Fierce Battle

Orochimaru chuckled twice upon seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's attire.

"Teacher, did you realize your death was approaching long ago?"

Hearing Orochimaru's question, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not reply, merely watching him with a blank expression.

Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored him, Orochimaru could only shake his head helplessly.

"Teacher, you are still as dull as ever."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Orochimaru and said, "Orochimaru, you are as much of a headache as you have always been."

Orochimaru looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with his serpentine eyes. "Only the mischievous students are remembered by their teachers, aren't they?"

"Enough." Orochimaru's tone shifted. "The probing is over; please, Teacher, show me something real."

Sarutobi Hiruzen formed hand seals. "That is exactly my intention. As I just said, my body is still quite sturdy; I have no problem working for another ten years."

Orochimaru smiled at the Third Hokage. "I hope you won't disappoint me, Teacher. I won't be holding back."

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a cold laugh. "I, too, shall observe your progress closely to determine if you need to return to the Ninja Academy for remedial studies."

At this moment, the two Anbu acting as VIP spectators sighed in awe, "This level of chakra—truly worthy of the Hokage."

The two of them charged at each other like arrows released from a bowstring.

Sarutobi Hiruzen pressed his palms together. "Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique."

Orochimaru pressed his palms together. "Summoning Technique, Edo Tensei!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned grave. "To use a summoning technique for defense... and this dead man is..."

Orochimaru's face showed excitement. "One, two."

Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth. Seeing the third coffin about to emerge, he made a split-second decision.

"I cannot let the third coffin appear, or there will be big trouble."

Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately formed hand seals, attempting to intervene.

However, the third coffin vanished just as a single character appeared on it.

Orochimaru muttered to himself, "Only two? But that will suffice."

The two coffins creaked as their lids swung open.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the two coffins before him, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.

Even if there were only two, they were not opponents to be taken lightly.

As the coffin lids fell, dust billowed into the air.

When the smoke cleared, two figures dressed in Warring States period attire appeared within the coffins.

Orochimaru's face was filled with excitement. "Teacher, what will you do now?"

The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and Tobirama slowly stepped out.

Senju Hashirama looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with a sense of nostalgia. "Long time no see, Monkey."

Senju Tobirama also spoke up. "Hiruzen, long time no see. You've grown old, haven't you?"

Root headquarters.

A Root member arrived to report.

"Lord Danzo, Konoha is under attack. Should we..."

Danzo raised a hand slightly to stop his train of thought.

"I didn't expect the Sand Ninja and Orochimaru to move so quickly. What about the Uchiha?"

The Root member responded with some hesitation, "The Uchiha's Konoha Military Police Force has already deployed all personnel on duty today."

Hearing the Root member's report, Danzo let out a cold laugh. "It seems I am not the only one hoping for Sarutobi Hiruzen's death."

Upon hearing this, the Root member broke into a cold sweat, immediately bowing his head, not daring to utter a word.

Was this something a small fry like him should be hearing?

At that moment, the Root member wished he could cut off his own ears.

Danzo looked at the trembling Root member with disdain and said flatly, "Go."

The Root member felt instantly relieved and scrambled to leave.

Danzo said to his confidant standing nearby, "Tell them to be prepared. No one is to act without my orders."

"Understood!" The confidant acknowledged the order and departed.

In the spectator stands.

Kakashi and Might Guy had already joined forces to finish off the Sand Ninja.

After snapping the throat of the last Sand Ninja, Kakashi clapped his hands and said coolly, "13 to 12. Guy, I won."

Might Guy burst into tears. "Kakashi, although I lost this time, I will definitely win next time!"

Kakashi looked at his close friend and shrugged helplessly, signaling that he didn't mind.

The main battlefield.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at his two predecessors and sighed with emotion, "I never imagined we would meet under such circumstances."

"I feel regret."

As the words fell, Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.

"Lord First Hokage, Lord Second Hokage, please forgive my lack of decorum."

At this moment, Orochimaru pulled out two prepared kunai with paper charms attached, embedding them into the necks of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.

Orochimaru stepped back, pressed his palms together, and a sinister smile crept across his lips.

"Enjoy yourselves."

Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama began to walk slowly toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Their speed gradually increased, and their division of labor was clearly defined.

Senju Hashirama launched a frontal assault, while Tobirama attacked from the flank.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were filled with a sense of trance.

While he hesitated, an Anbu member in the VIP viewing area spoke up, "Hokage-sama, even if their figures and appearances are identical, they are absolutely not Lord First Hokage and Lord Second Hokage."

Upon hearing the Anbu's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen replied that he understood.

The moment his voice faded, Senju Hashirama threw several shuriken.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen dodged them with ease, the two engaged in a brief exchange of taijutsu.

Finally, Sarutobi Hiruzen kicked Senju Hashirama, whose strength was less than one percent of his prime, sending him flying.

Senju Tobirama appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's flank.

He kicked toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen blocked with his arms and followed up with a kick of his own.

Senju Tobirama performed a mid-air turn and landed steadily on the roof tiles.

Senju Tobirama formed hand seals, his hands moving so fast they left a blur before his chest.

The speed of his hand seals was so rapid that the Anbu on the sidelines could not even track them with the naked eye!

"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"

Driven by Senju Tobirama's chakra, a miniature ocean was conjured out of thin air on the arid rooftop.

The Anbu widened his eyes at the sight, "To be able to use a Water Style of this magnitude on a rooftop where there is no water."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze sharpened.

He took a deep breath, his chest swelling, and his hands moved rapidly through seals: "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

BOOM!

Violent flames surged from his mouth, forming a fire dragon.

The fire dragon let out a roar and charged directly at the water dragon created by Tobirama.

The fire dragon and water dragon tangled repeatedly, but in the end, the fire dragon proved superior.

The water dragon ultimately extinguished Sarutobi Hiruzen's fire jutsu.

Thick white steam instantly enveloped the entire interior of the Four Violet Flames Formation.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands continued to form seals steadily, "Earth Style: Multiple Earth-Style Wall."

He slammed his hands onto the ground, and rows of earth walls engraved with dog heads rose up, blocking the water dragon.

By now, the mist had completely obscured Sarutobi Hiruzen's vision.

Sarutobi Hiruzen skillfully formed hand seals, "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough."

His chest swelled high, and he exhaled a terrifying blast of air from his mouth.