Confronting the Third Hokage

On the outskirts of Konoha Ninja Village.

The sounds of battle here had quieted down. The various ninja tools embedded in the trees, the shattered trunks, and the massive craters in the ground told the story of how brutal the fight had just been.

High up in a large tree, Namiashi Raidō was pinned by his arm, pierced through by Hashiba Hideyoshi's katana. His body was covered in varying degrees of scorch marks from lightning.

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth as he glared at Hashiba Hideyoshi. They had lost in such a humiliating fashion; the opponent's Kekkei Genkai not only obscured vision but also carried a paralyzing effect, making it impossible to track the enemy. On top of that, he possessed a strange form of Nintaijutsu—his claws were coated in poison, his body was impervious to blades, and his speed was astonishing.

Lying just a few meters away were the unconscious Gekko Hayate and Yamashiro Aoba, who had lost an arm. Both had sustained significant injuries. Gekko Hayate, in particular, had been struck in the eyes; if the poison wasn't treated before it reached his brain, not even the gods could save him.

Hashiba Hideyoshi looked at the resentful Namiashi Raidō, knocked him unconscious with a swift hand-blade strike, and pulled out his katana, calculating silently in his heart.

I've wasted too much time. I need to hurry over and support the leader. This Nintaijutsu, combined with the Six Powers, is truly unbelievable. If not for this, dealing with three of Konoha's Special Jōnin would have been quite a disadvantage.

Before they arrived, Feng Yao had already taught his Six Powers to Zabuza and Hashiba Hideyoshi. Hashiba Hideyoshi, having practiced Nintaijutsu, had mastered the techniques much faster than Zabuza.

Although the Six Powers were not native to the world of Naruto, they were, at their core, a method of physical training and application.

He had specifically consulted the system and learned that others could practice them, which was why he taught the two men, though he made them swear never to pass the techniques on to anyone outside the Immortal Organization.

On the other side, Zabuza was covered in wounds of varying sizes, his clothes soaked through with blood. He hadn't had it as easy as Hashiba Hideyoshi; after falling into a genjutsu, he had been forced to rely on self-inflicted pain to snap himself back to reality.

Kurenai lay slumped before a desk nearby, her life or death unknown.

These wounds were not just caused by Kurenai, but by Zabuza himself. Fortunately, he had broken free from the genjutsu in time and managed to gain the upper hand through superior taijutsu.

As he rummaged through various mission scrolls, he suddenly saw Feng Yao's name. He paused, grabbed the scroll, stuffed it into his clothes, and prepared to leave.

The commotion was too great now, and time was precious to him. If the tiger that was Konoha truly reacted, it would be a disaster.

At that moment, Feng Yao burst out from the dust, several shuriken embedded in his body.

"...Host, are you planning to run away just like that? If you can defeat the Third Hokage, it will count toward your mission rewards. After all, if the Hokage of a village falls, it will be a massive psychological blow to Konoha."

Feng Yao, who was just about to take advantage of the Third Hokage being trapped to make his escape, heard the system's seductive nonsense.

"Cut the crap. This is Konoha territory. You're telling me to defeat the Third Hokage and then just walk away? Survival is the prerequisite for all activities. Just like how I have to complete missions or I'll die—I'm not risking my life for a few measly rewards."

"It seems you don't have a choice."

Just as those words were spoken—

Suddenly, a giant monkey swatted Feng Yao back with a single claw. The immense force sent Feng Yao, who was in Sage Mode, skidding several steps back upon landing.

Looking closely, he saw it was the Third Hokage's summoning, Enma. Not only did he possess a body of diamond-like durability, but he could also transform into the Adamantine Staff, making him the Third Hokage's most capable assistant.

Feng Yao cursed the system's jinx in his heart; he was in real trouble now.

The Third Hokage had already taken the opportunity to escape the range of the Wind Style sandstorm and used a Body Flicker technique to block Feng Yao's path, continuing to persuade him.

"You have nowhere left to run, Feng Yao. Surrender now. Enma, transform into the Adamantine Staff!"

"Understood, Sarutobi. Let's fight side by side once more."

Enma's body spun in mid-air, transforming into a pitch-black staff with golden patterns at both ends.

The Third Hokage gripped the Adamantine Staff; the massive weapon looked disproportionate to his lean frame. He crouched slightly and swung the staff forward, forming hand seals and shouting:

"Adamantine Prison Wall!"

The staff in the air split into dozens of clones, moving at incredible speed.

They formed a cubic cage around Feng Yao, trapping him inside.

This technique was both offensive and defensive; it could be used to trap enemies or defend the user, depending on the operator's intent.

In the history of the ninja world, this move had once successfully defended against the First Hokage's Wood Style.

Feng Yao looked at the cage before him and let out a cold snort. It seemed he truly couldn't leave without defeating the Third Hokage.

"Sage Art: Storm Style - Laser Circus!"

Feng Yao formed hand seals and spat a laser beam like a pillar of water from his mouth, easily slicing through the surrounding cage. This was already a Six Paths-level Sage Art; naturally, it was not something a mere summoning could block.

Enma sensed the danger halfway through the sweep and immediately reverted to his original form, but he was still a split second too slow. Even one of his arms was severed. Fortunately, he was decisive, or it wouldn't have just been an arm.

"Old friend, fall back. Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet! Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Seeing Enma injured, the Third Hokage felt a pang of deep pain. He ordered Enma to retreat and rest while he continued to face Feng Yao. He combined two different elemental techniques, greatly increasing their destructive power.

"Truly worthy of being called the Professor, Third Hokage. Combining elemental techniques with such ease... if he were in his prime, I might really have been kept here today."

Watching the roaring ninjutsu approach, Feng Yao stopped holding back. He had less than six minutes of Sage Mode remaining; he had to end the battle in one move. He pressed his palms together.

"Sage Art: Wood Style - True Several Thousand Hands!"

On the rocky ground, a tall, majestic wooden Buddha statue was summoned. This time, its size was significantly larger than before. The Fire Dragon Flame Bullet struck the Buddha but had no effect, merely knocking off a few dozen arms.

"This is impossible... how could you possess the First Hokage's secret technique!"

Unfortunately, the only answer the Third Hokage received was hundreds of arms, each strike weighing a thousand pounds.

"Earth Style: Earth Style Wall!"

At the moment he was about to be submerged by the arms, the Third Hokage managed to use Earth Style to defend himself.

This time, Feng Yao did not hold back, launching a full-scale offensive. Countless arms pounded the already ruined Hokage Rock until it collapsed once more, and thick dust hung over the Hokage Rock, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

The Third Hokage knelt on one knee, coughing up a mouthful of blood. This Sage Art had ultimately been too much to defend against completely; after all, he was old and could no longer fight as he had in his youth.

Feng Yao's body was also struggling to remain steady. A moment later, he exited Sage Mode, gasping for air in his weakened state. Although this Sage Art was powerful, it consumed too much senjutsu chakra, causing his Sage Mode duration to shorten significantly.

He and the Third Hokage locked eyes. Both of them were now at the end of their ropes, finding it difficult even to move a muscle; it all depended on whose reinforcements arrived first.

As expected of Konoha's territory, the Anbu arrived at the Hokage Rock a step ahead. The Third Hokage silently breathed a sigh of relief, while a flash of madness crossed Feng Yao's eyes—now, he had no choice but to risk it all.

"Damn system, it's all because of your jinxing mouth. If I ever see you in person, I'll sew your mouth shut."

Feng Yao cursed to himself, then forced his body to stand up.

"The leader is truly in a sorry state, though it's no wonder; after all, the opponent is the Third Hokage, hailed as the strongest in history!"

"Hehe, you should've called me for something this exciting. Standing guard outside is no fun at all."

Swish, swish.

Two figures flickered to Feng Yao's side, each taking an arm to support him. The Anbu members opposite them braced for battle, immediately becoming vigilant and drawing their weapons.

"Let's go. The mission is already complete; there's no need to stay. It would be troublesome if other Konoha jonin arrived."

Hideyoshi, who had been preparing to strike, frowned upon hearing this. He had intended to cross blades with the enemy, but knowing that following such a leader would surely bring plenty of thrills in the future, he chose to obey Feng Yao's command.

Zabuza threw down a smoke bomb and, together with Hideyoshi, took Feng Yao and retreated.

"Lord Third Hokage, are you alright?"

Seeing the enemies depart, the nearby Anbu members rushed to the Third Hokage's side to check on his condition.

"Cough, cough... I won't die. Tally the village's casualties. Do not rush to pursue them; those people are not simple. Have all jonin currently out on missions return as quickly as possible... cough, cough."

The Third Hokage found it difficult to speak, yet he still had to fulfill his duties as Hokage.

"Understood, Lord Hokage!"