"Kakashi, look over there!"
Might Guy rushed to Kakashi's side after finishing off a group of Sand shinobi. As he pointed, his usually cheerful face grew tense.
"Yeah… I see it."
Kakashi followed his gaze. What he saw made his lone Sharingan eye widen slightly.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was locked in battle against none other than two shinobi summoned through Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation—the First Hokage and the Second Hokage themselves.
"The First… and the Second Hokage?"
Hearing Kakashi's words, Guy froze. Even though he didn't fully understand how Orochimaru had managed to summon such legendary figures, it was obvious that the situation put the aging Third Hokage at a massive disadvantage.
And right now… Senju Haruto was not here. He had gone to deal with the One-Tailed Beast rampaging elsewhere, leaving no one to intervene.
If they didn't act quickly to help Hiruzen, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"You're right," Kakashi muttered, hesitating only briefly before making his decision.
Years ago, in the Land of Grass, he had encountered Orochimaru once before and barely survived. He remembered clearly—those brought back by Impure World Reincarnation retained their abilities in life while also being immune to all forms of damage.
If not for Senju Haruto's presence back then, Kakashi might not have made it out alive.
And the First and Second Hokage… they were far beyond even the likes of the Third Kazekage in terms of strength. With Hiruzen's age weighing heavily on him, the odds were grim.
"Guy, we're going in."
Kakashi took a deep breath, leaving the other Konoha shinobi to handle the remaining Sand invaders, before charging straight toward the blazing purple barrier of the Four Purple Flame Formation.
He knew this barrier well. Once erected, it was nearly indestructible. Even killing the casters wouldn't immediately break it. The only option… was to create a breach through raw power.
"I'll have to rely on my Raikiri."
His hand glowed with crackling lightning as Kakashi channeled his chakra. Without hesitation, he drove the blade of pure electricity into the barrier.
BOOOOM!
The sky itself seemed to thunder from the impact. But when the smoke cleared, the barrier stood firm, untouched.
"Kakashi."
Orochimaru's voice slithered across the battlefield. He turned, golden eyes narrowing on Kakashi and Guy outside the flames.
The Four Purple Flame Formation wasn't as strong as the Four Red Yang Formation, but it could withstand even Kage-level attacks. And Kakashi's Raikiri, devastating as it was, fell short.
"Kakashi… let me try."
Guy's voice was unusually calm. Seeing his friend's attack fail, he stepped forward, body already tensing. With a roar, he unleashed the power of the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates technique.
"Morning Peacock!"
His fists blurred into a fiery storm, a torrent of strikes hammering the barrier in rapid succession. The air erupted into smoke and heat from the sheer ferocity. But when it cleared—the barrier still held.
"It's useless, Kakashi, Guy," Orochimaru drawled, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "With your strength, the Four Purple Flame Formation cannot be broken."
Inside the barrier, Hashirama and Tobirama pressed the attack.
The Monkey King Enma wrapped his arms tightly around Hashirama, struggling to hold him back to give Hiruzen a chance at facing Tobirama one-on-one.
But this was Hashirama Senju—the God of Shinobi. A mere summoning beast couldn't restrain him.
Hashirama's body swelled with power as wooden tendrils exploded outward, wrapping around Enma and pinning him in place with sheer brute force. No matter how the great ape struggled, he was swallowed by a massive tree, sealed within the unyielding grip of Wood Release.
"The same Wood Release… as Haruto…"
Kakashi's Sharingan caught every detail. The words slipped from his lips before he realized it.
"The same as Haruto?" Orochimaru chuckled darkly. His tone dripped with mockery as he shook his head.
"No… not the same. Haruto merely inherited Hashirama's power. What you're seeing now is the original. The very source of that legendary Wood Release. Even limited by my technique, this strength… is more than enough to finish off Lord Hiruzen."
In the face of overwhelming power, Orochimaru saw no need to hide the truth.
Unless Senju Haruto appeared… no one here could stop him.
"Kakashi… step aside."
Guy's voice was different now. Through the flames of the barrier, he saw Hashirama freeing himself and charging straight for the Third Hokage.
In that instant, Guy made his choice.
It was time to unleash the true Azure Beast of Konoha.
"…Guy, you don't mean—"
Kakashi glanced at his friend and instantly understood.
As long as the barrier held, no one could help Hiruzen. He would collapse from exhaustion before long, leaving Orochimaru victorious.
The only way… was for Guy to break through with his body as the weapon.
"Tch… Damn it. Of all times for Haruto not to be here…" Kakashi clenched his teeth, frustration welling inside. But he couldn't blame Haruto—none of them could have known Orochimaru would disguise himself as the Kazekage.
And the real Kazekage, Rasa, wouldn't have lasted a moment against Hiruzen anyway.
While Kakashi's thoughts spiraled, Guy had already begun to move.
The Seventh Gate—Gate of Wonder.
"Daytime Tiger!"
Guy's body erupted with a surge of chakra, multiplying his power dozens of times over. Blue sweat steamed off his skin as his muscles burned, his speed and strength soaring to unimaginable levels.
Forming a single hand seal, he released it all at once.
Chakra condensed into the form of a colossal white tiger, roaring with unrestrained ferocity. Its gaping maw slammed into the barrier with world-shaking force.
KRAKOOOOOM!
The ground trembled violently as the tiger's strike collided with the Four Purple Flame Formation. The clash of powers thundered in the air, overwhelming even Orochimaru's expectations.
His smirk faltered, his eyes widening.
"Guy…"
As a defector of Konoha, Orochimaru knew of Guy. But this… this was his first time witnessing the unleashed power of the Eight Gates.
And now, under Guy's unrelenting assault, the barrier began to crack. Fractures spread rapidly, visible to the naked eye.
"This is… the power of the Seventh Gate…"
Even Orochimaru swallowed hard, his throat dry. If just the Seventh Gate possessed such force… what kind of devastation would the Eighth unleash?
He quickly retreated, calling Hashirama back to shield him.
KRAAAASH!
With one final deafening roar, the tiger's power shattered an entire wall of the barrier. The remaining sides collapsed soon after, unable to withstand the imbalance.
"OROCHIMARU!"
Guy's roar echoed like thunder. His body a blur of blue fire, he leapt forward with overwhelming momentum, his leg arcing through the air.
"Konoha Dynamic Entry—Leaf Hurricane!"