Click!
The crisp sound of shackles unlocking cut through the air.
In an instant, Danzo tore open his robe, revealing his right arm hidden beneath.
Seeing Danzo free himself from his restraints, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long sigh of relief and urgently shouted, "Danzo! Capture the leader first! If we take down Aoki, everything will be easy!"
"Hmph! I don't need you to remind me!" Danzo coldly retorted.
In the current situation, there was only one way to bring down Aoki.
After hearing Sarutobi's plan, Danzo sneered and immediately locked his gaze on Minato Namikaze and Sakumo Hatake. "I'll handle these two. You deal with Aoki!"
Seeing Danzo agree, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, when it came to critical moments, Danzo was the most reliable.
Without the slightest hesitation, Danzo took the initiative, charging straight toward Minato and Sakumo. He formed hand seals and performed the Shadow Clone Technique, sending multiple clones rushing at the two.
Boom!
Smoke billowed as Danzo's clones and his true body coordinated seamlessly, unleashing a series of Wind Release Ninjutsu one after another.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen charged directly at Aoki, taunting him sharply, "Aoki! Surrender now, and you might avoid suffering!"
Before his words even faded, his figure flickered several times, vanishing from his original position in an instant. His hands moved like blurs as he formed hand seals.
"Lord Fourth Hokage!"
Minato and Sakumo tried to step forward to assist, but Aoki raised his hand to stop them. "No need! Focus on dealing with Danzo. There's something off about his right arm."
Facing the rapidly approaching Sarutobi Hiruzen, Aoki stood firmly in place, his expression unchanged. That calmness and arrogance made Sarutobi Hiruzen curl his lips into a cold smile.
"Hmph! How arrogant! Fine, let me show you the strength of Konoha's strongest Hokage!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen gathered Chakra in his mouth and violently spat out a torrent of flames. "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
A scorching fire dragon surged forth, turning everything in its path to scorched earth.
But he knew full well that such an attack couldn't harm a Kage-level powerhouse. His hands flew into seals once more, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. "Ninjutsu: Earth Dragon Fire!"
The ground erupted violently as a ferocious earth dragon burst forth, carrying a rolling tide of earth toward Aoki. At the same time, Sarutobi Hiruzen spat flames again, merging with the earth flow to form scalding magma—a terrifying spectacle.
But the assault was far from over.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand seals grew even more frantic as he unleashed his killing move. "Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!"
A massive water dragon instantly took shape, its body crackling with lightning, its power even greater.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Aoki, his tone filled with a triumphant, sinister laugh, as if he could already see his opponent's demise.
But the next moment, Aoki moved.
He swiftly brought his hands together, countless symbols suddenly appearing on his open palms. His voice was icy. "Did you really think I couldn't use this technique?"
"With the Flying Thunder God Technique, even if the First and Second Hokage crawled out of hell to protect you, I wouldn't fear them!"
Hearing the words "Flying Thunder God Technique," Sarutobi Hiruzen's face instantly turned pale.
Just as he glared furiously at Aoki, ready to counter whatever came next, a deafening roar suddenly echoed from the sky, capturing everyone's attention.
The combined Ninjutsu unleashed by Sarutobi Hiruzen moments earlier collided violently with Aoki's technique.
Flames erupted, water dragons danced wildly, lightning flickered, and steam billowed and surged into the sky.
Konoha's sky suddenly darkened, dense clouds coalescing within the mist.
Amidst the roaring, Aoki's voice resounded across the battlefield: "All Anbu, withdraw immediately from the clan grounds of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans!"
...
Upon receiving Aoki's order, whether they were engaged in combat or standing by awaiting orders, all Anbu swiftly withdrew, their figures rapidly departing the territories of the two clans.
"Huh? They're retreating?"
"Great! We survived!"
"Wah... we finally made it!"
The clan members who had already despaired now embraced each other, weeping with joy, overwhelmed by the relief of having narrowly escaped death.
Yet Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo felt no joy whatsoever. Their bodies, marked by Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique, transmitted waves of strange discomfort.
"Hiruzen! What are you standing there for? Deal with him quickly! I can't hold on much longer!"
Danzo endured the intense pain, his eyes nearly spewing flames of rage as he saw Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitate.
Hearing Danzo's roar, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally noticed his predicament—Danzo's robe was already torn to shreds, the bandages on his right arm completely unraveled, revealing an arm etched with the visage of the First Hokage. The number of Sharingan on the arm was sparse, far from the scale it would later possess.
Seeing this arm clearly, Minato Namikaze and Sakumo Hatake held back no longer. Their figures flashed, aiming directly for Danzo's vital points.
Even with the Sharingan allowing him to predict attacks, Danzo couldn't withstand their combined assault. Instantly forced into retreat, he dodged frantically like a stray dog. The three Sharingan he had secretly acquired on his arm were now completely useless, rendered mere decorations.
With his rage having nowhere to vent, Danzo seethed. Sarutobi Hiruzen knew he could delay no longer—procrastination would only invite disaster. He immediately decided to go all out.
"In this shinobi world, false benevolence and righteousness only lead to self-destruction!"
"Slaughtering clans will only hasten your downfall!"
"Aoki, prepare to die!"
By now, the Anbu had mostly withdrawn. Sarutobi Hiruzen could no longer afford to consider anything else. Even though he vaguely sensed something amiss, he knew the arrow was already on the bowstring—he had to release it. Only by eliminating Aoki could the two clans find a path to survival.
With this thought, he immediately began performing a Sealing Technique, preparing to unleash his killing move.
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen act again, Aoki grew tired of prolonging the fight.
Whoosh!
The Flying Thunder God Technique activated instantly. In a flash of white light, Aoki—originally dozens of feet away—appeared right beside Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"So fast!"
"You didn't even throw a special kunai. How did you appear here instantly?"
Seeing Aoki suddenly materialize, Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils contracted sharply, his hands forming seals subconsciously freezing.
He was naturally very familiar with the Flying Thunder God Technique, having even studied it himself, hoping a genius from his clan might master it. But he knew activating the technique required a special formula mark. How could Aoki appear before him without any trace?
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was filled with doubt, his gaze inadvertently swept the ground, where a clear white mark was distinctly imprinted.
"When did that get there?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen recognized this mark all too well—it was the exclusive mark of the Flying Thunder God Technique. But he never imagined Aoki had already placed a mark here. Just when had he done it?
Watching the shock and unwillingness etched on Sarutobi Hiruzen's aged face, Aoki curled his lips into a confident smile. "Stop looking. Over the years, I've laid hidden seals all over Konoha, covering every corner. The territories of your two clans received special attention."
Without giving Sarutobi Hiruzen a chance to react, Aoki raised his palm and condensed a rapidly spinning sphere of Chakra.
Spiraling Sphere!
Boom!
An explosion roared, thick smoke billowing upward.
Aoki frowned slightly. He had clearly struck Sarutobi Hiruzen solidly, yet the sensation was unmistakably not that of the old man's true body.
As the smoke cleared, a battered figure appeared before everyone.
Cough!
"Hiruzen, what happened?"
"Enma, my apologies. I ended up summoning you!"
Seeing the severely injured Enma, Sarutobi Hiruzen was filled with guilt. He hadn't intended to use the Summoning Technique, but Aoki's assault was too fierce, forcing him to summon a beast to save his life. Yet, seeing Enma on the brink of death, he knew this battle could no longer continue.
Transforming into a wisp of smoke, Enma immediately canceled the summoning and retreated to the Summoning Beast Realm.
"Your reaction was quite swift," Aoki remarked calmly. "But what do you plan to do next?"
He hadn't expected this strike to finish Sarutobi Hiruzen. As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the now completely overcast sky. Stars flickered faintly amidst the dense clouds, and thunder rumbled.
Everything was ready.
Aoki raised his hand, pointing toward the heavens.
Crackle!
A bolt of lightning shot from his palm, instantly vanishing into the clouds. The moment the lightning disappeared, the entire sky seemed to come alive.
Boom—!
Deafening thunderclaps echoed across the sky, drawing everyone's attention. The thunder above grew denser, its momentum shaking the heavens.
"Wow! What kind of Ninjutsu is this? It's terrifying!"
"And this is just the prelude? It's already this powerful?"
"If fully unleashed, how horrifying would this technique be?"
"It looks like a Lightning Release Ninjutsu developed by the Fourth Hokage himself!"
"A prodigy! To create such a formidable Lightning Release!"
The observing clans were all astounded, each speculating about the scale of this battle and the depths of the Fourth Hokage Aoki's power.
"Watch closely!"
"I'll use this move to send you to meet the Shinigami!"
"Lightning Release: Kirin!"
As the words fell, Aoki instantly merged the form and nature transformations of Lightning Release, unleashing this killing technique.
In an instant, a Kirin formed from coalesced lightning took shape in the sky. Its dragon-like body was entwined with immense thunderbolts, a fierce aura permeating the world, its crimson eyes locked firmly on Sarutobi Hiruzen below.
Without the slightest hesitation, Aoki guided the thunder with Chidori. The Kirin, carrying the force to annihilate heaven and earth, plunged downward toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Damn it! Get away!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was utterly panicked. Decades of combat experience told him this strike was unavoidable; being hit meant certain death.
As he watched the thunderous Kirin descending from the sky, he felt completely locked in place, trapped within the opponent's technique domain.
This was an unavoidable killing move!
Roar!
The Kirin let out a heaven-shaking dragon's roar, and blinding lightning crashed down!
...
Above Konoha, the lightning shone as bright as day, countless birds scattering in panic, the glare forcing everyone to squint.
"Wow! So spectacular!"
"As expected of the Fourth Hokage!"
"The power of this Ninjutsu is absolutely terrifying!"
"My god, my eyes are practically blinded!"
The onlookers covered their eyes, fearing they might be affected by the extreme radiance.
As the thunder gradually subsided, a shocking scene appeared before everyone's eyes.
Everyone looked around, exchanging bewildered glances.
The once-prosperous clan lands of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans had vanished without a trace.
All that remained between heaven and earth was a stretch of scorched earth.
The clan lands, houses, and clansmen—all had turned to ashes under that single strike.
"Damn it! Hiruzen!"
Danzo stared at the vanished clan lands and let out a heart-wrenching roar. Already battered and bruised, he now wept uncontrollably, appearing utterly deranged.
His eyes bloodshot, he glared fiercely at Aoki, screaming hysterically, "Hiruzen can't be dead! Tell me, where is he?!"
Seeing Danzo's despair, Aoki inwardly chuckled. The bond between these two ran deeper than he had imagined.
Faced with Danzo's questioning, Aoki wasted no words. He simply pointed to the empty ground before him and said calmly, "He is all around us."
...
Upon hearing this, Danzo felt as if all his strength had been drained. He collapsed to the ground, utterly defeated. Deep down, he knew better than anyone that after enduring such a cataclysmic Ninjutsu, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no chance of survival.
Even if he had ten Sharingan, it would be useless.
Hiruzen was dead, the clan lands were gone, and he had lost everything. There was no longer any reason to fight.
Danzo sat on the ground in a daze, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Seeing this, Aoki had no desire to say more. He exchanged a glance with Sakumo Hatake, conveying a subtle signal.
In an instant, Hatake moved swiftly. With a flash of his blade, he severed the head of Konoha's shadow.
With Danzo eliminated, Aoki let out a long sigh of relief.
With the eradication of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, Konoha's internal crisis was completely resolved.
"Minato, send people to clean up the site and rebuild this area as soon as possible!"
After handling the aftermath of the two clans, Aoki returned to the Hokage Building to arrange follow-up matters, feeling a sense of relief he had never experienced before.
Not long after Aoki returned to his office, Tsunade and Orochimaru, who had been drinking at the tavern, walked straight in.
Before Aoki could speak, Tsunade pressed his head into her ample bosom.
"Mmph! I can't breathe, sensei!" Aoki protested, his voice muffled.
Seeing Aoki struggle, Tsunade's cheeks flushed slightly. But when she thought of how her beloved disciple had avenged the deep-seated grudge of the Senju Clan, she no longer cared. She continued to hold Aoki's head tightly, refusing to let go.
Seeing this, Aoki stopped struggling and allowed himself to be buried in the soft embrace. Tsunade's excited voice echoed in his ears, "Aoki, Aoki, you were amazing just now!"
"What—what are you two doing?!"
Just as Aoki was about to lose himself in the moment, a fiery figure burst into the office, her crimson hair seeming to burn with anger.
Recognizing the voice, Aoki hurriedly broke free from Tsunade's embrace. Seeing Uzumaki Kushina on the verge of exploding, he quickly tried to placate her with a smile, "Hahaha, Kushina, sensei was just too happy and wanted to express her gratitude."
"That last battle was truly exhilarating!"
After listening to Aoki's explanation, Kushina looked at the two of them suspiciously. Considering the deep-seated blood feud of the Senju Clan, it was understandable for Tsunade to be so agitated. Moreover, Tsunade was her elder, so she could only suppress the jealousy in her heart and let the matter drop.
Seeing Kushina relent, a sly smile curled at the corner of Tsunade's lips. After exchanging a brief greeting with Kushina, she turned and left.
As they passed each other, Aoki caught a glimpse of Tsunade winking at him, her mischievous grin impossible to hide.
At the sight, Aoki couldn't help but stiffen.
Beside him, Orochimaru also wore an amused smile but refrained from further teasing and followed Tsunade out of the office.
As for the various matters concerning Konoha, they could be discussed another day.
Soon, with his silver tongue, Aoki managed to coax Kushina into a cheerful mood.
Looking at the now obedient Kushina, Aoki let out another long sigh of relief. Thankfully, a battlefield hadn't erupted. A woman's jealousy was truly something to be wary of, especially when it came from his own woman.
As for Tsunade, being a transmigrator, how could he let such an opportunity slip by? The legendary wielder of the Hundred Healings Technique—even though Jiraiya had passed away, those lingering obsessions were etched into the heart of every transmigrator.
It was precisely for this reason that Aoki shamelessly asked Tsunade to take him as her disciple, gradually winning her affection. Even Dan, who had previously been too close to Tsunade, had already been dealt with by Aoki in advance.
However, at the moment, the most important thing was to consolidate Konoha's overall strength.
Otherwise, at the chat group gathering three months later, when the World Ranking List function was unlocked, it would be too embarrassing for a transmigrator like him not to rank at the top.
The next day.
Aoki instructed Minato Namikaze, "Minato, send someone to summon Uchiha Fugaku and have him come to the Hokage Building."
"Understood!"
Minato immediately dispatched someone to relay Aoki's command to the Uchiha Clan.
Uchiha Clan Territory, Current Clan Leader's Residence.
An Anbu delivered the message to Uchiha Fugaku, who responded in a deep voice, "The Fourth Hokage wishes to see me? I understand. I'll go immediately."
Receiving Fugaku's reply, the Anbu nodded and swiftly left the Uchiha Clan territory.
Fugaku furrowed his brows, pondering the reason for the summons over and over in his mind.
Mikoto, who had just stepped out of the inner room, saw his troubled expression and couldn't help but ask, "Fugaku, do you know why the Hokage suddenly summoned you?"
Fugaku shook his head helplessly. "I don't know. Don't overthink it. As the Uchiha Clan leader, I must go regardless of the reason."
"The future of the Uchiha Clan hinges entirely on this negotiation."