When the Kazekage said the words "Teacher Sarutobi," the Third Hokage's whole body jolted. His pupils contracted, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
"Bastard..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen ground his teeth as he slowly spoke the word.
But the Kazekage paid no attention to the change in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mood. His tone suddenly turned flippant.
"Honestly, I'd planned to take Sasuke away while Gaara was causing a commotion. Looks like things don't always go as planned."
The Kazekage lowered his head and studied the Third Hokage's eyes, as if observing the changes in his mood.
"I see. So that's what this is about. Your goal is this Konoha Ninja Village and Sasuke?"
The Third Hokage quickly composed himself and continued probing.
"Is there anything so important in the Konoha Ninja Village? More importantly, if Gaara fully awakens, he'll show you something much more interesting. But never mind that for now—your foolishness has plunged Konoha into chaos."
At that, the sealed emotions suddenly surged, and he shouted:
"I've won!"
The Third Hokage sighed. A complicated, inscrutable look flashed through his eyes as he said, "You never know how things will turn out until the very end. That's what I taught you, wasn't it... Orochimaru!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around and looked at the Kazekage again, only to find that he had changed his face.
And that face belonged to his student—Orochimaru!
The Third Hokage chuckled. "I've known for a long time that this day would come sooner or later. But taking my head won't be so easy!"
Orochimaru narrowed his sinister, slitted eyes, then stuck out his long tongue and licked the Kunai. In a cold voice, he said:
"I told you long ago that you'd better decide who the Fifth Hokage would be soon, because the Third—meaning you—is going to die here!"
As if he wanted to give the Third Hokage a fair fight, Orochimaru stepped back a few paces and smiled.
"So we get to fight again!"
The two faced off for a few seconds, then suddenly leaned forward and charged at each other.
The Third Hokage swiftly formed Hand Seals and called out:
"Ninja Art: Tile Shuriken!"
The roof tiles seemed to answer his call. They trembled, tore free from the roof, and shot toward Orochimaru.
Orochimaru reacted just as quickly. He leaped into the air to dodge the tiles, then formed Hand Seals.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
He finished the seals in a flash and opened his mouth. A giant serpent quickly crawled out, then lunged viciously at the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage couldn't react in time. The snake sank its fangs into the side of his neck!
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen put up such a feeble defense, Orochimaru sneered.
"That's all you've got? I really don't want to grow old, Teacher Sarutobi..."
But before he could finish, Orochimaru's expression suddenly changed. The serpent spat Sarutobi Hiruzen out of its mouth, and he turned into a mud figure that slowly melted into the ground.
"Body Replacement Technique?"
Orochimaru landed. The serpent that had bitten the Third Hokage turned back into a tongue and slipped into his mouth.
Before he could react, a shout suddenly rang out from behind him.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
The Third Hokage had somehow appeared behind him and swiftly formed Hand Seals.
The roof tiles beneath Orochimaru turned into a river of mud, sweeping him away.
Orochimaru struggled to steady himself in the muddy current. He quickly formed Hand Seals again, preparing to use a jutsu to escape.
But how could the Third Hokage let him get away with it?
Sarutobi Hiruzen changed his hand signs and performed another jutsu.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
A dragon's head suddenly emerged from the muddy river formed by the previous jutsu. It opened its jaws and blasted countless rocks and clods of earth at Orochimaru!
"That's not enough!"
The Third Hokage changed hand signs again and performed a new jutsu.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
Flames poured from his mouth, joining the mud and rocks from the earth dragon's jaws in a relentless barrage against Orochimaru.
"To combine Earth Release and Fire Release so perfectly..."
"As expected of Lord Hokage of Konoha!"
The Anbu members watching from outside, unable to enter the Four Violet Flames Formation, saw the Third Hokage gain the upper hand and couldn't help praising him.
"Aaaaaaaaaah!"
Engulfed in flames and swept away by the muddy water, Orochimaru let out a scream.
But the Third Hokage wasn't pleased just because his attack had hit Orochimaru. He said in a low voice:
"Stop putting on such a ridiculous act, Orochimaru!"
Crack—crack—
A somewhat indistinct figure emerged from the crumbling rooftop.
When the figure solidified, the people outside the formation were horrified to discover that there wasn't even a speck of dust on him!
Orochimaru's lips curled into a grin. "Impressive. But you're underestimating me, too. Do you really think a technique of that level can kill me?"
Seeing Orochimaru unharmed, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't seem surprised at all.
"You're just as unlikeable as ever," he said coldly.
As he spoke, the Third Hokage slowly removed his Hokage hat and robes and tossed them behind him.
Beneath the hat and robes, he wore a black battle suit!
Seeing this, Orochimaru tensed his muscles, but his voice remained flippant as he said:
"Don't say that, Teacher Sarutobi. Didn't you say the more troublesome a student is, the more lovable he is?"
The Third Hokage didn't answer. He simply stared intently at Orochimaru.
Neither said a word. Once more, they seemed to fall into a standoff.
Crack—crack—
Just then, a series of sounds slowly rang out. Everyone outside the formation stared in horror.
Under the pressure of the two men's terrifying auras, the tiles inside the Four Violet Flames Formation were slowly cracking apart!
The bricks shattered by their terrifying auras slowly began to float into the air.
What kind of terrifying power was this? Was this what a Kage Level battle looked like?
"Hehehe. Don't want to keep playing?"
Orochimaru chuckled again, but his laughter was full of menace.
"Fair enough. This isn't a lesson at the Ninja Academy. I won't go easy on you just because you've grown senile!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained expressionless. He stared intently at Orochimaru and replied coldly:
"Just what I had in mind. I'll judge by the quality of your jutsu whether to take you back to the Ninja Academy for remedial lessons."
"Don't disappoint me, Teacher Sarutobi!"
After saying this, Orochimaru fell silent and continued gathering his strength, matching the terrifying aura radiating from the Third Hokage.
And at the very instant their auras reached their peak—
"Bang!"
A sharp crack rang out beneath both of them as they launched forward, moving faster than they had before.
The Third Hokage reached into the pouch at his back, pulled out a Shuriken, and hurled it ahead!
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