Willing to Spend Money to Buy a Ticket!

Within the Four Violet Flames Formation, thick vines and giant trees intertwined like dragons and snakes, with three of the four stone-carved faces on the Hokage Rock converging here.

Orochimaru grinned sinisterly, a gray-scaled snake in his mouth, from which protruded the Kusanagi Sword.

After the First Hokage kicked Hiruzen Sarutobi away and bound him with Wood Release, the snake's mouth and sword suddenly elongated, piercing forward.

The Adamantine Staff actively reverted to the Armored Ape Demon, blocking the Kusanagi Sword with its bleeding hand. It looked back in surprise and said, "Hiruzen, what's gotten into you? This isn't like you at all?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was etched with exhaustion.

Back then, when Orochimaru conducted his wicked experiments, he hadn't killed him, allowing him to leave.

Now they were locked in a fight to the death, and during the battle, he couldn't help but recall Orochimaru's youthful appearance.

Was it Genjutsu?

Or was he just getting old, with past events weighing on his mind?

"Hey! Old man! Is that all you've got!"

A familiar voice suddenly called out from beyond the barrier, reaching his ears.

Naruto, disappointed, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "You're supposed to be the God of Shinobi, the strongest Hokage of all time, and you're getting beaten by these three things that are neither human nor ghost, and you can't even move? So all your past achievements were just hot air?"

The First and Second Hokage exchanged glances.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face flushed crimson. He spun his body like a top, shredding the vines.

"Naruto, what are you doing here? This isn't a battlefield for you to get involved in. Go home."

Naruto pointed at the Four Violet Flames Formation. "I'm safe. You should worry about yourself."

Three Anbu wearing cat-faced masks also nodded. "Hokage-sama, don't worry, we've been watching."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was momentarily speechless.

ROAR!

The Second Tobirama's Water Dragon Bullet roared and charged forward.

The Ape Demon transformed into sixteen Adamantine Staffs, forming a shield by interweaving them horizontally and vertically. They blocked the Water Dragon Bullet, and the chakra-infused water curtain sprinkled onto the Wood Style vines, causing the branches and leaves to grow even more luxuriantly.

Cat-faced Anbu: "As expected of the Second Hokage, to unleash such a powerful Water Style Jutsu in a place without water! It's simply unbelievable..."

BANG!

"Damn it, you're cheering for the enemy too!" Naruto decisively kicked him off the eaves.

The remaining two Anbu immediately fell silent.

Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs, "Go for it! Fight them to the death! Kill these three underworld creatures!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt as if Naruto's encouragement contained some kind of miraculous power, making his body warm and causing the Ape Demon to transform again.

Just moments ago, he had felt the Adamantine Staff was heavy due to his age, but now, he gripped its weight with firm strength.

Perhaps it's not the person who's old, but the mindset?

He moved, his short, thin body darting nimbly through the Wood Style like a monkey. The two long streamers behind his helmet fluttered straight.

Dense vines extended to entangle him, but none could capture him. He leaped into the air, looking down at the First, Second, and Orochimaru.

From a great distance, Hiruzen Sarutobi swung the Adamantine Staff with all his might. It rapidly thickened and enlarged, smashing down like a pillar.

The First and Second Hokage quickly formed hand seals.

"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"

"Wood Style: Forest Dummies!"

A mud wall below, and a wooden shield with fanged demonic faces above. The two layers overlapped, colliding dully with the Adamantine Staff, exploding into a ring of tangible airwaves in mid-air.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's withered body erupted with strength that belied his appearance. The Adamantine Staff continued to smash down, splintering the demonic faces and causing the mud wall to crumble.

"Orochimaru, I think you need to go back to the Ninja Academy to relearn. The First and Second Hokage summoned by the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu don't even have half their strength from when they were alive."

Beneath the layers of defensive Ninjutsu, Orochimaru's head snaked out, saying menacingly, "It's enough if I can deplete your Chakra."

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew he was right. Once his Chakra ran out...

"Amazing, amazing, amazing! Go, old man!"

Naruto's eyes shone brightly, his applause like a thunderous drumbeat. "To see such a spectacular battle, I'd even pay to buy a ticket!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils suddenly shrank to pinpricks. "You think you can deplete my Chakra! Ninja Art: Earth Dragon Flame Release!"

Mud condensed into a dragon's head, which opened its mouth and spat out surging mud. Then, fierce flames followed, burning into a lava-like clay pillar.

His unique dual-attribute combined Jutsu pierced through the dense branches of the Wood Style, landing on the Second Hokage's circular water barrier. It instantly submerged in water, creating high-temperature steam.

The Adamantine Staff pierced through the steam, striking Orochimaru's face.

Orochimaru's head bent down, his neck hanging to his chest. He raised the Kusanagi Sword to block the blow. "Teacher, don't underestimate me. I am your most proud student."

At this moment, an eye opened at the tip of the Adamantine Staff, and a heavily furred Armored Ape arm emerged from the staff, grabbing Orochimaru by the throat.

The tail end of the Adamantine Staff shortened, pulling Hiruzen Sarutobi down from the air into the center of the three. Fists and feet flew as they engaged in close-quarters Taijutsu combat.

He was sure to lose in a prolonged ninjutsu battle. To win, he had to kill Orochimaru with all his might.

Because the Wood Style obscured his vision, Naruto kept running to adjust his perspective and test the strength of the Four Violet Flames Formation.

As soon as roof tiles touched the thin barrier, they would be burned to ash by the violet flames in an instant. The Rasengan couldn't break through either, only causing ripples on the surface.

The caster hid within the formation, protecting himself with a formation within the formation.

When Naruto first saw it, it seemed impregnable, but a moment's thought told him the answer.

This formation was maintained by four people. As long as they were people, they had a chakra limit. They couldn't possibly keep it open indefinitely.

It might not break after one or two attempts if the strength was high enough, but wouldn't their chakra be consumed with each hit?

As long as he kept attacking, it would eventually break.

Naruto took a deep breath. After clashing with Rock Lee, who had opened five gates, and pushing his limits to enter the state of simulated rotation, his chakra could now expand outside his body like telekinesis.

Pure blue chakra overflowed from his pores, rapidly condensing into an energy sword in his right hand.

Two Anbu frogs squatted on the eaves, facing the barrier. Their eyes, hidden behind their masks, were slanted, peeking at Naruto's actions.

The next second, something that made their hair stand on end happened. Naruto suddenly turned his head and stared into the eyeholes of their masks, a chilling glint in his eyes.

"Scatter!"

The two Anbu used the Clone Technique, three to the left and three to the right, leaping off the eaves without hesitation.

But the sword had already been thrown the moment they turned.

The blue sword's edge gleamed, splitting into two as it flew, piercing their necks with blood, circling back, and returning to Naruto's hand as a single blade.

Naruto didn't recognize the Anbu at all, nor could he tell real from fake. But if he killed them, they were fake.

He couldn't be bothered with right or wrong, schemes or tricks. Those Anbu were like ghouls clinging to him, making his thoughts restless. He wouldn't be at peace until he slaughtered them.

He raised his sword again and walked to the barrier of the Four Violet Flames Formation, swinging the sword with all his might.

The sword couldn't cut into the light screen; the tip didn't even penetrate an inch. Like snow melting into water, everything it touched vanished.

But Naruto clearly felt a force canceling out his chakra. His reasoning was definitely correct.

The blue sword was reforged and continued to slash, Hell Sword Qi crisscrossing the air.

The four Sound Ninjas, positioned at the southeast, south, northwest, and north of the formation, all turned their gazes towards Naruto, shocked and enraged. They pulled out pill after pill and stuffed them into their mouths.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, in the midst of battle, couldn't help but shed tears of old age. He never expected that in his twilight years, his beloved disciple would be the one trying to kill him, while an orphan who had received little kindness would be the one saving him.

He was the Third Hokage, the pillar of the entire village. He wouldn't allow Orochimaru to destroy his home, a home where people like Naruto, whom he cherished, lived.

"Naruto! The Third Grandpa's will will never let you down! Where the leaves dance, a fire will always burn!"

"Old man, stop bragging. Get up from the ground before you start talking."