Beating the Future Third Hokage and Pot Kage (Part 2)

At this very moment, everyone on the field assumed that Hyuga Hoshishaku would abandon the Sealing-In Technique to defend against the Adamantine Staff swinging down from Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The stone beside Danzo's feet suddenly dispelled its Transformation Technique.

It turned out that the Hoshishaku who had just vanished from the field had actually transformed into a stone!

At this moment, a ball of flame ignited in the palm of Hoshishaku's true body, and he slammed it into Shimura Danzo's lower abdomen.

Sealing Art: Limb Sealing Technique!

"Bang!"

The shadow clone not far away was smashed to pieces by Sarutobi Hiruzen!

"Bang!"

On the side of Hoshishaku's true body, Shimura Danzo was struck by the seal and sent flying like a dead dog.

Shimura Danzo was now out of the match!

The field fell silent for an instant.

The sent-flying Shimura Danzo was unable to move his limbs, twitching incessantly like a maggot; an expression of extreme agony appeared on his face, and in the blink of an eye, he was drenched in cold sweat.

As the sweat mixed with the sand on the ground, he looked incredibly disheveled and pathetic.

Although Sarutobi Hiruzen had destroyed Hyuga Hoshishaku's clone, it had not come without a price.

His chest and abdomen had been partially drawn into the seal during that split second.

Even though he had interrupted the sealing technique, the clothes on his chest and abdomen had vanished entirely, leaving behind only large patches of bruised, purple skin.

At this time, Senju Yuto, sitting in a wheelchair nearby, spoke in a low voice to educate Hyuga Yunfei:

"Although the Limb Sealing Technique is a basic sealing jutsu, it can only restrict a ninja's movements."

"However, the operating principle of this sealing technique is rather cruel; the victim experiences the agony of having all the meridians in their body severed."

The group was shocked to hear this, and Mitokado Homura's face turned deathly pale.

Kagami Uchiha, however, continued to wait for the rest of the explanation, as he clearly realized that Hyuga Hoshishaku would not strike with such heavy-handed intent.

Senju Yuto realized they had misunderstood, so he quickly clarified:

"Of course, the meridians aren't actually severed; the sealing chakra is merely deceiving the body. There will be no lasting side effects once the seal is released."

He then turned his gaze toward Sarutobi Hiruzen and continued: "Hoshishaku also held back on the Sealing-In Technique just now. Otherwise, Sarutobi Hiruzen would definitely have suffered more than just superficial injuries; he would have lost his entire layer of skin instantly, and if his internal organs had spilled out, he might not have been savable."

Senju Yuto was right.

Hyuga Hoshishaku had pulled his punch at the very last moment.

He dared not act like these twelve or thirteen-year-old half-grown children, who had no sense of restraint when they fought.

If he had truly killed Sarutobi Hiruzen, it would be difficult to answer to Master Tobirama.

"Damn it!"

Enduring the searing pain from his chest and abdomen, Sarutobi Hiruzen brandished his Adamantine Staff and charged madly toward Hoshishaku.

Hoshishaku's eyes darted around, and after glancing at the writhing Shimura Danzo on the ground nearby, a plan formed in his mind.

Thus, he chose not to go head-to-head with Sarutobi Hiruzen, but instead began a game of cat and mouse.

Relying on his formidable physical conditioning and solid foundation in taijutsu, Hoshishaku strolled about as if he were taking a walk, playing with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

It wasn't until the latter's face turned beet red—clearly enraged to the point of overheating—that he spoke in an indifferent tone: "Is that all?"

He didn't know if it was his imagination, but he felt as though he could see steam rising from Sarutobi Hiruzen's head.

The next moment, he dropped the Adamantine Staff in his hand and suddenly grabbed several shuriken from his ninja tool pouch.

With almost no aiming, he flung them toward Hyuga Hoshishaku!

A hint of a smile appeared in Hoshishaku's eyes, and then he performed a few hand seals, slammed his palm onto the ground, and performed a summoning one step ahead of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Summoning: Rashomon Technique!"

A massive gate engraved with eerie patterns blocked the path in front of Hoshishaku.

This was a defensive ninjutsu that Senju Tobirama had taught him previously, one that sat somewhere between a standard ninjutsu and a summoning technique.

He could summon up to three Rashomon gates at once.

However, summoning just one at this moment was already giving Sarutobi Hiruzen plenty of face.

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice also rang out:

"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"

Bang, bang, bang sounds erupted from mid-air.

The few shuriken Sarutobi Hiruzen had just fired suddenly multiplied into a dense, overwhelming swarm.

The sheer quantity was enough to cover nearly half of Training Ground One!

Yet, Hyuga Hoshishaku, having acted a step ahead, stood leisurely behind the Rashomon.

It was as if Sarutobi Hiruzen's ultimate killing move was not worth a moment of his concern.

Thud, thud, thud sounds rang out against the Rashomon.

But everyone present knew that this wide-range ninjutsu had already failed.

In the distance, Sarutobi Hiruzen, having exhausted a massive amount of chakra, panted heavily.

He clenched his fists in frustration, intending to concede right then and there.

Since his strongest ninjutsu couldn't do anything to his opponent, what was the point of continuing this fight?

But the next moment, the anger that had subsided due to his exhaustion surged back into his heart.

Because Hyuga Hoshishaku had walked to the front of the Rashomon and, with a mocking air, pulled out the shuriken and fired them toward his feet.

As he fired, he jeered, "You were so arrogant at the start, claiming you were going to teach me a lesson, and the two of you pulled every trick in the book including sneak attacks—and this is all you've got?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was practically exploding with rage; he clenched his fists and charged forward regardless of the consequences.

Hyuga Hoshishaku's eyes flickered.

He threw shuriken at his opponent as if by accident.

Yet, as Sarutobi Hiruzen passed by Shimura Danzō, the shuriken seemed to "slip," flying directly across Danzō's face and carving a long gash.

The cut missed his eyes but didn't spare his cheek; blood immediately began to flow, and due to the other boy's struggling, it became coated in grit and sand.

Hoshishaku acted as if he hadn't seen a thing, and as Sarutobi Hiruzen closed in, he struck his chest with a Gentle Fist infused with chakra, knocking him down instantly.

He then crouched down and lightly patted Sarutobi Hiruzen's cheek.

The physical damage of this action was near zero, but the insult was off the charts.

Naturally, he didn't forget to throw in a few mocking remarks:

"Kid, if you're trash, just practice more. A ninja's worth is determined by strength."

"You and that Shimura Danzō are so pathetic yet have such loose tongues; anyone who didn't know better would think you two were gossiping aunties at the market."

"Oh, and next time, don't bother with sneak attacks. It's truly nauseating. I'll just despise you for it this time, but if the village found out the young clan head of the Sarutobi Clan loves to sneak attack people, what would they think of you? If you want to fight in the future, challenge me openly and honestly. Understand?"

It was fortunate that Sarutobi Hiruzen lacked Uchiha blood.

Otherwise, he would have been so enraged he would have unlocked the Three-Tomoe Sharingan on the spot.

Hoshishaku withdrew his hand from patting the boy's face and wiped it on Sarutobi Hiruzen's clothes with an expression of disgust.

As Hyuga Yunfei pushed Senju Yuto over, he didn't forget to twist the knife further:

"I get the feeling this kid stinks. Let's head back first; I need to take a bath and disinfect myself, then I'll take you to my shop. The grand opening had a pretty good reception, and I've been meaning to have you try it."

He said this to Yuto.

Under Yuto's joyful gaze.

He walked over to Shimura Danzō, casually released the Four-Limb Sealing Technique, and leaving the two losers behind, he strolled out of Konoha's Training Ground One with his little friend's entourage in tow.