Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 124 The Third Hokage Dies from Choking on Water

Xia Zuo maximized his speed advantage, attempting to firmly suppress Hiruzen Sarutobi.

However, once Hiruzen Sarutobi entered a state of heightened excitement and was able to keep up with Natsume's Swift Escape state, his experience and skills began to come into play, bringing the battle to a standstill.

Unlike the brute force of the battle against the Fourth Raikage, the battle against Hiruzen Sarutobi was a contest of subtle skills and intellectual experience.

For the first time, Xia Zuo realized that a battle could be fought with such wisdom; he truly deserved to be called the Third Hokage.

But he also has a trump card.

Xia Zuo's movements suddenly changed style, no longer pursuing speed directly, but showing a certain rhythm. The wonderful feeling made Hiruzen Sarutobi intoxicated, as if he had come into contact with the deep rules of the world.

Xia Zuo had his eyes half-closed, looking very relaxed, as if he were feeling and thinking about something.

However, his attack did not falter. On the contrary, his movements, full of mystery, were continuous and precise, intentionally or unintentionally displaying the characteristics of "unusual" and "dangerous," leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi's face covered in welts.

The more Hiruzen Sarutobi fought, the less he understood.

Even when he couldn't see Xia Zuo's movements, he could use his experience to block and reduce attacks with his armor.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a secret medicine from the Kurama clan, which enhanced his reaction speed.

He also activated a secret technique he developed based on the Eight Gates, which could double his movement speed and increase his strength by half, enough to keep up with Xia Zuo's speed.

He saw it clearly and sped up, but he couldn't stop it no matter what he did.

Xia Zuo's punches became increasingly erratic. They were clearly aimed at his face, but when Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand to block, they grazed his arm and struck his collarbone instead.

Or perhaps he blocked Xia Zuo's powerful chop with both hands, but his left shinbone was kicked beforehand.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was dumbfounded; he couldn't comprehend such a battle.

This is not tolerant at all.

Why is it suppressed even more severely?

Of course, it's because of the Dugu Nine Swords.

By using the method of embracing the Great Elixir in the General Principles to complete the Bloodline Limit Ring, Xia Zuo gradually understood the essence of the Nine Swords General Principles, and finally mastered it, combining it with high-speed, high-attack combat.

Because of the influence of chakra, ninjas can easily increase their strength.

Therefore, ninjas developed a combat system that pursued powerful individual techniques and continuously accumulated strength.

The Dugu Nine Swords emphasizes combat techniques that prioritize equal strength and even the ability to overcome a stronger opponent.

The Dugu Nine Swords is a comprehensive summary of personal combat skills, a culmination of Chinese civilization's ability to record and summarize, and it has even risen to the level of philosophy.

Therefore, when Xia Zuo used brute force to overpower others, he could not appreciate the subtlety of the Dugu Nine Swords at all.

Only at this point, although he could still suppress Hiruzen Sarutobi in strength, he was at a disadvantage in terms of the situation, and only then could he resonate with the Nine Swords General Principles and master it in actual combat.

Once he understood one thing, he understood everything. From then on, Xia Zuo was not only able to defeat the strong with the weak, but he would also no longer be unable to use the Nine Swords Techniques because of his great strength.

Xia Zuo made up for his shortcomings in technique at the Hokage's mansion, and his strength was further improved.

If Xia Zuo were to fight the four Raikage again at this moment, he could kill them with just a kunai after activating Swift Release.

Xia Zuo activated Swift Release and Boil Release, then unleashed his power after gathering his strength, maximizing his dual advantages of speed and power. He easily deflected Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands, causing him to spread his arms to the sides, revealing his hollow chest and abdomen.

Then Xia Zuo unleashed his power again, using Boiling Release to amplify the impact, and slammed it into Hiruzen Sarutobi's chest, shattering the armor passed down from the Warring States period and breaking all of Hiruzen Sarutobi's ribs.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was sent flying backward, coughing up blood. He lay on his back on the ground, unable to get up, and even breathing became extremely difficult.

He looked at Xia Zuo and asked with difficulty, "Aren't you afraid of the backlash from the Konoha ninja if you just kill me, the former Hokage, like this?"

Seeing that the situation was settled, Xia Zuo smiled relaxedly and asked, "I killed the Third Hokage? Who said that? Who saw it?"

Blood and foam continued to flow from Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth and nose as he chuckled and asked, "With my body so mangled, even after I'm dead, which ninja wouldn't be able to tell that I was beaten to death?"

"In the entire Hidden Leaf Village, besides you, is there any other ninja who would dare to offend the Hokage's authority?"

"Ninjas never believe in coincidences, nor do they need evidence."

"All Konoha ninja will know that you, Xia Zuo, are the one who killed the Third Hokage!"

Xia Zuo nodded and said, "The Third Hokage is absolutely right."

"But what you don't know is that after a person dies, their body still has enough activity for a period of time, and can receive healing ninjutsu to restore the damaged body."

"My Wood Release and Yang Release techniques are very well-practiced. I can guarantee that your body will be restored to a complete, healthy, and normal state after you die."

"Oh, right, I've also devised a cause of death for you: to cause your lungs to be damaged by water aspiration and to fill your blood vessels with alcohol, proving that you fell into the water while drunk in the middle of the night."

"The Third Hokage tragically died from choking on water."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared in disbelief, pointing at Natsume, speechless.

Xia Zuo continued with a smile, "Alright, I admit, it's absurd that the Third Hokage died by drowning."

"But I'm just giving everyone an acceptable reason."

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, I think you don't know this, but most of the ninjas in Konoha want you dead. As long as it can be explained on the surface, everyone will ignore all the unreasonable details."

"Whether you were injured or not doesn't matter. What matters is that you, who acted recklessly, are finally dead, and no one will investigate further."

Hiruzen Sarutobi weakly retorted, "Impossible! No Konoha ninja would think that way!"

Xia Zuo sneered, "Originally, I wouldn't have, but you've really stirred up too much trouble. You've infringed on the interests of too many people."

"Actually, when I killed Shimura Danzo, I intended to kill you as well."

"But at that time, the Konoha ninjas hoped that you could step down with dignity and give the Third Hokage a glorious ending."

"This is the common will of Konoha Village. Even I had to bow my head and obey in order to hand over Danzo Shimura's head to you and prevent your secret from being revealed."

"But you didn't take my words to heart, that you didn't have much time left, and continued to cling to your position as Hokage, causing even more trouble than before."

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, why do you think your former staunch supporters, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, would oppose you?"

"Because you're holding onto the Anbu, especially the Second Anbu training division, which is basically Root under a different name, and Root is an organization hated by the vast majority of Konoha ninja!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened. He took a few difficult breaths and asked, "I'm the Third Hokage, and they hate me for that?"

Xia Zuo was stunned for a full three seconds: "Isn't that enough?"