"It's truly flawless."
Sarutobi Hiruzen held the Adamantine Stick, momentarily lost in thought.
The unknown shield allowed Sosuke to completely block both Ninjutsu and Taijutsu. The Byakugan and excellent Genjutsu dispelling abilities allowed Sosuke not to worry about Genjutsu.
Having mastered over a thousand Jutsu and Secret Techniques, he couldn't think of how to fight Sosuke.
"No, if it's a defensive Ninjutsu, it can't be invincible. There's definitely an endurance limit!" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, deciding to give it his all.
In the Ninja World, there's no true Absolute Defense, as the characteristics of Chakra determine that a Ninjutsu can't have an absolutely invincible defense.
Swipe! Swipe!
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought about tactics while his body didn't stop moving, constantly dodging the black cubes falling from the sky.
When there were no more black cubes falling, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly dashed behind a cube and swiftly attached several Explosive Tags on the Adamantine Stick.
The next moment, Mokgetsu pursued him, and Sarutobi Hiruzen thrust the Adamantine Stick towards Mokgetsu.
In Mokgetsu's eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen's movements were inescapable, so the instant Sarutobi Hiruzen made his move, Mokgetsu once again used Unlimited Jutsu, stopping the Adamantine Stick three centimeters before his body.
Whiz!
The Adamantine Stick extended in reverse, sending Sarutobi Hiruzen swiftly away.
Rumble!!
The Explosive Tags suddenly detonated, covering Mokgetsu and the surrounding area.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that such an attack couldn't harm Sosuke. Without any pause, he immediately formed Hand Seals to use Earth Release Ninjutsu.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Netherworld!"
Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's massive Chakra infusion, a large expanse of land transformed into a swamp, instantly engulfing Mokgetsu's one-third body into it.
"Vajra Prison Wall!"
While forming Hand Seals, Sarutobi Hiruzen kicked out the Adamantine Stick.
As the Adamantine Stick flew towards Mokgetsu, it rapidly split into dozens of clones, forming a cubic cage imprisoning Mokgetsu.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands didn't stop, immediately forming Hand Seals to create four Shadow Clones.
"Five Release: Great Chain Bomb Jutsu!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's main body used Fire Release Ninjutsu, while the other four Shadow Clones used Water Release, Lighting Release, and other four great attributed Ninjutsu.
This was the tactic Sarutobi Hiruzen had in mind.
Ordinary Ninjutsu couldn't harm Sosuke, so he simply wouldn't use regular offensive Ninjutsu, opting for supportive Ninjutsu like Swamp of the Netherworld to entrap.
Then he would use his strongest offensive Ninjutsu, Five Release Great Chain Bomb, to attack the trapped Sosuke.
The Five Release Great Chain Bomb was the ultimate result of Sarutobi Hiruzen's decades of Ninjutsu cultivation, capable even of breaking the Lighting Release Armor, reputed as the Strongest Shield of the Third Raikage.
"If even the Five Release Great Chain Bomb doesn't do the trick, then I'll have to resort to that..." Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flashed with resolve.
If even the Five Release Great Chain Bomb couldn't pierce Sosuke's defense, then he would be defeated.
This was a conclusion Sarutobi Hiruzen had never anticipated.
Sosuke had been too deeply hidden; since the battle began, he used abilities he had never demonstrated, his power far exceeding expectations.
Before the battle started, Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't intended to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
He just wanted to avenge Shimura Danzo, why would he sacrifice himself? It would only throw Konoha into chaos.
It's different now; the battle has progressed to this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen must win, even if it means mutual destruction with Sosuke.
If he didn't do this, it wouldn't be just him who would die; most of the Konoha Ninja that accompanied him would too.
Because those Konoha Ninja wouldn't just watch him be killed, they would certainly intervene.
But if his Five Release Great Chain Bomb were ineffective against Sosuke, it could only mean Sosuke was much stronger than him.
Adding in Ninja Sect's Kakuzu and Nagato, Konoha was undoubtedly doomed.
Whoosh!!
A massive flame spewed from Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth, its heat igniting the surrounding air instantly, with rolling heat waves hitting the nearby ninjas, making them feel parched.
The Shadow Clones exhaled a strong storm, not only expanding the power of the flames but also transforming into sharp blades, slicing through the air towards Mokgetsu.
Rumble!!
Large flying stones, under the storm's support, swiftly pierced through the flames, accelerating towards Mokgetsu like flaming meteors falling from the sky.
Boom!!
Splash!!
Silver-white lightning tore through the sky, while pale blue waters surged like tidal waves.
In an instant, the terrifying power of the Five Great Attributes swept across the battlefield, each attribute complementing the others, constantly amplifying each other's power. At this moment, Five Release's power achieved perfect fusion, creating an inescapable attack network that enveloped Mokgetsu's location.
"As expected of the Hokage, this Five Release's power is truly terrifying." Kakuzu stared at the battlefield, his heart couldn't help but worry for Sosuke.
He too toyed with Five Ninjutsu and Combined Ninjutsu, understanding how exaggerated this strike from Sarutobi Hiruzen was.
So even though Sosuke claimed many times he was strong, had no issues in combat, Kakuzu couldn't help but worry for him.
"Sosuke-sensei."
Even Kakuzu, relatively familiar with Sosuke, was somewhat worried, let alone other Ninja Sect ninjas, all anxiously watching the bound Sosuke.
"If it's sensei, it should be fine." Nagato confidently thought.
If truly pushed to the limit, Mokgetsu would certainly unleash his full strength, but now he hadn't even used the Ninjutsu of the "Habu Mokgetsu" identity, indicating everything was still under control.
"Victory or defeat lies in this confrontation," Orochimaru focused intently on the battle.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen's Five Release Great Chain Bomb, which exhausted a significant amount of Chakra, didn't give him the advantage, then Sarutobi Hiruzen would definitely lose.
"You must win, Third Hokage-sama!"
The Konoha Jonin silently cheered for Sarutobi Hiruzen in their hearts.
Whiz!
At the moment the Ninjutsu was about to hit, the Adamantine Stick, transformed by the Ape Demon, swiftly retreated.
It had no intention of confronting the Five Release Great Chain Bomb, taking on a Fire Dragon Flame Bomb was fine, but facing the Five Release Great Chain Bomb was a bit uncomfortable.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Dance!"
At that very moment, Mokgetsu gently floated out from the swamp, entering the Breath of Flame Chakra Mode, spewing flames of terrifying temperature.
Bang!
Vast, terrifying flames struck the Vajra Prison Wall, instantly causing it to dissipate into white smoke on the ground.
The retreating Ape Demon was slightly surprised; its clone wasn't just a fragile Shadow Clone—even when it wasn't present, the Vajra Prison Wall was very solid, resisting powerful Ninjutsu with ease.
Yet it was so easily wiped out by Sosuke's attack; this Fire Release was indeed formidable.
But the Ape Demon didn't mind, it was already too late, Sarutobi Hiruzen's Five Release Great Chain Bomb was about to hit Sosuke's face, Sosuke couldn't possibly dodge.
However, at that moment, Mokgetsu's right eye pupil subtly burst into golden light.
"Sukuna Hikona!"
Whiz! Whiz!
The giant stones burning with flames under the storm's drive suddenly shrank rapidly, ultimately disappearing entirely.
The forest-burning sea of flames and the whirlwind sweeping the battlefield simultaneously vanished.
Oceanic waves of water instantly disappeared without a trace, not even leaving a single wisp of vapor.
The silver-white lightning intended to penetrate everything dissipated in the air, leaving no trace whatsoever.
The battlefield, ravaged by Five Release's power moments ago, suddenly became calm and silent, only the slight marks on the ground proving that a terrifying Combined Ninjutsu had been unleashed here.
—Silence
Neither Sarutobi Hiruzen, engaged in battle with Mokgetsu, nor the observing Ninja Sect and Konoha ninjas uttered a word.
The entire battlefield plunged into an eerie silence.
"No wonder Ninja Sect's attitude was so peculiar." Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled bitterly, realizing why his investigation into Ninja Sect's ninja power turned up nothing—it was all in the wrong direction.