Naruto: The Age of Ninja Swords Begins in Kumogakure

Chapter 255 The Scheme of Hiruzen Sarutobi

"war!"

The Third Raikage also wore a ferocious expression, his body crackling with golden lightning. The next moment, he charged forward wielding the Hell Spear, which was enveloped in black lightning.

The others followed suit, and Yekura even used Wind Release to increase her flight speed as she charged towards Shimura Danzo.

The Scorch Release technique itself has the wind attribute, and when combined with the explosive properties of the fire attribute, it can generate a certain amount of jet power, making its speed quite good.

That wasn't all. Yekura unleashed Sage Art: Scorching Release Chakra, using herself as the foundation to form a super-large Sage Art: Wind Release: Amaterasu Scorching Release: Rasengan Shuriken, which crashed straight into the dark phoenix that Shimura Danzo had transformed into.

Danzo Shimura was not afraid and used his transformed dark phoenix form to meet the attack head-on.

Two enormous creatures engulfed in black flames collided, sending black flames flying and violently distorting the air.

The Konoha side also launched an attack, trying to find an opponent they could counter rather than be countered by, so that the battle would be easier.

However, this idea is difficult to realize, because the ninjas of the Four Villages Alliance also think the same way.

In this respect, the high-ranking ninjas of the Four Villages Alliance have an advantage, especially the Cloud Village ninjas, because the Cloud Village ninjas are all skilled in ninjutsu and taijutsu, and their burst speed is faster.

Not to mention the Earth Release enhancements from Onoki and Kyoto, even though Kyoto and the others weren't as skilled in Earth Release as Onoki, they could still use the Light and Heavy Rock Techniques with the enhancements.

In particular, the Third Kazekage and his apprentice Rasa, who were empowered with the Super Light-Heavy Rock Technique, directly used iron sand and sand as attacks with an extremely wide range.

Furthermore, these sand and iron pellets were soaked in venom, resulting in a rather intense and unpleasant effect.

This time, Kushina and Vanilla Uzumaki did not take the initiative to attack, but stayed behind to protect the sealed ninjas, using their own Adamantine Sealing Chains and Rasengan to isolate the resurrected dead.

Among the four villages' allied forces, ninjas skilled in defense were also left behind to protect the sealing ninjas. This was key to defeating the army of the dead, and also a priority target for Konoha.

The ninjas of the four villages' allied forces were ready to send the broken dead here to be sealed, which was their first task in this decisive battle.

That wasn't the end of it. Suddenly, a loud rumbling sound and intense flames came from a lake not far away. The lake water was rapidly evaporated, forming water vapor, which then rose into the air and formed clouds.

This is in preparation for creating thunderclouds to assist Thor in guiding thunder in battle.

If there are no clouds here, then we'll create clouds out of thin air.

Seeing this, Jiraiya and the others, who had participated in the Peninsula War, felt a chill run down their spines. They realized that this battle had to be won quickly, otherwise it would be over once the thundercloud was formed.

They all vividly remembered the Thunder Purgatory that Thor used back then. If it were to fall, it could not only kill Chunin, but also damage the bodies of those armies of the dead.

The body was the fatal weakness of those armies of the dead.

"Sage Art: Wood Release: Eight-Headed Dragon!"

"Armored Susanoo!"

Orochimaru also unleashed his power, using Sage Art: Wood Release to create a wooden dragon with eight heads. This was an extremely powerful ninjutsu he created by fusing the Wood Dragon Technique and the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique.

Finally, the Mangekyou Sharingan that Uchiha Meikyo used to create Susanoo transformed into scales that covered the Yamata no Dragon, further merging with the Wood Release and Yang Release chakra within, increasing its power even more.

Before Orochimaru could unleash his power, a massive black fireball descended from the sky and slammed into the Yamata no Dragon. It was a colossal Rasengan created by Pakura, incorporating the power of Sage Art: Scorch Release, Wind Release, and Amaterasu, making its destructive power extremely terrifying.

Most importantly, after such a short time, the Rasengan had expanded to a diameter of 100 meters, and the chakra contained within it made Orochimaru feel alarmed.

"That spendthrift woman!"

Seeing Yekura's outrageous actions, Tamura Hao couldn't help but complain.

That was all built up with chakra, using a full thousand calories of chakra, not to mention the natural energy incorporated.

"Second generation, we still underestimated her."

The First Kazekage, who was fighting the Third Kazekage, sighed with emotion and felt even more gratified.

"Third Hokage, you have done a great job. You have surpassed our achievements. It was definitely the right decision to entrust the village to you. You have raised the strongest Kazekage."

The Second Kazekage was equally pleased, as was his satisfaction with the Third Kazekage.

The fact that such an outstanding ninja could emerge in the village is thanks to the Third Kazekage. With that girl who uses the Scorching Release technique, Sunagakure is guaranteed at least forty years of prosperity, something that neither of the previous two Kazekage could achieve.

Perhaps in the future, Sunagakure will produce a super strong person like the First Hokage.

The Third Kazekage was somewhat confused. He could understand the meaning of his two predecessors' words, which indicated that they regarded Yekura as the future Fourth Kazekage.

Honestly, given Yekura's current performance, it would be truly unfair if she didn't become the Fourth Hokage.

From a rational perspective, it is indeed more appropriate for Yekura to become the Fourth Kazekage, but from a personal point of view, he still prefers his disciple Rasa to become the Fourth Kazekage.

It's not just for the stable succession of the Kazekage, but also because Rasa is a member of his own interest group, and becoming the Kazekage would help stabilize his own interest group.

Furthermore, Rasa's strength greatly increased after sealing the One-Tailed Beast's tail. If he learns Sage Mode in the future, he won't be much weaker than Yoruichiro.

These two conflicting thoughts caused the Third Kazekage great distress.

However, he was currently engaged in battle, so he rationally suppressed his inner turmoil and continued to fight with all his might.

However, Rasa, who was not far away, also heard the words of the two previous Kage. He felt even worse, and his killing intent grew stronger, making his face distort.

The Fourth Hokage must be mine, and he must be mine. Only I, Rasa, can lead Sunagakure to glory.

"Wood Release is still afraid of fire!"

On the other side, after sensing that more than half of the Yamata no Dragon had been burned, Orochimaru sighed and had no choice but to give up.

The biggest advantage of Wood Release is its ability to absorb the opponent's chakra, but Pakura's Black Scorch Release can burn chakra. In addition, fire is effective against Wood Release, making Pakura too passive against this opponent.

Moreover, the opponent's chakra was abnormally large, even more than the First Hokage clone he currently possessed, leading him to suspect that a tailed beast was sealed within the opponent's body.

Not to mention Orochimaru was so badly beaten that he was questioning his existence, Shimura Danzo, who was flying in the air, was also a little confused.

What's the deal with Yekura's chakra?

How can there be so many?

The dark fire formed by corroding the Two-Tails' flames with dark chakra is very powerful, comparable to Pakura's Black Scorch Release. However, he found that his chakra was actually inferior to his opponent's. He was just suppressed by it and was almost swallowed by that super giant Rasengan. One of his claws was even torn apart.

He was at a loss when faced with an opponent whose chakra reserves were so unreasonable.

Seeing Orochimaru disappear into the depths of the earth, Pakura took to the air again with the colossal Rasengan, rushing towards the dark phoenix that Shimura Danzo had transformed into.

But that wasn't all. An inconspicuous little stone fell from the sky and instantly transformed into a large tree, landing on the back of the dark phoenix.

"Earth Release: Super Heavy Rock Technique!"

Before being corrupted by the dark flames, Onoki used the Super Heavy Rock Technique to increase the weight of the Dark Phoenix more than tenfold.

The immense weight not only caused the Dark Phoenix's flight speed to drop sharply, but also caused it to plummet downwards.

"Onoki!"

This sudden attack enraged Danzo Shimura, who unleashed a torrent of dark fire that burned Onoki to ashes. However, it was not Onoki's true form, but rather an earth clone.

At the same time, Yekura caught up with the super-giant Rasengan and slammed into the Dark Phoenix's abdomen. The interaction with gravity fixed the Dark Phoenix in place, and Yekura frantically destroyed the Dark Phoenix's body.

Even if Shimura Danzo manipulated the Dark Corpse Bone Vein to form a thick layer of bone armor, it would be difficult to completely defend against it, and it would be quickly worn away and destroyed.

Before long, the Dark Phoenix's entire body was completely obliterated by the colossal Rasengan.

However, Shimura Danzo did not die. The next moment, his body solidified and appeared next to Sarutobi Hiruzen. His face was pale, obviously due to considerable exhaustion. At the same time, the three-tomoe Sharingan transplanted into his body closed, indicating that he had used Izanagi to save his life.

"Hiruzen, she's too restrained with me."

Danzo Shimura said helplessly that his carefully crafted Dark Phoenix was completely unable to show any advantage in the face of that kind of method and was completely suppressed.

"Whom does she not restrain herself with?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's shadow clone said irritably, the opponent's crushing fighting style reminded him of the First Hokage, who suppressed everything with absolute strength.

Is the Sand Village about to produce another powerful figure like that?

"If we don't get rid of her, we can't win this battle at all. You'd better think of something quickly."

Seeing the colossal Rasengan in the sky turn around and rush towards him again, Danzo Shimura said something and transformed back into his Dark Phoenix form, flying into the sky once more.

However, this time they did not confront Yekura head-on, but instead switched to hit-and-run tactics.

At the same time, he used the Dark Corpse Bone Vein to create bone feathers that shot out for ranged attacks.

And be careful that others don't interfere and plot against you like Onoki did.

He doesn't have many three-tomoe Sharingan eyes; Izanagi won't be able to use them many times.

Compared to the extravagant spending of Yekura, the allied forces of the four villages below were fighting a very difficult battle, with casualties rising rapidly, especially among the Sand Village ninja army, which was the main force.

Similarly, Konoha also suffered significant losses. Not only were the seals on the army of the dead broken one by one, but the casualties among Konoha's ninja were also substantial.

But no one backed down, because there was no way to retreat; at this point, they could only fight to the bitter end.

Hanzo, who did not directly participate in the battle, once again circled the battlefield on his salamander, releasing poison gas as he went to prevent the Konoha ninja from fleeing.

Although the poison gas is so thin that it has little effect on strong individuals, anyone below the Kage level who touches it will die.

This was the task he was invited to undertake, one that allowed him to maximize his strengths.

As for why they didn't directly participate in the war...

There was no way around it; his own poison was too potent. Although he could create an antidote using his own serum, he couldn't mass-produce it. If he were to release the poison on the battlefield, the entire four-village coalition would be wiped out.

Poison doesn't discriminate.

The bloody battle continued. Due to the formation of thunderclouds, the Konoha ninjas unleashed their fury at all costs, and the Akimichi clan ninjas even took secret medicines one after another. This brought the battle to a climax in an instant. People were dying every minute and every second, and the blood stained the earth red, with corpses strewn everywhere.

While fighting himself, Tamura Hao also controlled Thor's clone to fight. He glanced at the clouds slowly forming in the sky and then at the intensity of the battle. He was quite satisfied.

That's right, it was his idea. It wasn't about using thunderclouds to fight, but rather creating pressure to force the Konoha ninjas to fight with all their might, so that they would be more bloodthirsty and suffer greater losses on both sides.

He didn't want to fight all night like last time; it was too troublesome, and fighting while multitasking was also very troublesome.

In addition, Black Zetsu was also helping him sense his surroundings within the sealed space. He had already sensed the chakra of Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga, as well as that of Orange Water Senju, who were all secretly observing him.

These three are also a threat; we can't let them become the ones who reap the benefits.

Furthermore, Hiruzen Sarutobi's true body is not here; it is merely a shadow clone. The location of his true body is unknown, and his chakra has not been sensed within at least 100 kilometers. Clearly, it is being controlled from an extremely long distance, much like Kabuto Yakushi in the Future Fourth Shinobi World War.

That's cautious enough!

Hidden in the shadows, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew increasingly grim, and his heart filled with anxiety.

The combined forces of the four villages displayed overwhelming strength, especially the Scorching Release user from Sunagakure, who gave him a feeling of facing the First Hokage.

His strength had already surpassed the level of a Kage, and none of the methods he possessed could restrain him, let alone defend against him.

How did they manage to do that?

"Is a refund the only option?"

He hesitated, realizing the situation was dire; if things continued this way, defeat was only a matter of time.

Just when they were getting anxious, they suddenly made a discovery with the help of Kagura's mind-reading ability, which was used by Ashina Uzumaki.

"Sage Art: Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"

"Armored Susanoo!"

A tall wooden figure quickly crawled out of the ground, and then a scarlet Susanoo transformed into armor covering its body, with tailed beast chakra filling and fusing within, even transforming into six pairs of wings.

The Susagi-like beings that were formed immediately charged towards the Kage-level reanimated ninjas, and it was Fugaku Uchiha who couldn't help but intervene.

Although he desperately wanted to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, he also understood that Konoha was his base, and the Land of Fire could not be destroyed. He could not afford to lose this battle.

At the same time, he also needed to take back his eyes from the Hidden Cloud Village. He had a premonition that once he got back and fused with his original Mangekyou Sharingan, he would have unexpected gains, perhaps even forming eyes like Madara Uchiha's.

However, before that, we need to destroy Hiruzen Sarutobi's confidence to prevent him from being schemed against again in the future.

That wasn't the end of it. As if by prior arrangement, Senju Orange Water also made his move, using the same Susanoo wooden doll. His first targets were also those Kage-level Edo Tensei powerhouses.

Next is Hiashi Hyuga, who has the Tenseigan. Perhaps because he only has one eye left, he is unable to activate the Tenseigan chakra mode, resulting in a significant drop in his combat power.

However, his Tenseigan is more perfect, no weaker than the Rinnegan opened by Madara Uchiha, and can also condense Yin-Yang Orbs, although the number is not as many as in the Tenseigan Chakra Mode.

Then there are the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion and the Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, which can also be used, but on a much smaller scale.

His strength is no less than that of Fugaku Uchiha and Orange Water Senju.

The three suddenly appeared, catching Hiruzen Sarutobi off guard. Even though he sensed the chakra bursting from them immediately and managed to recall the Kage-level Edo Tensei powerhouses he could control, many of them were still shattered.

The three immediately used their respective methods to seal the souls. Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga were both able to use some Yin-Yang Release techniques to seal their souls.

Senju Orange Water had a better understanding of the Impure World Reincarnation technique, and before Mito Uzumaki passed away, she specifically left behind some sealing techniques that could seal spirits, in order to counter Impure World Reincarnation.

Having dealt with those Kage-level Edo Tensei powerhouses, the three of them turned their attention to the powerful members of the Four Villages Alliance.

Without the slightest hesitation, they charged forward.

Jiraiya and the others were stunned for a moment before quickly resuming the battle. The internal problems of the village needed to be put aside for the time being, and the situation could only be stabilized after the four-village coalition was defeated.

The arrival of three Kage-level powerhouses instantly turned the tide of the battle, and Shimura Danzo and Orochimaru also seized the opportunity to rise up and launch a counterattack.

The Third Raikage and the others realized the situation was dire and decisively ordered a retreat.

One of their main sources of confidence in starting the war was that Konoha was in turmoil, and they only needed to target the Hokage faction.

But now those major factions have joined forces and are showing such strength. If we continue fighting, the losses will be too great. We can't just fight to the death.

At the same time, they need to figure out a way to deal with those three, otherwise it will be really difficult to fight them.

"I'm gone."

Seeing that Yekura still wanted to fight, Tamura Hao transmitted his voice through the Eight Thousand Spears Seal, while slowly withdrawing the chakra he had been using to support him.

"I'll let you live a little longer!"

Yekura glanced at the Konoha ninjas with murderous intent, then turned and left.

Seeing the four-village coalition finally retreat, the remaining Konoha ninja all breathed a sigh of relief, sitting on the ground panting heavily, feeling as if they had survived a calamity.

Jiraiya and the others looked at the remaining people with bitterness in their hearts. There were less than a hundred people left; the rest had turned into corpses.

Even the retreating allied forces of the four villages took away many of the corpses. Is there any need to continue the war here?

They immediately looked warily at the three approaching Senju Orange Water. Shimura Danzo and Orochimaru came to Jiraiya and the others, indicating that they were one.

The three have now clearly joined forces and formed an alliance, so they need to unite as well to avoid being picked off one by one.

"Minato, which side are you going to stand on?"

Senju Orange looked at Minato Namikaze, who was standing beside Jiraiya, and asked indifferently.

He valued this boy highly. Although he was able to use the Flying Thunder God Technique by transplanting his grandfather's cells, he found it difficult to use it freely.

It's fine for traveling, but not efficient enough for combat, and it's easy for opponents to find weaknesses.

However, Minato Namikaze was born with that kind of talent, and his talent in that area was even better than that of his great-grandfather. He was a genius in his own right, and with his status as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, his future was limitless.

He had been trying to curry favor with this boy, even giving him his great-grandfather's training notes on the Flying Thunder God Technique, but he never expected the boy to side with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I stand on this side of the village, carrying on Grandma Mito's will, with the mission of protecting the village!"

Minato Namikaze calmly met Senju Tokisui's gaze. Over the years, he had grown a lot, understood many things and principles, and knew what he wanted to do in the future.

He wouldn't side with any individual or group, not even his own teacher Jiraiya, because Jiraiya was often misled by Hiruzen Sarutobi and his own stance was unstable.

If we're talking about stance and will, I'm more inclined to follow the philosophy taught by Grandma Mito, which is directly inherited from the Will of Fire of the First Generation.

Senju Orange Water was not satisfied with this answer, but she did not reject it either, as long as she did not side with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

(End of this chapter)