Chapter 43: Simple – I Just Need to Become a Shadow Kage, Don't I?
"Wood Style: Deep Forest Creation!"
Hashirama clasped his hands together! A colossal surge of chakra slammed into the ground! The entire spectator stands within the Four Violet Flames Formation buckled and heaved as countless massive trees burst through the solid stone slabs like awakened primordial beasts, surging upward in a frenzy!
Giant vines and twisted branches wove into a dense, sky-obscuring primeval forest, carrying with them a terrifying force of binding and crushing pressure as they bore down on the Third Hokage and Rubik! The air instantly grew thick, humid, and suffocating with oppressive force.
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
Tobirama formed hand seals in rapid succession, expelling from his mouth a razor-thin jet of water as concentrated and deadly as a high-pressure water blade! The stream was as slender as a silk thread, yet it carried the horrifying power to cut through steel! It wove soundlessly through the madly surging trees, slicing precisely toward Hiruzen Sarutobi's throat!
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Though aged, the Third Hokage was a battle-hardened veteran! Facing the overwhelming Wood Style and the deadly precision of the Water Severing Wave, he reacted in an instant! His left hand slammed the ground, raising a thick, sturdy earthen wall that rose in the path of the water blade!
At the same time, he drew a deep breath, his chest swelling as his right hand formed seals. Three giant, roaring fire dragons erupted from his mouth, carrying searing heat capable of incinerating everything in their path, crashing headlong into the oncoming Deep Forest Creation!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Water Severing Wave ground viciously against the Earth Flow Wall with a piercing screech, sending stone fragments flying! The three fire dragons slammed into the wildly expanding trees, unleashing deafening explosions! Flames and wood splinters scattered everywhere! The entire barrier trembled violently!
"Wind Style Chakra Mode!"
Rubik's gaze sharpened, his crimson Sharingan spinning at high speed, precisely tracking the trajectory of the entangling trees and the angle of the water blade's cutting arc!
His chakra nature instantly shifted! Fierce wind-attribute chakra cloaked his body like tangible armor! He transformed into a blur of azure light, weaving through the frenzied dance of branches and the gaps between water blades with impossible speed and agility!
The Sharingan's dynamic vision, combined with the blistering speed granted by the wind chakra, made him like a gale-force wind through this forest!
"Now's my chance!" Rubik seized a momentary opening—when the trees were briefly suppressed by the fire dragons and the water blade was blocked by the earth wall! He gathered chakra in both hands simultaneously.
"Fire Style Nature Transformation: Blaze Rasengan!"
"Wind Style Nature Transformation: Wind Rasengan!"
In his left hand—a Rasengan blazing with crimson flames at its core, radiating terrifying heat!
In his right hand—a Rasengan spinning at furious speed, packed with countless minute wind blades that shrieked like tearing air!
Two entirely different yet complementary techniques took form in Rubik's hands at the same moment!
Rubik flickered like a phantom, appearing as if by teleportation at Tobirama's flank! The Blaze Rasengan in his left hand slammed toward Tobirama's side!
The Wind Rasengan in his right followed close behind, its blade-like edge aimed straight at Tobirama's back! The terrifying energy rippling from the twin Rasengan was enough to warp the very space around them!
"Always take out the support first in a team fight—that's just common sense!"
"Hmph!"
Though devoid of will, Tobirama's battle instincts remained sharp! He instantly abandoned the Water Severing Wave, retreating backward with an eerily nimble Body Flicker Technique, hands forming seals at breakneck speed:
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
A dense wall of water surged upward in an attempt to block Rubik's assault!
Boom! Crack!
The Blaze Rasengan struck the Water Wall first! The searing flame heat instantly vaporized massive amounts of water into steam, while the violent explosion blasted a gaping hole through the wall! The Wind Rasengan, following like a drill, pierced through the opening and struck home!
Squelch—!
The Wind Rasengan's savage cutting force instantly shredded Tobirama's right arm from his Impure World Reincarnation body! Fragments of ash and chakra scattered into the air!
On the other side, though Hashirama's Deep Forest Creation had been temporarily stalled by the Third's three fire dragons, the vitality of Wood Style was tenacious beyond measure. He clasped his hands again:
"Wood Style: Thorn Assassination Technique!"
Countless huge vines studded with sharp wooden spikes erupted from the gaps left by the burning flames, snaking like serpents toward the Third!
"Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
The Third reacted swiftly, expelling several highly compressed air cannons from his mouth that precisely shattered the thorned vines as they coiled toward him!
The furious exchange of ninjutsu raged wildly within the cramped confines of the Four Violet Flames Formation!
Explosions and collisions from all five elemental styles filled the barrier, the violet walls flickering incessantly under the violent energy impacts, groaning in protest!
Relying on the speed of Wind Style Chakra Mode and the insight of his Sharingan, Rubik flitted like a butterfly through the gaps between Wood Style and Water Style assaults, evading and counterattacking with precision.
The dual-nature Rasengan in his hands packed devastating power, each strike forcing the reanimated Tobirama to go on the defensive.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage wielded the five elemental styles with masterful finesse, blending offense and defense seamlessly. He held his ground against the crushing pressure of Deep Forest Creation and even seized openings to strike back at Hashirama!
Huff... Huff...
The fierce battle had lasted only a few minutes, but the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was already breathing heavily, beads of sweat forming on his brow. After all, age had taken its toll—his chakra reserves and stamina were far from their prime. The strain of holding off Orochimaru while simultaneously fending off the First Hokage's Wood Style suppression was immense.
Rubik keenly sensed the Third's fatigue, a flicker of gravity passing through his crimson Sharingan.
'Even with Orochimaru's half-baked Impure World Reincarnation weakening them—only about 30% of their true power—their combat instincts and jutsu coordination are still devastating...'
'For the Third to hold on this long is already incredible... At his current physical condition, he's probably not even at 40% of his prime.'
Rubik glanced toward Orochimaru, who stood at a distance orchestrating the battle, his gaze glinting with greed.
"Third Hokage, can you still hold on?" Rubik asked in a low voice, flickering over to shred a few wooden spikes ambushing the Third with a Wind Rasengan.
"I'm fine." The Third wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze still sharp as he gripped the Adamantine Staff tightly.
"Watch out! Lord Tobirama's Water Style is coming again!"
Indeed, Tobirama's shattered right arm had rapidly regenerated through the ash of his reanimated body. His hollow eyes fixed on them as his hands formed seals once more—this time, the chakra fluctuations were even more terrifying than before!
"Water Style: Hard Vortex Water Blade!"
A massively compressed, drill-like torrent of water spun into shape in his hand, screeching as it tore through the air, aimed squarely at both Rubik and the Third!
Orochimaru watched like a connoisseur admiring a work of art—a performance of desecration and power all orchestrated by him. His gaze lingered most on Rubik's crimson Sharingan, as though appraising some rare treasure.
"Rubik!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice rang out, resolute and brooking no argument.
"Leave the next attack to me to handle! The most effective way to deal with Impure World Reincarnation bodies is sealing jutsu! I'm about to use a technique that requires some preparation—please... buy me time!"
With those words, he stopped looking at Rubik and slowly closed his eyes. An exceedingly subtle yet death-laden swell of chakra began to gather and surge within his aged frame. An ominous stillness spread through the air, as though even the violet barrier flames themselves had frozen.
"It's time..." Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured within his heart, a heavy, almost liberating weight pressing down on him.
"Time to atone for the consequences of my own soft-heartedness..."
"Wait—that technique?! No! Stop him!!!"
Orochimaru's instincts screamed danger. He commanded both Hokage reanimations to charge toward the Third.
"We must take him out before he completes that jutsu!"
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi steeled himself to meet the Reaper, a figure cut across his path at even greater speed!
"Hold on!"
Rubik's voice sliced through his concentration as a hand firmly grasped the Third's wrist mid-seal. Rubik's crimson Sharingan met the Third's startled, bewildered gaze, his tone brooking no argument:
"Third Hokage, this is no time to rush toward death! You still carry the 'mission' that the Second Hokage personally entrusted you with... What about Danzo and those two advisors? Are you just going to abandon them?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi jolted, anguish flashing in his eyes:
"Rubik, you...! But if I don't use the Reaper Death Seal now, how can we possibly handle two immortal predecessors?! They are—"
His voice carried a profound sense of helplessness.
"How to handle them?"
Rubik's smile was already threatening to crack—he'd been waiting to drop this line for way too long.
"Simple—"
A power, dormant as a volcano, erupted from within him!
"Eight Gates Technique: Sixth Gate, Gate of View—Open!"
Boom—!!! A cyclone of violent green steam erupted like tangible flames, shooting skyward! Muscles bulged, veins coiled like dragons, and an overwhelming sense of strength flooded the barrier!
"Lava Style Chakra Mode!"
Scorching, dark crimson lava patterns surged across Rubik's entire body, his skin coated in a flowing armor of molten rock that radiated such intense heat the very air began to warp!
"Wind Style Chakra Mode!"
Sharp azure currents of wind coiled around the lava armor, spinning at high velocity with a piercing shriek!
"Mind's Eye of the Kagura—Open!"
Everything within the barrier now lay completely within his perception!
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Clang—!!! Several brilliant golden chains, thick as serpents, erupted like awakened dragons, suffused with the purest sealing power of the Uzumaki clan, bursting through the swirling lava and wind to fan out behind Rubik! Each lash of the chains sent the very fabric of space groaning under the strain!
All powers merged flawlessly—no more holding back!
An overwhelming tide of chakra, vast as an ocean, surged outward from his core! The sheer oppressive force instantly overshadowed the auras of both First and Second Hokage, sending the entire Four Violet Flames Formation into violent convulsions! The violet barrier flickered wildly, as if on the verge of collapse!
He slowly raised his hand—wreathed in molten rock and rushing wind—and pointed at Orochimaru, who stood frozen, utterly stunned by the cataclysmic shift. Rubik's crimson pupils held nothing but sheer, unshakable confidence in his own power:
"—I just need to step into the realm of a Shadow Kage, don't I?"
Peak Shadow Kage! Genuine and absolute! At this very moment, Uzumaki Rubik was the sole sovereign of this confined, desperate arena!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was rendered utterly speechless, his aged eyes wide with shock as he stared at this young man who had descended like a god of war—as though seeing him for the very first time.
He recalled the words Jiraiya had once said to him:
"If you don't count Sage Mode... I'm no match for him."
So he hadn't been joking after all...
As for Orochimaru—that pale, serpentine face could no longer find a trace of greed or smugness. Only stark terror remained. In that single instant, the roles of predator and prey had been completely reversed!
"Orochimaru... You're the challenger now."