"This... this is Konoha!?"
Enma, the Monkey King, summoned and seeing the familiar yet drastically changed surroundings, showed an expression of utter disbelief.
'How could such a powerful Konoha be destroyed to this extent? What on earth had happened?'
"Enma, this is no time for explanations. I need your help."
"That brat over there?"
Enma gazed at the youth across from them, his expression growing grave. "Understood!"
"Then, let's go!"
As Hiruzen's words fell, the man and the ape charged out together.
Enma stomped on the ground, his body tearing through the air, creating sonic booms. In less than a blink, he reached Ryuji, striking with the momentum of his charge.
Ryuji crossed his arms in front of his chest, blocking the blow, but the immense force still sent his body skidding backward.
Hiruzen, stepping off Enma's shoulder, leapt forward. His body unfolded mid-air, delivering a flying kick.
In a hurry, Ryuji tilted his head, dodging the kick, simultaneously reaching out to grab the incoming ankle and pulling it backward, throwing his opponent off balance.
Then, with a swift motion, he swung the captured leg, spinning the man once in the air before throwing and slamming him towards the ground.
Hiruzen, however, was agile. The instant Ryuji slammed him down, he adjusted his balance, arched his back, supported himself with his hands on the ground, used his core strength to kick free from the restraint, then performed a backflip to create distance.
Ryuji pressed the attack, but Enma charged to meet him head-on.
"So it's two against one!"
A glint flashed in Ryuji's eyes. Space portals opened behind him as two humanoid puppets with swaying bodies slowly stepped out.
Bang!
Ryuji and Enma collided. The collision of immense forces erupted in a shockwave, scattering dust and debris in all directions.
During the stalemate, Hiruzen leapt out from behind Enma again, aiming to seize the opportunity to attack.
The two puppets abruptly opened their crimson electronic eyes, as if fully activated. Abandoning their previous sluggish movements, they raised their hands and fired dense volleys of senbon at him.
Hiruzen was inwardly startled. He opened his mouth and blew out a whirlwind, scattering the incoming senbon.
However, this brief moment of delay cost him his chance to continue the assault. Ryuji freed his right hand from the contest of strength with Enma and formed a hand seal for a Ninjutsu.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Though primarily a defensive Ninjutsu, at close range, the torrent of water gushing from his mouth, before it could even form a proper wall, washed both the ape and the man away.
Then, his hands formed another hand seal. Lightning crackled at the corners of his mouth, surging along the water's path.
Just as the electrical current was about to reach the man and ape, Enma vanished with a 'poof', transforming into a staff as thick as a large bowl.
Hiruzen planted the staff into the ground, embraced the top end, and it shot upward like the legendary Ruyi Jingu Bang, instantly lifting him clear of the electrified water.
Ryuji pressed the advantage, changing seals once more.
The water spewing from his mouth rapidly condensed into a concentrated stream, transforming into a lightning-infused water blade that slashed upward.
"Enma!"
"Hmph!"
Hiruzen shouted a warning. Hearing the staff's response, he lifted the bowl-thick rod and brought it crashing down upon the water blade.
The staff grew with the wind. Initially only about three meters, by the time it was swung down, it had reached seven or eight meters. Its massive bulk shattered the water blade by weight alone, then continued its descent unimpeded towards the Ninjutsu's user.
Ryuji leapt backward, avoiding the strike.
But looking at the cracked ground, he felt a chill run down his spine.
If that had hit him, he would have been turned into paste on the spot.
Hiruzen landed back on the ground. The staff immediately shrank back to normal size. He charged forward, legs pumping, holding the rod reversed in one hand.
Unfazed, Ryuji drew his twin swords and met the charge head-on. The two puppets, weapons gleaming, charged out ahead.
"Bzzz~ Bzzz~"
The puppets' bodies swayed, the chainsaws and drills in their hands whirring loudly.
Hiruzen swept his staff across, smashing the puppets into a pile of components as if sweeping away trash.
Unconcerned, Ryuji pressed forward with his blades.
These two puppets were temporary creations made half a year ago in response to being targeted in the duel. Neither precious materials nor significant effort was invested, so the final products were naturally not masterpieces.
Using them as vanguards now, even if destroyed, caused no heartache.
Rather, trading puppets of this caliber for an opening in Hiruzen's defense was more than worth it.
In Taijutsu... the more powerful the move, the greater the motion, and correspondingly, the greater the effort to recover and the lower the attack frequency.
After sweeping the puppets aside like junk, Hiruzen was in the awkward phase between spent force and new force not yet generated.
And Ryuji precisely chose this moment to close in with his blades.
The twin swords were already edged with sharp wind chakra.
Ryuji raised the blades high, bringing them down in a decisive slash aimed at the head of this man showing signs of age.
However,
At a timing where most would find it impossible to mount a defense or counterattack, Hiruzen erupted with superhuman prowess.
He didn't try to recover his stance.
Instead, he increased the force of his sweeping motion. Simultaneously, the staff grew with the wind, rapidly pivoting around his body as an axis. By the time the twin swords descended, the staff had already swept around from the other side.
"What monstrous strength!?"
Ryuji couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
This attack, defying the norms of Taijutsu technique, greatly exceeded his expectations. In haste, he retracted his attack, crossing the broken swords in an X in front of his chest.
But how could slender blades compare to a staff as thick as a large bowl and over ten meters long?
Even if the point of contact was near the wielder, preventing the full weight and maximum force of the entire staff from being transmitted, the difference was still that of a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Crack! Snap!
With clear, sharp sounds, the twin swords, forged primarily from Chakra Metal and alloyed with various precious materials, shattered instantly. The immense force and weight continued unabated, crashing onto Ryuji's body. He was swept away like a home-run ball, piercing through several buildings in succession like a cannonball before burying himself in a pile of rubble.
The street, already littered with debris, was swept clean by the powerful wind generated by that single blow.
Witnessing this scene, the four Anbu couldn't help but cheer with delight. "As expected of the Hokage-sama!"
"Even an opponent who defeated Danzo-sama is easily suppressed."
"Indeed, Hokage-sama is the strongest in the Shinobi World!"
"Are you questioning Hokage-sama's strength with those words?"
The four man's cheers made Danzo, who was also pleased with the advantageous turn, roll his eye.
'What do you mean, 'even an opponent who defeated me'?'
'Although it's the truth, is it really appropriate to say it right in front of me?'
'I've seen your files. After this is over, I'll make sure you get some special assignments.'
Hiruzen's attention remained entirely focused on the battle. He didn't relax just because he had sent Ryuji flying, so he didn't hear the onlookers' praises.
He shrunk the staff back to normal size, holding it reversed behind his back with one hand. His sharp gaze pierced through the holes in the buildings smashed open by Ryuji's body, meeting a pair of wine-red eyes overflowing with killing intent.