Unlike Hibari, a rookie fresh out of the academy, Hiruzen was no newcomer. As Sasuke's son, possessing extraordinary talent, his strength was also exceptionally outstanding, earning him a considerable reputation throughout the shinobi world.
Thus, the mysterious shinobi recognized Hiruzen with just a single glance.
Even though he was recognized, Hiruzen had no intention of wasting words with this guy. His hands quickly formed a simple 'Tiger seal,' and his chakra surged.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!" Hiruzen opened his mouth and spat out a Flame Bullet.
"Water Release: Water Bullet Technique!" The shinobi also quickly expelled a water sphere, extinguishing Hiruzen's Flame Bullet in mid-air.
At the same time, the fierce clash of water and fire caused a large amount of mist to erupt from the area, instantly obscuring both their visions.
Seeing this, the shinobi didn't hesitate at all. He stomped his foot, quickly disengaging from the rock he was on. He knew very well that Hiruzen's hand seal speed was fast; though he was also fast, he might not be Hiruzen's match. Therefore, creating distance and changing position first was the correct approach.
Sure enough, no sooner had he left than the next second, a burst of wind pressure flew out from the mist, shattering the rock he had been standing on.
Before he could even form hand seals, Hiruzen's figure burst out from the mist, quickly closing the distance to him, and raising his leg to directly kick him in the face.
'A taijutsu match?' The mysterious shinobi thought to himself, his hand speed no slower. He raised his arm to parry, blocking Hiruzen's kick, then reached down to his waist, pulling out a kunai, and fiercely thrust it towards Hiruzen's abdomen.
However, whether Hiruzen hadn't used taijutsu in a long time or for some other reason, facing this kunai thrust, his movements seemed somewhat sluggish, failing to dodge or defend in time.
'I got him...' An excited glint flashed in the shinobi's eyes as he thought this.
However, when his kunai fiercely struck Hiruzen, he found it couldn't penetrate at all. It felt as if he had stabbed a solid rock.
Before he could even think further, Hiruzen's hands had firmly gripped his shoulders, startling him.
The next second, Hibari's figure suddenly appeared behind him. Hibari had one hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. Immediately after, a cold flash appeared as the sharp, chilling blade instantly drew from its sheath, mercilessly striking the mysterious shinobi's neck, who was unable to dodge while being held by Hiruzen.
A head instantly flew off, and the person was directly decapitated by Hibari with a single stroke.
Landing steadily on another rock pillar, Hibari sheathed his sword and said with a smile, "How was that, Hiruzen? My cooperation was pretty good, wasn't it?"
No sooner had he spoken than another figure emerged from the mist. It was Hiruzen himself. At the same time, the 'Hiruzen' who had been holding the mysterious shinobi exploded with a 'bang!', leaving a puff of smoke, and then the figure of Enma, the Monkey King, appeared.
It turned out that from the moment Hiruzen used Fire Release: Flame Bullet, he had already been calculating. Otherwise, why would he, knowing the opponent was a Water Release master, still choose to use a countered Fire Release?
The purpose was merely for the obscuring water mist. The moment the mist appeared, Hiruzen first casually released a burst of wind pressure as a facade, then quickly used the Summoning Jutsu to summon Enma, the Monkey King. He had Enma transform into his likeness and engage in close-quarters taijutsu combat with the opponent, creating an opening while also seizing hold of the guy.
Although the mysterious shinobi couldn't see this, Hibari, observing from atop the Earth-Style Wall, saw everything clearly. Therefore, the moment Enma moved, he was already prepared to strike in coordination.
Sure enough, seizing this opportunity, he severed the man's head with a single slash!
"Even if you hadn't attacked, once he was caught by Enma, he couldn't have escaped," Hiruzen said with a chuckle.
Nevertheless, Hiruzen still greatly admired Hibari's reaction speed. To discern his intentions and coordinate so quickly was truly excellent.
"Hiruzen, is this the kid from the Senju clan you often speak of?" Enma looked at Hibari and asked.
"Hahahaha, that's right! How is he? Pretty outstanding, huh?" Hiruzen chuckled and said.
But just then, his expression suddenly changed. He swiftly threw several shuriken which grazed Hibari's cheek. The next second, Hibari heard the sound of shuriken being deflected.
Without even looking back, Hibari stomped his foot and quickly retreated from his spot. At the same time, an arm reached out from behind him, almost grabbing him.
Only after regaining his footing and looking back did Hibari clearly see the situation: the one who had just attacked was the mysterious shinobi whose head he had just cut off.
At this moment, Hiruzen looked at the scene, his expression very serious, and said, "Hydrification Technique... You're a shinobi of the Hozuki clan from Kirigakure!"
The Hydrification Technique is a Hiden passed down through generations in Kirigakure's Hozuki clan. It's incredibly powerful, allowing the user to become completely immune to physical attacks; sword slashes and axe blows have no effect.
Just now, Hibari had cut off his head, and now this guy had "revived." One could imagine how exceptional this Hydrification Technique was.
"Adamantine Staff Enma... True to its reputation. I carelessly fell into your trap, didn't I?" The mysterious shinobi looked at Hiruzen and said in a deep voice.
At the same time, his face was changing. Since the Hydrification Technique had been exposed, there was no longer any use in concealing himself. After all, this was their Hozuki clan's signature secret technique; only they in the entire shinobi world possessed it. Once used, it would reveal their identity.
After clearly seeing the guy's true appearance, Hiruzen frowned and said in a deep voice, "Hozuki Reigetsu... It is you after all!"
Hozuki Reigetsu was a prominent figure of the Hozuki clan, well-known in the shinobi world. His brother, Hozuki Gengetsu, would later inherit the Mizukage position in Kirigakure, becoming the Second Mizukage.
In terms of strength, reputation, and all other aspects, Reigetsu was in no way inferior to Hiruzen. In fact, one could say he was almost on par with individuals like Sasuke.
"Is your Kirigakure going to become enemies with our Konohagakure? The Five Kage Summit just ended not long ago..." Hiruzen said in a deep, wary tone, looking at Reigetsu.
Previously, to maintain his stealth, this guy mostly used common Water Release ninjutsu that almost everyone in Kirigakure knew. One could even say that shinobi proficient in Water Release were like him; he had only used one Hiden, which made him slightly unique.
But now that his identity was exposed, it meant he no longer needed to hide anything. He could fully utilize his unique Water Release ninjutsu. And the Hozuki clan were already masters of Water Release, so it wasn't impossible for them to possess some powerful Water Release ninjutsu. Therefore, Hiruzen was now extremely cautious!
Reigetsu's lips curved slightly into a smile, and he quietly said, "You can't put it that way, Hiruzen. It was your Konohagakure that set a trap during our Kirigakure ninja's confidential mission, and two of our elites were senselessly blown up. Furthermore..."
At this point, Reigetsu shifted his gaze to Hibari and continued, "...and that kid later killed one of my subordinates. No matter how you look at it, didn't your Konoha people make the first move? Destroying the results of the Five Kage Summit and the hard-won peace... You truly have a lot of nerve."
Hearing Reigetsu's words, Hiruzen's gaze also darkened slightly.
Indeed, if the matter was framed like this, it would be impossible to untangle.
These guys didn't wear forehead protectors or anything, so who knew who they were? But it wasn't wrong for them to use 'confidential mission' as an excuse. Moreover, the first casualties were indeed from Kirigakure, so it was a messy situation that couldn't be clarified.
"You concealed your identities, and if there were casualties, you can't blame others. As it stands now, it's a misunderstanding. There's a confidential matter concerning our Konohagakure ahead, so please stop here and retreat," Hiruzen said in a deep voice.
"Hehehehe... My apologies, but we're also on a mission. How about you make it easy for us?" Reigetsu said with a sinister smile.
Hiruzen looked at Reigetsu with an oppressive gaze, then quietly said, "Then it seems there's nothing more to discuss..."
The atmosphere became tense. Hibari's hand rested on the hilt of his sheathed sword, his eyes filled with vigilance as he watched the man. At the same time, thanks to that damned Human-Human Fruit, his chakra was rapidly recovering.
Just as Hibari was wondering when to make his move, Reigetsu and Hiruzen simultaneously began forming hand seals.
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!" Hiruzen quietly yelled. Simultaneously, several spears made of earth and stone instantly solidified in the air, fiercely thrusting towards Reigetsu.
And Reigetsu also said in a deep voice, "Water Release: Water Wall!"
As he blocked Hiruzen's attack with a Water Wall, he also raised his hand and pointed at Hiruzen, saying, "Water Gun!"
Water Gun is one of the Hozuki clan's unique secret techniques, a type of ninjutsu that requires no hand seals. It allows the user to instantly propel water droplets from their body through their index finger, with immense power, like a bullet, making it incredibly difficult to defend against!
Just as it seemed that Hiruzen, being too close, couldn't dodge this attack, Enma, the Monkey King, timely blocked in front of Hiruzen, steadily receiving the Water Gun.
At the same time, Hibari also acted swiftly. He quickly drew the sword from his waist, and at the same time, his hand glowed with lightning. The next moment, his sword was suddenly covered in powerful Lightning Release chakra, transforming into a lightning blade, which then mercilessly struck towards Reigetsu.
The Hydrification Technique wasn't without weaknesses; Lightning Release was the perfect counter to this Hiden!
Just then, a monster-like figure wearing a mask suddenly appeared from the deep pit filled with scattered rocks, lunging towards Hibari with lightning speed.
And Hibari's peripheral vision caught sight of this figure...
"It's Kakuzu's ninjutsu!"
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