CHAPTER 34: Shadows of Legends

Hiro stood amidst the ruins of the once tranquil forest, his breath heavy yet not tired thanks to his sage body granting him alot of chakra power, as his eyes locked on the four Kage-level opponents before him. The Third Raikage and the Second Tsuchikage had just been reanimated by Orochimaru, joining the First and Second Hokage in the relentless assault. Their eyes were blank, controlled by Orochimaru's will, but their power was undeniable.

Hashirama's giant wooden constructs continued to bombard Hiro with relentless attacks. The First Hokage's Sage Mode granted him immense strength and chakra reserves, making each strike more powerful than the last. "Mokuton: Kajukai Kōrin!" Hashirama called out, unleashing a forest of flowering trees that released a paralyzing pollen into the air.

Hiro used Geppo to stay airborne, avoiding the spreading pollen. He countered with "Rankyaku," sending sharp blades of compressed air toward the blossoming trees, slicing them apart. But Hashirama's wood constructs regenerated almost instantly, continuing their relentless pursuit.

Tobirama, ever the strategist, used his Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport around the battlefield, launching precise and deadly attacks. "Suiton: Suishōha!" he shouted, summoning a massive tidal wave that crashed toward Hiro. Hiro used Soru to move at blinding speed, evading the watery onslaught and closing the distance to Tobirama.

Their clash was fierce, Hiro's Haki-infused punches meeting Tobirama's water style attacks in a series of explosive impacts. The ground beneath them shattered with each strike, creating craters and fissures. Tobirama's kunai, enhanced with explosive tags, were dodged deftly by Hiro's Kami-e, his body bending and twisting like a leaf in the wind.

The Third Raikage charged at Hiro with lightning speed, his body enveloped in a cloak of electricity. "Raiton: Raigyaku Suihei!" he roared, aiming a devastating lariat at Hiro. Hiro used Tekkai to harden his body, withstanding the Raikage's powerful strike, though the force of the blow sent him skidding across the battlefield.

Hiro retaliated with a Haki-infused kick, launching the Raikage into the air. As the Raikage descended, Hiro leapt up with Geppo, meeting him mid-air with a flurry of Shigan strikes, each one piercing the lightning cloak and causing sparks to fly. The Raikage crashed to the ground, but quickly recovered, his resilience as legendary as his strength.

The Second Tsuchikage, using his Dust Release, created deadly geometric shapes that disintegrated everything they touched. "Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu!" he called out, aiming a beam of pure destruction at Hiro. Hiro used Shambles to switch places with a boulder, avoiding the deadly beam and appearing behind the Tsuchikage.

"You're fast," the Tsuchikage acknowledged, turning to face Hiro. "But how long can you keep this up?"

Hiro's response was a silent determination, his Haki flaring as he prepared for the next round of attacks. The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation, the once tranquil forest now reduced to rubble and charred earth. Despite the overwhelming odds, Hiro fought with unwavering resolve, his mastery of Rokushiki and Armament Haki allowing him to hold his ground.

Hiro countered with "Kami-e," his body bending and contorting to dodge the flames. "Tekkai," he whispered, his body hardening like iron, allowing him to withstand the remaining heat. He retaliated with a powerful kick, using "Rankyaku," sending a sharp blade of air towards Tobirama.

Hashirama's wooden constructs continued to assault Hiro, each one more elaborate and deadly than the last. "Mokuton: Hotei no Jutsu!" Massive wooden hands emerged from the ground, trying to crush Hiro. He used "Soru," moving at blinding speed to evade the attacks.

Hiro's "Shigan" struck with pinpoint accuracy, piercing through Hashirama's wood constructs. But the First Hokage was unyielding, his Sage Mode enhancing his strength and chakra reserves. "Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan!" A dense forest of trees erupted around Hiro, aiming to trap him.

Hiro used "Geppo" to leap high into the air, avoiding the growing forest. "You think you can contain me?" he challenged, his voice echoing through the battlefield. He landed on one of the giant wooden hands, using "Shambles" to switch places with Hashirama's statue's head, gaining a tactical advantage.

The Third Raikage charged in with lightning speed, his body enveloped in a cloak of electricity. "Raiton: Gian!" he shouted, sending a spear of lightning towards Hiro. Hiro's "Kami-e" allowed him to bend away from the attack, countering with a Haki-infused punch that collided with the Raikage's lightning cloak sending the Raikage flying.

The Tsuchikage attacks using various justus as well as his unique jutsu, using "Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu," disintegrating everything in its path. Hiro used "Shambles" again, teleporting out of the way of the attack.

Hiro's Armament Haki shone brightly as he clashed with the four Kage-level opponents. His mastery of Shambles and Rokushiki techniques allowed him to keep up with their relentless assaults. "Tekkai!" he roared, his body hardening to withstand the Raikage's powerful strikes. "Geppo!" he leapt into the air, avoiding a crushing blow from Hashirama's wooden hands.

The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation, the once tranquil forest now reduced to rubble and charred earth. Despite the overwhelming odds, Hiro fought with unwavering resolve, his mastery of Rokushiki and Armament Haki allowing him to hold his ground knowing full well that using a lot of chakra against this near-immortals might dry him out of not soon by gradually.

Realizing he needed to unleash more of his power, Hiro summoned The World as he stopped time drawing his Zanpakutō. "支配せよ,影 (Shihai seyo, Kage - Dominate, Shadow)," he commanded, his voice steady amidst the chaos. The Zanpakutō transformed, the blade now surrounded by a shadowy aura.

Suddenly, a message from the system flashed before Hiro's eyes.

"System Alert: Notice of powerful beings observing. Time-stopping ability has been detected as cause. Use sparingly or not at all until you reach the power level of the Sage of Six Paths for adequate protection."

Hiro's eyes widened. "My Time-stopping ability? So, they've noticed," he muttered under his breath knowing full well that in a universe like this there are bound to be very powerful entities even though not mentioned in the anime.

The system responded in his mind, "Yes, Host. It's a fundamental law mastered by powerful beings in the universe. Using it can draw unwanted attention. Your current power level is insufficient to protect yourself from their gaze."

Hiro nodded, a grim understanding dawning upon him. "I guess I better keep it under wraps for now, who knows what they might try doing, he wasn't at the level to battle Universal beings of power." he thought. "Thanks for the heads-up." He then cancelled The World Ability.

Returning his focus to the battle, Hiro used his Shikai abilities to gain an upper hand. "影移動 (Kage Idō - Shadow Movement)!" he declared, disappearing into the shadows and reappearing behind Tobirama.

"Suiton: Suijinheki!" Tobirama reacted swiftly, creating a wall of water to defend himself. Hiro used Shambles to switch places with Tobirama, avoiding the attack and delivering a powerful Haki-infused punch to the Second Hokage.

Hashirama's wooden constructs surged forward again. "Mokuton: Hotei no Jutsu!" Massive wooden hands emerged from the ground, trying to crush Hiro. He used "Soru," moving at blinding speed to evade the attacks, countering with "Kage no Yaiba (Blade of Shadows)," sending shadowy tendrils to slice through the wooden hands.

The Third Raikage charged with clones in with lightning speed. "Raiton: Gian!" he and his clones shouted, sending waves of spear of lightning towards Hiro. Hiro's "Kami-e" allowed him to bend away from the attacks, retaliating with armament haki punch that caused a shockwave colliding with the attacks, flattening and reducing the surrounding trees to nothing.

The Second Tsuchikage joined the fray, using "Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu," disintegrating everything in its path. Hiro used "Shambles" again, switching places with a piece of debris to avoid the deadly beam. He retaliated with "影の囚人 (Kage no Shūjin - Prisoner of Shadows)," binding the Tsuchikage with his own shadow and immobilizing him temporarily.