Chapter 59
Sarutobi Hiruzen was struck by the sudden impact of the crowbar, his vision exploding into stars. Fortunately, Zixu hadn't used his full strength. This wasn't his fight—it was a battle between Orochimaru and his master. He only needed to uphold their agreement and ensure Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't escape.
"Hiruzen-sensei, there's no way out of here. Just accept your fate," Orochimaru sneered, his twisted grin making his pale face even more unsettling. With a flick of his fingers, he commanded the reanimated First and Second Hokage to press their attack.
"Katon: Karyū Endan! (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!)" Sarutobi Hiruzen, realizing escape was impossible, quickly adapted to the situation. A massive fire dragon erupted from his mouth, sweeping through the debris before surging toward Orochimaru. However, something was off—the trajectory of the attack wavered strangely, as if the flames themselves were intoxicated.
Sarutobi rubbed his head, still disoriented from the earlier blow. But seeing that the mysterious crowbar-wielding figure wasn't interfering, he refocused on Orochimaru, steeling himself for the battle ahead.
Despite there being no visible water source on the roof, the Second Hokage clapped his hands together. "Suiton: Suijinheki! (Water Release: Water Formation Wall!)" A towering water barrier surged forth, spanning the entire Four Violet Flames Formation. Sarutobi's fire dragon crashed into it like an insect caught in a web, its flames extinguished instantly. The water wall then retaliated, sending a wave of scalding steam and liquid toward him.
But it didn't end there. The Second Hokage pressed his advantage, weaving hand seals at lightning speed. A swirling vortex of water erupted, filling the confined space within the barrier before crashing down like a torrential flood.
Thinking fast, Sarutobi slammed his hands onto the ground. "Doton: Doryūheki! (Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!)" A massive rock wall, nearly three meters thick, surged upward. The flood smashed into it with brutal force, sending water and debris flying in all directions. Though the impact left cracks in the barrier, it successfully blunted the full brunt of the attack.
Zixu remained crouched at the edge of the battle, watching with great interest. The Second Hokage's mastery of Water Release was unparalleled—perhaps even greater than any Hokage's understanding of it. Zixu committed each movement to memory, already considering how he could guide Hyuga Chinano to develop in a similar direction.
The fight pressed on. Taking advantage of the water pooling on the rooftop, the First Hokage lunged forward. Effortlessly slapping away several incoming fireballs, he closed the distance in an instant and drove his fist into Sarutobi's face with bone-crushing force. The sheer impact twisted Sarutobi's features, nearly exposing his molars.
The moment he sent Sarutobi reeling, the First Hokage rapidly formed hand seals. Enormous tree roots burst forth from the shattered rooftop, surging toward Sarutobi like grasping hands. Even though the space was limited, his Mokuton (Wood Release) was on an entirely different level compared to Tenzo's. The sheer thickness of the roots alone made the difference undeniable.
Sarutobi dodged and weaved, but the Four Violet Flames Formation left him with little room to maneuver. Within seconds, the roots wrapped around his limbs, restraining him completely.