Facing his two teachers, the aging Hiruzen Sarutobi was clearly outmatched.
They kept him on the defensive.
Outside the barrier, Zhou Cheng was stunned by the First and Second Hokages' ninjutsu.
The Second Hokage's Water Release could hardly be called Water Release.
Calling it Ocean Release would have been more fitting.
Even with no water nearby, his Water Release still had such tremendous power.
And this was only the Second Hokage summoned through Impure World Reincarnation, with less than one percent of his strength at his peak.
Zhou Cheng could barely imagine how powerful the Second Hokage's Water Release had been at his prime.
Even compared to the Four-Tails, which excelled at Water Release, he would have held his own.
Left with no choice, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned his own summoning beast.
He belonged to the Enma clan.
Then he had Enma transform into a golden-banded staff to fight the First and Second Hokages.
After a grueling battle, he finally sealed the First and Second Hokages.
Then he clashed with Orochimaru again.
To defeat Orochimaru, he summoned the Reaper at the cost of his own life.
Watching from outside, Zhou Cheng wrestled with a dilemma. Should I save that old fox, the Third Hokage?
Whatever else he had done, he had taught Zhou Cheng wholeheartedly for a time.
He glanced around and saw civilians and shinobi alike watching the barrier with worried eyes.
They were all worried about their Lord Hokage.
Zhou Cheng narrowed his eyes. Becoming Konoha's hero through the Chunin Ninja Exams alone wasn't enough.
But the Reaper had already appeared. No one could save him now!
Zhou Cheng could only watch quietly and wait for it all to end.
His target was Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword.
He planned to learn kenjutsu next, and a high-grade ninja blade was essential.