Hanzō of the Salamander vs. Hiruzen Sarutobi (Part 2)

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Using the water left behind by Hanzō's earlier Water Release, Hiruzen Sarutobi easily unleashed the Water Dragon Bullet without expending much Chakra. At the same time, his Shadow Clone finished its hand seals and poured a massive amount of Lightning Release Chakra gathered in its hand into the water dragon.

"Combination Technique: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!"

A ferocious water dragon wrapped in blinding arcs of electricity charged at Hanzō under Hiruzen Sarutobi's control, while he had yet to recover from his stiffness.

"Boom!"

With a thunderous crash, Hanzō was struck hard by the Lightning Water Dragon Bullet. When the smoke cleared, only crackling currents still raging across the ground remained. Hanzō himself had vanished.

"A Water Clone? When did he..." Hiruzen Sarutobi sensed trouble.

Hanzō's real body suddenly emerged, using Body Flicker to appear before Hiruzen Sarutobi as he swung his kusarigama heavily at him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly dodged aside, only for Hanzō to have already anticipated his anticipation. He feinted, immediately pulled back his force, and then raised his leg in a powerful kick—fast as lightning, all in one fluid motion.

Unable to evade in time, Hiruzen Sarutobi took the full blow and was sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of blood in midair.

"Hiruzen!" Utatane Koharu cried out anxiously when she saw Hiruzen Sarutobi wounded.

"Lord Hokage!" The Anbu ninja stirred as well, ready to step forward, stop Hanzō, and rescue Hiruzen Sarutobi.

In the end, it was the calmer Mitokado Homura who stopped them. "Have faith in Hiruzen! He is the Third Hokage, after all!" His voice was filled with trust in Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength.

After adjusting his posture in midair, Hiruzen Sarutobi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Upon landing, he immediately formed hand seals. Seeing his movements, Hanzō knew that he intended to summon a Summoning Beast, so he began forming seals as well.

Boar—Dog—Bird—Monkey—Ram. Both men completed their seals at the same time and slammed their palms forcefully against the ground.

"Summoning Technique! Come forth, Monkey King Enma!"

"Summoning Technique! Ibuse!"

As the thick smoke from the summons dispersed, a tall old ape wearing a Leaf Headband appeared beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, while a gigantic salamander appeared beneath Hanzō.

The old ape crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Salamander Ibuse and Hanzō of the Salamander standing atop its head. "Hanzō from the Hidden Rain Village? Sarutobi, that's a troublesome opponent!"

"Indeed. Hanzō is truly powerful. Turn into the Adamantine Staff and use Adamantine Transformation!" Hiruzen Sarutobi replied.

"Understood! Transform!" Thick smoke erupted with the old ape's words, and then a massive staff burst through the smoke.

Hiruzen Sarutobi caught the staff with both hands and tucked it beneath his arm. "Go, Enma! Buy me enough distance! Extend!"

The Adamantine Staff rapidly transformed, stretching longer and longer as it viciously jabbed at the salamander beneath Hanzō's feet. The tremendous force drove the salamander back continuously, pushing it more than a hundred meters away in the blink of an eye.

Finally, enough distance! Hiruzen Sarutobi thought. He then released the Adamantine Staff, allowing Enma to stand on his own at the side, while his hands began rapidly forming seals.

The ninjutsu artillery platform was about to unleash its might!

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened with a powerful B-rank Earth Release. Under the effect of the ninjutsu, the ground beneath the salamander rapidly softened, turning into loose mud before forming an enormous swamp.

Good, this will trap it! Hiruzen Sarutobi thought. Then, this next move!

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

The fire dragon carried scorching flames that rapidly evaporated the moisture in the mud, turning it into a cement-like solid that firmly bound the salamander in place, leaving it unable to move. Seeing that the ninjutsu had worked, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued forming seals.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

Having temporarily neutralized the salamander's threat, Hiruzen Sarutobi now targeted Hanzō atop its head. Countless fireballs the size of human heads shot swiftly toward him.

Although the C-rank Phoenix Sage Fire Technique wielded B-rank, nearly A-rank power in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands, it posed little threat to Hanzō. After all, it was common knowledge in the Ninja World—Fire Release could not burn anyone to death!

Hanzō flung out his kusarigama, smashing the fireballs one after another in midair. He was about to pull the chain and retrieve the weapon when Hiruzen Sarutobi's next wave of attacks arrived.

Rat—Ox—Dog—Horse—Monkey—Boar. "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

The Phoenix Sage Fire Technique had only been a feint to restrain Hanzō. This A-rank Fire Release from the Uchiha Clan was the true killing move!

Arrow-shaped flames shot straight at Hanzō like arrows released from a bow. Before such a powerful Fire Release even reached him, its extreme heat could already be felt. Hanzō's expression changed as he shouted, "Ibuse! Burrow underground!"

Following Hanzō's command, Salamander Ibuse erupted with enormous Chakra and began struggling. Once it broke free of its restraints, it immediately burrowed underground and vanished. At the same time, Hanzō forcefully hurled his chain and kusarigama high into the air, rapidly forming seals as he prepared to defend himself.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A massive amount of water gathered before Hanzō, forming an enormous curtain of water.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's Great Fire Annihilation slammed heavily into the Water Formation Wall, instantly spreading into a sea of flames. The Fire Release continuously evaporated the wall, producing wave after wave of roaring blasts as vast amounts of water vapor spread out. Thick white smoke began to fill the entire battlefield.

(The setting for Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was that he could use every ninjutsu in the Leaf Village, so theoretically, he should also know this A-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu of the Uchiha Clan.)