Hiruzen stared in shock, unable to believe the scene before his eyes.
Outside the barrier, Kakashi and the others were equally stunned.
'This is impossible!'
'Why are these two here?!'
'What did Orochimaru do?!'
"Is that you, Sarutobi? Looks like a long time has passed. I never thought we'd meet again like this," Senju Hashirama said, utterly confused.
"It seems the village's younger generation is full of talent. However, this one seems a bit rebellious, abusing my technique so recklessly," Senju Tobirama glanced back at Orochimaru, his expression completely emotionless.
"I'd say it's your fault for creating all these messy techniques in the first place. If you hadn't invented this one, we wouldn't be causing little Sarutobi all this trouble," Hashirama said to his brother, clearly displeased.
"You two should talk less," Orochimaru said, producing two kunai with special seals and inserting them into the back of Hashirama's and Tobirama's heads. These seals allowed him to forcibly control the reincarnated Shinobi.
"Sorry about this. It seems we're about to cause trouble for Konoha," Hashirama said apologetically, though his face showed no emotion at all.
"The Shodaime and Nidaime Hokage?!" Kakashi exclaimed in disbelief.
Beside him, Guy was completely dumbfounded.
The faces he had only ever seen on the Hokage Rock were now alive right in front of him?!
'Am I dreaming?'
Guy pinched himself hard.
'Ouch.'
'Not a dream!'
'Do we really have to fight the two former Hokage?'
'Can Hokage-sama really handle it?'
Guy looked at Hiruzen with deep concern. In that moment, he had very little faith in Hiruzen's chances.
That's the legendary Shodaime and Nidaime Hokage! No matter how strong Hiruzen is, he probably can't hold his own against them!
'Don't just stand there staring!'
'Think of a way to save me, damn it!'
Hiruzen was screaming internally.
His face had darkened to the extreme!
Though he was known as the Professor,
facing these two, he was like an infant.
Others might not have witnessed their power,
but Hiruzen had lived in their era!
Fighting both of them?
Are they overestimating him a bit too much?
"What do we do, Kakashi? Should we go help Sandaime-sama?" Guy asked anxiously.
But Kakashi replied calmly, "With our strength, going in would just be suicide. Have faith in Sandaime-sama. He's hailed as the strongest Hokage, after all. He shouldn't lose to two puppets."
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "…"
At this moment,
ten thousand curse words ran through Hiruzen's mind.
'Damn it!'
'Kakashi, you ungrateful brat!'
'Are you really planning to let me die?!'
'And 'strongest Hokage'? That's all just hype!'
'The younger kids believe it, but you do too?'
'Can't you use your brain a little?!'
Though panicking inside, Hiruzen had to maintain appearances.
Otherwise,
if others saw through his fear, the fight would be over before it even started!
"Orochimaru! You disgraceful student! How dare you treat your teacher this way!"
"I should have decisively dealt with you back then!"
Regret filled Hiruzen's heart now.
If he had known it would come to this, he should have killed Orochimaru when he had the chance back when the incident occurred!
"Kukuku~~"
"Don't say that, Sarutobi-sensei. Isn't harming one's own teacher quite interesting?"
With that, Orochimaru gave a look.
The controlled Shodaime and Nidaime immediately charged at Hiruzen.
...
Meanwhile.
Takumi chased all the way, seeing that he was sufficiently far from the village, he accelerated and appeared right in front of Gaara.
'Huh?'
Gaara was momentarily stunned.
'How... did he get in front of me?'
But then, a fist rapidly enlarged in his vision.
Boom!
A powerful punch sent Gaara flying violently.
Accompanied by a fierce explosion.
"It's Takumi-senpai!"
Feeling the explosion, Deidara excitedly sped over.
"Stay hidden."
Konan helplessly reminded him, and followed.
They couldn't let Takumi kill Gaara.
Otherwise, the Ichibi, Shukaku, would just resurrect somewhere unknown.
"That sound... doesn't that guy know how dangerous it is to provoke Gaara in his current state?"
Temari gritted her teeth. Just thinking about what happens when Gaara loses control filled her with trembling fear.
She absolutely must not let Gaara lose control!
She immediately accelerated and rushed over.
Takumi stood on a thick branch, looking down at Gaara, whose condition was becoming increasingly bizarre.
The monster-like transformations on Gaara's body were becoming more and more pronounced.
It seemed like he could lose control and turn into Shukaku at any moment.
"Hurry up and release Shukaku. Fighting you isn't very interesting."
Takumi waited patiently.
The people chasing from behind arrived one by one at this moment.
Temari looked at Gaara, who was writhing on the ground in painful roars.
A complex expression of heartache and fear appeared on her face.
No matter what, Gaara was still her younger brother.
Even though Gaara's various actions terrified her, Gaara was still her family.
"What are you trying to do? If you keep provoking Gaara, he'll lose control!" Temari shouted at Takumi. "Do you want to destroy all of Konoha?"
"Destroy Konoha?"
Takumi sneered dismissively. "I don't think he has that capability."
"That's because you've never seen how terrifying a Biju is!"
Temari trembled all over, as if recalling some horrifying scene, her eyes filled with dread.
"If the Biju sealed inside Gaara emerges, the entire Konoha will be flattened!"
Temari hugged her shoulders, shivering uncontrollably.
Beside her, Kankuro's face was also extremely grim.
He was remembering the same scene.
That time, Sunagakure had suffered heavy losses just to suppress the rampaging Shukaku.
"Is that so?"
Takumi didn't care. He stopped waiting and jumped down.
"What are you doing?!"
Temari was shocked.
"Takumi darling, it's dangerous!"
Kurotsuchi also exclaimed.
Her form of address successfully attracted many gazes.
Especially Sakura and Ino.
The looks they gave Kurotsuchi seemed capable of shooting out scorching flames.
If looks could kill, Kurotsuchi would have been reincarnated ten times over.
"Hey! You shameless woman! What are you calling him?!"
"Yeah! Takumi is not your darling! He's everyone's!"
Ino and Sakura loudly retorted.
Hearing this, the tense standoff on the scene instantly took on a strange atmosphere.
Konan observing from a distance, and Temari on the side, all looked at Takumi in surprise.
'What's going on?'
'How does this Takumi have so many people liking him?'
'Everyone wants him as their darling?'
"It's fine, I know what I'm doing."
Takumi glanced up at Kurotsuchi, giving her a perfect smile, then raised his hand and delivered a fierce blow to Gaara's face.
Boom!
Violent force coupled with a fierce explosion.
A cloud of dust immediately billowed, obscuring everyone's vision.
"Takumi! Are you... are you insane?"
Temari shouted in terror, but didn't dare step forward to stop Takumi.
Takumi didn't answer, silently landing heavy punch after punch on Gaara's body.
Sand continuously surged from Gaara's body, but still couldn't stop Takumi's fists.
It only became more frantic, the Biju's form becoming heavier and heavier.
"Senpai's art is truly astonishing!"
"Not just the explosive power, even his Taijutsu is so elegant!"
"It's so beautiful!"
"I must reach senpai's level someday!"
Deidara watched, utterly enchanted, his face full of satisfaction.
He only had one thought in his mind now: 'I wonder if Takumi-senpai takes disciples?'
'It would be great if he did.'
'If only I and senpai weren't on opposing sides,'
'I would have already gone to become his disciple!'
"What exactly are you trying to do? Are you deliberately trying to release the Biju?"
Temari listened to the terrifying sounds of the explosions, shouting anxiously.
She wasn't worried about Gaara's life.
Because she knew Shukaku would protect Gaara, as Shukaku didn't want to die.
And once Gaara lost consciousness, it could break free from the seal.
But once Shukaku emerged, it would be a disaster for everyone.
At that time, Takumi would definitely be killed!
"What am I doing?"
Takumi stopped, then waved his hand. A fierce gust of wind dispersed the dust, revealing Gaara's body, which had almost completely turned into a monster.
"If the Biju inside him won't behave, then I'll pull it out and beat it until it obeys."
Temari stared at Takumi in shock, as if hearing a fairy tale.
She never imagined Takumi's approach would be so simple and brutal!