The white-furred Enma appeared amidst a puff of smoke.
It glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen and pouted, "Every time I come out, it's to take a beating. Who's the enemy this time?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave an awkward smile, then said, "Don't worry, I already know his intelligence. The battle won't last too long."
Kuchiki Byakuya remained expressionless, not intending to listen to their reminiscing, and swung his sword hilt, sending thousands of cherry blossoms attacking Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Sarutobi Hiruzen said seriously, "Enma!"
The white-furred Enma also became serious, replied "Understood," and transformed into the adamantine staff.
Sarutobi Hiruzen gripped it, changing it to an appropriate size, and as the stream of cherry blossoms approached, he vigorously spun the adamantine staff in his hand.
The adamantine staff instantly began to rotate rapidly, and with a series of clangs, Sarutobi Hiruzen effortlessly blocked all thousand tiny, cherry blossom-shaped blades.
Indeed, once the enemy's intelligence was clear, these strange abilities were nothing.
This thought flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind, then he formed hand signs and slammed his hands onto the ground.
Nine Earthen Dragons quietly emerged from the ground, spewing streams of earth towards Kuchiki Byakuya!
Clang! Clang!
Kuchiki Byakuya gathered the cherry blossom-shaped blades in front of him, intercepting each earth stream.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, "Can it even be used for defense...?"
His eyes lowered. Sarutobi Hiruzen, with his extremely keen battle intuition, instantly understood that to kill Kuchiki Byakuya, he first had to get rid of the cherry blossom-shaped blades in front of him.
Once those were gone, Kuchiki Byakuya, left with only the sword hilt, would lose his means of defense!
In an instant, a counter-plan quietly formed in his mind.
Now, he just needed to wait for Kuchiki Byakuya to make his move!
And Kuchiki Byakuya didn't make him wait for too long; the thousands of cherry blossom-shaped blades quickly launched a second attack.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
A chance!
"Adamantine Staff: Gale!"
This was a Ninjutsu combining the Adamantine Staff and Wind Release, capable of drawing everything—people, things, and objects—in front of him closer.
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly spun the Adamantine Staff, coupled with the Wind Release, and a powerful suction force rose from in front of him!
The cherry blossom-shaped blades were pulled by the suction force, immediately becoming erratic, and were quickly trapped by the suction of Adamantine Staff: Gale.
This situation finally caused a ripple in the eyes of Kuchiki Byakuya, who had always maintained a poker face.
But it was only a slight ripple.
After all, it was the first time he had seen a Move that could break Senbonzakura's Shikai like this.
Seeing the tactic was effective, Sarutobi Hiruzen rejoiced. He instructed Enma to maintain the state, extracted himself, and quickly formed hand seals: "Compound Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Roar!"
Accompanied by lightning and thunder, a massive water Dragon appeared out of thin air!
Streaks of Lightning Snakes frantically leaped across the water Dragon's massive body, and its crimson red pupils gave off an immense sense of pressure!
The Lightning Water Dragon Bullet howled and dove toward Kuchiki Byakuya at high speed!
Kuchiki Byakuya said indifferently, "You are indeed much stronger than that half god of shinobi, but you don't think I lack defensive means just because I'm separated from Senbonzakura, do you?"
"Bakudō #81: Dankū!"
A transparent barrier rose in front of Kuchiki Byakuya. The Lightning Water Dragon Bullet slammed down hard, but the white barrier remained completely still!
When the Lightning Water Dragon Bullet disappeared, they suddenly noticed that five Sarutobi Hiruzen figures had surrounded Kuchiki Byakuya from five different angles.
"Five Elements Release: Great Barrage Technique!"
The five Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly formed different hand seals. Five different Ninjutsu—Fire, Water, Lightning, Wind, and Earth—were simultaneously unleashed, attacking Kuchiki Byakuya!
Boom!!
The five different Ninjutsu engulfed Kuchiki Byakuya, causing a devastating explosion!
Nearby buildings were instantly reduced to ruins!
"So, so strong!"
"This is the power of Lord Third Hokage!!"
"As long as Hokage-sama is here, our Konoha is sure to win the victory!!"
Orochimaru, who was slacking off, stared in the direction of the explosion and muttered, "Although Teacher Sarutobi is old, he's still got it!"
Utatane Koharu relaxed and said, "Sarutobi finally took care of it!"
Homura Mitokado stated confidently, "Even with the physical strength of the Third Raikage, it would be absolutely impossible to survive Sarutobi's Move, let alone that guy who looks so delicate!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the smoke generated by the explosion dispersed, and the center of the blast was charred black, yet completely empty!
Homura Mitokado was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "He must have been vaporized. We can't even find the corpse."
The other Shinobi heard this and nodded in agreement.
But they noticed that their Sandaime still wore a solemn expression.
Step!
Footsteps sounded near the Adamantine Staff.
Everyone looked over and saw Kuchiki Byakuya, who should have been at the center of the explosion, suddenly appearing right in front of the Adamantine Staff!
The only difference from before was that Kuchiki Byakuya was missing his white outer coat.
It was that Move!
Orochimaru, Utatane Koharu, and the others who knew the intelligence immediately realized.
That Jutsu which allowed him to use his coat with the same effect as the Substitution Jutsu!
Moreover, this Jutsu did not require hand seals, and its activation was extremely fast!
Homura Mitokado also just remembered that Kuchiki Byakuya had this Move, and his expression immediately turned grim.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was solemn, he was not surprised.
He had thoroughly grasped the intelligence on every Captain from the Uzushigakure!
Therefore, this Jutsu was not forgotten in his strategy.
Everything was within his calculations!
Kuchiki Byakuya was seen approaching and delivering a whip kick, intending to force Enma out of its spinning state.
But just then, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled slightly and said, "Young man, your experience is still insufficient!"
"Enma!"
Enma, displaying perfect coordination, suddenly gave up actively absorbing Senbonzakura.
"Adamantine Prison Wall!!"
The Adamantine Staff suddenly split into more than a dozen Clones, forming a square cage, trapping Kuchiki Byakuya, who was right within reach!
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled calmly and said, "You have nowhere left to run."
"Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!!"
"As expected of Hokage-sama!!"
The form of the battle changed so quickly that the other Shinobi couldn't react in time.
It wasn't until they saw Kuchiki Byakuya trapped in the cage by Hokage-sama that they finally reacted, erupting in earth-shattering cheers!
This Move by Sarutobi Hiruzen greatly boosted the morale of the Konoha Ninja!
Orochimaru praised, "As expected of Teacher!"
Utatane Koharu finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "There shouldn't be any surprises this time, right?"
Homura Mitokado straightened his back and guaranteed, "Don't worry, there will definitely be no problems this time!"
Utatane Koharu: "..."
You didn't do it, so why do you look more confident than Sarutobi?
But now, has the dust finally settled?
She subconsciously looked toward the Shinigami of the Uzushigakure, only to find them completely calm, as if the one imprisoned wasn't their own Captain.
Why?
The imprisoned Kuchiki Byakuya also looked indifferent, and even had the leisure to praise, "An exquisite strategy."
Using one super-powerful Ninjutsu after another as preparation, forcing out his trump cards one by one.
Finally luring him to Senbonzakura's location and using this rod to deliver a fatal blow.
"Compared to that half god of shinobi, you are stronger than him by more than just a little bit."
A rare trace of confusion appeared on Kuchiki Byakuya's face. "Since he is called the half god of shinobi, does that make you the God of the Ninja World?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's old face flushed red, and he waved his hand, saying, "I wouldn't dare accept that, I am merely the strongest hokage."
Utatane Koharu: "..."
Orochimaru: "..."
Tsunade, buried beneath the massive hand of the Flower Tree World and silently digging at the roots, quietly muttered, "He has no shame."
Kuchiki Byakuya nodded understandingly, then said indifferently, "Although your strategy is indeed exquisite, did you forget that since this rod is used to trap me, my Senbonzakura is also released?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said easily, "A blade that cannot even break Enma's Adamantine Body, what difference does it make if it's returned to you?"
"Is that so..."
"Have you seen Senbonzakura's Second Release?"
The look of composure on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face froze.
"Second Release?!"
He must be bluffing, right?
Sarutobi Hiruzen subconsciously didn't want to believe it.
But an inexplicable sense of unease rose in his heart.
The other Konoha Ninja also started whispering when they heard Kuchiki Byakuya's words.
"Second Release? That must be a lie, right?"
"Hmph, he was definitely caught by Hokage-sama and is just trying to put on a brave front!"
"Even if there is a Second Release, so what? Hokage-sama's Enma has the Adamantine Body; it can't be broken through!"
That's right!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes lit up.
Enma is an adamantine staff, unbreakable. Can your second release truly break Enma's adamantine staff?
Under everyone's gaze, Kuchiki Byakuya gently released Senbonzakura, letting it fall vertically.
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