The Pinnacle of Ninjutsu Application!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hiruzen Sarutobi created four Shadow Clones, surrounding Riu from all sides as they prepared to form hand seals.

His thoughts raced. The Mind Body Switch Technique had already been broken by Riu; using it again would be asking for trouble. But Riu's intangibility was ultimately a major problem. Continuous, saturated attacks were theoretically possible, but they would consume an unimaginable amount of Chakra. It would be better to use Shadow Clones to make him wary, forcing him to hesitate whenever he materialized and making it easier for him to expose an opening!

Riu looked at the Shadow Clones around him and thought, Trying to distract me? As expected of such a cunning old fox. Too bad, I can use Shadow Clones too. And with Senju Power, my Chakra far surpasses his!

Riu formed hand seals and used Shadow Clones as well. Clones restrained clones, while the originals faced each other. Nothing had changed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned at the sight. I've been outmaneuvered. But... fortunately, I've already prepared a backup plan.

Five Release: Great Bullet Barrage!

Hiruzen Sarutobi and his four Shadow Clones coordinated with one another, each unleashing a different elemental ninjutsu of fire, lightning, water, earth, and wind!

Riu thought, The elements are complete, but they're all B-rank ninjutsu. I can copy something at this level instantly!

Riu instantly copied the Five Release: Great Bullet Barrage. His original body and clones formed hand seals together and launched their attacks head-on.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!

The explosion of ten ninjutsu colliding was nothing short of spectacular. The three ANBU squad captains were dumbfounded!

"What did I just see?!"

"To actually rival the Third Hokage, known as the Professor, in the sheer breadth of ninjutsu... when did the Uchiha produce such a prodigy?!"

"I'm starting to wonder whether Danzo's policies toward the Uchiha are really correct..."

"Even my former comrade, Uchiha Kagami, could never wield the Sharingan to such an extent. If only he weren't an enemy..." Hiruzen Sarutobi maintained his ninjutsu with one hand while taking out a Kunai with the other and throwing it at Riu.

"Targeting the moment I materialize is the right idea, but what can a Kunai do? At least put an Explosive Tag on it if you want it to look convincing..." Riu lightly shifted aside, and the Kunai flew past him.

"Hm?" Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he spotted strange markings on the Kunai. "Could that be...?"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Hiruzen Sarutobi's four Shadow Clones vanished simultaneously.

Whoosh! Then his original body appeared behind Riu without any warning, thrusting a Kunai coated in Wind Release Chakra toward Riu's heart!

Whoosh! It passed right through him!

"What?!" The Third Hokage was startled. He abruptly stopped and swiftly retreated.

Riu turned around and reached toward the Third Hokage. The short-range Kamui in his right eye was ready to fire. "Flying Raijin... so you can use it too, Third Hokage! If I hadn't noticed that something was wrong with that Kunai in time, things would have gone badly!"

Watching the approaching hand, the Third Hokage thought, My mastery of Flying Raijin is inferior to the Second and Fourth Hokage. At this distance, I won't make it in time. No choice... I'll have to use my backup plan!

Swish, swish! The Third Hokage began forming hand seals with both hands.

Riu watched the sequence of seals in the Third Hokage's hands and thought, That seal... Earth-Style Wall? Heh, is he panicking and grabbing at anything now?

Boom! Suddenly, the ground split open. A hand shot out and grabbed Riu's ankle, stopping his outstretched hand dead in its tracks!

Riu was shaken. There was another Shadow Clone underground? When did that happen?! Could it have been at the very start of the fight? During his first wave of Shuriken Shadow Clones, did he use the cover of sand and wind to transform a Shadow Clone into a shuriken and mix it in?!

Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!

Boom! The hand gripping Riu's ankle pulled hard, dragging his entire body into the ground until only his head remained exposed!

Riu's gaze turned fierce. The long-range Kamui in his left eye had already locked onto the Third Hokage's head!

Kamui!!

Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!

Almost simultaneously, Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed both hands onto the ground, and an earthen wall erupted upward...

Crack!!!

Kamui tore a hole through the Earth-Style Wall, but with that delay of less than a second, Hiruzen Sarutobi had avoided the vital strike. A chunk of flesh was ripped from his shoulder by Kamui, exposing stark white bone.

Whoosh! Riu phased through the earth and emerged. Looking at the Third Hokage, who had already retreated to a safe distance, he sighed sincerely. "To use ordinary ninjutsu to such an incredible level... Third Hokage, you truly deserve the title of Professor of Ninjutsu..."

He had to admit that his current understanding and application of conventional ninjutsu still lagged far behind the Third Hokage's.

The Third Hokage was not a Jinchūriki. He had no Sharingan, could not use Wood Release, possessed none of the monstrous taijutsu of the Raikage, nor the diverse Bloodline Limits of the Kage from other villages. Yet with nothing but solid fundamentals and masterful ninjutsu, he stood at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World!

He had proven to the world that even an ordinary man could approach the realm of the divine!

But an ordinary man was still an ordinary man, and there would always be limits...

Riu admired him, but he would still defeat him without hesitation—with absolute power!

He raised two fingers before his chest. This was the Clash of the Opposite Seals, a ninja gesture representing Riu's recognition of the Third Hokage's strength.

The Third Hokage returned the Clash of the Opposite Seals. The turmoil in his heart was no less than Riu's. I once suspected that his true identity was Konoha's ancestor, Uchiha Madara. But now, he is clearly not Madara. He is instead the one unparalleled genius produced by the Uchiha after Madara. Though his strength does not yet rival Madara's, one day... No choice!

The Third Hokage dipped his fingers in the blood on his shoulder and formed hand seals—Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram!

Summoning Jutsu: Monkey King Enma!

Bang!!

Enma made his entrance.

"Sarutobi, you haven't summoned me in ten years, have you...?"

"This time, I truly had no other choice. I'm counting on you, Enma!"

"There is no need for so many formalities between us!"

Bang!! Enma transformed into his Diamond Body, becoming the Ruyi Staff. Sarutobi wielded the staff, sending gusts of wind surging through the air...

Riu murmured, "The summoned beast Enma possesses a Diamond Body and can transform endlessly. His raw strength is no weaker than a Hokage's. He's quite troublesome. Should I summon the Eight-Tails? No, the Tailed Beast Bomb would cause too much commotion. I might even flatten my own base. At a critical time like this, Orochimaru's results absolutely cannot suffer any more mishaps!"

The Mangekyo Sharingan in both his eyes shone brilliantly.

Azure Chakra flames rose. It was Susanoo, skipping past the first two forms and directly activating its strongest form—the Crow Tengu!

The enormous figure towering before them filled everyone with silent dread.

"What is that?!"

"How is the Third Hokage supposed to deal with something like this?!"

"Could it be... has the Third Hokage been forced to use that state?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely, "That vicious Chakra is exactly the same as when the Mind Body Switch Technique was broken. So this is Susanoo!"

One eye opened on the Ruyi Staff. "Sarutobi, breaking that won't be easy. We can't hold anything back now!"

"Yes, I understand!"

Boom!! Hiruzen Sarutobi's lean body rapidly expanded...

Over by the three ANBU.

"Isn't that the Akimichi Clan's Super Expansion Jutsu? Why can the Third Hokage use it?!"

"The Akimichi Clan's Multi-Size Technique is a secret ninjutsu based on Yang Release. The Third Hokage is the only person outside the Akimichi Clan capable of using it. But because he does not have the Akimichi Clan's bulky build, the price of using it is total exhaustion. He would be bedridden and unable to move for half a month!"

"Lord Third Hokage has truly been driven into a corner!!"

The Ruyi Staff in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand also became incomparably massive!

"Let's go, Enma!!"

"Roar!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!!

Super-expanded Hiruzen Sarutobi charged toward Riu's Susanoo with footsteps that shook the earth and mountains.

The Crow Tengu Susanoo condensed a greatsword in its hand—not a divine weapon—and slashed forward!

Rumbleeeee!!

They collided like two mountains...

In the stone chamber of the underground base, broken stones and rubble came raining down.

"Oh my, things are rather noisy outside. Is this some grand tribute to my outstanding creation..." Orochimaru smiled seductively.

"Orochimaru-sama, the Third Hokage is already here. You know his strength better than anyone. Even that Uchiha Yu will be unable to escape disaster. We should leave this place quickly!" Kabuto urged.

"Hehehe, Kabuto, you do not understand Yu-kun's strength. Before the ocular power of those eyes, even that monstrous old man will be no match for him..." Orochimaru said with a smile.

Kabuto looked at Orochimaru, who refused to leave, and thought, I'm sorry, Orochimaru-sama. Please forgive my disrespect. A noble being like you should not be used by others. If that is the case, then even if I must knock you unconscious, I will accept whatever punishment you give me afterward!

Hum! Blue Chakra covered his hand as he silently moved behind Orochimaru and struck at the back of his neck.

Crack! But a powerful hand caught his wrist.

Kabuto stared in shock at Tobi, who had appeared before him.

"Don't push your luck, you piece of trash!" From Tobi's bottomless black pupils came an ice-cold killing intent!