Relics of the Old Era

"Chiriku!!"

Asuma Sarutobi cried out in alarm as he fought Ao.

But the only response was another overwhelming Earth Release attack from Ao.

"Earth Release: Earth Stone Dragon!"

The ground before Asuma trembled violently,

and a massive stone dragon burst from the earth,

charging toward him with tremendous force.

Asuma had no choice but to abandon his attempt to rescue Chiriku and hurriedly use a jutsu to counter the attack.

Uchiha Itachi, who had been watching from the sidelines, became even more interested in Yatsuhashi.

During the three of them's battle against Chiriku,

it was obvious

that Yatsuhashi had played a crucial role.

"Strange... Why haven't I heard of someone like him in the clan before?"

Uchiha Itachi wondered.

The main reason was that both of Yatsuhashi's parents were civilian members of the Uchiha Clan, not ninja.

And Yatsuhashi had only awakened his Sharingan and joined Anbu about half a year ago.

On top of that, Uchiha Itachi had yet to awaken his Sharingan.

Although Uchiha Fugaku was the clan head of the Uchiha Clan,

he didn't have permission to visit the Ancestral Grounds.

So it was only natural that Uchiha Itachi didn't know Yatsuhashi.

"Heh, heh, heh..."

Sugiyama Kenji, who wore a waist cloth bearing the character for "fire" just like the others,

looked at Chiriku, whose abdomen had been pierced by Kakashi's Chidori, his face full of mocking contempt.

"Chiriku, you've fallen so low that you can't even handle three brats from Konoha.

You've brought shame upon the Twelve Guardian Ninja!"

Sugiyama Kenji made no move to help Chiriku.

Instead, he abruptly formed Hand Seals.

"Mud Release: Mud Swamp Devour!"

The earth beneath Chiriku suddenly churned,

and, like a bog, it was about to swallow him whole.

Sugiyama Kenji actually intended to bury the gravely wounded Chiriku right there beneath the swamp.

But at that critical moment,

just before the swamp closed over him,

Might Guy rescued Chiriku from Sugiyama Kenji's jutsu.

During the battle,

Chiriku had already earned Might Guy's respect.

He could die at Kakashi's hands, struck down by Chidori, but he would never be allowed to perish at a comrade's hands.

Might Guy gently laid the unconscious Chiriku somewhere safe.

"That's not what it means to be a comrade! Is this the way of the Guardian Shinobi?!"

Sugiyama Kenji looked at Might Guy and the others. "Hmph! Konoha ninja really are meddlesome."

Yatsuhashi looked at Sugiyama Kenji and suddenly spoke.

"Might Guy, cover us."

Yatsuhashi could sense

that Sugiyama Kenji was completely different from Chiriku.

The way chakra flowed through his body

made it seem as though he had become one with the earth around him.

If someone like Might Guy, who relied on wide, powerful Taijutsu strikes, tried to fight him at close range, he might be in danger.

Trusting Yatsuhashi completely, Might Guy nodded without hesitation. "Leave it to me!"

Yatsuhashi exchanged a glance with Kakashi,

and the two of them launched a coordinated attack on Sugiyama Kenji.

"Hmph!"

Faced with their pincer attack,

Sugiyama Kenji wasn't the least bit flustered. Instead, he laughed arrogantly.

"Do you think so little of me? You two are the only ones coming to your deaths?"

But in the next instant,

"Thud!"

Kakashi's Raikiri pierced Sugiyama Kenji through the chest.

At the same time, Yatsuhashi's heavy punch landed squarely on his left cheek.

But Sugiyama Kenji didn't bleed. He wasn't even injured.

The spots where the two had struck turned into viscous swamps,

which instantly ensnared Kakashi and Yatsuhashi's arms.

A cruel smile appeared on Sugiyama Kenji's face.

"Got you!"

He was about to use Mud Release: Mud Binding Strangulation Technique

to twist both their arms off.

But at that critical moment,

Yatsuhashi's eyes flew wide open.

His crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly.

It was the unique genjutsu inherent to the Sharingan's Three Tomoe.

A powerful wave of mental energy invaded Sugiyama Kenji's mind.

"Ugh?!"

Sugiyama Kenji grunted, and in that brief opening,

Might Guy, who had been keeping a close eye on Yatsuhashi and Kakashi, sprang into action.

"Konoha Flash!"

In the blink of an eye, Might Guy appeared behind Sugiyama Kenji.

"Youthful Spinning Kick!"

Might Guy kicked Sugiyama Kenji, who was trapped in the genjutsu,

then launched into his signature youthful combo.

A flurry of Taijutsu strikes

suddenly weakened the swamp's hold.

That gave Yatsuhashi and Kakashi the chance to break free.

Seeing that Yatsuhashi's genjutsu was about to wear off,

Might Guy immediately leaped backward,

putting distance between himself and Sugiyama Kenji.

"You two okay?"

"Yeah."

Kakashi panted as his Sharingan continued to analyze Sugiyama Kenji's jutsu.

"His jutsu is bizarre. He can turn his body into part of the swamp,

which makes ordinary Taijutsu and ninjutsu attacks useless against him."

On the other side of the battlefield, the fighting was just as intense.

Asuma Sarutobi kept attacking Ao with his Chakra Blades.

Sparks flew as the blades clashed with Earth Release techniques.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the scene and sighed deeply.

He knew that the only way to put an end to this farce quickly

was to meet with the Daimyo.

"Uchiha Itachi, stay here and be ready to support Yatsuhashi and the others at any moment."

"Understood, Third!"

Though Uchiha Itachi didn't understand why, he still obeyed Hiruzen Sarutobi's order.

After speaking, Hiruzen slowly made his way toward the Daimyo Palace alone.

There were already many Guardian Shinobi on alert along the way.

But even with these ill-intentioned Guardian Shinobi in his path,

the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had no intention of stopping.

At some point, a dozen Anbu elites had appeared behind him as well.

Every one of them had an extraordinary presence and impressive strength.

They were the members of the Anbu elite squad led by Ao, the Anbu Commander, all the way there.

One by one, they engaged the Guardian Shinobi trying to block the way.

In an instant, blood sprayed across the scene, and cries of anguish filled the air.

The area became a chaotic battlefield, with a large-scale clash underway.

Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi still had no intention of stopping.

Step by step, he walked through the fighting crowd and came to face Kazuma.

"Kazuma."

The pipe in Hiruzen's hand trembled slightly—not from fear, but from anger.

His voice was firm as he said, "As relics of the old era, Guardian Shinobi have no place in this new age."

"Heh."

Kazuma sneered as he slowly put on the Four-Bladed Iron Claw.

"That's what I should be saying to you, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

"The age of the ninja is over.

The Daimyo is the master of this country! The Daimyo is the only king we should protect!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

He glanced at the entrance to the Daimyo Palace not far away.

Hiruzen knew

that Kazuma was now the last obstacle standing between him and the Daimyo.

"Bang!"

With a sharp crack, the smoke cleared.

A massive Adamantine Staff had appeared in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands.

"If that's how it is..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was low and commanding.

"Then let's settle this with a fight!"