The relentless close-quarters fighting put him under immense pressure. His stamina drained rapidly, and sweat had soaked through his back.
At this rate, he'll wear me down!
I have to put some distance between us!
The thought flashed through his mind, and he moved to retreat.
But the blood-red Sharingan in his opponent's eyes seemed to read his intentions. His opponent caught his wrist, seized him again, and hurled him aside.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed into a thick tree with a bang.
"Pfft!"
He spat a mouthful of blood.
Then he scrambled to his feet, only to be forced back into close combat.
This fierce, purely Hand-to-Hand Combat exchange was punishing Hiruzen Sarutobi. He couldn't even find an opening to use Ninjutsu.
He failed to notice the two figures silently watching from nearby.
"The Third Hokage won't last much longer."
Kakashi Hatake sighed softly.
Asuma Sarutobi watched his father, his expression conflicted.
Even he had to admit that the man once known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, the great Third Hokage, had grown much older.
For one thing, his stamina was nowhere near what it had been in his prime.
With one Wood Release technique, Xia Le had separated all five Kage and forced each to face a clone. But by this point, the Third Hokage was having the hardest time of them all.
Suddenly, Asuma and Kakashi's expressions changed. They spun around.
"Who's there?!"
A figure stepped out slowly, followed by two others.
Kakashi froze. He recognized the two young men who had followed Xia Le earlier. But the one walking in front was...
"Orochimaru?!"
Asuma narrowed his eyes and called out the newcomer's name.
Orochimaru ignored them. He walked a few steps forward and stopped nearby to watch the fight.
After a long while, he spoke without expression.
"How