Decisive Battle Against Shendu (3)

Shendu had already pushed into the center of the village, reducing the majority of Konoha to ruins.

"Damn it all! I've been a ninja for so many years, and I've never fought a battle this exhausting!"

Several ninjas collapsed amidst the rubble, clutching their wounds while waiting for the medical ninjas to arrive.

The comrades beside them had been replaced wave after wave, and they had consumed Military Ration Pill after Military Ration Pill until their stomachs ached. Yet, upon realizing that no attack had any effect on Shendu, they fell into a state of confusion.

Shendu bared his fangs and brandished his claws, wantonly destroying everything in the village. As time passed, the morale of the ninjas suffered a heavy blow, gradually sinking until a feeling called despair began to rise in most of their hearts.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"

Just as everyone was losing all hope, a familiar figure descended before them. That's right! It was none other than the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who existed like the sun to the ninjas of Konoha!

Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's control, the massive shuriken split into thousands, attacking from such tricky angles that even Shendu could not incinerate them all with fire instantly, forcing him to rely on his godlike speed to dodge.

Taking advantage of the gap where Shendu felt pain from the numerous wounds appearing on his flesh, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked back at the disheartened Anbu and encouraged them with a low, powerful voice:

"Everyone, do not lose heart! You are the elite of the village, the pride of the village. We are protecting the future of the village together. Believe in yourselves, believe in your comrades, pick up the weapons in your hands, and victory will eventually come!"

One might ask, what happens when everyone in a village idolizes the same person? Sarutobi Hiruzen was that "idol," and his every word carried immense infectious power for the people of the village.

The Hokage's encouragement was highly effective; the ninjas picked up their weapons once more and surrounded Shendu.

"Do you want to see who has more people?"

Shendu spread his sharp claws and tore at the air. Several rifts in space rapidly expanded, revealing a hellish, crimson landscape within.

Tens of thousands of Dragon Minions poked their heads out, letting out hungry roars toward this world before scattering in all directions. Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils constricted, and just as he moved to intercept them, Shendu blocked his path.

"Old man, your opponent is me!"

"There's no other way..." The Anbu and other ninjas capable of movement consciously dispersed to fight the Dragon Minions. Now, only Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shendu remained on the battlefield, locked in a standoff.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

According to Uncle's intelligence, Shendu was the Demon of Fire. Based on elemental affinity, he should fear Water Style, and that was indeed the case. Shendu immediately spat out flames that collided with the spiraling water dragon.

The fire was immense, and the water dragon was vaporized almost instantly. Sarutobi Hiruzen found it difficult to parry and chose to dodge.

Seeing the burns on Sarutobi Hiruzen's arm heal rapidly, Shendu's crimson pupils flickered. "It seems you possess the Horse Talisman."

Eye Beam was released simultaneously. Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately summoned the Adamantine Staff, transformed from Enma, and unleashed "Staff: Gale," attempting to block the incoming light.

"This isn't easy to tank..." Although Enma was known for his indestructible body, direct contact with the terrifying heat of the laser still caused him to feel heart-wrenching pain throughout his entire being.

One wave passed, another rose. Following the light came a fierce fire. Sarutobi Hiruzen decisively used the Dragon Talisman in his palm to blast out scorching flames, countering the attack.

"Huh?"

Shendu had not expected Sarutobi Hiruzen to possess two of his own talismans. Shendu's fire was swallowed by the beam from the Dragon Talisman, and a violent explosion erupted against Shendu's abdomen, forcing his body back hundreds of meters until he was pinned against the ruins of the Konoha wall.

"This move is effective!"

Uncle once said, "Use magic to fight magic." Since ordinary ninjutsu was useless against Shendu, he would use Shendu's own talismans.

Shendu clutched his head, shook off the rubble, and stood up slowly, the pattern of the Sheep Talisman flashing in his eyes. "The power to heal all and the power to burn... I'll take them!"

—Whoosh!

White light shot from Shendu's eyes. Sarutobi Hiruzen's first reaction was to raise the Dragon Talisman again to release a Dragon Blast, but the scorching beam shot straight through the white light.

"What?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression froze in that moment of shock. Immediately after, he let go of the Adamantine Staff and the Dragon Talisman, collapsing to the ground.

"Hiruzen! What happened to you?!"

As a comrade of many years, Enma had deep feelings for Sarutobi Hiruzen. Seeing him lying there like a corpse, he immediately reverted to his beast form and asked with concern.

"Unfortunately, your old partner cannot hear you now."

From Sarutobi Hiruzen's perspective, his soul had already left his body. Watching Shendu approach his physical form and seeing Enma swatted away with a single blow, he immediately realized, This is the power of the Sheep Talisman that Uncle once spoke of!

(Note: Daolon Wong once used the Sheep Talisman to forcibly extract the souls of Jackie Chan and Jade, so the author believes the Sheep Talisman's power can also be used on others.)

I must return to my body quickly!

Sarutobi Hiruzen attempted to return to his body, but Shendu was one step faster. He fired a blue light from his fingertip, striking Sarutobi Hiruzen's body.

The next moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen's soul was repelled by his own body, as if his physical form were rejecting his soul. Shendu leaned down and rummaged through Sarutobi Hiruzen's person, retrieving the Dragon Talisman and the Horse Talisman.

"A small termination spell is all it takes to destroy your human form and turn you into a wandering ghost."

As the leader of the Demon Sorcerers and the one who compiled the Book of Spells, Shendu mastered a vast amount of magic. Although the Shendu in the original work had forgotten his magic while losing his wisdom during his long imprisonment in the "Demon Netherworld," the Shendu here had not forgotten.

"Ah... my power has returned..."

"Now then... it's time to say goodbye!"

Shendu raised his massive, clawed foot to stomp down on Sarutobi Hiruzen's body. Just at this critical juncture, two flashes of light struck from the left and right simultaneously. One carried Sarutobi Hiruzen away from Shendu's stomp, while the other kicked toward Shendu's head.

"The Sponge from Bikini Bottom...? Do you really think you can fight me?"

"I think it's worth a try."

His body transformed into a flash of light, unleashing a "Light Speed Kick" at Shendu's skull. It was none other than Yellow Sponge, one of the Three Admirals of Bikini Bottom. At this moment, he had entered a serious combat stance, his personality and expression shifting toward that of Kizaru.

At the same time, the other flash of light—the little blond, Minato Namikaze—had already brought Sarutobi Hiruzen to a safe location.

"Lord Hokage?! Lord Hokage?! Are you alright?!"

Minato immediately checked Sarutobi Hiruzen's body. "No external injuries..." There were no signs of poison or burns, and the chakra within him was stable, but there was simply no breathing or pulse...

"Uncle said this is the magic of the Sheep Talisman and Shendu's sorcery. The Hokage is currently in a state of astral projection. It's nothing too serious; we just need Uncle to cast a spell to undo the termination magic later..."

Chixing's speed was far inferior to Yellow Sponge's. He wobbled over to Minato's side to explain Sarutobi Hiruzen's condition.