The defection of the defending ninjas led to the armies of the four princes easily invading the Land of Fire's capital.
Some Sarutobi clan members defected, while others were in extreme panic.
Yet, from the grand hall deep within the royal palace, came decadent sounds of singing and laughter intertwined.
Hiruzen leaned against a throne covered in fox fur, embracing two royal consorts. The wine in his cup spilled all over his robes, but he didn't care, merely humming an off-key tune.
"Clan head, outside the city... the soldiers outside are about to brea—"
A Sarutobi clan member stumbled into the main hall, and before he could finish speaking, he was burned by a Fire Release Hiruzen casually flung out, making him writhe on the ground.
"What if they break in?" Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, his gaze murky yet filled with madness.
"I am now the Fire Daimyo, who can kill me?"
No sooner had he spoken than a faint "click" sound suddenly came from the tiles on the ceiling beam.
Kakashi's gaze was fixed on the figure on the throne, the kunai in his fingertips gleaming coldly.
For years, the image of his father taking his own life had appeared countless times in his dreams. The man before him was the culprit who had used public opinion to force his father to his death.
"Hiruzen, you deserve to die." Kakashi muttered in his heart.
His arm muscles suddenly tensed. The kunai, like a black lightning bolt, shot straight towards Hiruzen's back. He had calculated the angle of this strike to avoid the two unfortunate royal consorts.
The deranged Hiruzen frowned, casually throwing out one of the royal consorts to block the kunai.
The royal consort was struck in the back by the kunai, her body falling heavily to the ground.
"AHHH... it hurts so much... I don't want to die... please, save me. I don't want to die. I'll do anything you want."
Hiruzen suddenly turned sideways, orange-red Chakra instantly igniting in his palm, and a beast-like growl escaped his throat.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
The surging flames, like a giant dragon, spiraled upwards, lunging towards the ceiling beam.
The entire bedchamber was instantly enveloped in a heatwave. The wooden ceiling beams began to crackle, and sparks flew everywhere.
The palace maids screamed, covering their heads and dodging. The singing and dancing abruptly ceased, leaving only the sound of burning flames.
Kakashi had already taken advantage of the moment the flames rose to leap and hide behind a pillar in the corner of the hall. He did not rush to attack but quickly formed hand signs.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
A light blue wall of water rose from the ground, blocking the spreading flames and creating a barrier between him and Hiruzen.
"It's you... Kakashi... huh? Why do you... have a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan?"
Hiruzen stared at Kakashi's eyes, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes, which was immediately replaced by a thicker madness.
"You want to avenge your father? But a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan isn't enough."
Kakashi was a man of few words but fierce action. He quickly formed hand signs, Lightning Chakra instantly coiling around his hands, producing crackling electric sounds.
"Killing a scoundrel like you is enough. My father protected his dignity as a ninja with his life. You are nothing but a madman obsessed with power. Today, I will use your blood to comfort my father's spirit in Heaven."
Hiruzen suddenly clenched his fist, Chakra surging wildly within his body.
"Hahahaha... Kakashi, do you want to taste what a royal consort is like? They are very smooth. I can give you two royal consorts to play with, how about it?"
While he spoke, distracting Kakashi, he was secretly forming hand signs.
Earth Release: Earth Flow River!
The floor of the bedchamber suddenly shook violently, the hard stone slabs instantly turning into murky mud, surging towards Kakashi. Everywhere it passed, tables and chairs were instantly swallowed, and even the flames were extinguished by the mud.
Kakashi lightly tapped his feet, quickly dodging. His gaze remained fixed on Hiruzen, the lightning of Raikiri growing stronger.
Although Hiruzen was insane, he still possessed Kage-level strength. After Earth Release, there would surely be more powerful Ninjutsu.
Hiruzen sneered, his hands forming hand signs again. "Do you think you can escape?"
Earth Release Barrier: Earth Corridor!
The mud beneath Kakashi's feet suddenly surged upwards, forming a giant earth sphere, trapping him firmly.
A fierce glint flashed in Hiruzen's eyes, and his figure flickered as he rushed towards the earth prison.
Fire Release: Running Fire!
Wind Release: Divine Mountain Wind!
He wanted to trap Kakashi in the earth sphere and then burn him alive with a combination of Wind and Fire Release Ninjutsu. But just as he approached the earth sphere, one side of the earth sphere suddenly exploded.
Kakashi's figure, like a blue lightning bolt, burst out from the smoke and dust, the light of Raikiri appearing particularly dazzling in the dim hall.
"Impossible... how could you escape?!"
Hiruzen had not expected Kakashi to be able to launch a Ninjutsu attack from within the earth sphere, nor had he expected his speed to suddenly accelerate.
"Hiruzen, go to Hell! Hell is your destination!" Kakashi's voice carried a hint of mockery.
Over the years, he had not only painstakingly trained his Raikiri but also learned over a thousand Ninjutsu.
Hiruzen steadied himself and summoned two Earth Clones to stand in front of him.
But Kakashi was too fast. Raikiri, like a sharp blade, pierced through the clone's chest. The clone disintegrated into scattered earth. Raikiri's tip was only an inch away from Hiruzen's chest.
Hiruzen frantically shouted, "No! I cannot die! I am the Fire Daimyo!"
"No... you deserve ten thousand deaths!" Kakashi's voice was devoid of any emotion.
Raikiri fiercely pierced into Hiruzen's chest. Blue electricity instantly spread throughout Hiruzen's entire body, his body convulsing violently. The madness in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only endless emptiness.
Kakashi slowly withdrew his Raikiri, the blue electricity gradually dissipating. He looked at Hiruzen lying on the ground, his lips trembling slightly.
"Father, I have avenged you."
The obsession of many years was finally concluded, but there was no joy in his heart, only a heavy sense of relief.
Just then, the door of the main hall was violently pushed open. The Second Prince rushed in with a large group of people.
When everyone saw Hiruzen's corpse and Kakashi, they all froze. They had not expected the traitor Hiruzen to be slain by an unfamiliar ninja.
The Third Prince was the first to ask, "The traitor Hiruzen is dead. Hero, what is your name?"
Kakashi, however, did not linger or explain, transforming into an afterimage and disappearing from the main hall.
Meanwhile, in the royal palace of the Land of Water, Shun watched the entire battle through his dojutsu.
"Kakashi didn't disappoint me. He has killed Hiruzen."
Shikaku nodded in agreement. "With Hiruzen's death, the chaos in the Land of Fire will only worsen. At that time, the people of the Land of Fire will greatly hope that someone can unify the Land of Fire."