Black armor. A black staff in hand that could extend and contract at will.
Hyuga Akira had to admit—the person who arrived at this moment looked unbelievably cool.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had entered the battlefield.
The collision between the Rock Fist and the black staff unleashed a gale so violent that trees were uprooted and swept away like debris in a passing typhoon. Before such a natural disaster, all living things were equal.
And yet this "disaster" had been created by two human figures.
Crow appeared beside Akira.
"Sorry, I'm late."
So that's where you went—calling for reinforcements.
Akira didn't know how Crow had persuaded Hiruzen to come to the front lines. Danzo must have played a part in it as well.
But one thing he knew for certain: the shattered Iwagakure offensive line would soon recover—and his life was now completely safe. If Ōnoki had continued chasing him, Akira doubted his experience points would have lasted until he reached safety.
That old man clearly had a personal grudge against him. A big one.
At that moment, the clash between the two leaders ended.
Ōnoki drifted backward a short distance and stopped in midair.
Hiruzen planted the black staff into the ground, his expression grave as he looked at Ōnoki.
"The Tsuchikage is certainly decisive—personally intervening on the battlefield."
"And yet here you are as well," Ōnoki replied.
Seeing shadows rapidly approaching from the distance, Ōnoki cast one last look at Akira.
Killing this ninja now was impossible. Why did Konoha produce so many prodigies?
He slowly floated higher.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen… I'll be waiting for you on the battlefield."
With that, he turned and flew away.
Fighting Hiruzen here would be suicidal. And judging by the Konoha reinforcements closing in, they clearly intended to hunt a Kage.
Ōnoki quickly ascended into the sky and vanished.
One by one, Konoha ninja arrived at the scene.
"Hokage-sama."
All of them wore masks and ANBU combat uniforms.
Hiruzen had brought the entire ANBU force.
Then Hiruzen turned and looked at Akira.
"You're Hyuga Akira, aren't you?"
"I'm not," Akira immediately denied. He was still wearing a mask—how had his identity already been exposed?
"I'm 'Player' from Root."
Hiruzen gave him a look that clearly said You think I'd believe that? and pointed at his eyes.
That was indeed a dead giveaway.
Akira clicked his tongue. If you already knew, why ask? Was he planning to reveal his identity publicly?
Did Root members not deserve privacy? When was Danzo ever going to step up?
"Report the situation on the front line," Hiruzen said. "And explain why Ōnoki was personally pursuing you."
He glanced toward the Land of Fire behind them. For Ōnoki to chase someone this far showed serious determination.
Akira cleared his throat.
"The northeastern front has completely collapsed. I don't know how many escaped. Even those who did are being hunted by Iwa ninja—many are in critical condition."
"As for why Ōnoki was chasing me…"
He hesitated, then said, "Because of my Substitution Technique."
Listen to yourself.
Ōnoki chasing someone over a Substitution Technique? Did he not know how to use it himself?
Everyone wore the same expression—though only Hiruzen's face was visible beneath the masks.
Wasn't Substitution basically a basic evasive technique? How could it warrant such seriousness?
Had Iwagakure become so clearly impoverished that even Substitution Techniques were rare?
Hiruzen tried to study Akira's expression for signs of lying, but the mask made that impossible.
"Show me," Hiruzen said quietly.
Akira shrugged, tossed a kunai into the distance, and in an instant swapped places with it.
"That's my substitution."
Hiruzen's jaw dropped wide enough to fit a fist. No—three fists.
"Wait a moment," he said, rubbing his temples. "You call that a Substitution Technique?"
His voice was full of disbelief.
That's Flying Thunder God, Hiruzen cursed inwardly.
"Yeah," Akira replied innocently. "What's wrong with it?"
Hiruzen was certain Akira had never had access to the Flying Thunder God technique… probably.
Tsunade knew the formula, but she couldn't perform it, and judging from her attitude toward Akira, she wasn't likely to teach it either.
"How did you develop this… substitution technique?"
Surely he hadn't invented it himself.
Akira thought for a moment.
"Chakra locking, object sensing, substitution pull…"
He explained the entire operating principle, though the complexity of the chakra manipulation was so absurd that if anyone else could replicate it, Akira would gladly change his surname.
Except maybe Namikaze Minato.
That guy might actually pull it off.
Hiruzen understood the theory in principle—but constructing spatial symbols with chakra? Object-swap perception?
It was like saying birds could fly with wings, so humans should be able to fly with wings too.
The theory sounded reasonable. In practice, it was nonsense.
No, he would have to review the Flying Thunder God formula later and compare the two.
"Move out," Hiruzen ordered. "We're returning to the front line."
…
The collapsed Konoha defenses were not limited to the northeastern front. Several other lines were close to breaking as well.
Only the central camp, held by the Ino–Shika–Chō formation, was still holding firm.
While other fronts crumbled under Iwa's full assault, they maintained the last defensive line. If that line fell, Iwagakure would be able to advance straight into the Land of Fire.
When Hiruzen arrived with reinforcements, Iwagakure withdrew.
"Hokage-sama, we were deceived by Ōnoki's Earth Clone," Nara Shikashi said with a weary sigh.
Only the three of them could restrain Ōnoki on the battlefield. But he had used an Earth Clone to occupy them, creating an opportunity to shatter the other fronts.
At the time, no Hyuga clan members were present to distinguish the clone.
"Reorganize immediately," Hiruzen said solemnly. "I will personally oversee this front."
With Ōnoki personally entering the battle, Konoha currently had no one else who could counter him.
Danzo was tied down in the Land of Rain, under pressure from all sides. The resistance there was too fierce for him to withdraw.
The main force of the Hyuga clan was facing Kumogakure. With their foundation, even the Raikage himself wouldn't easily break that line.
Kirigakure was being held by the Uchiha clan, so there was little concern there. As for Sunagakure, the rising talent Hatake Sakumo was holding them back.
For now, Hiruzen no longer needed to remain in Konoha personally.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Akira found a place to sit and rest.
And, incidentally, to check his loot.
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