On the other side,
the battle had also reached a fever pitch a little earlier.
Just as Kazuma spread his arms,
about to use the lightning balls to finish off the remaining Anbu members,
Roar!
A huge Enma had appeared at his side without him noticing.
"Damn it! Did you really think you could underestimate me, Hiruzen?"
Kazuma was startled.
He hurriedly raised his Four-Bladed Iron Claw to block. Sparks flew as metal clashed.
He only just managed to force the frenzied Enma back.
At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared through the smoke.
His hands flashed through Hand Seals. "Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
A dragon made of earth rose from the ground and spat a stream of sticky mud at Kazuma.
Kazuma could only defend himself with Earth Release, looking utterly flustered.
It turned out that the one hit by the lightning ball just now had only been one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's Shadow Clones.
Just then, a glint flashed in Kazuma's eyes.
He blocked with Earth Release while diverting his attention to control the lightning balls in the sky.
A bolt of lightning suddenly struck Enma, who had been preparing to ambush him.
Screee!
Even Enma, famed for his unbreakable body,
stalled for a moment when the lightning struck him.
"Die, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
Kazuma seized the brief opening and formed Hand Seals. "Earth Release: Earth Prison Dome!"
Vwoom!
A massive stone cage instantly trapped Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The cage could not only imprison its target, but also continuously absorb the captive's chakra.
"Now!"
Kazuma roared, trying to guide the lightning balls in the sky to strike the trapped Hiruzen Sarutobi again.
But at that very moment,
the lightning balls in the sky suddenly faltered, their light dimming at once.
"What happened?!"
Kazuma was horrified to discover
that one of the four formation points of Lightning Style: Lightning Illusion Flash of Lightning had temporarily stopped responding.
Hiruzen Sarutobi seized the fleeting opportunity as well.
"Enma!"
Enma immediately understood.
He transformed into the Adamantine Staff,
then spun through the air toward the cage, smashing apart all the rocks holding Hiruzen Sarutobi prisoner.
At the same time, the Adamantine Staff flew back into Hiruzen's hand.
Without even looking, he hurled it at Kazuma.
"Enma: Adamantine Prison Wall!"
Kazuma had learned from his last mistake.
Rather than meet the attack head-on, he quickly retreated,
trying to put distance between himself and Hiruzen,
and wait for another chance to control the lightning balls in the sky and attack.
But the Adamantine Staff split into countless copies in midair.
A dense swarm of Adamantine Staffs formed a vast net,
and in the blink of an eye, they built an unbreakable cage around Kazuma.
He was trapped inside with no way out.
"Kazuma, you have no chance!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not stop his jutsu.
He formed Hand Seals and unleashed it. "Five Elements: Great Barrage Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned four Shadow Clones at once.
Together with his original body, they released five different kinds of jutsu: fire, lightning, water, earth, and wind.
Rumble!
A massive explosion swallowed everything, leveling the area where Kazuma stood.
When the dust settled, Kazuma lay in the cage, barely clinging to life.
Now beyond saving, he lay sprawled on the ground.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked down at him. "Kazuma, you've lost."
"No! I haven't lost yet!"
Kazuma looked at the lightning ball in the sky, which had begun to fall now that it was out of control.
Though black blood kept spilling from the corner of his mouth, he still laughed wildly.
"Hahaha... Hiruzen Sarutobi... in the end, you're the ones who've lost!"
"Hmph."
Hiruzen Sarutobi gripped the Adamantine Staff
and narrowed his eyes at the enormous lightning ball about to fall from the sky.
"How could we, who possess the Will of Fire, ever lose?"
He was about to swing his staff and knock the lightning ball away,
when he saw the destructive orb
dissipate on its own in midair, turning into countless streaks of lightning that vanished without a trace.
"Hm?!"
Hiruzen paused, then understood.
"Looks like Kakashi and the others succeeded."
He looked down at Kazuma by his feet, a smile on his lips, though he had long since lost his life.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply.
Then he hefted the heavy burden and walked step by step toward the gates of the Daimyo Palace.
Along the way, the surviving Guardian Shinobi saw Kazuma in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands.
They didn't dare make a sound. One after another, they lowered their heads and stepped aside.
The Land of Fire's Daimyo Palace, its main hall resplendent in gold and jade.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire slouched in the seat of honor, his obese body sprawled across it.
The arrogance of his past was gone from his face. Only fear and pallor remained.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi entered, carrying Kazuma, whose body was mangled and lifeless,
the Daimyo visibly shrank back.
"Third..."
The Daimyo stammered,
his eyes darting away. "W-what happened?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and tossed Kazuma to the ground.
The massive body hit the floor with a dull thud.
"My lord Daimyo, I was worried Kazuma might have misrepresented your words. He said you planned to abolish the Hokage system."
The Daimyo looked at Kazuma, fallen in battle on the ground.
A surge of loathing and resentment toward him welled up in his eyes.
Kazuma had once sworn to him that he would destroy Konoha.
And what had happened? Konoha was still standing, while Kazuma had ended up like this.
Unforgivable, you traitor!
"No! Third!"
The Daimyo sprang to his feet,
his voice trembling with agitation. "That was all a scheme by that traitor Kazuma to drive a wedge between us!"
The Daimyo's face was plastered with a false smile. "You know I've always been a staunch supporter of the Hokage system!"
He pointed at Kazuma's corpse, as if it were the vilest filth in the world.
"Those Guardian Shinobi? They were all acting on their own, under that fool Kazuma!"
"A petty schemer who tried to sow discord deserves everything he got!"
"A reward!"
"Someone, give the Third a generous reward!"
But no one in the empty hall answered the Daimyo's call.
"..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent.
That moment of silence made the Daimyo's heart pound with anxiety.
Cold sweat beaded across his forehead.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the man on the ground who had once treated the Daimyo as his jade general.
He sighed again.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly pulled himself together.
He made a solemn proposal. "My lord Daimyo, since the Guardian Shinobi are so inept, why not disband them? Konoha will take full responsibility for your safety."
Only then did the Daimyo relax.
He nodded quickly, afraid that even a moment's hesitation would be too late.
"Good! Very good!"
He clapped his hands in approval, as if a tremendous burden had been lifted.
"The Guardian Shinobi have proven treacherous. I recommend disbanding them at once!"
"As for my safety, of course Konoha will take full responsibility! Konoha's shinobi are the most loyal!"
At last, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a weight lift from his heart as well.
After all, the Land of Fire still needed the Daimyo to manage taxes and domestic affairs.
He still needed to maintain the delicate balance in which the Daimyo provided the village with its economic foundation, while the village provided the Daimyo with military protection.
As long as that balance remained, Konoha would not fall.
Outside the hall, the sunlight finally pierced through the last wisp of cloud.
The Guardian Shinobi who had been keeping watch around the Daimyo Palace had already been replaced by an elite Anbu squad.
Though the sunlight around them was warm and bright,
it could do little to mask the thick smell of blood in the air.
Before you continue