With Me Here, You Won't Take the Seven-Tails!

As the mist rose, Sarutobi Hiruzen first spat out a gust of wind as a feint, then immediately summoned Enma. He had the monkey transform into his own likeness to engage in close-quarters combat, intentionally leaving an opening to firmly ensnare his opponent.

Standing on high ground, Hibari saw this scene with perfect clarity, so the moment Enma succeeded, his blade was already prepared.

Sure enough, seizing the fleeting opportunity, he struck—decapitating the target!

"Even if you hadn't acted, he wouldn't have escaped once Enma had him."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a chuckle. That said, he was quite satisfied with Hibari's reaction speed and coordination; being able to see through the intent and cooperate in the blink of an eye was truly impressive.

"Hiruzen," Enma remarked, eyeing Hibari and asking in a gruff voice, "is this that kid from the Senju Clan you're always going on about?"

"Haha, that's him!" Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with a smile. "What do you think? Not bad, right?"

But just then, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression shifted abruptly. With a flick of his hand, several shuriken flew past Hibari's cheeks! Immediately after, Hibari heard the sound of "ding-ding" behind him—the sound of shuriken being deflected.

Hibari didn't even have time to look back; he kicked off the stone pillar and retreated rapidly. Almost simultaneously, an arm swept through the spot where he had just been standing, nearly catching him.

When he steadied himself and looked back, Hibari was stunned. The one who had launched the sneak attack was none other than the mysterious ninja he had just decapitated!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was grave as he said in a low voice, "Liquefaction... you are from Kirigakure, the Hozuki Clan!"

The Hydrification Technique, a secret art passed down through generations of the Hozuki Clan, allowed the user to become immune to most physical attacks; blades and axes were completely ineffective. The fact that he had "come back to life" after his head was cut off showed just how troublesome this technique was.

"The indestructible Monkey King... your reputation is well-deserved," the mysterious ninja said, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen with a low voice. "I was careless and fell into your trap."

However, since the Hydrification Technique had been revealed, there was no point in hiding anymore. Hozuki Reigetsu simply dropped his disguise, his features shifting until his true face was revealed.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at that face, his brows knitting together instantly. "Hozuki Reigetsu... it really is you!"

This name carried significant weight in the ninja world. He was a ruthless character of the Hozuki Clan, and his brother, Hozuki Gengetsu, was destined to sit on the throne of the Mizukage. In terms of strength and reputation, Hozuki Reigetsu was no weaker than Sarutobi Hiruzen, nearly rivaling the older generation's Sarutobi Sasuke.

"Does Kirigakure intend to go to war with Konoha?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice deepened. "The Five Kage Summit just concluded; are you really going to tear up the peace so soon?"

Previously, to hide his identity, he had used common Water Style techniques that any Kirigakure ninja could perform, so he hadn't stood out. But now that his trump card was out, there was no need to hold back.

The Hozuki Clan were masters of water, and it was no surprise they held a few lethal techniques up their sleeves. Sarutobi Hiruzen's nerves tightened immediately.

Hozuki Reigetsu curled his lips into a smile. "You can't put it that way, Sarutobi Hiruzen. My brothers from Kirigakure were simply carrying out a classified mission when they inexplicably fell into your Konoha traps. And..."

He shifted his gaze to Hibari.

"And this kid later finished off another one of my subordinates."

Hozuki Reigetsu's tone was chilling. "No matter how you look at it, Konoha struck first, didn't it? The rules were just set at the Five Kage Summit, and this hard-won peace... you all have quite the nerve."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes darkened. If they were going to argue this way, it was truly a muddled mess.

They had removed their own headbands, so who could say where they were from? But since the other side used "classified mission" as an excuse, there was no way to refute it.

Moreover, it was indeed Kirigakure that had suffered the first casualties; it was an impossible situation to untangle.

"You hid your identities; who can you blame for what happened?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said coldly. "Now that it's out in the open, let's call it a misunderstanding. The area ahead involves Konoha secrets, so I ask you to stop here and turn back."

"Hehehe..." Hozuki Reigetsu chuckled, a hint of malice in his voice. "Sorry, but we are also on a mission. How about... you do us a favor and step aside?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't speak again, merely pressing forward with a heavy, intense gaze. The meaning could not have been clearer.

The atmosphere turned rigid in an instant.

Hibari's hand rested silently on his hilt, his eyes locked on Hozuki Reigetsu. Thanks to that cursed "Human-Human Fruit," the chakra he had expended was surging back into his system.

Just as he was contemplating when to strike, both men in the center moved simultaneously!

"Earth Style: Earth Spear!" Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted.

Several sharp spears formed from rock and earth appeared out of thin air, whistling toward Hozuki Reigetsu.

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"

A thick wall of water rose instantly in front of Hozuki Reigetsu. With a few muffled thuds, the earth spears were all blocked. But he didn't stop; he raised a hand and pointed it at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Water Gun Technique!"

With a flick of his index finger, a droplet of water shot out, moving so fast it left an afterimage! This was the Hozuki Clan's unique secret technique; it required no hand signs, yet its power was comparable to a bullet, making it impossible to guard against.

The two were too close; it looked like Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to be hit—

Clang!

Enma's sturdy body intervened just in time, using his indestructible arms to take the Water Gun shot head-on.

At almost the same moment, Hibari moved!

He drew his blade with lightning speed, his right hand crackling with electricity. The next second, surging Lightning Style chakra coated the blade, turning the entire weapon into a blinding thunder-blade as he slashed horizontally at Hozuki Reigetsu!

The Hydrification Technique was not without a weakness; Lightning Style was its natural nemesis!

But just then, a new crisis emerged!

From a deep pit filled with rubble nearby, a masked, monster-like figure lunged out with terrifying speed, heading straight for Hibari's back!

Hibari caught a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye.

"It's Kakuzu's technique!"

He saw that his blade was about to strike Hozuki Reigetsu, but the thing behind him had arrived. A glance told him it was the black threads of Kakuzu's "Earth Grudge Fear." If he committed to the strike, his own back would surely be shredded.

However, Hibari steeled his heart. It wasn't like he hadn't died before, and besides, taking a hit didn't necessarily mean the end. He couldn't just stand by and watch, could he?

So what if the opponent was a master? He had to fight! His eyes sharpened, and the crackling thunder-blade didn't slow down in the slightest, slashing straight at Hozuki Reigetsu!

Hozuki Reigetsu's heart skipped a beat. He truly hadn't expected this kid from the Senju Clan to be so reckless, choosing to trade lives without a second thought.

Their clan's Hydrification Technique was powerful, but Lightning Style was a hard counter! If he took that hit, he would immediately turn into a puddle of mud, left at the mercy of his opponent.

"Damn brat!"

He cursed and moved his feet to dodge. But in that movement, he exposed an opening.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had been watching the whole time. He was a master of Earth Style, and finding hand signs too slow, he simply clapped his hands together!

"Earth Style: Solid Earth Prison!"

The rubble pillar beneath Hozuki Reigetsu's feet twisted and deformed, turning into a living quagmire that instantly trapped him inside.

Almost simultaneously, Hibari's thunder-blade missed its mark, and Kakuzu's black threads reached his back. But a sharp gust of wind swept past Hibari's spine, slicing those black threads clean off.

"Kakuzu, you dare show your face!"

Sarutobi Sasuke's figure stood in front of Hibari, staring at the pitch-black monster with a heavy voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, another person crawled out of the pit—the rogue ninja from Takigakure, Kakuzu.

Come to think of it, Kakuzu's defection this time was different from the rumors. No one had sent him to assassinate Senju Hashirama; it was purely because this money-grubber had heard news of the Seven-Tails Chomei, sold it to the black market, and thus became a rogue ninja.

"Hehehe..." Kakuzu looked at Sarutobi Sasuke, his voice muffled behind his mask. "When someone pays a high price, I naturally have to come. Who would turn their back on money?"

Just as he finished speaking, the earth prison trapping Hozuki Reigetsu exploded!

Amidst the flying debris, Hozuki Reigetsu walked out, carrying a large blade he had scavenged from somewhere, licking his lips.

"Sarutobi Sasuke, you really are here." He grinned.

"Colluding with Kakuzu..." Sarutobi Sasuke studied him, his tone grave. "It seems Kirigakure really intends to target the Seven-Tails. This already violates the Five Kage Summit agreement."

"Don't be so quick to label us." Hozuki Reigetsu waved a hand, his smile undiminished. "Just consider this my personal behavior. I was just curious and wanted to see how powerful the Seven-Tails really is. Feel free to report me to Kirigakure afterward; I'll accept the punishment. As for Brother Kakuzu..."

He glanced at Kakuzu and laughed.

"We're kindred spirits. At worst, we'll just be rogue ninjas together from now on; that sounds pretty free!"

"Hmph, with me here, you won't take the Seven-Tails!" Sarutobi Sasuke said coldly.

Hozuki Reigetsu paused at these words, then shrugged.

"I didn't say I had to take it... I just wanted to see it."

Before his voice faded—

A loud roar erupted from the distant valley, and a violent surge of chakra shot into the sky! Immediately after, a shrill, piercing insect cry tore through the air, and a massive insect shadow appeared from the valley, flying toward them in a wild, reckless charge!

"Seven-Tails Chomei?!"

Hibari looked at the scene and blurted out in shock.

Sarutobi Sasuke stared at the rampaging giant insect and couldn't help but curse, "Those bastards, they really pissed off the Seven-Tails!"

Kakuzu turned his head at this moment and muttered to Hozuki Reigetsu, "Hozuki Reigetsu, I've sacrificed one of my hearts for this..."

"What are you panicking about?" Hozuki Reigetsu grinned and waved his hand. "The money I promised you won't be a penny short!"

As it happened, after hearing from Kakuzu that Konoha was involved, Hozuki Reigetsu had decided to flip his plan. The first step was still to go to Insect King Valley to scout the situation.

If they ran into Konoha people, they would initiate the second plan.

As it turned out, his subordinates were wiped out, and once he clashed with the Konoha ninja, the plan naturally changed. Kakuzu followed his prior instructions and went to provoke the Seven-Tails Chomei hidden in the valley.

Hozuki Reigetsu had calculated beautifully, hoping to use the Seven-Tails' madness to see if he could kill Konoha's pillar, Sarutobi Sasuke, in Insect King Valley.

But what he hadn't expected was that not only were the Sarutobi clan members here, but someone from the Senju Clan had also popped up! If these people could be wiped out by the Seven-Tails, wouldn't that be a massive profit?

Watching the Seven-Tails charging toward them, drawn by Kakuzu's "Earth Grudge Fear," Sarutobi Sasuke's expression grew increasingly grim.

Hozuki Reigetsu felt the timing was about right. He cracked his neck and said, "It seems I was too arrogant to think I could take on the Seven-Tails alone; I can't handle this pressure, so I'll take my leave! Are you all still going to fight? If not... I'm off!"

With that, he flipped over to Kakuzu's side, laughed arrogantly, and swaggered away.