Only I can make Konoha Village great again.

"inflammation!"

"No!!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened in fury, his pain and anger erupting instantly. His chakra surged wildly, and he managed to break free of some of the branches binding him.

Even though his arms were cut by tree branches and his clothes were soaked in blood, he felt no pain.

The Third Hokage's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Hashirama Senju, roaring, "First Hokage, why did you kill En? Why?"

The Third Hokage's rage was as insignificant as a breeze in front of the First Hokage.

Hashirama Senju coldly replied, "Because he is the enemy, and the enemies of Konoha deserve to die!"

"The same to you……"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled; he sensed a direct and pure killing intent directed at him.

Without a second thought, he swiftly formed hand seals, simultaneously gathering chakra of all five elements: "Ninja Art: Five Elements Great Barrage!"

The five elemental ninjutsu—Fire Release, Wind Release, Earth Release, Lightning Release, and Water Release—were used simultaneously, amplifying each other and unleashing a massive torrent of energy that blasted towards Hashirama Senju with the force of destruction.

Hashirama Senju laughed: "Hahaha, I seem to have heard that the Konoha ninja respectfully call you the 'Strongest Hokage of All Time,' and it seems there's some truth to it, since you even dare to challenge me."

"If only you could be this tough when facing ninjas from other villages!"

Hashirama Senju sighed and slightly raised his hand. Countless branches emerged from the ground, automatically peeling off their bark, dehydrating, and shaping into straight, thick wooden planks, which were then pieced together to form a massive wooden wall.

The Five Elements Great Barrage slammed into the wooden wall, creating a deafening "BOOM!"

The massive shockwave failed to destroy the wooden wall; instead, it was reflected back, forcing Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was using ninjutsu, to stagger backward, coughing up blood.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Hashirama Senju unleashed a violent surge of Wood Release chakra, drawing in more tree roots and branches from all directions, binding Hiruzen Sarutobi into a wooden ball.

It was even larger and denser than the wooden ball that killed Mitokado, and the creaking and twisting of the wood was chilling.

Not only was Hiruzen Sarutobi captured, but Koharu Utatane also perished.

Mitomon Homura's sudden death exposed a huge flaw in her flank defense, and she was immediately entangled in a tree branch around her neck.

Koharu had originally hoped that Hiruzen Sarutobi would save her, but as the branches tightened and her breathing became increasingly difficult, Koharu was no longer able to fight back desperately.

But when she saw Hiruzen Sarutobi get tangled up like a wooden ball in a single round against the First Hokage, her fighting spirit collapsed instantly.

As Xiaochun turned to her new room, she could clearly feel her neck being strangled tighter and tighter, the shadow of death drawing ever closer.

Her eyes were filled with fear and resentment. She was unwilling to die like this, unwilling to see the privileges of the Tōshin clan come to an end, and unwilling to see her life's efforts go to waste.

Destruction that couldn't even preserve one's reputation.

"This is the power of Wood Release!"

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with curiosity and greed as he said, "Lord Senju Hashirama was restricted by the sacrifice and couldn't unleash his full power, yet he still managed to defeat my teacher with overwhelming force. Wood Release is truly amazing!"

Yamanaka Chujiu thought to himself: Orochimaru-sensei is right, this is nothing.

If we could get a White Zetsu as a sacrifice, we could at least get a Wooden Gundam.

If you were to mix Hashirama's cells into White Zetsu, allowing the First Hokage to transform his original food into its original form, you might actually be able to create a true Thousand Hands technique.

He shook his head and laughed, "As expected of the Hokage who ended the Warring States period and ushered in the era of ninja villages, he defeated the evil forces that had seized power in Konoha Village so easily."

"Mitokado Homura is dead. Is the next one Hiruzen Sarutobi, or Koharu Utatane?"

Sensing the emotions of the two Hokage, Yamanaka Hatsukyu sighed, "The First Hokage's killing intent has dissipated, and so has the Second Hokage's. They may not die."

"it's a pity……"

Orochimaru laughed: "Don't feel regretful. Our goal isn't necessarily to kill Sarutobi-sensei, but to completely end the Third Hokage's illegal restoration of his rule!"

Just as Yamanaka Chukyu had guessed, Senju Hashirama had lost his will to kill. He clasped his hands together, and thick tree roots burst from the ground, sweeping towards Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu.

Countless branches rained down from the sky, forming a vast, all-encompassing net that completely enveloped the two of them.

Wood Release: Tree Binding Eternal Burial!

Branches, roots, and vines entangled them, then grew wildly into a giant tree, burying and sealing the two people underground.

Just then, a burst of violent chakra erupted from the wooden ball, and flames shot outward through the gaps in the branches and roots.

The flames that were spewed out transformed into four fire dragons, unleashing a deafening roar.

Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique!

The fire dragon lunged forward, tearing the wooden ball apart with even greater efficiency, easily destroying the Wood Release technique's structure and revealing the framework built by the Golden Cudgel.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not hanged; he even protected Koharu Utatane.

He cried out in grief and indignation, "First Hokage, you are too cruel! I will not submit to you, and neither will Konoha!"

Hashirama Senju: "..."

The First Hokage turned to his younger brother, Tobirama: "Is that monkey talking about me?"

"Why do I feel like these are all my words, words I said to Madara?"

Tobirama Senju scratched his cheek sheepishly: "Big brother, the monkey was indeed referring to you..."

Hashirama Senju roared in fury: "How dare he talk about me like that? If I were cruel, did he think that dead monkey turning into a stick could save his life?"

Just then, a shout echoed through the primeval forest: "Follow the strongest third generation, slay the rebellious first generation!"

Hashirama Senju stared in disbelief: "..."

Tobirama Senju covered his face with his hands: "..."

Orochimaru's tongue fell out, and Yamanaka Hatsukyu's eyes widened.

What are these people shouting?

What's the strongest third generation?

What rebellious first generation?

Is this because they think Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't killed fast enough?

The Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitomon ninjas, who had been trapped in the forest, rushed out of it one after another, their expressions anxious and their eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Even more unexpectedly, a group of ninjas also arrived from the south of the village, but these ninjas did not have the Konoha Village headbands on their heads.

They are the guardian ninjas of the Fire Daimyo, and the leader is none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi's second son, Konoha Jonin Asuma Sarutobi.

Since Asuma has already become one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, the fact that he still wears the Konoha headband and has the status of a Konoha Jonin is full of questions.

Despite the tense relationship between Sarutobi Asuma and Sarutobi Hiruzen, as their son, seeing his father covered in wounds, his eyes instantly filled with rage: "Father!"

He rapidly formed hand seals and unleashed a massive ball of flame from his mouth: "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball hurtled toward Hashirama Senju.

"Let go of my Hokage father!"