Guy's strength didn't last long.
The very next moment, the backlash from the Seventh Gate surged through his body!
The searing pain hit him like a tidal wave, and he collapsed to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably.
"Guy!"
Kakashi, watching from nearby, was horrified and rushed to his side.
But seeing Guy's body scorched red, he didn't dare touch him even slightly.
"Well, well… impressive."
Kaede began walking toward them step by step.
"Stop right there!" Kakashi instantly grew alert.
He flipped his hand, kunai drawn, and stood protectively in front of Guy.
But Kaede didn't even acknowledge him.
Killing Kakashi was no more than a swing of the sword.
Seeing this, Guy struggled to get up and fight again.
He roared, "Even if it costs me my life—I won't let you hurt Kakashi!"
"My youth… isn't over yet!"
From his posture, it was clear—he was ready to force open the Eighth Gate!
Kaede narrowed his eyes and paused.
"Planning to forcibly open the Eighth Gate?"
"But in your current condition, how many attacks could you even throw before collapsing?"
Kakashi quickly turned to stop him.
"Don't push yourself, Guy! If you open the Eighth Gate now, you'll die instantly!"
Though he hadn't mastered the Eight Gates, Kakashi had learned the basics. He understood how dangerous each gate truly was.
Kaede rubbed his chin and studied Guy.
"The Eighth Gate… I'd really love to see it in action. But I suppose now's not the time to get entangled with you two."
With the power of the Mangekyō in his eyes, Kaede wasn't too concerned about Guy's Eight Gates.
But the rest of the Uchiha might not fare as well…
After thinking it over, Kaede turned his gaze toward Kakashi.
"You're a surprise. Your father was killed by the village's higher-ups, yet you still serve them so loyally?"
A flicker of pain flashed across Kakashi's face at the mention of his father.
But he quickly responded with conviction, "Even if it was a conspiracy, it was Danzo who did it!"
"I won't hold others accountable for one man's crime—not when it risks peace and stability!"
"Only Danzo?" Kaede chuckled coldly.
"You're still so naive. Have you ever thought about what your father's position actually meant?"
Kakashi's expression shifted drastically. "What are you implying?!"
Kaede spoke calmly, "Hatake Sakumo—respected even by the Sannin within Konoha."
"Every mission he took on was top secret among top secrets."
"Do you really believe Danzo dared leak such a mission's details… without the other elders' silent approval? Even if the mission failed?"
Kakashi stood frozen on the spot.
"Top secret… among top secrets…"
In that instant, a hundred confusing pieces in his mind suddenly clicked into place.
"Think carefully. There isn't a single Konoha elder who's innocent."
Having planted the seed, Kaede turned to leave.
Kakashi had talent—and now his heart had grown dark.
Without the restrictions of the Sharingan, he'd no doubt soon reach a new peak.
At that time… Hiruzen and the rest would have their hands full.
But just as Kaede was about to walk away, he stopped.
"Oh, right. Let me correct something you said earlier."
"That Sharingan of yours… it doesn't belong to a dead man."
Kaede turned back with a faint smile, looking directly at Kakashi.
"Didn't you find something… oddly familiar about the masked man who rescued Itachi earlier?"
Another bombshell struck Kakashi.
"Masked man?" Kakashi's eyes widened.
He remembered clearly—that man had a Sharingan too, in his right eye.
The voice and presence were unfamiliar… but—was it really Obito?
He wanted to ask more—but the battlefield suddenly shifted again.
"Kaede!!!"
The shout echoed across the field before its owner even appeared.
Kaede turned his head with an annoyed glance.
"Oh, still alive? And here I thought you'd finally given up on throwing your life away."
"You really think I won't kill you?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi landed ten meters from Kaede, flanked by over a dozen elite jōnin.
And behind him, Koharu Utatane had brought hundreds of troops.
Hiruzen glared coldly at Kaede.
"Kaede, even if it costs my life… I'll stop you today!"
Kaede let out a light laugh. "You? Worthy?"
Hiruzen didn't react. He'd had enough of Kaede's sharp tongue.
Besides, he knew he couldn't win alone…
He cast a quick glance toward Kakashi and Guy.
What he'd just seen of Guy's power had astonished him.
That one strike… Hiruzen knew he couldn't have blocked it without preparation.
"Guy's grown strong… If only he could open the Eighth Gate… Kaede might've died here."
Hiruzen felt a tinge of regret. If Guy could have reached the Eighth Gate, his own death wouldn't be necessary.
He shook his head and returned his gaze to Kaede.
With a wave of his hand, he barked, "Attack! Buy me time to prepare!"
The elite jōnin instantly charged toward Kaede!
Kaede smiled carelessly. "Fine. I'll take them out first… and see what trick you're planning."
He dashed forward.
With one swing of his sword, a jōnin's head flew into the air!
The rest of them panicked.
"Scatter! Avoid direct combat!"
But even if they spread out, all they could do was delay the inevitable.
From the rear, Hiruzen had already begun forming hand seals.
While doing so, he spoke gravely to Koharu and the others:
"If I die here, step down from your positions. Let me take the blame alone."
"Bring back Tsunade and Jiraiya. One of them must become the next Hokage!"
Koharu looked at him with deep emotion.
"Hiruzen…"
She took a deep breath and promised, "Don't worry. We'll definitely find them."
They would honor his final wish—no matter what.
Besides, only Tsunade or Jiraiya had the weight to hold the village together now.
Hiruzen spoke no more.
He focused entirely on his jutsu.
Soon, he clapped his hands and roared:
"Shiki Fūjin!" (Dead Demon Consuming Seal!)
In that instant, only Kaede and Hiruzen could see the ghostly figure of the Shinigami hovering overhead.
Kaede, watching carefully, looked slightly surprised.
"Shiki Fūjin? I didn't expect you to go this far."
Hiruzen didn't respond.
He just shouted: "Now!"
Four hidden ANBU leapt out from the shadows.
Each one held a strange kunai and shouted in unison:
"Space-Time Seal!"
A massive barrier appeared, encasing the hundred-meter radius around Kaede!
It was a sealing array left behind by Minato Namikaze.
As the master of the Flying Thunder God Technique, he had developed it to the extreme—
Specifically to combat enemies who used space-time ninjutsu!
Kaede's eyes widened. "My dōjutsu… is sealed?!"
Seeing the shock on Kaede's face, Hiruzen burst out laughing.
"Hahahahaha! Kaede, you underestimated Konoha's foundation!"
"This array—Minato made it for foes like you!"
"Today, I'll take you to meet Minato!"
Kaede exhaled in admiration. "Minato Namikaze really was a genius."
But his tone quickly turned icy.
"But now that you're headed for the Pure Land… do you think, after everything you did to Naruto, you even deserve to face him?"
"And besides…"
Kaede looked up at the ghostly figure of the Shinigami above Hiruzen's head.
"You dare call yourself a Shinigami… in front of me?"
...
(End of Chapter)
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