"Damn it!"
On the front lines of the battlefield, the sudden attack caught the Konoha ninja facing the Nine-Tails completely off guard. The sight of corpses strewn everywhere made Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart ache as he arrived. An extending Adamantine Staff swept toward the Nine-Tails, which opened its mouth and fired a Tailed Beast Ball straight at Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had no way to dodge. There were at least a hundred villagers behind him—if he avoided the Tailed Beast Ball, they might cease to exist. Pressing both hands to the ground, Hiruzen roared at the enormous Tailed Beast.
"My old friend! We'll have to risk our lives this time!"
Enma did not respond, instead coordinating with Hiruzen through action. Growing enormous once more, he charged at the Tailed Beast Ball alongside Hiruzen's thrust.
Boom...
"Lord Third Hokage!"
A violent explosion spread between Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Nine-Tails, clearing away the ruins across the ground once again. The chaotic scene was instantly swept clean. A figure was hurled backward, crashing through more than ten meters before plunging into the wreckage of a house.
"I'm fine! What about you? Why are you still standing around? Hurry up and evacuate the civilians!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen crawled out of the rubble and took a deep breath, answering the concerned ninja. At that moment, however, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who had just arrived, saw that Hiruzen's hands were covered in blood vessels and trembling faintly.
"Monkey!"
After saying that, Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to charge forward again when Mitokado Homura pressed a hand to his shoulder and slowly shook his head. Gritting his teeth, Hiruzen said in a low voice, "This is our village! If I don't go, who among you can stop it? Until Minato arrives, I'll hold off the Nine-Tails!"
In a normal battle,