Hiruzen Sarutobi VS. Third Kazekage

Land of Fire.

Sand Village's plan was half complete. Sasori's parents had indeed attracted a lot of attention, causing the army led by the Third Kazekage and Bunpuku to approach the Leaf Village at high speed. However, they hadn't mobilized many Leaf forces, with only Sakumo Hatake leading an army to deal with them.

"Lord Chiyojuro, the Leaf Village's army has arrived. The leader is the Leaf's 'White Fang'."

A ninja came to report.

"Let's go, let's meet this famous Leaf 'White Fang'."

Chiyojuro pulled his wife, preparing to face Sakumo Hatake.

Ten kilometers outside the Leaf Village, a ninja squad was returning to the village.

A genin-like youth asked, "Teacher, isn't Sand Village our ally? Why are they invading us?"

A girl pouted and replied, "Do I even need to ask? Although Sand Village is also attacking the Hidden Rain, they are constantly greedily seeking external resources. Our Leaf Village is so prosperous, naturally, they want to take it for themselves!"

The middle-aged Jonin praised, "Little Rain, you are absolutely right. There isn't that much trust between countries, and peace treaties can't restrain ninja at all. We..."

Before he could finish, dozens of kunai connected to explosive tags were shot at them.

The middle-aged Jonin stepped forward to block the kunai and shouted, "Scatter!"

After the dust settled, the surroundings were filled with Sand Village ninja. The Leaf Jonin broke out in a cold sweat and yelled, "Quickly fire the signal flare to alert the village, I'll hold them off."

"Hmph! You think too highly of yourself. Attack!" The Sand ninja attacked directly.

Bang!

The red signal flare still rose and exploded in the sky, but the cost was the annihilation of the entire Leaf squad.

"Since we've been discovered, there's no need to hide. Attack directly."

Hokage's Office.

A Chunin rushed in to report, "Lord Hokage, a large number of Sand Village ninja have appeared in front of the Leaf Village, less than ten kilometers away!"

Just then, the door opened, and Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura walked in, shouting angrily, "Hiruzen, is this how you're being Hokage? Sand Village is already at our doorstep, and you're just finding out."

Hanzo took the initiative, exuding great pressure!

He also brought Koharu and Homura; weren't they here to hold him accountable?

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't manage anything else. With a powerful enemy appearing, he had to face it, or he wouldn't be able to keep his position as Hokage!

Hiruzen Sarutobi said sternly, "Danzō, I know what you want to do. With the great enemy before us, put away your petty schemes."

"And the two of you, do a good job with logistical support and evacuate the civilians as quickly as possible."

Swish!

Hiruzen put on his battle attire, donned his Hokage cloak, and walked out.

Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's deterrence, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura left dejectedly. Danzō, however, looked at the map, pondering something.

Outside the Leaf Village, a large number of Sand Village ninja were steadily advancing. This had indeed caught the Leaf Village off guard.

"Captain, we're about to collapse. Haven't the reinforcements arrived yet?"

"Hold on a little longer, Lord Hokage will be here soon."

"Hmph! You will all die here!" A man with blue hair and yellow eyes, wearing a white Kage robe, appeared on the battlefield.

The Leaf ninja present were all frozen in place, filled with terror.

"This is Sand Village's strongest Kage—the Third! Ah..."

Before the ninja could finish speaking, he was killed by the Third Kazekage's condensed sand iron block.

A massive sand iron block swept towards the Leaf ninja. Those hit by this attack were certain to die. Just as everyone watched in horror, a sudden change occurred!

"Enma, Adamantine Imprisonment Wall!"

With a shout, a cubic cage formed, enclosing the Leaf ninja. The sand iron block could no longer penetrate it.

"It's Lord Hokage! We're saved!"

"You guys go to other places, leave this to me!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted.

"Yes!" The Leaf ninja engaged the Sand ninja on the flanks, providing cover for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked directly at Kazekage Kono and asked, "Lord Kazekage, why are you invading my Land of Fire? Aren't we allies?"

Kono crossed his arms and said, "It's because your Land of Fire is too wealthy. My Wind Country is full of yellow sand and has a harsh environment. How can we, the powerful Sand Village, allow your Leaf Village to occupy the best land."

Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, "Lord Kazekage, don't forget, this land was recognized by all the First Kages. It's impossible for you to break the established order."

"Moreover, didn't the First Hokage cede the Land of Rivers to compensate Sand Village back then? Don't you acknowledge this vast territory anymore?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi still wanted to make a final effort to make the other party retreat, but it was clear that war could only end with one side's surrender!

"Haha! Ridiculous. Sand Village did not participate in the First Great Ninja War, focusing on cultivation, all for today."

"If you want to stop the war, either cede land and pay reparations, or I die!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes gleamed, and he said, "It seems your mind is made up. Then come!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly formed hand seals, "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

Hiruzen spat a stream of flames towards Kono, then brought out Enma and pressed the attack.

All the flames were blocked by Kono's Sand Iron, and his close-quarters assault was also repelled by the Sand Iron][]s, making it impossible to get close.

Kono looked at Hiruzen and said, "Normal ninjutsu is useless against me."

"Then how about this!" Hiruzen summoned four shadow clones, who each formed hand seals.

"Five Elements: Great Combined Bullet Technique!"

The five bodies each released ninjutsu of five different natures: fire, lightning, water, earth, and wind.

Kono, as usual, wrapped himself in condensed Sand Iron for defense.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The five ninjutsu resulted in a massive explosion, with intense heat rising from the center.

As the smoke and dust cleared, Kono, who had expected his defense to be impenetrable, was shocked to find a large hole in the Sand Iron sphere that encased him. Hiruzen, wielding Enma, attacked, bringing it down with a heavy blow.

Boom!

The Kazekage Kono was slammed heavily into the ground, creating a crater.

Kono shakily got to his feet and demanded, "Impossible! How did you break through my Sand Iron defense?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly and said, "It seems you don't know your own weakness. Your ability is Magnet Release. Don't you know about demagnetization through high temperatures?"

Kono was stunned for a moment. That's right. No one had ever been able to use such powerful ninjutsu before, so naturally, he wouldn't know.

Although high temperatures could demagnetize, it wasn't easy. To remove the magnetism of Sand Iron, the temperature had to reach at least 770℃.

At such high temperatures, ordinary jutsu wouldn't suffice, but Hiruzen Sarutobi was known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu." His mastery of the Five Elements Ninjutsu was beyond that of ordinary people.

Kono let out a cold laugh, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Hiruzen, you are strong. I admit I underestimated you before. Let's have a good fight then!"

"Magnet Release: Sand Iron Gathering Attack, Sand Iron][, Sand Iron Cone, Sand Iron Spear."

Kono gathered a large amount of Sand Iron and compressed it to a high density! Instantly, he formed steel weapons with increased hardness and strength! They flew towards Hiruzen.

"Attacks with such high-density Sand Iron cannot be blocked by ordinary ninjutsu. Demagnetizing it would take too long."

"Enma can transform into the Adamantine Staff. It is a summoning beast and is not affected by magnetism. Ordinary attacks cannot stop it, so I can only use that jutsu!"

Having finished strategizing, Hiruzen's robust body rapidly expanded, and the Adamantine Staff in his hand also grew immensely large!

"Let's go, Enma!"

"Roar!"

Hiruzen, using Expansion Jutsu, stomped on the ground and charged towards the attacking steel weapons.

Rumble!

The giant, condensed weapons were actually pushed back. Kono's expression was one of shock. No one had ever been able to repel such condensed weapons. He had to increase his chakra input and form stronger weapons to fight back.

On the battlefield, ninjas on both sides were awestruck by their respective Kages. Such intense attacks made it impossible for anyone to stand within 50 meters of them! A moment's carelessness would mean death from the attacks of the two.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The battlefield echoed with deafening roars as the Sand Iron weapons and the Adamantine Staff collided again and again...

Even the super high-density condensed Sand Iron began to show cracks, with Sand Iron occasionally falling off! However, the Adamantine Staff was also seeping with crimson blood, indicating that even Enma's Adamantine body could not withstand such intense blows!

"Hoo, hoo..." Hiruzen supported his body with the Adamantine Staff, breathing heavily. Large beads of sweat slid down his body. The chakra consumed in such an intense battle was unimaginable.

Kazekage Kono was also not faring well. So far, it was his chakra that was maintaining the steel weapons; otherwise, they would have collapsed long ago! Such immense chakra consumption made his heart palpitate!

"This can't go on. I need to end this quickly!" Kono withdrew his Sand Iron weapons.

Kono formed hand seals, "Magnet Release: Sand Iron Shower!"

"Quick, dodge!" a Sand Ninja shouted upon seeing their Kage form hand seals.

Most of the Sand Ninjas spread out Sand Shields to protect themselves.

In an instant, he summoned a massive amount of Sand Iron, forming countless fine needles that swept across the battlefield.

Kono hid within the Sand Iron protection, sensing the magnetic fields and controlling the Sand Iron needles to sweep towards areas with different magnetic forces.

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!!!

This jutsu had a vast range. Because the Sand Ninjas had deployed Sand Shields, Kono could distinguish his own ninjas, so most of the Leaf ninjas were attacked.

Hiruzen's eyes were bloodshot, his pupils filled with red veins. The Leaf ninjas on the battlefield were under attack, and he could only hide within the completely sealed Adamantine Imprisonment Wall.

"Hiruzen, there's no need to blame yourself. This is all the enemy's doing. You need to pull yourself together; the war is not over yet!" Enma comforted him.

"Yes, old friend, you are absolutely right. I must make them pay!" Hiruzen stroked the bleeding Adamantine Staff, vowing inwardly.

"Ahhh...!" On the battlefield, the screams of Leaf ninjas were incessant. Since the Sand Iron could not penetrate Hiruzen's Adamantine defense, it turned its aim and shot at the Leaf ninjas.

In the early stages, they could still block the attacks with defensive ninjutsu, but the Sand Iron needles were controlled by Kono and were all-pervasive. The slaughter on the battlefield continued!

The Sand Iron Shower lasted for three minutes before it finally stopped. As far as the eye could see, the Leaf ninjas were covered in Sand Needles, a truly gruesome sight!

Dispersing the Adamantine Imprisonment Wall, Hiruzen Sarutobi attacked without a word.

"Ninja Art: Earth Dragon Flame Bullet!"

"Ninja Art: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Wind Style: Whirlwind!"

"Lightning Style: Roaring Thunder!"

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Dozens of ninjutsu were unleashed by Hiruzen, roaring as they charged towards Kono, who stood on the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Countless explosions echoed, and the Sand Ninja retreated continuously. The battlefield, spanning hundreds of meters, was completely engulfed.

"Is this the 'Professor of Ninjutsu'?" a Sand Ninja muttered.

"This is too strong. Are we destined to be trampled under Leaf's feet?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Our Sand Village is the strongest. The Kazekage will definitely defeat him!" another Sand Ninja retorted.

To still be able to unleash such powerful ninjutsu after such a prolonged battle, one had to admire Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength. His title was not undeserved!

"Hiruzen, did you finish him?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at the center of the battlefield, his brow furrowed. He knew the terror of this man and could only hope inwardly, I hope this powerful attack works...

From the rolling dust and smoke, a colossal figure charged towards the sky. It was the Kazekage, Kono, completely unharmed!

Hiruzen's heart sank to the bottom. His chakra was running low, and he could only unleash two or three more techniques at most. The current situation was extremely disadvantageous for him!

Kono landed, controlling the Sand Iron Sky Wings, and praised, "Hiruzen, you are truly strong. To force me to use 'Rakshasa Shield' and 'Sand Iron Sky Wings,' you are the first."

Kono formed hand seals, "Magnet Release: Sand Iron World Law!"

A Sand Iron barrier instantly formed on the battlefield. The Sand Iron spread, and high-intensity Sand Iron spikes lunged towards Hiruzen.

Hiruzen could only continuously swing his Adamantine Staff to shatter the forming Sand Iron, but his current speed was no match for the spreading Sand Iron.

"Ah!" Several iron spikes pierced Hiruzen's body. Enma was about to unleash the Adamantine Imprisonment Wall to protect him when another high-intensity Sand Iron weapon struck.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Great Triangle! Hiruzen, die!" The Third Kazekage's face contorted with ferocity.

The high-speed rotating triangular prism attacked, its power immense.

"Am I going to die?" Hiruzen wore a smile of acceptance.

Just as the rotating weapon was about to strike, Leaf Village reinforcements finally arrived.

"Super Push Hand!"

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

A super-expanded palm and a Water Dragon Bullet repelled the Iron Sand Great Triangle and shattered the formation of the Sand Iron barrier.

Choza Akimichi and Mushimaru Kosuke led the army to the battlefield. Choza helped Hiruzen up.

Hiruzen looked at Choza Akimichi and said, "Choza, thank you for still coming to save me!"

"Stop talking. Driving back the powerful enemy is what's important!"

They were comrades, and their past coordination reappeared.

Looking at the arriving Leaf Village army, the Kazekage Kono smiled slightly and said, "Leaf Village, you are truly troublesome! This is the final blow!"

"Magnet Release: Sand Iron Scatter Shot!"

The battlefield was instantly filled with a wide range of Sand Iron debris, dispersing in the air like "black mist." Under Kono's control, it flew towards Leaf Village.

Hiruzen stepped forward, raising his Adamantine Staff, and spun it at high speed, "Adamantine Staff: Gale!"

Whoosh! A strong vortex drew a large portion of the iron fragments towards it, landing on the ground.

Choza Akimichi shouted, "Wind Style ninjas, quickly clear the iron fragments. Do not let them be inhaled!"

The Wind Style ninjas within Leaf Village displayed their unique abilities, blowing away the "black mist"!

The Kazekage Kono curved his lips, "This is a gift I'm giving you. You better savor it!"

He turned and retreated from the battlefield with the Sand Village.

The strong wind swept through, and the "black mist" in the air almost completely dissipated, becoming barely visible to the naked eye.

The Leaf Village army also quickly withdrew from the battlefield. These iron fragments were poisonous. Hiruzen had the most within his body, his face already turning dark, sustained only by his immense strength.

Some Leaf Village ninjas were even worse off, dying on the way. The Kazekage's methods were truly vicious.

The battle here had just concluded, and Leaf Village's "White Fang" battle had also ended. As expected, Sasori's parents were killed. Puppet masters feared close-quarters combat the most, while Sakumo Hatake excelled at it. However, what they didn't notice was that Sasori's parents were no longer the people they once were.

PS: The battles will no longer be separated and will be combined into one chapter.