Traveling through three generations: Making Konoha great again!

The second wave to arrive was the Konoha Police Department.

That is, the Uchiha clan.

"The earth wall will burn your feet," Hatake Sakumo warned as he came to hand over the baton, seeing the Uchiha clan about to charge upwards.

But Fugaku Uchiha just smirked and didn't take it seriously.

Currently serving as the vice-captain of the Konoha Police Department, he is already in his twenties, an age considered mature for a ninja...

But perhaps it's a trait inherited from the Uchiha clan, or perhaps it's because life hasn't worn down their edges yet, and they still have a bit of a chuunibyou (delusional) streak.

The elders in the clan all say that he will mature a bit after his son is born.

But Fugaku Uchiha disagreed.

Raising a son, even though he's never done it, seems like a very simple thing, right?

"Hot feet? Uchiha wouldn't feel hot. Even if they did, it's just ninja training!" This thought flashed through Fugaku Uchiha's mind as he leaped onto the earth wall.

The other Uchiha followed suit.

Sakumo Hatake raised an eyebrow, silently wrapped his feet in chakra, and stood next to Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha regretted it as soon as he stepped on it.

He thought it would only be slightly hot, since the earthen wall looked fine from the other side.

As ninjas, endurance training often includes self-torture exercises...

But after going up there, Fugaku Uchiha looked down.

The center of the earthen wall had melted, exhibiting a magma-like gelatinous texture, and was still continuously conducting heat.

"What profound Fire Release! Is this the work of the Third Hokage? It can melt through such a thick layer of soil and rock?" Fugaku Uchiha wanted to secretly gather his chakra when no one was paying attention.

But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Sakumo Hatake was silently watching him, his eyebrows twitching.

"It'll be hot, won't it?" Hatake Sakumo asked with a clueless expression. "It's better to use chakra for protection..."

Fugaku Uchiha wanted to continue to hold on, but seeing that the other clansmen were also on the verge of breaking down, he reluctantly nodded.

"Lord Sakumo is right."

The secret agents were laughing heartily, since no one could see them anyway, they were wearing masks.

What is this?

So, you're cunning and arrogant, aren't you!

Fugaku Uchiha activated his Sharingan, drawn to the chakra fluctuations within the arena.

"What kind of technique is this?" Fugaku Uchiha murmured.

The reason for this reaction was that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in his field of vision was covered entirely in a hard black layer, including the staff in his hand, which looked like a black diamond...

"It feels like some kind of earth-escape technique? Probably something like hardening jutsu?"

Sakumo Hatake analyzed seriously: "Judging from the Third Hokage's intentions, he probably wants to cover his entire body and maintain it at all times, similar to the Lightning Release taijutsu of Kumogakure?"

"Won't this affect flexibility?"

Fugaku Uchiha pondered, "Most Earth Release hardening techniques have this kind of side effect, and while mobilizing Earth Release chakra, it also affects the release of other ninjutsu, right..."

"Besides, maintaining the Hardening Technique indefinitely would consume a lot of chakra, wouldn't it? The Third Hokage, he..."

Fugaku Uchiha suddenly got stuck.

Regardless, discussing a Hokage's decreasing chakra is a sensitive topic.

But Sakumo Hatake looked at him curiously: "Are you saying that the Hokage doesn't have enough chakra?"

Fugaku Uchiha sighed, realizing he was truly at a loss when it came to dealing with Sakumo Hatake.

Who said Sakumo Hatake is old-fashioned? In his opinion, he's clearly a cunning and secretly horny guy!

"I didn't say that! What I meant was..."

Fugaku Uchiha chose to remain silent.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke looked at Uchiha Fugaku with surprise.

This clan is truly difficult to judge.

Not only does he like to act cool and aloof, but his emotional intelligence is also quite low. After only a few words, he made a sarcastic comment about his father's advanced age and inability to maintain many techniques.

But they were still quite reliable, arriving at a speed not much slower than their secret service, and the guards performed their duties well.

There's a certain beauty in wanting to be a rebel but lacking the resolve...

The divine rabbit has two aspects and belongs to the category of "divine rabbit".

The technique that Hiruzen Sarutobi released was called by himself: "Earth Release: Earth Spear: Full-Time Coverage".

It is indeed Earth Release: Hardening Technique, and it also has the side effects mentioned by Fugaku Uchiha.

But that's someone else.

For Hiruzen Sarutobi, who now has abundant chakra and a thorough understanding of the five elemental natures, those drawbacks are irrelevant.

"A ninja's body is far too frail, like a cannon made of glass..."

"I must protect myself at all times! I can't hold back a single drop of chakra!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and exhaled a large amount of smoke into the arena, covering the Rashomon Formation.

Fire Release chakra gathered at his fingertips, and instantly a huge fire erupted!

"The form of 'Fire Release: Ashes Burning' cannot be blocked by Rashomon..."

Sakumo Hatake's eyes lit up: "Moreover, the Third Hokage was not affected by the hardening technique and can still use the Five Elements at will."

"As expected of the Third Generation Lord..."

Fugaku Uchiha nodded, his three-tomoe Sharingan fixed on Orochimaru, and unconsciously commented, "His vitality and posture are practically demonic..."

In his three-tomoe-like vision, Orochimaru, though burned by the fire jutsu, seemed unaffected, constantly shedding his skin like a snake as he slid across the ground.

Is this even human?

"Oh, you mean to say?" Sakumo Hatake asked, his face full of curiosity.

"No, no, no, Lord Sakumo, I didn't mean to say anything..." Fugaku Uchiha's face darkened.

Why can't I control my mouth?

Does getting married and having children really make me more mature? Would that even help?

The members of the secret service present were starting to lose their composure.

First they said the Hokage was old, then they commented that Orochimaru wasn't human...

What an accurate prediction about the Uchiha clan!

Inside the venue.

Hiruzen Sarutobi instantly formed two hand seals, and a massive water tornado rose from the ground.

When water and fire collide, extremely hot steam bursts out.

The Rashomon, whose internal structure was damaged by the high temperature, contracted when it suddenly encountered cold water, causing cracks to appear on the door.

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his steel staff, chakra coiling around it, and thrust it straight into the steam...

He imbued it with Wind Release and swung it forcefully!

Instantly, several Rashomon gates were reduced to fragments by the immense force of the shockwave!

Fugaku Uchiha's three-tomoe sword captured this scene, but his mind hadn't yet processed it.

This is what he saw:

Hiruzen Sarutobi charged into the water and fire, sweeping away the steam and the towering Rashomon gate with a single blow...

what?

This scene was witnessed by Shimura Danzo and Root, as well as Jiraiya carrying Asuma and Kakashi, and Tsunade.

"Damn it, the old man's gone berserk! He's going to clean house and kill that bastard!" Jiraiya's vision blurred, and he tossed the two little brats to Sakumo Hatake, ready to step in and mediate.

"Spare his life, old man!

"This crime doesn't warrant death! This crime doesn't warrant death!"

Sakumo Hatake then casually tossed the two little ones to Shinnosuke, who was standing nearby.

Asuma and Kakashi were tossed around, completely powerless to resist.

At this moment, Kakashi, known as the number one genius of the Ninja Academy, realized the gap between the Ninja Academy students and veteran Jonin, and a deep sense of loss overwhelmed him.

It also swept through Asma.

Sakumo Hatake instantly stepped in front of Jiraiya: "The Hokage did not give any orders to let anyone in."

Jiraiya jumped up and down in a panic: "Oh no! What if that stinky snake kills us?! Be a little more flexible, Lord Sakumo!"

Fugaku Uchiha's expression turned very serious.

Sakumo Hatake's speed was so fast that even his three-tomoe Sharingan had difficulty keeping up with it.

If it were close combat...

Indeed, a great reputation is well-deserved.

But Fugaku Uchiha stared at Sakumo Hatake, who stood unmoved in front of Jiraiya, even placing his hand on Sakumo's short sword, "White Fang," using his gaze to intimidate Tsunade, who was about to make a move.

Here comes the critical commentary again, but this time it's in my mind: "This is a family matter; stopping others is just offending them..."

"Besides..."

The thought of the Third Hokage's ferocious attacks made Fugaku Uchiha's teeth ache: "Didn't Clan Chief Isshin say the Third Hokage was old? What exactly is he old about?"

"Even the legendary Susanoo would have a hard time withstanding this blow!"

Danzo Shimura's eyes were somewhat vacant.

Wasn't this old guy overwhelmed by the pressure and anxiety brought on by the Hokage position?

This level of energy he displayed is probably the limit of his peak!

What does this mean?

Did a serious illness lead to a sudden enlightenment, or did some former Hokage possess me? Maybe I should get a fever myself sometime…

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued forming hand seals in mid-air.

"Earth Release·Earthquake Core!"

An entire piece of land was lifted up by Hiruzen Sarutobi, and under this impact, Orochimaru, who was hiding inside, was forced to reveal himself.

His guerrilla plan failed.

But the competition isn't over yet!

The master and apprentice exchanged a glance to assess each other's condition.

No need to stop.

Orochimaru reached into his throat, pulled out a finely crafted ninja sword, and slashed at Hiruzen Sarutobi while shouting:

"You idiot Jiraiya! Just stand aside and watch, don't interfere with my sparring session with the teacher!"

"It's good that you're coming down, it'll be a good opportunity for me to test your strength..." Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, brandishing his staff.

Jiraiya immediately deflated, but then perked up again: "Old man, kill this stinking snake!"

The master and apprentice began a contest of ninja tools.

The sword and staff clashed, and Orochimaru's vertical pupils contracted. He thought to himself, "Wait, when did this old man become so strong? He's almost as strong as Tsunade..."

Orochimaru trembled all over, and ripples appeared on his skin as he used this method to deflect the force.

This is thanks to his unique technique: software modification.

If anyone else did what he did, internal bleeding would be the least of their worries…

"Good lad, invulnerable to swords and spears, impervious to water and fire..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi grew increasingly excited as he fought, intoxicated by the thrill of wielding extraordinary power and the novelty of witnessing diverse ninjutsu.

"Try this one!"

As more and more chakra accumulated on the staff, Hiruzen Sarutobi cleaved the staff with all his might.

Boom!

Orochimaru's pupils contracted. The moment the sword and staff made contact, he sensed something was wrong and quickly turned to the side to deflect the force, only to be sent flying through the air.

The steel rod slammed into the ground, creating a huge crater, with sand and gravel flying everywhere.

Fugaku Uchiha wrinkled his nose and grinned, feeling quite emotional.

No wonder the Uchiha clan lagged behind the Hokage lineage...

Judging by the intensity of this master-disciple fight, you'd really think it was a case of cleaning up the sect!

Look, this is real fighting!

If he has a son in the future, he will have to educate him in the same way!

He should be thrown into the battlefield from a young age to experience the intensity of the ninja world!

"Teacher, your surname is Sarutobi, not Senju!"

After being sent flying, Orochimaru muttered a curse in his mind, then lay on the ground with his mouth wide open. A huge snake shot out from his throat and charged straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The slime on the snake's body lay down, and upon contact with the ground, it reacted like some kind of acidic substance, emitting a corrosive sizzling sound.

During this time, the Jonin arrived one after another, along with some Chunin and Genin.

The batches naturally arrived in order, and the Sarutobi clan's assistants, Ino-Shika-Cho, were the first to arrive in this wave.

"Well done!"

It was unclear whether they were referring to the ninja or Orochimaru's attack, but Hiruzen Sarutobi roared and swung his hardened fist at the snake's head without hesitation!

The shattered snake head sent blood and flesh flying everywhere.

From the lower half of the snake's body, a brand new Orochimaru emerged and delivered a powerful punch to Hiruzen Sarutobi's abdomen!

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't even try to dodge, and threw a punch just as fiercely.

The two exchanged punches, each taking a few steps back.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced around and saw that most of the people had arrived, so he stopped his attack.

"Youth really do have an edge in a fight. This punch will take me a few days to recover from..." Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his ribs, feeling the soreness, and said sincerely:

"You really don't have the physique of a young person anymore. Are you alright, old apprentice?"

Sure enough, one "Earth Release: Earth Spear" was not enough, even after he figured out how to strengthen it, it still wasn't enough.

I need to learn other ninjutsu techniques; they're good for both offense and defense.

"Teacher, don't you think your words are hurtful?"

Orochimaru's mouth was bleeding profusely, which, combined with this sentence, created a somewhat comical effect.

He rarely showed such a tense expression: "Whose fist was stronger, anyway? Teacher, I'm human too! Spitting blood is definitely an injury!"

"It must be you. This old man only has this one body. Your move just now was pretty good. Teach me sometime." Hiruzen Sarutobi replied with a smile, giving him a thumbs up.

"Is this a combination of Yang Release's form and nature transformation? There's also a hint of Summoning Jutsu..."

This refers to the Orochi-ryu Substitution Technique.

Orochimaru's expression was somewhat complicated.

He suddenly felt a little nostalgic for the stubborn old man he used to know.

Orochimaru had a feeling, deep down, that if his teacher, known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu," started piling up ninjutsu on himself like he did...

Some terrible things might happen.

"Although the time hasn't come yet, I am very pleased with your growth."

"That's great, Orochimaru..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked over, stretching his muscles and bones. He placed one hand on his own injured area and the other on Orochimaru's wounded chest, with a glowing green light emanating from his hands.

Orochimaru's mind raced, and seeing the thoughtful expressions on everyone's faces, he smirked slightly.

"Given the teacher's current state, if we were to take this seriously, I'd be in real trouble today..."

"They stopped it in time and even treated my wounds in public..."

This undoubtedly gave Orochimaru a lot of face, and also subtly left room for everyone to speculate.

Who spread the rumor that Orochimaru and the Third Hokage were drifting apart?

Didn't you see this scene of 'filial piety and parental love'? It's clearly a heartfelt expression of the bond between master and disciple!

"Although you won, I have to take this bell; I'm used to keeping it here." Hiruzen Sarutobi carefully placed the bell back into his ninja tool pouch.

Orochimaru's lips curled up even higher.

At that moment, Hyuga Hizashi of the Hyuga clan arrived. The Anbu, Root, and other ninjas who had arrived before them cast meaningful glances at him.

The Hyuga clan should be the first to capture information about what's happening in the village; they have Byakugan.

They excel in physical skills and their footwork is never slow...

But why did it arrive so late?

Hyuga Hizashi, facing the scrutinizing gaze, had unspeakable bitterness in his heart.

There's no way around it; every village has its rules, and every clan has its rules.

As a separate family, they cannot make decisions on their own.

Although he discovered it immediately, he still needed to report it to the clan and wait for the elders to make a decision.

This back-and-forth trip naturally takes time.

This generation of the Hyuga main family adopts a "no taking sides" approach, unwilling to get involved in village affairs unless war breaks out.

Seeing the fight stop, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who had arrived with the third wave of ninjas, exchanged a glance.

Koharu Utatane stepped forward and said, "Hiruzen, what are you doing?!"

She wanted to know why they made such a commotion without telling her...

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were authoritative: "Advisor, use your title when you're working! Now is not your time to speak."

Xiaochun, who was turning over in her dorm, was speechless. She wanted to say something more, but when she saw that extremely serious look in his eyes...

I chose to keep quiet.

Hiruzen Sarutobi formed a series of hand seals.

"Earth Release·Yellow Spring Marsh!"

In an instant, the training ground was enveloped by a swamp, and the remnants of several Rashomon-like structures and the limbs of numerous venomous snakes were sucked into the depths of the ground.

Then, using his superb fire technique, crimson and white flames baked the earth at full power.

In an instant, the mud was dried up, and the wind-escape technique, as sharp as a blade, precisely cut through the uneven parts of the ground.

The training ground has become clean and tidy.

"The old man's chakra reserves are incredible..." Orochimaru stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was neither red-faced nor out of breath, and fell into thought.

This set of ninjutsu looks like it's used to tidy up the training ground.

But if it hits a person...

How many ninjas could survive such a wide-range barrage of ninjutsu? They're practically walking lawnmowers...

And there are clearly quite a few people who think like Orochimaru.

The Chunin and Genin looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with eyes full of admiration.

The youngest son, Asuma, was dumbfounded: "No way, Dad's that strong? He's way better than the teacher!"

One of the middle-aged ninjas, dressed in a green bodysuit and sporting thick eyebrows and a beard, was in tears: "Hokage-sama, is this what youth is like? It feels like it's about to ignite!"

His eye-catching attire caught Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention, who nodded kindly at him.

Meanwhile, Shimura Danzo fell into deep thought, inwardly roaring, "That cunning Hiruzen, when did he learn the Yang Release technique? He's actually rejuvenated..."

"He was wearing the Hokage hat that day, and I didn't even notice!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, hands behind his back, shook his head wryly: "I'm getting old..."

He took out his signature pipe, lit it, and took a deep drag.

He commanded in a deep voice, "All ninjas present, assemble!"

At that moment, the ninjas quickly gathered in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

This is not only a sign of respect for the title of Hokage.

It is also an expression of respect for great strength.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took in the entire scene.

Just as he thought, in the extraordinary world, interpersonal relationships and power are naturally important, but strength is an absolutely inseparable part.

He was mentally preparing his speech.

The ensuing lecture was the real "heart of the show" in this competition!

Previously, it could only be considered as setting up the stage.

------

P.S.: Here comes a long chapter of over 5,000 words!

I still urge you to read and add this to your favorites. The book has already been signed, but it will be available in a couple of days, so please feel free to read it.

I've prepared an outline this time, so I'm definitely going to be a writing machine that updates rapidly and finishes the book as soon as it's released!

I've been saving up some drafts these past few days, and I'm going to update them regularly so that everyone can read them more comfortably.