Chapter 527: The Third Hokage vs. The Third Tsuchikage

"Roar!"

Four blazing tails of molten fire surged forward, their intense heat distorting the air around them. The fiery appendages moved like serpents, striking toward the Konoha forces with devastating speed and power. The ground trembled as their approach generated rippling shockwaves.

Just as the fire tails closed in, a sharp, ringing sound pierced the air—ding, ding!—followed by the brilliant flash of a blade's arc. A streak of red light cut through the tails, severing them into harmless fragments. The blazing remains scattered across the battlefield, their intense heat still palpable but stripped of their destructive force.

"Boom!"

Simultaneously, the ground beneath the basin groaned and cracked. Kitsuchi's Earth Release jutsu was reshaping the terrain, causing massive fissures to spread and destabilize the battlefield.

Swish!

Two figures darted forward amidst the chaos, moving with incredible speed. One of them, Rōshi, the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails, began to gather magma behind him, the fiery substance coalescing into another fire tail. But just as he prepared to attack again, a streak of black light shot toward him.

Rōshi's movements froze momentarily. His sharp instincts flared, and his eyes caught the faint glint of scarlet—those eyes.

"Rekka no Ken!"

The shout came from Uchiha Yoruki. A blazing red beam, shaped like a flaming sword, descended from above, aimed directly at Rōshi.

Rōshi's eyes narrowed, his expression grim as he leaped backward, narrowly evading the attack. His movements were precise, but the sight of Yoruki's Mangekyō Sharingan left a deep impression.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan…" Rōshi muttered under his breath, the flames behind him flickering as his concentration wavered.

Memories surged within him. The Mangekyō Sharingan was infamous, its powers capable of suppressing even the mighty tailed beasts. In Rōshi's era, tales of Uchiha Madara taming the Nine-Tails and battling the First Hokage at the Valley of the End were legendary.

So, it's true, Rōshi thought. The realization added weight to the battle. To avoid falling under Yoruki's control, he consciously averted his gaze from the Uchiha's eyes. Yet, as a Jinchūriki, his heightened sensory abilities allowed him to track Yoruki's movements without direct eye contact.

Elsewhere, Kitsuchi, having completed his terrain-altering jutsu, swiftly retreated from the unstable ground. His massive technique had disrupted Konoha's strategic high ground, but the shifting terrain was a double-edged sword.

"Ninja Technique: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"

Amidst the collapsing rocks, Jiraiya emerged. His long white hair extended, twisting into a ferocious lion's head. The hair, hardened like steel, lunged at Kitsuchi, its movements both fluid and deadly.

Kitsuchi remained calm, forming a series of hand seals. "Earth Release: Rock Fist!"

The ground beneath him shattered as two massive rock hands erupted, intercepting the lion-like tendrils. The rock fists crushed the strands of hair, holding them firmly in place.

Jiraiya smirked. "Ninja Technique: Thousand Needles!"

In an instant, sharp barbs sprouted along the trapped hair strands, bristling with deadly intent. The barbs shot out like a hailstorm, their speed making them almost impossible to dodge.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Kitsuchi barely managed to evade the onslaught, retreating rapidly as the needles tore through the air.

"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Wall!"

He formed another set of seals, and a series of earth walls rose to shield him. The needles struck the first wall, shattering it instantly, but their momentum waned after piercing three layers.

"Bang!"

Jiraiya's attack disrupted Kitsuchi's control over the rock fists. With a swift motion, Jiraiya's hair swept through the crumbling earth, regathering into its original form. Wasting no time, he charged toward Kitsuchi.

"Kill!"

The shout echoed across the battlefield as Konoha's forces surged forward, meeting the Iwagakure troops head-on. The basin had become a chaotic warzone, with ninja from both sides clashing in a deadly dance of steel and jutsu.

Despite the loss of their elevated advantage, Konoha's forces were undeterred. Kitsuchi's terrain-altering jutsu had disrupted their positioning but hadn't inflicted significant casualties. The Konoha forces advanced with unwavering resolve, their determination shining brightly amidst the chaos.

In the midst of the battle, Uchiha Yoruki and Rōshi continued their fierce duel. Jiraiya and Kitsuchi's fight raged on, the two shinobi exchanging powerful techniques that reshaped the battlefield around them.

Amidst it all, the attention of many shinobi drifted upward. Flashes of lightning lit the sky as the Third Hokage and the Third Tsuchikage engaged in a high-stakes confrontation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood on the fractured remains of the basin, his hands moving in swift, deliberate seals. Lightning Style ninjutsu crackled around him, bolts of electricity arcing toward Ōnoki, who hovered in mid-air.

Ōnoki's ability to fly gave him a significant advantage. He darted through the sky with practiced ease, evading Hiruzen's attacks while staying out of reach.

Yet, Hiruzen's strategy was clear. He wasn't aiming to defeat Ōnoki outright but to keep him occupied, preventing him from interfering in the battles below.

Ōnoki's voice carried over the battlefield. "Sarutobi Hiruzen, do you intend to fight me like this forever?"

Hiruzen didn't falter. His hands continued to weave seals, his focus unbroken. "And what do you propose?" he replied, his tone calm but tinged with subtle challenge.

Ōnoki smirked, his hands clasping behind his back as he observed the battlefield. "I simply wish to see if the so-called Ninjutsu Professor lives up to his reputation."

The title was one of great respect, acknowledging Hiruzen's unparalleled mastery of ninjutsu. Yet, decades ago, when the two had last clashed, Hiruzen hadn't yet earned that moniker.

Ōnoki's sharp eyes studied Hiruzen carefully. Despite their rivalry, he recognized the Third Hokage's unique skills. Unlike the Senju Hokages, who relied on their clan's powerful abilities, Hiruzen's strength came from his ability to master and adapt every type of jutsu.

With a faint chuckle, Ōnoki added, "You don't need to worry. I have no intention of launching a sneak attack on the younger generation. You have my word as the Third Tsuchikage."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, assessing the sincerity behind the statement. After a moment, he relaxed slightly, stepping down from the broken wall to face Ōnoki directly.

Ōnoki moved swiftly, closing the distance. His hands glowed faintly as he prepared his signature technique.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

The pale white light in his hands grew brighter, forming a crystalline structure that radiated immense power. With a flick of his wrist, Ōnoki unleashed the attack, the white energy expanding rapidly as it surged toward Hiruzen.

The air itself seemed to split as the technique advanced. Hiruzen's expression turned grim as he prepared to counter the devastating attack.

==============================================

Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.

New fanfic : Marvel : The God Of Punishment System

=============================================