
His bear-like hand was almost enough to crush Shimura Danzo's neck bone in one go.
However, at this extremely close distance, Danzo's eyes suddenly widened.
"Wood Release: Tree Binding Kill!"
The moment his hands completed the hand seals.
Countless tree roots suddenly rapidly spread from the surface of his pale right arm, forming dense, sharp spikes that shot straight towards the Third Raikage!
"Thud, thud, thud—!"
But they all missed.
Shimura Danzo knelt on the ground, clutching his neck where the handprint was, struggling to breathe, but his eyes were fixed on the Third Raikage's figure.
How could this be?
This question kept flashing through his mind.
He clearly had the weakness of Wind Release countering Lightning Release, his body had clearly become younger, and he had clearly mastered Wood Release, yet he ended up in such a sorry state...
Where did it go wrong?
The moment he saw these wooden spikes, the Third Raikage's pupils also constricted.
However, he seemed to immediately notice some issues, looking at the tree-root-like spikes that covered a few meters, and a calm smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Wood Release? You even possess something like this."
"You really gave this old man a fright."
"But..."
As the Third Raikage spoke, the glow emanating from the Lightning Release armor on his body also began to grow even more intense:
"With just your own abilities, how much of the First Hokage's power can you unleash?!"
That disdainful voice, like a heavy hammer, fiercely struck the darkest part of Shimura Danzo's heart that he least wanted to face, making him suddenly become somewhat hysterical, his eyes wide, staring directly at him.
"How much of Hashirama's power?!"
Shimura Danzo maintained the hand seal posture, and his entire body's Chakra erupted like azure flames from within him, forming a blazing ring of fire, his voice even seeming to become a bit hoarse:
"Then let me show you!"
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees—!!!"
At the same moment his voice fell, the Lightning Release Chakra on the Third Raikage's body also exploded to its limit, he looked at the man before him with a ferocious grin, his long hair behind his head standing up like a lion's mane crackling with electricity.
"Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite!"
In an instant, endless massive tree roots and lightning light like the sun collided in the center of this battlefield.
Unleashing a deafening roar.
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