The lightning faded away.
Yang Jiu slowly descended from the high sky; his silvery-white body landed lightly on the scorched earth without making a sound.
The air was filled with a thick, burnt smell mixed with the scent of blood. Twelve black figures lay scattered across the ground, some still groaning, others already unconscious.
He swept a glance over them.
Not bad.
They are all alive.
Although a few were heavily injured, as long as they were not dead, they would recover after a few days in a cage.
Yang Jiu walked toward the nearest Root Ninja, preparing to knock them out one by one—
Suddenly.
He stopped in his tracks.
Through his electromagnetic perception, he detected an unfamiliar Chakra approaching at high speed.
It was not an ordinary Ninja.
The intensity of that Chakra—
Very strong.
Extremely strong.
Yang Jiu narrowed his eyes, looked up, and gazed toward the western sky.
The next second.
A figure streaked across the sky like a shooting star and landed steadily on the top of an ancient tree thirty meters away.
The figure wore a black, form-fitting combat suit, an outer green flak jacket, a Konoha headband on his forehead, and mesh armor wrapped around his arms and calves. A belt was fastened at his waist, giving him a clean and capable appearance.
His posture was upright, exuding dignity and sharpness.
He was smoking a pipe, with wisps of smoke rising into the air.
It was none other than the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Yang Jiu narrowed his eyes slightly.
Unexpectedly, this old man really came, and he arrived just in time.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was also looking at him.
Those aged, yet clear eyes were quietly sizing up the giant silvery-white wolf before him.
Its four-meter-long body, the faint electric arcs dancing around it, and those golden pupils that seemed capable of seeing through everything—
It was truly extraordinary.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept across the surroundings.
Twelve black figures lay scattered on the scorched earth, some still groaning in pain, others unconscious. The air was filled with the smell of blood and burning, and the lightning craters covering the ground were still emitting wisps of smoke.
He spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and scrutiny:
"Danzo... he really doesn't listen to advice."
He shook his head.
"However, to be able to beat the elite of the Root into such a state—"
He paused, his gaze landing back on Yang Jiu.
"It is not simple."
Yang Jiu curled the corner of his mouth slightly.
"To receive such praise from the Professor of Ninjutsu—"
His voice was low and calm, a flicker of amusement passing through his golden pupils.
"It is truly... a great honor."
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes: "It seems you know quite a lot about the Ninja World."
Yang Jiu's smile deepened slightly.
"I know a little."
His tone remained calm, as if the person standing before him was not the Third Hokage, but an ordinary visitor.
"After all—" He paused, "This forest is only a little over a hundred kilometers from Konoha. With so many Ninjas coming and going, one always sees and hears a few things."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment.
He glanced at the groaning Root Ninja around him, then looked back at Yang Jiu.
"How do you intend to deal with these people?"
"Prisoners." Yang Jiu replied crisply, "Just like the previous batch."
"Lock them up?"
"Lock them up."
"And then what?"
"And then—" Yang Jiu tilted his head, a glimmer of amusement flashing in his golden eyes, "Wait for you in Konoha to come and make a deal."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyebrows arched slightly.
"A deal?"
"Using supplies, information, or Ninjutsu scrolls—anything will do." Yang Jiu said indifferently, "As long as the price is right, I will return the people to you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a few seconds.
He took a puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled the smoke.
"You are quite... good at doing business."
Yang Jiu smiled.
"Having lived for so many years, one has to learn something."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him.
Looking at this giant silvery-white wolf, looking at those golden eyes filled with amusement.
A moment later, he suddenly spoke:
"I really doubt—"
"Whether you are actually a wolf."
Yang Jiu curled the corner of his mouth slightly, not answering.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze gradually became sharp.
He took the pipe away from his mouth and slowly stood up straight.
"However—"
His voice lowered, and an invisible pressure quietly spread out.
"If you want to negotiate with me, you must have the corresponding strength."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly formed hand seals in front of his chest!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
A massive fire dragon erupted from his mouth, the scorching flames instantly illuminating the entire forest as it swept toward Yang Jiu!
Boom!!!
Yang Jiu's pupils constricted slightly, and his body instantly turned into a bolt of lightning—
"Boom!"
The fire dragon swallowed the position where he had just been standing, and a powerful heatwave shockwave rolled out, scattering gravel.
Thirty meters away, the lightning re-condensed.
Yang Jiu landed on top of an ancient tree, electric arcs dancing on his silvery-white fur, his golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Starting a fight right away?"
His tone remained calm, but his eyes had become serious.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not waste words.
He formed hand seals again—
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
The ground beneath his feet exploded, and a giant dragon formed of earth soared into the sky, opening its maw to bite at Yang Jiu!
At the same time, his other hand formed seals simultaneously—
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
The violent wind compressed into several massive wind bullets, attacking from the side!
Fire, Earth, Wind—these elemental techniques launched simultaneously!
A trace of admiration flashed in Yang Jiu's eyes.
As expected of the Professor of Ninjutsu; there are few people in the entire Ninja World who can pull off this feat of attacking with multiple elemental attributes simultaneously.
But—
He curled his mouth.
Crackle!
The silvery-white figure turned into lightning again, disappearing the moment the earth dragon bit down! The wind bullets passed through the afterimage he left behind, slamming into the forest behind and snapping several large trees!
Yang Jiu appeared a hundred meters in the air.
Looking down at the dark red figure below, lightning danced within his golden pupils.
"It is impolite not to reciprocate—"
He raised his front paw.
"God's Judgment!"
Rumble!!!
Thunderclouds gathered in the sky, and a thick pillar of lightning descended from the heavens, striking straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, his hands forming seals so fast they were a blur—
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three massive earth walls rose from the ground, stacking together!
The lightning pillar slammed down!
The first earth wall exploded!
The second earth wall crumbled!
The third earth wall—barely held it off!
Gravel splattered, and smoke filled the air.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood behind the broken earth wall, his combat suit covered in dust, but his eyes remained sharp.
"Such strong Lightning Release..."
He muttered.
Then—
"It is my turn."
He took a deep breath and formed a complex hand seal with both hands.
"Ninja Art: Giant Shuriken Technique!"
He tossed a Shuriken into the air, which instantly transformed into a sky full of light and shadows, and these Shuriken rapidly grew larger, covering Yang Jiu like a torrential rain!
Every single Shuriken carried a lethal edge!
Yang Jiu narrowed his eyes.
But he did not dodge.
He raised his front paw, and the lightning around his body surged!
"Lightning Release: Roar of the Lightning Dragon!"
Roar!!!
A massive lightning dragon soared from his body, opening its maw condensed from lightning, and crashed head-on into the sky full of Shuriken!
Rumble!!!
The lightning dragon and the swarm of Shuriken collided with a bang!
A dazzling light exploded in mid-air! The shockwave spread outward like a violent tsunami, snapping the surrounding trees in unison, sending branches and leaves flying, and filling the sky with dust!
Just within this sky full of dust—
A figure rushed out!
His black combat suit whipped in the violent wind, his aged yet upright figure like an arrow released from a bowstring!
Hiruzen Sarutobi!
He gripped an iron staff that was golden throughout with both hands and smashed it down toward Yang Jiu's head!
A faint phantom of a monkey appeared on the iron staff, radiating an overwhelming pressure of Chakra.
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