At the predetermined ambush location, Hiruzen Sarutobi waited cautiously. According to the plan, he would face Kinkaku and Ginkaku together with Danzo and Fūmori Masaki.
At this moment, his mind was linked with a member of the Yamanaka Clan; any information obtained by the Yamanaka clansman would be relayed directly to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Lord Hiruzen, Kinkaku and Ginkaku are chasing Lord Fūmori and heading this way." The Yamanaka clansman, having learned the situation from the Hyuga Ninja nearby, hurriedly informed Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hmm, I can feel it too," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied within the mental connection.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was not a Sensing Ninja, but the Nine-Tails Chakra was so powerful that even he could sense that ominous Chakra.
Although Kinkaku and Ginkaku had only devoured a portion of the Nine-Tails Chakra, having witnessed the true power of the Nine-Tails, Hiruzen Sarutobi could imagine the strength of Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
They lacked the First Hokage's Wood Release Secret Technique to suppress Tailed Beast Chakra, they did not possess Uchiha Madara's Mangekyo Sharingan to control the spirit of a Tailed Beast, nor did they know the Sealing Technique that Mito used to suppress the Tailed Beast. Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help but ask himself if he, Fūmori Masaki, and Danzo could defeat such opponents.
At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not afford any negative thoughts; he could only fight with all his might. Feeling that Chakra drawing closer, the Chakra within his body began to condense—
"Kinkaku and Ginkaku have subordinates behind them, right? It would be best to separate them first," Hiruzen Sarutobi said in his mind to the Yamanaka clansman.
"Understood. Kinkaku and Ginkaku are very fast and have left those behind them far behind. When I give the signal, please perform your Ninjutsu, Lord Hiruzen," the Yamanaka clansman said.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly and waited calmly in place. The moment the Yamanaka clansman in the mental world gave the signal, his hands quickly formed hand seals, and he shouted, "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Just as Kinkaku and Ginkaku chased Fūmori Masaki's squad into the ambush location, and before the Kumogakure Ninja behind them could catch up, a massive earthen wall rose from the ground between them and Kinkaku and Ginkaku, giving one the feeling of the earth shaking. In fact, this Earth-Style Wall technique almost changed the terrain of the area, completely separating the Kumogakure Ninja from Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
It should be noted that at this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in his prime; his abundant Chakra allowed him to use the Five Elements Release techniques without restraint, and every Ninjutsu he used was of a very high standard.
Although he did not possess any Bloodline Limit, relying on his diverse Five Elements Release techniques and the use of composite Ninjutsu, as long as the opponent's strength was not completely on another level—like the First Hokage or Uchiha Madara—he could trade blows with anyone. Even his teacher, Senju Tobirama, could not easily take down Hiruzen Sarutobi.
To put it in terms from another world, one could view Hiruzen Sarutobi as a Kakashi Hatake with abundant Chakra, a wider repertoire of Ninjutsu, and more fluid application. Like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kakashi Hatake, Ninjas who mastered an exceptionally large number of Ninjutsu could basically find a way to deal with any kind of enemy.
Those Kumogakure Ninja, seeing the Earth-Style Wall blocking their path, hurriedly gathered Lightning Release, preparing to destroy it in one blow. The Earth-Style Wall looked impressive in scale, but it was still just an Earth Release Ninjutsu, which had little resistance against Lightning Release.
However, before they could act, other Konoha Ninja lying in ambush nearby rushed out. Kinkaku and Ginkaku would be dealt with by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Fūmori Masaki, and Danzo, while the guards who followed Kinkaku and Ginkaku would be handled by others. Leading these Konoha Ninja were Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Akimichi Torifu.
Outside this area, the forces of the Second Raikage and Tobirama had already arrived. It could be said that if they wished, both sides would begin a true decisive battle. However, neither Tobirama nor the Second Raikage had this intention, and they stood in a standoff, guided by a tacit understanding that only they themselves understood.
Both of them hoped to end this war quickly.
Tobirama understood the other's wish, so he boldly concentrated the strength of his disciples on Kinkaku and Ginkaku. Although the Second Raikage held more troops, he did not launch an attack, merely sending out the Kumogakure Ninja who had requested to fight to provide support.
These Kumogakure Ninja who requested to fight were all loyal to or favored Kinkaku and Ginkaku. To the Second Raikage, they were disobedient, so he let the Konoha Ninja teach them a lesson. Once they had suffered, the Second Raikage would enter the battlefield with his troops to save the war-mongering faction who had taken a major hit. Tobirama would simultaneously retreat, preserving his forces and avoiding a large-scale conflict.
In this way, the Second Raikage could use this defeat to propose peace talks at the conference, and Tobirama would go along with it, ending the war to the satisfaction of both sides.
After the Earth-Style Wall isolated Kinkaku and Ginkaku, the two merely glanced at it before continuing forward. They believed their subordinates would catch up soon, so they had no intention of stopping.
After they rushed past the predetermined route, the three members led by Uzumaki Tetsu, who were also in hiding, immediately deployed a Barrier. They could not, like Mito, deploy a Barrier that even the Nine-Tails could hardly escape from using only Adamantine Sealing Chains. However, working together, the three still managed to set up a very powerful Barrier. Unless Kinkaku and Ginkaku attacked with full force, they would be unable to leave. And with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others present, how could Kinkaku and Ginkaku have the capacity to fight while simultaneously breaking the Barrier at full strength?
"Very good." Fūmori Masaki felt the Barrier being set up and immediately gave a signal to those around him.
The others hurriedly scattered to the surroundings to avoid the main battlefield. Fūmori Masaki immediately accelerated, crossing paths with the rushing Hiruzen Sarutobi. At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi spat out a dragon-shaped flame at Kinkaku and Ginkaku: "Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"
The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi struck, Fūmori Masaki immediately turned and used a Wind Release technique, making Hiruzen Sarutobi's Fire Release even more intense, to the point where one felt that just taking a breath would scorch their throat. Yet, this composite Ninjutsu was not taken seriously by Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
Ginkaku waved his fan, and the basho fan, infused with Nine-Tails Chakra, naturally unleashed an even more powerful Water Release, easily suppressing the composite Ninjutsu before them.
"Water Release? This fan can also use Water Release?" Hiruzen Sarutobi exclaimed in his mind.
"Hmm, if I'm not mistaken, it should also be able to perform Wind Release and Earth Release." Fūmori Masaki's voice echoed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.
This was the Yamanaka clansman using his Secret Technique to link the two men's minds. Of course, the still-hidden Danzo was also included. This way, they could discuss countermeasures while fighting. For now, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Fūmori Masaki would mainly deal with Kinkaku and Ginkaku, while Danzo searched for an opportunity in the shadows, preparing for a one-hit kill.
"If that's really the case, it will be even more troublesome." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled bitterly in his heart. While the composite Ninjutsu obscured their vision, he and Fūmori Masaki used Shadow Clone, then both hid themselves, letting their Shadow Clones deal with Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
This was to gather information on the combat capabilities of the Tailed Beast-transformed Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and on the other hand, to discuss the next battle strategy with the others.
"Don't be afraid. After all, the two of them are not real Tailed Beasts; they are just ordinary people who obtained Tailed Beast Chakra. If their hearts are pierced or their heads are cut off, they will die just the same," Danzo said in the mental connection. "If you think you can handle it, try to make them expose a weakness, and then we will take one of them out first."
"No, either we take them both out together, or we kill none," Fūmori Masaki said directly. "I have witnessed an even more powerful Tailed Beast form, which likely only appears in a state of extreme rage. They are deeply brotherly; if one dies, the other will definitely enter that Tailed Beast form, and even the teacher might not be able to handle it."
"If that's the case, I'd better come out and face the enemy with you," Danzo said. "I don't have the confidence to take both of these guys out at the same time."
"Same here," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
"No, we don't necessarily have to kill them. Danzo, your hiding is still useful." Fūmori Masaki watched Ginkaku use the basho fan and said, "Let's find a way to snatch that fan. As long as it remains in Ginkaku's hands, the threat is simply too great."
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo had both seen the power of the basho fan and nodded silently. The three reached a consensus: first, snatch the basho fan from Ginkaku's hands.