The Ninjutsu Professor!

"But!..."

Takahashi Yū's anger had never reached such heights. The blood-red aura in the sky resembled dark clouds about to overwhelm a city, or the sea beneath a raging storm.

Konoha's villagers also collapsed under the terrifying aura, their hearts pounding uncontrollably. Instinct etched into their very bones screamed at them to run!

Aside from the Undying Squad, whose power shared the same source, all the ninja below had been pressed to the ground. For the weaker ones, even moving a finger was too much to hope for.

Takahashi Yū directed all his Killing Intent toward Tsunade. She only had time to throw Dan Katō aside before the immense pressure pinned her to the ground.

Takahashi Yū slowly walked up to Tsunade. The stone tiles beneath her kept cracking, pain showing on her face. This time, his [Murderous Intent Fluctuation] had been unleashed to its fullest, beyond what an ordinary person could withstand.

"But! You're the last people entitled to say that! Especially you, Tsunade! The First's granddaughter, the princess of the Land of Fire!"

The clan heads and some of the elite ninja wore pained expressions. They had never imagined Tsunade could say something like that, actually pinning an enemy's malicious slander on one of their own-and someone of her special standing had been the one to level it at Takahashi Yū.

They would have been better off letting Takahashi Yū crush Hyūga Tenmei to death.

The Yamanaka Clan Head had already given up, lying pinned to the ground with the other Chunin, his head buried in the dirt. Perhaps he was wondering why he had not passed out.

Ever since being pulled out by a shadow, the Akimichi Clan Head had remained on the ground without any response.

The Nara Clan Head also looked utterly defeated. He already regretted getting involved. Originally, he had wanted to keep Konoha's overall strength from being diminished. Now his objective had changed. Let Hyūga Tenmei die, let the shinobi clans be dissatisfied-just keep Tsunade alive.

The clan heads present were from the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Inuzuka Clan, and Aburame, along with Gekko Yūma and many ninja still in Konoha. Whatever Tsunade's purpose had been, those words had ended Takahashi Yū's political career. Although he had never wanted one, public support was now beyond his reach. Even his status as a war hero might be smeared, and enemies outside the village would find it incredibly easy to attack him through public opinion.

Aside from Yūma, all the clan heads began to view Tsunade differently. They fought wars for Konoha only to end up with a ruined reputation-was this what the First and Second had taught her?

Even if Tsunade died here now, the shinobi clan representatives would not feel much. Getting past Mito Uzumaki would be somewhat difficult, and the remaining Senju Clan might also pose a problem.

Now, apart from the Nara Clan Head, everyone intended to watch. By ordinary reasoning, Takahashi Yū even had somewhat more right on his side.

Takahashi Yū reached out with his large hand and pressed it onto Tsunade's head, slowly lifting her just as he had Hyūga Tenmei.

In truth, Takahashi Yū had complicated feelings about Tsunade. After all, she had featured heavily in the original story. But he had never imagined that Tsunade, mature enough to become the Fifth Hokage in that story, would now have the personality of a spoiled child!

Fury blazing in his heart, Takahashi Yū spoke to Tsunade, whose face was contorted in pain.

"I don't know what made you say that, but because of those words, the forty-two brothers I lost on the battlefield died for nothing!"

Veins bulged along Takahashi Yū's arm. Tsunade struggled constantly, but with his murderous aura pinning her down, she could only sway slightly back and forth like a dangling fish.

"Enma!"

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Bang!

A metal staff struck Takahashi Yū's arm hard with a whistle through the air, while several soulless giant pythons coiled around him from behind.

The Third finally arrived, wearing black combat gear. Orochimaru also appeared from somewhere.

"Takahashi Yū, let Tsunade go!" the Third Hokage shouted. The staff striking Takahashi Yū's arm was the Adamantine Staff, transformed from his summon, Enma. A monkey's hand abruptly emerged from its tip and clamped tightly around Takahashi Yū's forearm.

"One after another today. I'm so fucking sick of this!"

Takahashi Yū lashed out with a side kick at Tsunade's body, holding nothing back. The giant pythons wrapped around him were all torn apart, blood spraying everywhere.

The Third Hokage was already drenched in sweat from resisting the murderous aura, but his experience still allowed him to place the Adamantine Staff in front of Tsunade.

Bang!

Takahashi Yū's tremendously powerful side kick slammed into the end of the staff! He kicked Enma, whose body was supposedly indestructible, hard enough to crack and deform him, driving the staff into Tsunade along with it!

Even cushioned by Enma, the force was more than Tsunade could withstand. She immediately spat blood mixed with fragments of her organs. The immense force bent her into the shape of a shrimp in midair and sent her flying into an already damaged building, raising a cloud of dust.

The Third Hokage could not keep his hands steady either. The Adamantine Staff flew from his grasp, erupted into white smoke in midair, and disappeared.

The surrounding ninja stared, dumbfounded. Bold! The boldest man alive!

"What are you trying to do, Takahashi Yū?! Kill your comrades inside the village?!"

The Third Hokage's forehead was covered in sweat, whether from Murderous Intent Fluctuation or because of Tsunade.

Takahashi Yū no longer cared about anything either.

"Comrades! I went to war and killed your enemies, protecting your homes and country! Did you ever treat me as a comrade?" Towering over the Third, Takahashi Yū pointed at him and sprayed his face with spittle.

Like a loach, Orochimaru slipped through the rubble and swiftly reached Tsunade, who had fallen among the ruins, hurriedly checking her condition.

The blood spilling from Tsunade's mouth had stained her collar red. Her abdomen was caved in, and a green glow stubbornly moved through it.

The First's necklace had shattered completely. Orochimaru breathed a sigh of relief. He had been hiding nearby and watching for some time. The moment Tsunade spoke those words, he had known this would not end peacefully and had been forced to intervene. Now that she was still alive, there was still a chance to turn things around!

A small white snake darted from Orochimaru's sleeve, burrowed into the rubble, and vanished with a series of twists.

"No one can deny your achievements! But why are you so vicious even toward your comrades, Takahashi Yū?!" Unaware of Tsunade's condition, the Third could not even spare a thought for Enma, who had grown up alongside him. He straightened his back and held his own in the shouting match.

"There's no point talking! Third, I repaid my debt to the First in the Land of Wind! Since his granddaughter sees me as an enemy, we'll go our separate ways and stay out of each other's business!" Takahashi Yū no longer wanted to argue with the old Third. He only wanted to take his people and leave this disgusting village.

"Takahashi Yū, are you going to defect?!" Mitokado Homura shouted from behind.

Idiot. Orochimaru could not help licking his lips.

The other clan heads also muttered inwardly. Is the fire not burning fiercely enough for you?

"Old man, I've been sick of you for a long time!" Takahashi Yū charged at Mitokado Homura, twisting his body and opening his chest as he drew his fist behind him, then swung at the bastard who had ordered him around however he pleased in the Land of Wind.

The tremendous force whipped up a gale. Still in his prime, Mitokado Homura narrowly twisted aside, but the wind from the punch knocked him to the ground in a miserable heap.

"Takahashi Yū!" The Third was stunned by Takahashi Yū's sudden outburst, but quickly reacted, his hands already forming seals continuously.

Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!

An earthen dragon's head rose from underground and spat a torrent of earth at Takahashi Yū's back.

Boom!

The torrent of earth, mixed with stones, slammed into Takahashi Yū's back. Against ninjutsu of this caliber, he did not even feel the urge to dodge. His body did not so much as sway.

Turning with a sweep of his arm, he knocked aside the remaining torrent. He stamped down on the stone tiles and used the recoil to launch a flying kick at the Third.

With a splatter, the Third, struck in the face, turned into mud.

Earth Clone!

Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!

A pair of hands burst out of the earth and grabbed Takahashi Yū's feet just as they landed, attempting to drag him underground.

Seeing this, Takahashi Yū slammed a heavy punch into the ground, shattering it and sending stones flying.

Along with dust, a cloud of white smoke rose from the broken ground. Takahashi Yū spat. A Shadow Clone.

Seeing that he had already begun fighting the Third, the surrounding ANBU stepped forward to assist, but the Undying Squad members and clan heads stopped them. Helping now would truly establish that they were forcing Takahashi Yū to leave.

The Third emerged from behind a broken wall, his hand seals already complete. Unable to summon Enma, he did not dare fight Takahashi Yū at close range.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

A thick column of water rose behind the Third, forming a water dragon above his head before rushing toward Takahashi Yū, gouging a trench through the stone tiles along its path.

Just as Takahashi Yū was about to smash the enormous water dragon, a piercing peal of thunder sounded behind him.

"Lightning Release: Roaring Thunder!"

Another Third appeared on the eaves behind Takahashi Yū, holding hooked fingers before his mouth. As he channeled his chakra, he released a sharp lightning lance from his mouth. While it shot toward Takahashi Yū, scattered bolts of lightning battered the courtyard beyond recognition, leaving it covered in small, scorched pits.

But it was already too late for Takahashi Yū to stop. He cleaved the water dragon apart horizontally with a knife-hand strike, splashing a great deal of water onto himself.

The lightning lance that followed struck the soaking Takahashi Yū with blinding speed. Yet even with his entire body wet, the lightning still seemed to have hit something immovable. Most of it reflected away, tracing two arcs through the air and blasting two more large pits into the courtyard.

Both Thirds erupted into white smoke as soon as they finished their techniques. Both were Shadow Clones!

Takahashi Yū felt a faint tingling across his body. The Third in his current prime truly deserved the name "Ninjutsu Professor"! His Earth Release approached Ōnoki's, and his Water Release and Lightning Release techniques were the most powerful Takahashi Yū had encountered from any ninja!

Still unable to locate the Third's real body, Takahashi Yū simply spread his murderous aura out completely, hoping to find him.

The Third had also just wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. A direct hit, yet it had accomplished nothing. This was why he did not want to fall out with Takahashi Yū. He had no confidence that he could defeat him.

Both Takahashi Yū and the Third held their breath and concentrated. The Third formed seals again, creating several Shadow Clones, then immediately made the seal for the Substitution Technique. Just as he expected, the moment he created the clones, the wall before him shattered. Takahashi Yū's elbow strike had arrived!

Crack!

The wall before him and the Substitution Technique's log were pulverized by the elbow strike. With several sideways flips, the Third instead returned to the devastated courtyard.

With pressure like this, he really could sweep through a battlefield unopposed!

The Third silently thought this to himself. In that brief moment of distraction, Takahashi Yū's huge body flickered before him again, trailing afterimages. A fist grew steadily larger in his vision.

Bang!

As expected, another Shadow Clone. Takahashi Yū swung his fist hard. Now he really felt that not knowing ninjutsu was a problem! Without Sensory Ninjutsu, his limitations were too great. The Third was far too slippery, leading him around by the nose!

Had the watching ninja known, they would surely have cursed Takahashi Yū for not appreciating what he had. He was clearly chasing the Third around and beating him, yet he still was not satisfied. Could they trade places?

The Third truly deserved his title of "Ninjutsu Professor." He deployed clones and substitutions practically instantaneously, without any windup or recovery, and his extensive combat experience left no openings whatsoever. If there was one, it was certainly a feint. Takahashi Yū had to admit that he might not be able to touch him before his chakra ran out-unless he disregarded the lives of ordinary villagers.

The white smoke before him dispersed, revealing the cratered courtyard. Suddenly, strange chakra fluctuations came from the front end of the trench gouged by the Water Dragon Bullet and the two large pits blasted out by Lightning Release.

Three figures rose from the pits using Earth Release. Dark green barriers shot out from them, connecting each pair at tremendous speed! They formed an equilateral triangular enclosure, sealing Takahashi Yū inside at its center!

"Secret Technique: Three-Way Seal!"

Takahashi Yū felt a tremendous restraint within the dark green triangular enclosure. He abruptly unleashed his Killing Intent, exerting his body along with it. The dark green barrier faded at a visible rate, about to turn transparent and disappear!

But that was already enough for the Third. The moment Takahashi Yū was restrained, the Shadow Clones he had created behind the wall appeared from every direction. Their hands blurred before their chests as they formed seals, each using the seals for a different ninjutsu!

"Five Release: Great Combo Technique!"

The Thirds in five directions shouted, spitting wind, fire, water, earth, and lightning respectively!

This was the pinnacle of the Third's self-developed ninjutsu, but it also consumed an enormous amount of chakra. He now looked exhausted, retaining only enough chakra for a few Body Flicker Techniques. Once they finished releasing their ninjutsu, his Shadow Clones burst apart one after another.

The Third Hokage himself also watched the nearly transparent Three-Way Seal at the center with anticipation.

Boom-boom!!!

All five ninjutsu struck the transparent triangular enclosure in the center of the courtyard, producing a tremendous explosion on contact. The various elements abruptly contracted inward, then suddenly erupted outward! A small mushroom cloud exploded over the Hyuga Clan Compound!

The blast tore the combat headcloth from the Third's head and sent it flying somewhere unknown, exposing hair streaked with a little gray that whipped wildly about. The watching ninja all lay flat, covering their heads with both hands.

The shock wave left most of the Hyuga Clan Compound in ruins. Even the Uchiha Clan Compound was affected!

Everyone climbed up from the ground, shaking debris and dust from their bodies. Fortunately, the injured had all been sent to the hospital. Otherwise, there was no telling how many would have been crushed to death.

They turned their eyes toward the great crater that no longer resembled a small courtyard. Dust filled it, obscuring everything, but the resurgent Killing Intent returned everyone to that familiar pressure.

Orochimaru's eyes grew feverish. Such tremendous power! Such an abnormal body! He extended his tongue and licked his cheek, already impatient to return to his laboratory and eager to learn the essence of the Third's ninjutsu as soon as possible.