Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to capture Kushina, an unexpected scene unfolded before him. His right hand passed cleanly through the bodies of Uzumaki Kushina and Byakuya, grabbing nothing but air.
"W-What…?!" Hiruzen's eyes widened in disbelief.
Before he could recover, Byakuya's foot connected squarely with his chest. Hiruzen reacted in time to raise his arms in defense, but the sheer force of the blow still launched him backward. He skidded several meters across the ground before regaining his balance, glaring coldly at Byakuya.
"That technique… is it Space-Time Ninjutsu?" Hiruzen muttered.
His deduction was accurate. In the critical moment, Byakuya had used Shinkōgan, the Mangekyō Sharingan's space-time ability, to transfer himself and the unconscious Kushina into another dimension, evading the Hokage's sudden assault.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen… what do you think you're doing?" Byakuya growled. "You're the Hokage, and yet you attack a fellow Konoha ninja? Are you planning to betray the village too?!"
"You insolent brat!" Hiruzen roared. "I am the Hokage! Everything I do is for the sake of Konoha!"
Being accused of treason by a younger shinobi struck a nerve. His fury surged, not just from the accusation, but from the shame of being outmaneuvered.
[Detected intense rage from Sarutobi Hiruzen. +1000 negative energy. Chakra +60...]
"Hmph," Byakuya sneered. "Save your excuses. If you're willing to harm your own people in the name of control, then you've already abandoned the Will of Fire."
"And if you're trying to bring ruin to the village…" Byakuya's gaze sharpened. "…Then as a member of the Konoha Military Police Force, I'll stop you here."
With that, Byakuya activated Shinkōgan again, sending the unconscious Kushina to the dimensional void for safekeeping. He then drew a kunai and dashed toward Hiruzen.
Hiruzen immediately responded, pulling out his own kunai to block the strike.
Clang!
Their blades clashed, sparks flying. Both men followed with synchronized spinning kicks.
"Konoha Senpū!"
Their legs collided midair, and both combatants were forced to retreat several steps.
Landing swiftly, Hiruzen weaved hand seals.
"Katon: Gouryuuka no Jutsu!" (Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique!)
A blazing dragon of flame burst forth from Hiruzen's mouth, roaring through the air toward Byakuya.
"Fire Style, huh? Let me show you mine," Byakuya muttered. He formed his own set of seals.
"Katon: Gouryuuka no Jutsu!"
To Hiruzen's shock, Byakuya unleashed a fire dragon that dwarfed his own. The chakra density and control behind Byakuya's jutsu was vastly superior.
BOOM!
The fire dragons collided, but Byakuya's massive one overpowered and consumed Hiruzen's. The flames surged forward, now bearing down on the stunned Hokage.
"No… Impossible! He used the same jutsu, but his fire release completely overwhelmed mine…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen swiftly formed hand seals and vanished using the Body Flicker Technique, narrowly evading the searing path of the incoming Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
"Tch… just how can this damn Uchiha wield such overwhelming ninjutsu…"
"To overpower my own ninjutsu so easily…"
Shock lingered in Hiruzen's chest. Despite being long past his prime, the Third Hokage was still widely respected as "The Professor" due to his mastery of all elemental chakra natures and his encyclopedic knowledge of Konoha's jutsu.
He hadn't earned the title "God of Shinobi" like the First Hokage, but few could rival his depth of ninjutsu. It was with this pride that he engaged in battle—but this time, his opponent's technique had outclassed his own.
That alone was astonishing.
He had released the same Fire Release jutsu, but the Uchiha's version not only engulfed his flames but pushed past them with raw force. The boy—Byakuya—couldn't possibly be this strong at his age. Unless…
Mangekyō Sharingan.
Yes, Hiruzen realized grimly. That must be it. The flames bore the mark of dojutsu-enhanced power. This was no ordinary Fire Style technique—it had been amplified by a Mangekyō ability.
What he didn't know was that Byakuya's Mangekyō possessed a unique ability: Zōka Myōzō, a pupil technique that greatly enhanced the potency and speed of all ninjutsu cast while active. The Fire Dragon Flame Bullet that Byakuya released was imbued with devastating chakra efficiency and destructive force, making it a tier above its standard form.
Before Hiruzen could react further, Byakuya appeared right before him.
"Konoha Reppū!"
The boy's foot snapped upward with brutal precision, striking Hiruzen's chin and lifting him off his feet.
"Urgh—!"
Hiruzen's body tumbled backward, bouncing across the ground until he slammed into the earth with a heavy thud. Blood dribbled from his mouth, and the imprint of a sandal marred his chin.
Byakuya approached with cold amusement.
"Tch… So this is Konoha's so-called strongest Hokage?"
"More like its weakest."
"You brat…!" Hiruzen snarled, wiping the blood from his mouth. "You've gone too far. Now, I'll show you the true strength of the Hokage!"
Biting his thumb, he slammed his hand to the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
With a plume of smoke, a tall figure emerged beside him—a muscular monkey clad in shinobi gear, donning a Konoha forehead protector and exuding raw battle presence.
It was none other than Enma, the Monkey King—Sarutobi Hiruzen's trusted summoning companion.
"Hiruzen, what's going on?" Enma asked, his voice gruff and wary. "This place reeks of conflict."
"I need your strength, Enma. The enemy is powerful—an Uchiha, possibly Mangekyō-level."
Enma's expression darkened. "The Uchiha clan? Aren't they part of Konoha?"
"They were," Hiruzen muttered grimly. "But things have changed. I'll explain later."
"Understood."
Enma leapt into the air. "Transform—Adamantine Staff!"
With a burst of chakra smoke, Enma's body transformed into a long, black staff—the Kongōnyoi, unbreakable and length-adjustable, and one of the strongest weapons used by a shinobi.
Hiruzen caught the staff mid-air, gripping it tightly.
"This ends now, Byakuya."
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