The second group to arrive was Konoha's guard division.
In other words, the Uchiha Clan.
"Mud Wall will scorch your feet." Seeing the Uchiha about to rush up, Sakumo Hatake, who'd come over to hand off control, gave them a calm warning.
But Fugaku Uchiha just curled his lip, completely unconcerned.
He was already the vice-captain of Konoha's guard division. He was in his twenties, which among ninja was old enough to be considered mature…
But maybe it was in the Uchiha blood. Maybe life hadn't worn down his edges yet. He still had a bit of that edgy, dramatic streak.
The older folks in the clan always said he'd settle down once his son was born.
Fugaku didn't buy it.
Raising a kid and all that… he'd never done it, but how hard could it be? Just thinking about it made it sound simple.
"Scorch my feet? The Uchiha don't care about a little heat. Even if it burns, it's just training." That thought flashed through Fugaku's mind, and he sprang straight onto the Mud Wall.
The rest of the Uchiha followed suit.
Sakumo lifted an eyebrow, quietly wrapped chakra around his footwear, and stepped up beside Fugaku.
Fugaku regretted it the instant his feet landed.
He'd assumed it would be mildly hot at worst. From the other side, the earthen wall looked fine.
And as a ninja, endurance training sometimes included… let's call it the self-punishment variety.
But once he was up there and looked down,
the center of the earth-and-stone wall had already melted, turning glossy and viscous like lava, still radiating heat nonstop.
That fire style is ridiculous. Is this the Third Hokage's work? He melted through a layer this thick? Fugaku was about to gather chakra discreetly, hoping no one noticed…
Then he caught Sakumo in the corner of his eye, quietly watching him, his eyebrow twitching again and again.
"Hot, right?" Sakumo wore the most blank, innocent expression. "You should probably use chakra protection…"
Fugaku wanted to keep toughing it out, but when he saw his clansmen also looking like they were about to lose it, he forced himself to nod.
"You're right, Lord Sakumo."
The Anbu were laughing their heads off. Masks made it easy.
What was this supposed to be?
A black-hearted guy bullying a tsundere?
Fugaku activated his Sharingan. The chakra fluctuations in the field caught his attention.
"What is that technique…?" he murmured.
He reacted like that because in his vision, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, was covered head to toe in a hard black layer, even the staff in his hand. He looked like a walking black-iron statue…
"It feels like some kind of Earth Style. Probably a hardening technique?" Fugaku guessed.
Sakumo analyzed it seriously. "From the Third's intent, it looks like he wants full-body coverage, maintained constantly. Like Kumogakure's Lightning Style chakra armor?"
"Wouldn't that affect agility?" Fugaku frowned, thinking it through. "Most Earth Style hardening techniques have that side effect. And if you're circulating Earth Style chakra, it should also interfere with using other ninjutsu…"
"Besides, keeping a hardening technique active all the time would eat chakra, wouldn't it? The Third, he…"
Fugaku abruptly stopped.
No matter how you cut it, bringing up a Hokage's chakra getting lower was a sensitive topic.
But Sakumo just stared at him with open curiosity. "You mean you think the Hokage doesn't have enough chakra?"
Fugaku pressed a hand to his forehead. He genuinely did not know what to do with this man.
Whoever said Sakumo Hatake was stiff and old-fashioned was lying through their teeth. If you asked Fugaku, he was the type who looked proper and harmless, but was actually sharp inside, and weirdly… sly in the quietest way possible.
"I didn't say that," Fugaku snapped. "I meant, I meant…"
Fugaku chose silence.
Shinnosuke Sarutobi glanced at Fugaku, looking baffled.
This clan really was something.
They loved acting cool and aloof, and their people skills were rough enough as it was. Two sentences in and he was already on the verge of reviewing Shinnosuke's own father for being too old to sustain multiple techniques.
Still… they were reliable. Their response time wasn't any slower than Anbu's, and they were doing their job properly.
It gave off a strange kind of vibe, like they wanted to be rebels but never had the nerve to commit.
Meanwhile, the technique Hiruzen was using was something he'd named himself:
"Earth Style: Iron Skin."
It really was an Earth Style hardening technique, and it did come with the side effects Fugaku described.
For other people.
For Hiruzen, whose chakra was now abundant and whose mastery of the five nature transformations was complete, those problems simply didn't exist.
"A ninja's body is too fragile. Like a glass cannon…"
"I have to protect myself at all times. Not a single ounce of chakra that should be used gets saved!"
Hiruzen took a deep breath and spewed a massive cloud of smoke across the field, blanketing the Rashomon formation.
Fire Style chakra gathered at his fingertips, and the flames erupted in an instant.
"Fire Style: Burning Ash won't be blocked by Rashomon," Sakumo said, eyes lighting up. "And the Third isn't being hindered by the hardening technique at all. He can still use the five natures freely."
"No wonder he's the Third…" Fugaku nodded. His Three Tomoe Sharingan locked onto Orochimaru, and he couldn't help the quiet judgment that slipped out anyway. "That vitality, that posture… he's basically like a monster."
Through his Three Tomoe vision, Orochimaru was clearly being scorched by fire style, but it looked like it didn't matter. He kept shedding skin like a snake and sliding along the ground.
Was that even human?
"Oh, so you mean…?" Sakumo started again, that same innocent curiosity on his face.
"No. No, Lord Sakumo. I didn't mean anything," Fugaku said darkly.
Why couldn't he keep his mouth shut?
Did he really need to get married and have a kid to mature? Would that even work?
The Anbu were barely holding it together.
First he implied the Hokage was old.
Then he turned around and implied Orochimaru wasn't human.
Truly, an Uchiha who spoke like a blade.
In the field.
Hiruzen formed two hand seals in an instant, and a massive water vortex surged up from the ground.
Water and fire collided, and scorching steam exploded outward.
Rashomon, already damaged internally by the intense heat, abruptly contracted when hit with cold water. Cracks spiderwebbed across the gates in jagged patches.
Hiruzen raised his steel staff, chakra coiling around it, and charged straight into the steam…
Wind Style reinforced the swing as he swept it hard.
In the next heartbeat, all six Rashomon gates, under that shockwave boosted by brute force, shattered into pieces.
Fugaku's Three Tomoe captured the moment, but his brain didn't process it in time.
What he saw was:
Hiruzen charged into the clash of water and fire and, with one swing, swept the steam and six towering Rashomon gates into fragments.
…Huh?
And that same scene was witnessed by Danzo Shimura and Foundation, and by Jiraiya, who'd arrived carrying Asuma and Kakashi, along with Tsunade.
"Holy shit, the old man's going off! He's cleaning house, he's gonna kill that bastard snake!" Jiraiya's vision went dark for a second. He tossed the two little brats at Sakumo and charged forward to intervene.
"Hold your staff! Hold your staff!"
"It's not a death sentence, it's not a death sentence!"
Sakumo caught the two kids and immediately tossed them to Shinnosuke instead.
Asuma and Kakashi got thrown around like luggage, completely unable to resist.
In that moment, Kakashi, praised as the academy's number one prodigy, finally understood the gap between academy students and veteran jonin. A heavy, sinking frustration washed over him.
It hit Asuma too.
Sakumo stepped in front of Jiraiya in a blur. "Hokage-sama didn't order anyone to enter."
Jiraiya nearly hopped in place. "Come on, Lord Sakumo! What if he actually beats the snake to death? Be flexible!"
Fugaku's expression turned serious.
Sakumo's speed was so fast that even his Three Tomoe Sharingan struggled to track it.
If it came down to close combat…
So that's it, Fugaku thought. A reputation like that doesn't come from nothing.
But as he watched Sakumo stand firm in front of Jiraiya, unmoving, one hand hovering over that short blade, White Fang, using his gaze alone to warn Tsunade not to make a move…
Fugaku started judging again, this time only in his head.
This is family business. Blocking people like this is just making enemies, isn't it…
And besides…
Remembering the Third Hokage's savage assault, Fugaku's teeth ached.
Didn't Uchiha Ichin say the Third was old? Old where, exactly?
With a swing like that, even a Susanoo probably wouldn't want to take it head-on!
Danzo Shimura looked dazed.
Wasn't this old bastard crushed by the pressure of being Hokage, buried in anxiety?
This kind of vitality… even at his peak, wasn't he about like this?
What was the meaning of this?
Did one serious illness make him see enlightenment, or did some previous Hokage possess him? Maybe Danzo should go catch a fever sometime too…
Hiruzen continued forming hand seals in midair.
"Earth Style: Mobile Core!"
A whole section of earth was forcibly lifted up, and under that upheaval, Orochimaru, who'd been hidden within, had no choice but to reveal himself.
His guerrilla plan had failed.
But the match wasn't over.
Teacher and student locked eyes, confirming each other's condition.
No need to stop.
Orochimaru slid a hand down into his own throat and pulled out a finely crafted ninja sword. He swung at Hiruzen as he shouted, "You idiot, Jiraiya! Stay on the side and watch. Don't interfere with my sparring with sensei!"
"If you come down here too, that works for me. I can measure how deep you really are," Hiruzen barked, staff raised.
Jiraiya immediately wilted, then got fired up again. "Old man, beat that bastard snake to death!"
The two of them shifted into a clash of ninja tools.
Blade and staff slammed together. Orochimaru's slit pupils shrank, and alarm flashed through him.
No, seriously. When did the old man get this strong? That power isn't even that far off from Tsunade…
Orochimaru's whole body shuddered. Ripples surfaced across his skin as he used that strange elasticity to disperse the force.
It was thanks to his unique technique, Soft Physique Modification.
If anyone else tried that, internal bleeding would be the least of their problems…
"Good boy. Tough as nails, immune to water and fire…" Hiruzen grew more and more excited as he fought. The thrill of wielding power and the fresh shock of seeing all kinds of techniques intoxicated him.
"Try taking this one!"
More and more chakra gathered on the staff as Hiruzen raised it high and brought it down with everything he had.
Boom!
Orochimaru's eyes tightened. The moment blade and staff touched, he knew it was bad. He twisted his body to shed the impact and got blasted away through the air.
The steel staff crashed into the ground, and a massive crater erupted, sand and stone flying everywhere.
Fugaku wrinkled his nose, teeth clenched, full of complicated feelings.
No wonder the Uchiha were behind the Hokage's faction…
Look at the intensity of this teacher-student exchange. Anyone watching without context would think this really was a purge.
This wasn't sparring. This was steel and blood.
If he ever had a son, he'd have to teach him like this too.
Start early. Throw him onto a battlefield. Let him feel what the ninja world was really like.
Sensei, you're a Sarutobi, not a Senju, Orochimaru complained silently as he flew.
He hit the ground and, still lying there, opened his mouth impossibly wide. A giant snake shot out from his throat, charging straight at Hiruzen.
Slimy fluid dripped from the snake's body as it slid, and where it touched the ground, it hissed like acid, corroding with a harsh sizzle.
During this time, more jonin arrived, along with a number of chunin and genin.
They came in waves, of course, and the Sarutobi clan's closest allies, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, were among the first of that batch.
"Good!" Hiruzen roared, and it wasn't clear if he meant the reinforcements or Orochimaru's attack. He hardened his fist and threw a punch straight at the snake's head without hesitation.
The head burst into a spray of blood and flesh.
And from the lower half of the snake's body, a brand-new Orochimaru emerged and drove a heavy punch into Hiruzen's abdomen.
Hiruzen didn't try to dodge. He slammed his own fist forward.
One punch for one punch.
They both staggered back several steps.
Hiruzen swept his gaze around. Enough people had arrived. He eased off, stopping his assault.
"Guess an old man really can't compete with youth. That one's gonna have me sore for days…" Hiruzen rubbed his ribs, feeling the ache, and said sincerely, "My body's just not what it used to be. You hurt, old student?"
It really was true. One "Earth Style: Iron Skin" wasn't enough. Even after he'd tried to strengthen it, it still wasn't enough.
He needed to study more chakra armor techniques, something that could attack and defend. The results spoke for themselves.
"Sensei, don't you think saying it like that is kind of insulting?" Orochimaru's mouth was pouring blood as he spoke, which made the line oddly funny.
For once, he couldn't keep a straight face. "Whose punch is 'youthful' here? Sensei, I'm human too. If I'm spitting blood, that counts as injured!"
"That's obviously you. I'm just an old man in a sack of meat. That move you used was nice. Teach me when you've got time." Hiruzen laughed and gave him a thumbs-up.
"That was Light Style shape and nature transformation combined, right? And I caught a hint of Summoning Jutsu in it too…"
He was referring to Orochimaru's Great Serpent Substitution.
Orochimaru's expression turned complicated.
For some reason, he found himself missing the stubborn old man he used to know.
Somewhere deep down, Orochimaru had a feeling…
If his teacher, the so-called Professor, started stacking techniques onto his own body the way Orochimaru did…
Something terrifying might come out of it.
"Even though time isn't up, I'm very pleased with your growth."
"You did well, Orochimaru…"
Hiruzen walked over, rolling his shoulders. One hand pressed to his own injury, the other to Orochimaru's bruised chest. A gentle green glow rose from his palm.
Orochimaru's thoughts stirred. Watching the crowd's thoughtful expressions, he let the corner of his mouth lift.
With sensei like this, if he got serious, I'd be the one losing face today…
Stopping now and healing me in public…
It was giving Orochimaru plenty of dignity, and it also left room for people to imagine things.
Who said Orochimaru and the Third Hokage were drifting apart?
Didn't they see this scene? It was practically "fatherly kindness and filial devotion," teacher and student, heart to heart.
"Even if you won, I'm taking the bell back. I'm used to having it there." Hiruzen carefully placed the bell back into his ninja tool pouch.
Orochimaru's smile widened.
And in that moment, Hizashi Hyuga arrived.
The Anbu, Foundation, and the other ninja who'd gotten there earlier all shot him meaningful looks.
The Hyuga Clan should've been the first to detect movement inside the village. They had the Byakugan.
They also specialized in taijutsu, and their travel speed shouldn't have been slow…
So why were they late?
Facing those scrutinizing stares, Hizashi had a bitter story he couldn't voice.
Rules were rules. Village rules, clan rules.
As a member of the branch house, he couldn't make decisions on his own.
Even though he'd noticed immediately, he still had to report to the main house and wait for the elders to decide.
That back-and-forth naturally cost time.
This generation of the Hyuga main house followed a "don't pick sides" approach. They didn't want to get involved in village affairs unless war broke out.
When they saw the spar had ended, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, who'd arrived with that third wave of ninja, exchanged a look.
Koharu stepped forward. "Hiruzen, what are you doing!"
She wanted to ask why he'd caused such a huge commotion without telling them…
Hiruzen's eyes turned stern. "Advisor, use the title when we're working. And right now is not your time to speak."
Koharu choked on her words. She wanted to say more, but that severe gaze stopped her cold.
She closed her mouth.
Hiruzen's fingers flew through seals again.
"Earth Style: Dark Swamp!"
In an instant, the training ground became a swamp. The shattered remains of the Rashomon gates and the scattered bodies of countless venomous snakes were dragged down into the depths.
Then, with exquisite fire style control, red-white flames baked the earth at full power.
In moments, the mud dried out.
And like a blade, precise Wind Style sliced away every uneven bump and ridge, leveling the ground clean.
The training field became neat and flat again.
"The old man's chakra reserves are insane…" Orochimaru stared at Hiruzen, who wasn't even flushed, not even breathing hard, and sank into thought.
That whole sequence of ninjutsu looked like it was just tidying the field.
But if you turned it on people…
How many ninja could survive that kind of wide-area bombardment? He was basically a walking meat grinder.
And Orochimaru clearly wasn't the only one thinking it.
The chunin and genin stared at Hiruzen with pure worship.
Asuma gaped. "Wait, my dad's that strong? He's way stronger than my teacher!"
One middle-aged ninja in a green jumpsuit, with thick eyebrows and a full beard, was openly crying. "Hokage-sama, is this the Hokage's youth? I feel like I'm about to ignite!"
That eye-searing outfit drew Hiruzen's attention. He gave the man a kindly nod.
Danzo, meanwhile, was trapped in his own spiraling thoughts, roaring silently in his head.
Sneaky Hiruzen. When did you cultivate a Light Style secret art? You actually regained your youth…
That day he wore the Hokage hat, and I didn't even notice!
Hiruzen clasped his hands behind his back and shook his head with a sigh. "Still old…"
He took out his signature pipe, lit it, and drew in a deep breath.
Then, in a low, commanding voice, he barked, "All ninja present, assemble!"
In that instant, the ninja quickly formed up in front of him.
It wasn't just respect for the title of Hokage.
It was respect for overwhelming strength.
Hiruzen took it all in.
Just as he'd thought, in a world of power, relationships and authority mattered, but strength was inseparable from them.
He organized his thoughts.
The speech that came next was the real core of this whole match.
Everything before had just been building the stage.