Without even mentioning Sarutobi Hiruzen—Jiraiya and the two Toad Sages had already fallen into despair.
"It's no use... He's far too powerful..."
"We have no chance of beating him..."
Fukasaku and Shima were panting heavily, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.
Jiraiya, likewise, was covered with wounds, blood staining his white hair and the clothes on his body.
"We have no path of retreat now."
Using chakra to adhere to the half-collapsed Hokage Building, Jiraiya stood sideways against the wall. Swiftly forming hand seals, he unleashed a new Sage Art:
"Sage Art: Earth Release—Swamp of the Underworld!"
Under the power of Sage Mode, the might of this Earth Release technique was greatly enhanced.
Instantly, the ground beneath Chiyu turned into a vast swamp, causing Susanoo's legs to sink in at once, making it hard to break free!
If this had only been the first three stages of Susanoo, perhaps he might really have been caught. However...
Atop Susanoo's dark-blue armor, waves rippled with violent force.
In his hand appeared his unique sacred tool—the Chiibiki Zai-Bakusō Chains, which shot out abruptly, instantly wrapping around the ruined Hokage Building. With a fierce tug—
He leveraged it to yank himself up, legs pushing mightily, and soared right out of the Swamp of the Underworld's range.
Seeing Chiyu drawing near again,
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance:
"Sage Art: Frog Call!"
They both croaked loudly. This was a powerful sound-based genjutsu the two Toad Sages could use, though it wasn't as powerful as their ultimate Demonic Flute Toad Free-for-All, it was quick and required little setup time—able to take effect almost instantly.
Sure enough, at that moment,
"Gwaaah—waaah—waaah!" the toads let out an ear splitting chorus. The sonic waves enveloped Susanoo, causing Chiyu's assault to pause briefly.
The two Toad Sages nodded at once:
"Jiraiya, do something to keep him locked down. Looks like the sound-based genjutsu is effective; we need time to cast our strongest illusion, Toad Confrontation Chant."
Jiraiya promptly responded. Discover more novels at novel•fire.net
"Sage Art: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
With the boost of Sage Mode, his white hair extended wildly, twisting into thick tendrils and wrapping around Chiyu's Susanoo.
"Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique!"
Jiraiya summoned Gamaken from high above. The giant toad came crashing down from hundreds of meters overhead, aiming to smash Chiyu and Susanoo, momentarily held by Toad Confrontation Chant and Wild Lion's Mane!
A deafening roar shook the entire area. Violent gusts howled, knocking people off their feet, while dust and debris spun high into the air.
All the while, Fukasaku and Shima started chanting their ultimate trump card:
"Demonic Illusion—Toad Confrontation Chant!"
"Gwaaah—waaah—waaah—!"
In the bloody moonlight, the croaking came off both bizarre and ridiculous, yet it was known to be terrifyingly potent.
Chiyu knew very well Toad Confrontation Chant was indeed the Toad Sages' most formidable sound-based illusion. Even the Six Paths of Pain, armed with Rinnegan, had fallen prey to it before.
He had all that intel too—and so how could he possibly be caught in it?
Pretending to stall for a second, he flared the power of his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. At that moment, Susanoo exploded with savage might.
Gamaken was instantly sent flying, tumbling until who knew how many buildings were wrecked beneath his weight.
As for Jiraiya's Wild Lion's Mane, it was promptly severed by Susanoo's greatsword, the strands scattering in all directions!
Jiraiya was forced back, breathing raggedly. He was clearly near his limit.
"Fukasaku, Shima—aren't you done yet?! I can't hold out much longer...!"
But Chiyu did not chase after Jiraiya.
Instead, he fired Susanoo's ranged attack:
Instantly, several magatama-shaped chakra missiles launched forth. Caught off guard, both Fukasaku and Shima could only hurriedly defend with their Sage chakra, yet were struck head-on and blasted away.
They crashed into the surrounding rubble. The Toad Confrontation Chant was forcibly interrupted!
"Fukasaku-sama! Shima-sama!"
Jiraiya cried, attempting to rush over to them—yet Chiyu would not let him, launching another Yasaka Magatama his way!
"Earth Release! Earth-Style Wall!"
Enhanced by Sage Mode, the earthen rampart rose with a roar. Yet it failed to withstand Yasaka Magatama's impact, shattering on contact, still smashing directly into Jiraiya's body.
Jiraiya spat blood, battered and exhausted.
Chiyu, calmly advancing, directed his gaze: Susanoo marched forward step by step.
At this, Sarutobi Hiruzen, up in the remains of the Hokage Office, could stay silent no longer.
He flung off his Hokage robe and doffed his conical hat, revealing the combat gear beneath—a clear sign he intended to fight in person.
A hush fell over the gathered shinobi of the Sarutobi clan and ANBU. They realized that, for the first time in many years, the aged Hokage would personally step onto the battlefield.
"Sarutobi-sensei..." Jiraiya murmured painfully, wiping the blood from his mouth.
Yet Sarutobi Hiruzen's only response was a silent determination.
He seized a handful of shuriken:
"Ninja Art: Shuriken Giant Shadow Clone Technique!"
The small shuriken multiplied in midair, instantly turning enormous—each half the height of a person, dark and razor-sharp, all slicing toward Chiyu and Susanoo.
Chiyu's Susanoo casually swiped them aside with its blade:
Countless metal shards rained down across the rubble.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. He knew basic gambits wouldn't harm Uchiha Chiyu. But at least he had momentarily diverted the enemy's attention, sparing Jiraiya and the Toad Sages from immediate destruction.
Jiraiya wiped off more blood, while Fukasaku and Shima recovered slightly using healing Sage arts, perching again on his shoulders.
Koharu stepped up beside Sarutobi, having arrived on the scene:
"Hiruzen, we can't possibly defeat Uchiha Chiyu alone— We must combine our strength."
Even so, Uchiha Fugaku let out a cold laugh from behind Chiyu:
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, Koharu— Did you think we Uchihas are short on fighters?
Trying to use numbers to corner us?!"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, come face me if you want an opponent!"
His eyes spun, the three tomoe swiftly forming a Mangekyō Sharingan pattern.
"He... He's awakened Mangekyō too?!"
Fear rippled through Sarutobi's followers.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha erupted in cheers, morale bursting sky-high.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said nothing, but Koharu spoke:
"Hiruzen, you and Jiraiya can handle Uchiha Chiyu— Let me take on Uchiha Fugaku."
Hiruzen hesitated, then nodded:
Long years had passed since Koharu last fought, but there was no time to doubt. Fugaku, too, harbored no illusions about her. Anyone who'd served under the Second Hokage, surviving that era, was not to be underestimated.
But indeed, Hiruzen and Jiraiya—and the Anbu—still had to confront the biggest threat: Uchiha Chiyu.
"Sensei!" Jiraiya said to Hiruzen, "I'm almost drained, so we must finish this fast..."
"I agree," nodded Hiruzen.
A swirl of white smoke cleared to reveal a large, white-furred ape in battle gear. This was Hiruzen's personal summon: the Monkey King, Enma.
"That's Susanoo?! As always, Hiruzen, you only call me for dire crises!"
"No time to chat, Enma—turn into the Adamantine Staff!"
In an instant, the ape shifted into a dark staff—infused with an unbreakable diamond-like hardness, able to alter length and size at will—and Hiruzen seized it.
Jiraiya felt a surge of nostalgia:
"It's been a while, King Enma. Feels like forever since we fought side by side with Sensei..."
"Likely the final time we fight together, Jiraiya! Let's go!"
He sprang forward, brandishing the Adamantine Staff, which elongated violently in mid-swing, driving at Chiyu's Susanoo. With the momentum of the leap, Hiruzen's strength soared—once, he'd used this strike to hold back the full brunt of the Nine-Tails, forcing it away from the village. It was indeed monstrous!
But even so, facing fourth-form Susanoo:
Susanoo staggered half a step. But Chiyu only gave a low snort, and the giant chakra sword carved downward:
Despite Enma's adamantine body, its staff form—and Hiruzen with it—were repelled, forcibly knocked back. Susanoo's chain-lash, the Chiibiki Zai-Bakusō Chains—shot forth, about to coil around Hiruzen!
At the last second, he clenched his teeth:
"Adamantine Prison Wall!"
Enma's staff multiplied into numerous thick rods, forming a sturdy cage around Hiruzen. But the gigantic sword smashed straight through, scattering them in all directions. And the chains were closing in—only a hair's breadth away!
In that do-or-die moment:
Sarutobi Hiruzen's form suddenly vanished on the spot!
All watched in shock.
Even Chiyu furrowed his brow for the first time.
"Flying Thunder God Technique...?"
"So this is your final ace, Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
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