Cold winds howled across the battlefield.
The clash of five Kage-level titans had left the once-scenic plain in ruins. The ground was scarred with craters, like the aftermath of a meteor shower.
Standing amidst the devastation, Yui Xuanyue ignored the chaos beyond the battlefield. In a blur of motion, he had already left one Kage dead and another maimed. He didn't hesitate, driving forward to push his advantage even further.
BOOM—
A torrent of water burst from his left palm. Having absorbed Byakuren's Water Release earlier, Yui Xuanyue unleashed it again, surging toward the shaken Retsuto, Ishikawa, and A.
The three remaining Kage, no longer as confident as before, scattered immediately.
But Xuanyue was faster.
BANG! BANG!
Two shadow clones appeared at his flanks, darting in opposite directions. In a blink, all three versions of Xuanyue shot forward like streaks of darkness.
Retsuto barely had time to blink before the true body materialized before him like a phantom. Ishikawa and A found themselves tied down by the relentless pressure of the clones.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Fists collided in brutal rhythm.
Xuanyue, ever pragmatic, chose his prey carefully. A was formidable even with one arm missing—his monstrous physique made him difficult to bring down quickly. Retsuto, on the other hand, carried an injury that left him far more vulnerable.
Xuanyue went all in, pouring every ounce of speed and power into finishing the First Kazekage as quickly as possible.
CLANG!
After a flurry of lightning-fast exchanges, Retsuto managed a desperate counter, his blade carving across Xuanyue's chest—only to leave a faint white mark. His eyes dimmed with despair. Retreat flickered in his expression.
But it was already too late.
Swift as the wind itself, Xuanyue seized his wrist, rising to deliver the finishing blow.
Suddenly—
A sharp, piercing sound tore through the air.
So fast!
Xuanyue's eyes narrowed. He abandoned the nearly helpless Retsuto and leaped back instinctively.
A heartbeat later, where he had stood now stood another figure—an uninvited guest.
Long black hair. Crimson Sengoku-era armor. The Leaf forehead protector.
Without his ceremonial robes and hat, he had arrived in full battle readiness—the First Hokage of Konoha, the God of Shinobi himself:
Senju Hashirama.
"..Hokage."
Retsuto, saved from the jaws of death, opened his mouth, but shame choked the words. Four Kage had united against a single foe, only to end up dead, broken, and now rescued by the man they once viewed as a rival.
It was humiliating.
Hashirama paid him no mind. With a warm but steady tone, he raised his hand.
"Don't worry. Leave the rest to me."
Retsuto exhaled a heavy sigh, all protest dying on his lips.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Sensing the shift, Xuanyue dismissed his clones. With no more interference, Ishikawa and A quickly regrouped with Retsuto.
Four figures once again stood together—but the air was different now. Their earlier pride was gone, replaced with weary resignation.
Hashirama, by contrast, seemed revitalized, his eyes gleaming with sharp focus.
The three injured Kage exchanged bitter smiles.
"You've all fought hard. Rest now," Hashirama said kindly. "From here, Yui Xuanyue is mine to face."
None of them argued. Though he hadn't said it aloud, they all knew the truth: their strength was no longer enough to matter. The battle had reached a level only the God of Shinobi could contest.
When they had set out, they had believed themselves in control. Now, they could only withdraw and leave the conclusion in Hashirama's hands.
For Retsuto, Ishikawa, and A, the thought was bitter. And yet, deep inside, they couldn't help but wonder—if Hashirama and Xuanyue were to destroy each other here, who would remain to clean up the pieces?
After all, Xuanyue was a threat. But so too was the ever-growing power of Konoha.
Unaware of their hidden thoughts, Xuanyue regarded his new opponent with calm eyes. He knew the truth all too well—Hashirama's power was overwhelming, almost absurd. Asura's reincarnation, master of Wood Release, wielder of Sage Arts. His abilities dwarfed even the broken "system" Xuanyue relied on.
And Xuanyue was not unscathed. Despite appearances, his reserves were depleted. His chakra surpassed most shinobi, rivaling even the First Raikage, but he was no endless engine like a tailed beast. The earlier battles had cost him dearly.
Against a fresh, peak-form Hashirama, the odds tilted sharply against him.
But there would be no pause, no chance to rest. Hashirama was gentle by nature, but as a shinobi, he was bound to strike with lethal precision. The Five Kage had gathered for one purpose: to end Yui Xuanyue.
Xuanyue brushed the dust from his robes and straightened, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His gaze met Hashirama's, steady and unflinching.
"Well then," he said softly. "The Five Kage are finally complete."
The stage was set.
The final dance would begin.
(End of Chapter)