Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sarutobi Hiruzen split into four shadow clones, surrounding Obito from all directions as he formed a hand seal.
His thoughts turned rapidly. He had cracked the Mind-Body Switch Technique earlier, so trying it again would only backfire. But Obito's intangibility ability was proving to be a huge issue. Continuous saturation attacks might theoretically work, but the chakra cost would be enormous.
"It's better to use shadow clones to flush him out," Hiruzen thought. "Once he materializes, he'll be watching too many angles—easier to spot an opening."
Obito calmly observed the clones.
"Trying to distract me, huh? Clever... but I can make shadow clones too. And with Hashirama's chakra, my reserves are far beyond yours."
He quickly formed hand seals, creating shadow clones of his own. Clone against clone, main body against main body—the formation remained unchanged.
Hiruzen frowned. "A stalemate... but I've prepared a contingency."
Five-Style: Great Bullet Technique!
Hiruzen and his four clones coordinated their attacks: fire, lightning, water, earth, and wind—all five elemental jutsus launched simultaneously!
Obito smirked. "Well-rounded... but still B-rank. I can replicate that instantly."
He copied the technique using his Sharingan. The real Obito and his clones unleashed the same barrage—five elemental bullets collided with five.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The air trembled with the sheer force. Flames roared, wind howled, lightning cracked, and water hissed into steam. The ANBU captains watching from the sidelines were dumbstruck.
"What are we even looking at?!"
"He's keeping up with the Third Hokage—the Professor! When did the Uchiha birth such a monster?!"
"I'm starting to question Danzo's entire Uchiha policy..."
"Even Uchiha Kagami couldn't wield the Sharingan like this. If only he weren't our enemy..."
Hiruzen, still holding his jutsu with one hand, pulled out a kunai with the other and flung it at Obito.
"Targeting me while I'm tangible? Clever. But what can a basic kunai do? At least tape a paper bomb to it."
Obito tilted his body slightly; the kunai passed by harmlessly.
Then—he noticed something.
"Wait... those patterns..."
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
All four shadow clones of Hiruzen disappeared simultaneously.
Whoosh!
The real Hiruzen suddenly appeared behind Obito, kunai now coated with Wind Chakra, stabbing at Obito's heart.
Swish.
It phased through harmlessly.
"What?!" Hiruzen gasped, halting his motion and immediately retreating.
Obito turned, raising his hand. His right Mangekyō Sharingan flared, ready to activate Kamui.
"You can use Flying Thunder God, huh? But if I hadn't noticed the seal pattern on your kunai, this might've gone very differently."
Hiruzen grit his teeth. "My Flying Thunder God is nowhere near the Second or Fourth Hokage's level. This distance... it's too late. I have to trigger my backup!"
Swish!
He began forming seals rapidly.
Obito studied the hand signs. "Earth Release: Inner Decapitation? What, are you improvising now?"
Boom!
Suddenly, the ground beneath Obito burst open, and a hand shot out, grabbing his ankle, halting his movement.
"Another shadow clone? When?!"
Obito's eyes widened.
"Could it have split off during the first shuriken barrage—hidden by wind and sand—disguised as a projectile?!"
Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!
With a violent tug, Obito was yanked into the earth, buried up to his neck.
His left Mangekyō eye locked onto Hiruzen.
Kamui!!
Earth Style: Earth Wall!
Hiruzen slammed his palms into the ground just in time. A wall of earth erupted between him and Obito.
CRACK!
Kamui bored a hole through it, but it was just a second too late. Hiruzen had already sidestepped. Though not unscathed—a chunk of flesh was torn from his shoulder, bone visible.
Swish!
Obito emerged from the earth, glaring at the retreating Hokage.
"You've brought the basics to an art form. You truly live up to the title 'Professor.'"
Even Obito had to admit—his understanding and use of basic ninjutsu paled in comparison.
Hiruzen wasn't a Jinchūriki. He had no Sharingan, no Wood Release, no insane taijutsu like the Raikage. He didn't have bloodline limits like the other Kage. But his mastery of jutsu alone kept him among the strongest.
He was living proof that sheer dedication could rival the divine.
But still... mortals had limits.
Obito respected him—but he would still crush him with overwhelming power.
He raised two fingers to his chest—the Seal of Opposition, a sign of respect between shinobi.
Hiruzen returned it.
Inside, he was torn.
"I once suspected him of being Uchiha Madara himself... but now I see—he's not Madara. He's the only Uchiha since Madara to reach this height. He's not there yet... but one day... he will be."
Drawing blood from his shoulder, Hiruzen made a familiar hand seal:
Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram!
Summoning Jutsu: Enma, the Monkey King!
Bang!!
The mighty Enma appeared.
"Sarutobi... you haven't summoned me in a decade."
"I wouldn't have if I had a choice. I need you, Enma."
"No need for formality between comrades."
POOF!
Enma transformed into the Adamantine Staff. Hiruzen gripped it tightly and spun it. The wind howled with the motion.
Obito whispered to himself:
"Enma has a diamond-hard body and countless transformations. His brute strength even rivals Naruto's. He's a headache. Should I summon Gyūki? No... the Tailed Beast Bomb would level everything—including my own hideout. I can't risk it with Orochimaru's research ongoing."
Obito's eyes spun.
Blue chakra flared violently.
Susanoo: Crow Tengu!
The ANBU watching were frozen in awe.
"What is that?!"
"How is the Third supposed to fight that?!"
"Wait... is he going to use that technique?!"
Hiruzen stared solemnly.
"That chakra... it's exactly the same as what disrupted the Mind Transfer Technique. It's Susanoo."
Enma opened an eye on the staff.
"This isn't something we can afford to hold back against."
"I know."
BOOM!
Hiruzen's body expanded rapidly.
The ANBU gasped.
"Isn't that the Akimichi clan's Multi-Size Technique?!"
"He's the only non-Akimichi who can use it, but the cost is high. He'll be bedridden for days after!"
"He must really be desperate!"
Hiruzen now towered like a giant, gripping the now-massive Adamantine Staff.
"Let's go, Enma!"
"RAHHH!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
He charged Obito's Susanoo. The titanic figures collided.
Crow Tengu drew its blade and slashed—
The impact was like mountains crashing together.
In a hidden underground chamber, rocks shook loose from the ceiling.
Orochimaru lounged on a stone slab, smiling lazily.
"Ahhh... what a ruckus. A fitting tribute to my genius."
"Lord Orochimaru, the Third Hokage is here! You know how dangerous he is! Even that Uchiha can't win! We must leave!" Kabuto pleaded.
Orochimaru chuckled.
"Kabuto... you underestimate Yu-kun. Those eyes—those eyes—are beyond even that old monster's power."
Kabuto stared at his master.
"Forgive me, Lord Orochimaru, but I can't let you be taken... even if I have to knock you unconscious."
Blue chakra covered Kabuto's palm. Silently, he approached Orochimaru's back.
SWISH!
Suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist with crushing strength.
Kabuto looked up—and froze.
Zetsu.
More specifically—Tobi.
"You're pushing your luck... you bastard."
Tobi's pupil-less eyes glowed with deathly fury.