The Third Hokage's Command

The man, his entire body covered in stitch marks, stood exposed in the center, surrounded by countless writhing tentacles.

As the man waved his arm, the pre-laid tentacles suddenly manifested, snapping taut and suspending themselves in mid-air.

This tentacle barrier, resembling a web of spider silk, completely sealed off the escape route for Diejian and his companions.

Not only that, but the wall of tentacles continued to writhe, gradually thickening.

Diejian and his team had already fallen into the man's cunning trap.

Diejian stared fixedly at the grey-skinned man.

Chakra, saturated with Diejian's killing intent, seeped from his body.

A powerful and dense torrent of Chakra filled the surroundings, making the very space seem to waver and tremble.

"Diejian, who is that?"

Hiruzen, having landed beside Diejian, asked with an inquisitive expression.

Diejian cast a sharp gaze toward Kakuzu and gave a brief reply, not even looking at Hiruzen.

But Hiruzen raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"It's this guy? No, that... that's not right. Kakuzu should have been killed by the First Lord. Although some corpses were severely mangled and reduced to mere chunks of meat, the assassins from Takigakure did indeed recover the bodies of the corresponding number of people. There can be no mistake."

"What...?"

This time, it was Diejian's turn to look back at Hiruzen.

Diejian, who had been in a coma at the time, did not know the details of the Takigakure incident.

Hiruzen, however, had fought through the turbulent period just after the First Hokage passed away, alongside the Second Hokage Tobirama and his own father, Sasuke Sarutobi, who was still alive at the time.

Back then, Takigakure, pressed by Tobirama—who had been disguised as Senju Hashirama—to account for the assassins, abandoned the elite squad led by Kakuzu.

They claimed that a "ninja named Kakuzu" had stolen the village's Forbidden Jutsu and become a "rogue ninja," asserting that Takigakure had nothing to do with the incident.

By handing over the files of those designated as "rogue" to Konoha as a gesture of "sincerity" regarding the ominous events caused by their "former" ninja, Takigakure buried the assassination attempt on Hashirama in darkness.

The investigation conducted by Hiruzen and the others based on these files concluded that all those labeled as "rogue" had perished in the forests of the Land of Fire.

The incident should have ended there—or so it should have.

"Could it be... the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu...? No, that's impossible."

A moment's thought told him it was impossible, yet Diejian still whispered the possibility.

If that Forbidden Jutsu, which used the living as sacrifices to summon the souls of the dead, were used, it would indeed explain why Kakuzu was standing here now.

However, there were too many inconsistencies to accept the possibility of the Impure World Reincarnation.

First, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu was among the most vital classified intelligence managed by Tobirama.

Tobirama was an extremely cunning man; he had even gone so far as to erase the existence of his own "Flying Thunder God Technique" by downplaying it as a mere "Body Flicker Technique" that relied on high-speed movement through physical prowess.

He would never have leaked information about a Jutsu more dangerous than the Flying Thunder God to the outside world.

Furthermore, the dead summoned back through the Impure World Reincarnation would exhibit physical characteristics such as blackened pupils, artificial bodies made of dust, and cracked skin.

Yet, none of these features could be seen on Kakuzu's face.

Moreover, much to Diejian's frustration, his complexion even looked remarkably healthy and ruddy.

He was, without a doubt, alive at this very moment.

The man with the unpleasant, sinister grin was truly alive, standing in Diejian's path.

"Hiruzen, Diejian, that is not the issue. We are out of time. Do we kill him here, or avoid the fight and retreat? What do you think, Hiruzen?"

Kagami spoke as if to admonish the bewildered Diejian and Hiruzen.

They did not understand why Kakuzu was here, but it was a fact that Hiruzen's group had no time to spare.

Kagami believed that rather than wasting time on pointless questions, they should act swiftly.

---Suddenly, a blast.

A terrifying roar and tremor, as if the very atmosphere were being shaken, came from a short distance away.

The epicenter was in the direction of Kumogakure.

That is, the direction from which Hiruzen and the others had fled.

Then, there could only be one reason.

"W-what?"

"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"

Taking advantage of the moment Kakuzu was distracted by the explosion, a sudden gust of wind struck him.

The blade of air spat from Danzo's mouth severed the tentacles that were attempting to capture Diejian and his companions.

Furthermore, Kakuzu took the surprise attack head-on, sent flying by the pressure of the wind.

But Kakuzu would not be beaten so easily.

The tentacles surrounding them began to writhe more violently, squirming in an attempt to seize Hiruzen and the others.

Danzo continued to pant, swinging his head from side to side while slashing through the surrounding tentacles.

"This is the Second Hokage's... Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique..."

"Hiruzen! What are you still dawdling for!"

In the brief gap between breaths, Danzo shot a glance at Hiruzen, his expression clearly saying, "Make a decision already."

The explosive roar from moments ago was, just as Hiruzen had whispered, likely the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique that Tobirama excelled at.

It was a technique of point-break explosions, where each tag continuously summoned another.

Tobirama had likely sacrificed one of the enemies as a vessel to activate the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.

While the Impure World Reincarnation was a terrifying technique once unleashed, its activation required a massive consumption of Chakra.

This was proof that he had been driven into a desperate corner.

Time was running out.

Hiruzen closed his eyes for a split second of thought, but he seemed to reach a decision immediately and nodded.

"We finish this guy right here—"

"---I will stay behind. You go."

Just as Hiruzen decided that they would gang up on Kakuzu to kill him, Diejian interrupted his words.

Diejian was unnervingly calm, his consciousness fixed on the direction where Kakuzu had been sent flying.

Hiruzen looked at Diejian with an expression that said, "I knew it."

Indeed, what Hiruzen had been about to say was correct.

Kakuzu was, after all, a man who had once been ordered to assassinate the Hokage and had now been invited by the Gold and Silver Brothers to join forces.

There was no doubt he was a master.

However, no matter how formidable Kakuzu was, it was impossible for him to stand alone against the top combatants of Konoha, led by Hiruzen, and emerge victorious.

Furthermore, a man as intelligent as Kakuzu could not possibly fail to realize this.

Yet, even so, he had stood alone before Diejian and the others.

There was only one possible reason for this.

He was baiting Diejian and the others into a "battle" that only appeared advantageous.

The army of tentacles Kakuzu unleashed served as a solid fortress that prevented the enemy from getting close.

If he adopted a purely defensive stance, it would become a shield that was difficult to break through.

This would inevitably lead to a protracted battle, and by then, Kinkaku's Unit, having broken through Tobirama's line of defense, would catch up to Diejian and the others.

Kakuzu did not need to win.

He only needed to stall for time until the reinforcements caught up.

---Therefore, the only viable option was "retreat."

Hiruzen was a gentle man.

No matter the adversity, he would always search for a path that allowed everyone to survive.

And if that proved impossible, he possessed the iron will and burning resolve to be the first to sacrifice himself.

Though his gentleness was sometimes criticized as indecisiveness, he was by no means a fool.

If they fought here, they would waste time and be overtaken by the pursuers.

Even if they managed to break through this barrier, Kakuzu would surely pursue them.

To prevent this, someone needed to act as the rearguard; that was the optimal retreat strategy.

And that "someone" had already been a foregone conclusion—Hiruzen knew this all too well.

That was why he had thought, "I knew it."

Since he had been entrusted with the position of Hokage by Tobirama, Hiruzen—whose "life was the heaviest" on the scene—could not take the initiative to act as the rearguard; thus, it was only natural that "it would come to this."

"Diejian, do you... intend to use that? But, you are still..."

"You are the Third Hokage. Please do what must be done now."

Diejian's calm voice cut off Hiruzen's words.

That persuasive tone seemed directed not only at the hesitant Hiruzen but perhaps at Diejian himself.

Regardless, Diejian's words rippled through Hiruzen's heart like waves spreading across water.

Diejian turned slowly toward Hiruzen, a smile appearing on his face.

But within those eyes resided a firm, unyielding will.

It was not the desperate resolve of one heading to his death.

"Don't talk nonsense, Diejian. Hiruzen, I will stay."

Kagami leaped in front of Diejian.

Although he had been fearful just moments ago and failed to volunteer as the bait, Kagami was no coward who would shrink away when faced with a disciple heading toward certain death.

"Complete the mission, and you must return alive, Diejian."

However, Hiruzen ruthlessly dismissed Kagami's words and entrusted the mission to Diejian.

Catching a glimpse of the unshakeable light of the Will of Fire in Diejian's eyes, Hiruzen also steeled his resolve.

This man, who admired the Hokage more than anyone, pursued the Hokage more than anyone, and aimed for the Hokage position more than anyone, had acknowledged Hiruzen as the Hokage and offered his counsel.

Then, Hiruzen, too, had to make a firm decision.

Not as an older brother worried about his younger brother, but as the "Third Hokage" trusting his comrade—responding to this sentiment with such resolve was the only proper etiquette.

Even if it meant sending his junior disciple to his death.

"Hiruzen!!"

"Teacher, thank you. But I am the most suitable candidate. Having fought Kakuzu once, I understand that guy better than anyone else here."

"Diejian..."

"It's alright. I will definitely return alive."

It was none other than Diejian who stopped Kagami, who had been on the verge of roaring and grabbing Hiruzen by the collar to demand "Why."

Kagami's face twisted in regret.

It was not that Kagami failed to understand who the ninja capable of "stalling for the most time" was now that Tobirama had departed.

Indeed, in a retreat where Tobirama was buying time, engaging the enemy was the worst possible strategy.

But if the youngest, Diejian, had to be sacrificed to ensure his own survival, then he, as the teacher, should be the one to stay.

Because "staying here" meant dying for one's comrades.

However, the scene that Diejian and Hiruzen saw was slightly different.

"Are you holding a war council?"

"Do you think I will let you leave so easily?"

Kakuzu's voice echoed from all directions.

Looking around, several Kakuzus had surrounded Diejian and the others.

"This is... even my Sharingan cannot see through it. Is it a Shadow Clone?"

"No... tentacles are extending from their backs. They seem to be connected to the main body. You could call it a Tentacle Clone."

Kagami used his Sharingan to observe, but all the Kakuzus displayed the same amount and color of Chakra, making it impossible to distinguish the original from the fakes.

The only clones capable of such a feat were the Shadow Clone and the Wood Clone.

But Hiruzen denied this.

Hiruzen, who had mastered every technique in Konoha, possessed an analytical accuracy that no one could match.

He concluded that this was a new type of clone technique similar to the Wood Clone.

"Diejian, stay. Everyone else, follow me. This is my first order as the Third Hokage. Refusal is not permitted."

"---What a bunch of people who don't listen. I have already deployed a Tentacle Barrier within a hundred-meter radius here. You cannot escape. Die here."

Looking around, walls of tentacles seemed to weave through the gaps in the trees, covering the ground and filling the surroundings.

Even when Danzo tore through them with Wind Release, it was like a drop in the bucket.

The tentacles began to regenerate right next to where they were severed; the sight was already in the realm of monsters.

It seemed even faster than when he had fought Diejian and the others.

Hiruzen and his group gathered together, back-to-back.

If one were to say they had been driven into a corner, it was certainly true.

Except for Hiruzen and Diejian, everyone's expressions were twisted by the unimaginable viciousness of Kakuzu's abilities.

But Hiruzen and Diejian exchanged a glance and nodded.

"Let us meet again in Konoha, everyone."

"Danzo, Kagami, use Wind Release to open a breakthrough. Torifu, I leave the rear to you. Koharu, Homura, provide cover---Charge!"

The next second.

Diejian and Hiruzen shouted and charged in completely opposite directions.

The wind blades unleashed by Danzo, Hiruzen, and Kagami sliced through the tentacles.

Aiming for that gap, Torifu unleashed the Akimichi Secret Technique: Human Bullet Tank.

The mass of flesh, carrying terrifying momentum, blew away the thinned Tentacle Barrier.

The strategy that Hiruzen and Diejian had conceived and reached through silent communication—its success rate was likely only fifty percent.

However, the two believed that if it went well, this was the only strategy that could allow everyone to survive; it was by no means a gamble with low odds.

The intelligence that only Hiruzen, as Diejian's senior brother, knew was not something that could be spoken of lightly.

Because Kakuzu could not be allowed to grow wary.

That was why Hiruzen, as the Third Hokage, had issued a ruthless order and led the elite squad himself.

Diejian was grateful for this wise decision.

"Staying here means certain death"—everyone likely thought the same.

Diejian felt the same way himself.

If Diejian failed, Hiruzen would have to bear the infamy alone.

Hiruzen, who was kinder than anyone, would surely blame himself long before anyone else could cast blame upon him.

This was not just about sacrificing Diejian; it would be the same for anyone.

Precisely because of that, Diejian was the only one who could serve as the rearguard.

To let no one die—that "sole possibility" rested in Diejian's hands.

The two of them were betting on exactly that.

In terms of strength, Diejian was slightly inferior to the other elites.

This was not just a matter of raw power, but also a gap in combat experience.

It was only natural that a gap existed between the generation that had experienced war and the one that had not.

Yet, even so, Hiruzen and Diejian had both judged that "if it were Diejian, there was a possibility of survival."

Indeed, the experience of having fought Kakuzu was a massive advantage, but that was not the primary reason.

Blown away by Torifu, a narrow path had been carved through the wall of tentacles.

As Hiruzen and the others passed through this path, Kakuzu immediately began to regenerate the pierced tentacles, intending to seal the passage.

However, this did not cause his focus on the approaching Diejian to waver, nor did it leave any gap for Hiruzen and the others to escape.

To fill the "vulnerability" in his main body caused by the focus on regeneration, Kakuzu's clones lunged at Hiruzen and his team.

As a means of stalling for time before the barrier could be reconstructed, nothing could be more suitable.

Fortunately, Kakuzu's clones seemed unable to use ninjutsu.

The clones did not attempt to use ninjutsu, seeking only to suppress Hiruzen and the others with taijutsu.

In that case, there was a way to deal with them.

Koharu and Homura intercepted the clones attempting to seize Hiruzen.

Though the number of Kakuzu's clones was high, this side consisted of the finest elite ninja Konoha had to offer.

They utilized ninja tools and ninjutsu to the fullest, neutralizing the attacks.

While it could not be denied that their speed was slowing, they were by no means unable to break through.

"Coming to die again, are you? Little brat of the Senju."

"This time, I won't let you be so smug, seaweed geezer."

"Enough talk."

On the other side, Diejian charged toward Kakuzu's main body.

But Kakuzu was cautious.

His main body hid within the sea of tentacles, sending only a single clone to deal with Diejian.

Diejian, however, did not care and continued his charge.

This assault, which appeared reckless and devoid of strategy, was a move intended to seize that "possibility."

Though Kakuzu was wary and sensed that Diejian was plotting something, he easily concluded that a clone would suffice and moved to intercept him.

Aiming for "that moment," Diejian honed his entire chakra meridian system to its absolute limit.

The scenery around him lost its color, and every nerve focused on the sight before his eyes.

---Then, that moment arrived.

Kakuzu's clone made contact with Diejian.

Diejian's arm, sharpened into a spear by Wood Release, collided with the arm Kakuzu had bundled into a spear of tentacles—the tips of their weapons clashed.

After a brief stalemate, Diejian's spear shattered Kakuzu's.

What was important here was not winning the clash of thrusts.

The key was this very instant—the moment when Kakuzu's body and chakra made contact with Diejian's.

"Secret Technique—"

Diejian closed his eyes and released his chakra in one breath—

---Flying Thunder God Technique.

"Impossible, this is... what happened?"

"Haa, haa, haa... we pulled it off, you bastard!!"

A strange sensation of weightlessness.

The next second, Diejian was tossed into the air, landing on his shoulder and sliding across the ground.

Sweat instantly soaked his forehead, his breathing ragged with pain.

His heavy, labored gasps were proof of the massive Chakra expenditure.

It was clear just how difficult this technique was.

Diejian wheezed in agony, pushing himself up with his hands.

He couldn't afford to dawdle.

He had to reorganize his stance immediately, either to fight or to buy time.

He had to take action while Kakuzu was still flustered by this sudden turn of events.

Diejian shoved all his recovery medicine into his mouth at once to replenish his Chakra.

He adjusted his breathing, putting distance between himself and Kakuzu.

The location was a grassy plain with exposed bedrock.

But nearby, there was a fissure in the earth that looked as if it could peer into the abyss.

It was the valley where Diejian had once trained alongside Senju Tobirama.

"Is this a Genjutsu...? No, that's not it. Then what on earth is this... I was just in the forest a moment ago... and the presence of the Konohagakure ninja has vanished. What is going on... no, could it be?"

The flustered Kakuzu was gradually regaining his composure, but Diejian used this time to refine as much Chakra as he could.

"---I've heard of it. Stories from when I was young, before the village was even founded. One of the two pillars of the 'Senju Clan,' hailed as the strongest in the Shinobi World. Senju Tobirama was known for his astonishing speed, a speed said to transcend time and space... I had assumed it was just nonsense spread by ninja who feared him too much... I never imagined such a technique actually existed. With an elder brother like Hashirama, there comes a younger brother like Tobirama, eh---this is the Second Hokage's despicable technique. Isn't that right, you Senju brat?"

"..."

"Hmph. As a ninja, your refusal to divulge information is commendable, but I shall take your silence as confirmation. To think you actually mastered a space-time movement technique... I am truly impressed."

The fact that Kakuzu could deduce the Secret Technique: Flying Thunder God from such limited information made Diejian click his tongue in secret.

Secret Technique: Flying Thunder God.

One of the ultimate mysteries taught by Senju Tobirama, a super-high-level space-time Ninjutsu.

Diejian had not fully mastered this technique that allowed one to traverse space freely.

Not only did a single jump consume a vast amount of Chakra, but he also couldn't carry multiple people with him.

It was far from mature enough for actual combat.

But even so, he could at least manage to return to Konohagakure alone.

That was why he had volunteered for this mission.

However, there was an additional condition for staying behind to cover the retreat—he had to be able to survive a one-on-one confrontation with a high-level ninja long enough to buy time for his comrades, while still having enough energy left to activate the Flying Thunder God.

It was pure luck that he managed to bring Kakuzu along with him.

There was a chance it could have failed, resulting in him being torn apart by space, or even being shredded alongside Kakuzu until neither of them remained in one piece.

He couldn't deny that Diejian had briefly considered that even if that happened, taking Kakuzu down with him would be acceptable.

In fact, that might have been a more certain way to deal with Kakuzu.

But that worry was unnecessary; the first part of the plan had succeeded.

Now, it was time to move on to the next phase.

"Kakuzu, I heard you were killed by Hashirama. Why are you still alive?"

Diejian wore a calm smile, while internally chanting, Take the bait, take the bait, take the bait.

Kakuzu was quite talkative.

He enjoyed conversation, or rather, he enjoyed talking about himself.

That was why Diejian threw out the topic, to buy time to accumulate Chakra.

As soon as his Chakra was restored, Diejian could immediately fly back to Konohagakure and leave Kakuzu stranded here.

This was the strategy Hiruzen and Diejian had agreed upon.

He had suffered quite a bit because of this guy.

He wanted to throw a sarcastic remark his way before leaving, to say something sharp—Diejian felt certain of his victory in his heart.

---Hurry, hurry and fill up.

Making his blood pump and accelerate through his body, Diejian refined his Chakra.

His overtaxed meridian system would probably scream in agony later, but for now, he had to escape this place as quickly as possible.

Once he returned to Konohagakure, there would be no shortage of ways to heal.

Diejian burned the fuel within him as fiercely as a steam engine.

"Hmph. Telling you wouldn't hurt..."

Kakuzu revealed a hair-raising smile, and Diejian felt a wave of disgust.

More than the joy of seeing his opponent take the bait, a sense of foreboding grew stronger.

Because that was the very same smile he had seen during their life-or-death struggle in the past.

However, Kakuzu shifted that unpleasant gaze away from Diejian.

What?

---Diejian wore a look of surprise, followed the line of sight, and his eyes widened.

Could it be, Diejian's throat trembled.

Because he had realized Kakuzu's intent.

In the distance, ahead of Kakuzu and Diejian's line of sight, smoke was rising.

It was not a signal fire.

That smoke carried the scent of human life.

---That was a small village on the border of the Land of Fire.

With his keen eyesight, Diejian saw it.

The sight of young children, mothers, and grandparents laughing together.

"I, you see, am prone to anger, and that's not good. I often think it's a habit I must change... Come to think of it, I've killed comrades in front of you before. This is just a hypothesis... but if I were to lose my prey now---I might just find somewhere to vent my frustrations."

"Ka, Kakuzu... you bastard... you despicable wretch--!!"

Kakuzu had seen through Diejian's thoughts before picking up where Diejian left off.

The word "retreat" no longer existed in Diejian's mind.

Diejian had to defeat a fully rested and even stronger Kakuzu while in a state of exhaustion.

Without the reinforcements of Sotan, Ina, and Hashirama like last time, Diejian's life-or-death struggle began.