"Danzo!"
Shennong roared as he moved like a blur, charging swiftly toward Danzo.
Right at that moment—
Boom!
Shennong's eyes widened as he was sent flying, his face filled with shock.
Before him, a Ninja wearing a flak jacket and a green jumpsuit suddenly appeared, sending him flying with a kick.
This speed... is it the Eight Gates?
How is this possible!
Intense pain radiated from his chest.
In mid-air, Shennong endured the agony to snap his bones back into place.
If he hadn't been in the Gate of View state, his entire body strengthened by a massive amount of Chakra, that sneak attack alone would have been enough to severely wound him.
However.
This wasn't the limit yet.
In mid-air, Might Guy threw out countless punches in an instant. Roaring flames flew from his fists, radiating downward like a peacock spreading its tail.
Morning Peacock!
Shennong never expected that there was another Ninja in the world who could also open the Eight Gates, and that the other's research into Eight Gates taijutsu surpassed his own.
Such taijutsu... A flicker of terror passed through his eyes.
Immediately—
Gate of Shock, Open!
The final gate before the Gate of Death.
Just as Shennong counterattacked to disperse the residual force of the Morning Peacock, he saw a blue light erupt from Might Guy's body as well.
It was also the Gate of Shock!
He swallowed hard and, without further hesitation, used the Gate of Shock to flee toward the outskirts of the Village.
Shennong had fled once again!
His body quickly recovered with the help of Dark Chakra and the Regeneration Technique, counteracting the side effects of the seventh gate state.
But the fierce roar behind him made his heart tremble.
He had healing abilities, which was why he dared to open the seventh gate. The other guy had nothing to rely on and opened the Gate of Shock purely with his own body... That guy is a lunatic!
At this moment, he no longer had any thoughts of seizing Kurama Yakumo.
Flee!
If he didn't run now, he feared he would remain in Konoha forever.
Shennong didn't dare linger any longer. He sped away, leaving a blue rainbow-like trail in the air, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Might Guy panted heavily as he exited the Gate of Shock state and fell from the air to the ground.
"My Lord, I've brought Guy over. Are you alright?"
Masahiko immediately appeared beside Danzo.
Danzo nodded with a serious expression and said, "I'm fine. Go help Guy quickly. He used the Eight Gates, so the backlash must be severe."
He spoke very loudly: "I am an Advisor of Konoha, and it is my duty to protect everyone. I don't need your protection!"
"Yes!"
Masahiko went down and immediately began to help treat Guy.
"Guy, let me treat you."
"Thank you, Masahiko..."
Might Guy's strength left him entirely, and he lost consciousness immediately.
After treating him for a moment, Masahiko quickly took him to Konoha Hospital.
Danzo narrowed his eyes, feeling a slight sense of surprise.
Is this guy truly loyal to him?
He frowned, finding it hard to believe, but given the current scene... Danzo was pondering.
Suddenly, a section of the Village wall was smashed down by a giant snake.
Several Anbu members were sent flying by the shockwave.
Following that, giant snakes began to charge into Konoha from several streets.
Orochimaru stood atop the largest snake, looking aloof with a cold smile on his face: "Teacher, I've come back to see you!"
At this moment, there was a flash of bewilderment in Danzo's eyes.
Why is Orochimaru here?
He vaguely felt that something was wrong; things seemed to be spiraling out of his control... Orochimaru wasn't supposed to be part of today's events, and he hadn't informed him of his plan!
Even...
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know his true goal!
Atop the mud-covered Hokage Building.
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were both shocked. They turned to look at Danzo with serious, piercing gazes: "Danzo!"
"Orochimaru has nothing to do with me!"
Danzo frowned and stepped forward to defend himself, but he noticed intense Chakra fluctuations from the two of them.
They were certain he was the problem!
He wanted to explain but found himself speechless.
Just as he was caught in a dilemma, a torrent of water swept down from the slopes of the Hokage Rock.
"Hiruzen!"
The adamantine staff immediately warned him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head to look, only to see a figure suddenly leap out from the rolling flood, sliding along the waves.
He was instantly shocked.
Is this... Wave Riding Strike?
It was a technique of his teacher, Senju Tobirama. Even the research notes were only held by him or Danzo's Root.
He held the adamantine staff horizontally, only to see the opponent's blade slashing down fiercely.
The immense force physically suppressed Hiruzen Sarutobi.
In the next second, five bone needles flew out from the opponent's fingertips.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils constricted. He immediately threw the adamantine staff, letting it return to its original form, while his hands formed seals... Splash!
His body turned into a puddle of mud.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi sank into the earth, the soil below churned.
The ground split open.
Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi flew out from the cracked earth together.
Hiruzen Sarutobi used Body Flicker to retreat, clutching a wound on his shoulder.
A vast expanse of trees grew, separating Orochimaru and the Black-Robed Man from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Wood Release: Tree World Wall!
Yamato finished the technique but didn't dare to be careless or linger. He continued to use Wood Release, trying to isolate Orochimaru and the Black-Robed Man.
"Hiruzen..."
Seeing this, Danzo was also anxious and immediately took a few steps forward.
However.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado stood between Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi, shouting angrily, "Danzo, stop right there!"
Danzo halted his steps.
He stared at Orochimaru and the suddenly appearing Black-Robed Man, fury boiling in his eyes.
"They are not my people!"
However.
How could Utatane Koharu believe him?
"Regardless of whether they are or not, do not get close to Hiruzen!"
Those who knew their former comrade best were precisely these old friends.
Homura Mitokado gripped his weapon, remaining silent.
In the next second, Orochimaru licked the corner of his lips and smiled, "Lord Danzo, at a time like this, aren't you going to bring out our trump card?"
"Orochimaru..."
Just as Danzo spoke... the Black-Robed Man attacked again, holding a sword in one hand and a short bone blade in the other.
One long and one short, seemingly one for offense and one for defense.
His speed was incredible now. Kakashi tried to intercept, but shadows of snakes twisted through the thicket, entangling toward him.
At the same time.
From above, a sword streaked forward like a flash of lightning—
Orochimaru controlled the Sword of Kusanagi: Longsword of the Sky, attacking him.
The Black-Robed Man and Orochimaru gave Danzo no chance to argue. Amidst their aggressive attacks, any chance for a "peace talk" had already shattered.
Lightning erupted from the palm of Kakashi's hand, accompanied by a sharp, chirping sound.
Lightning Cutter!
Both the snakes and the sword were blocked.
On the other side... Asuma arrived with Body Flicker and formed hand seals, exhaling a billowing cloud of hot ash from his mouth.
Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!
Just as he was about to turn the ash into flames... suddenly, that blade flew before his eyes.
The opponent's arm actually elongated bizarrely, moving faster than his hand seals!
How is that possible?
He was horrified and immediately retreated, only to see bone needles flying from the opponent's hand, shooting toward him.
Asuma swung his trench knives, creating a storm of wind blades around him to crush all the bone needles.
However.
Half a bone needle and a fragment of bone still pierced his palm.
Asuma cried out in pain.
In the next second, the opponent used the momentum for a flying kick, his figure as supple as a willow, as another bone blade slashed toward him like a bolt of lightning.
He could only use his twin blades to block.
Unexpectedly... the Black-Robed Man's hand gripping the sword brushed against it, causing the bone blade to catalyze and disintegrate, turning into countless shards that sprayed toward his face.
Boom!
Enma kicked him away, blocking the attack himself.
In the next second, thunder rolled in like a spear.
Seeing Asuma in danger, Hiruzen Sarutobi was truly enraged!
Lightning Release: Thunderclap!
Rolling thunder scattered across the sky, covering the entire area and cutting off any possibility of the Black-Robed Man escaping along the water.
Seeing the attack fail, the Black-Robed Man's body erupted with lightning. He spat out a vast torrent of water and instantly vanished, traveling along the current.
He also knew Lightning Release, and it seemed to be the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
The Thunderclap couldn't hold him at all... Seeing this, Enma's expression grew even more solemn, his voice filled with anger:
"A user of Shikotsumyaku, yet mastering the Multi-Size Technique and Wave Riding Strike... Danzo, you have betrayed Hiruzen, you have betrayed Konoha!"
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado still had to consider the repercussions.
Monkey King Enma didn't need to.
It only knew that these things could only be accessed or stolen by its old friend Hiruzen Sarutobi, and now... they had all appeared on this mysterious Black-Robed Man.
"He is our enemy! He's the one who rescued Shisui!"
Danzo took a deep breath and argued again.
But no one believed him anymore.
The corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled up as he also retreated and jumped back.
Seeing his teacher's fury, he grinned and said, "It seems the time hasn't come yet, Teacher... Let's spar again next time."
With that, his figure vanished.
Elsewhere, beside Danzo, Orochimaru slowly emerged from the ground.
"Lord Danzo, the plan has failed. Let's go. My snakes will cover our retreat!"
...
Danzo's eyes were filled with fury.
He had already gained a certain amount of prestige and public support; he was clearly on the verge of success!
As long as he allied with the nobles and exploited their dissatisfaction with Hiruzen Sarutobi, he would have a chance to seize the position of Hokage.
But now everything was ruined, all because of these two uninvited guests!
Just one step away... just one step away again!