Chapter 144: Hyuga's Decision and Uchiha's Hesitation

Facing Sarutobi Asuma's attack, Senju Hashirama did not hesitate to press his palms together.

Thick tree branches surged from all directions, easily extinguishing the fireballs and lashing out at Asuma.

The young Asuma immediately dodged to the side, but he was still half a step too slow and was struck on the shoulder by a branch.

The immense force sent Asuma flying; his shoulder blade shattered instantly, his chakra blade fell to the ground, and he crashed heavily, unable to rise for a time.

A single blow left Asuma severely wounded, and the ninjas directly under the Daimyo he had brought were all terrified, not daring to take another step forward.

On the other side, the Mitokado ninjas and Sarutobi ninjas did not stop their attacks, as countless wind blades, fireballs, and ninja tools were unleashed toward the brothers Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.

Senju Tobirama quickly formed hand seals, performing the Water Style: Water Wall, raising a water curtain comparable to the walls of Konohagakure out of thin air to block all attacks.

While maintaining the water curtain, he also created a Shadow Clone, used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport into the midst of the Mitokado ninjas, and directly detonated the Explosive Tags he had snatched.

The violent explosion detonated right in their faces, and the bodies of the Mitokado ninjas were instantly torn apart by the shockwave, leaving them scattered in pieces, lying in their own pools of blood.

In another direction, the Sarutobi ninjas were also charging desperately.

They brandished their weapons and performed various kinds of Ninjutsu, attacking Senju Hashirama frantically in an attempt to rescue the entangled Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Senju Hashirama merely raised his hand slightly, and countless branches erupted from the ground, piercing and entangling the Sarutobi ninjas charging in the front, taking their lives.

The Sarutobi ninjas were blinded by rage and continued their charge regardless of casualties.

They believed that the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was the strongest, and that as long as he broke free from the First Hokage's Wood Release restraints, he could crush all enemies.

Victory would ultimately belong to the Sarutobi Clan!

The battle grew increasingly intense, and the battlefield was filled with the light of clashing Ninjutsu and explosions.

The shouts and screams of the Sarutobi, Mitokado, and other clan ninjas were louder than the explosions of the Ninjutsu.

Senju Hashirama stood expressionless in place, his chakra surging steadily as an endless stream of branches grew from the ground, sweeping across everything on the field like countless giant arms.

Countless ninjas from the Sarutobi, Mitokado, and other families were strangled and devoured.

The battlefield was littered with corpses, blood flowed on the ground, and the air was filled with a thick, bloody stench.

With the battle reaching this level, the chakra fluctuations and explosive shockwaves could no longer be concealed.

Ninjas throughout Konohagakure felt the tremors of the ground and the violent, terrifying chakra fluctuations.

At this moment, in the Hyuga Clan estate, the Hyuga ninjas gathered together, ignoring the Hokage's prohibition to activate their Byakugan and look toward the East Gate.

Their faces were full of shock and confusion.

"This chakra... so powerful!"

"It's not just one source, it's two!"

"Who, who are they?"

"A fierce battle seems to have broken out outside the East Gate!"

"What on earth is happening?"

"Many ninjas have gathered at the East Gate, they are... ninjas from the Sarutobi Clan!"

"Strange, these cowards who never participate in wars are actually charging at the very front of the battle?"

Hyuga Hiashi walked out of his house; he had already changed into white athletic gear and was wearing the Konohagakure Headband.

His Byakugan was also activated, and he had recognized the Wood Release chakra unique to Senju Hashirama.

Seeing Hyuga Hiashi, the Jonin of the Hyuga Clan gathered around him one after another, asking anxiously: "Clan Leader, what should we do?"

Hyuga Hiashi shook his head slowly and said: "Observe for now, stay vigilant."

The Hyuga ninjas frowned and asked with dissatisfaction: "Are we still waiting?!"

Hyuga Hiashi said: "Wait, wait for me to consult Lord Yamanaka Chujiu, then act according to his orders."

A moment later, he learned the cause and effect through a Communication Snake.

All the Hyuga ninjas who heard Yamanaka Chujiu's words were dumbfounded, muttering in disbelief: "Are they crazy? This Ninja World has gone mad!"

"How dare Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others do this?"

"Those are the First Hokage and Second Hokage, even if they are the First and Second brought back by Impure World Reincarnation, they are not people he can afford to provoke!"

Hyuga Hizashi sneered: "Didn't Lord Yamanaka Chujiu already say it?"

"For the sake of his own power, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not hesitate to slander the two Hokage, claiming they threatened Konohagakure, and led the ninjas of the four great families to surround and kill Lord Orochimaru."

"He has been blinded by day-after-day flattery and truly thinks he is the strongest Hokage!"

"Hyuga ninjas, tell me, which side is our Hyuga Clan going to stand on?"

The ninjas of the Hyuga Clan raised their right hands without hesitation: "Of course on the side of Lord Orochimaru and Lord Yamanaka Chujiu!"

Hyuga Hizashi nodded with satisfaction: "My life was saved by Lord Orochimaru and Lord Yamanaka Chujiu; today is the moment for me to fight for both Lords!"

"Are you coming with me?"

The Hyuga ninjas shouted: "Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!"

"Crush the Sarutobi Clan, defeat Sarutobi Hiruzen, and depose the Third Hokage!"

Amidst the battle cries, Hyuga Hizashi looked at his older brother: "Big brother, are you coming with me?"

Hyuga Hiashi sighed, opened his Byakugan and said: "I'm going with you!"

"The Hyuga Clan will not split; this time, either we push Lord Orochimaru to the position of Fifth Hokage, or the whole clan will go down in flames with the Sarutobi Clan!"

Just at this moment, another wave of intense chakra fluctuations arrived, followed by earth-shattering roars.

Hyuga Hiashi did not hesitate any longer: "The old and weak stay to guard the house, all Chunin and Jonin, set out with me!"

On the other side, at the Uchiha Clan Compound, Uchiha Fugaku stood on high ground, looking toward the east with hundreds of Uchiha ninjas.

The Uchiha ninjas kept asking: "Clan Leader, what do we do now?"

Uchiha Fugaku's face was full of bewilderment: "I, I don't know, let's watch a bit more, let's wait a bit longer..."

An Uchiha ninja said: "Waiting is fine too; the Third Hokage sent Anbu to pass an order forbidding us from going to the East Gate, and violators will be treated as traitors to Konoha."

Itachi Uchiha suddenly shouted: "We can't wait anymore!"

His voice was childish, but his tone was exceptionally firm: "Father, elders, have you already forgotten the Nine-Tails Incident from last year?"

"At that time, it was also a Root ninja who delivered the order to restrain our Uchiha Clan; you obeyed the order, but what was the result?"

"The result was that Danzo turned his back on us and denied it, even framing us by saying that our Uchiha Clan manipulated the Nine-Tails and killed the Fourth Hokage and his wife!"

Itachi Uchiha's voice cracked: "The entire Konohagakure knows that the Fourth Hokage was close to us Uchiha, and we supported Lord Fourth Hokage with all our hearts, yet the Third Hokage and the others just turned a blind eye and insisted on framing us!"

"If it weren't for Lord Orochimaru and Lord Yamanaka Chujiu appearing out of nowhere to crush Kumogakure and Kirigakure, how do you all think our situation would be right now?"

"We would definitely have been forced into the old residence where the shrine is located, kept under surveillance, and isolated by the entire village!"

Itachi Uchiha looked at his father and roared angrily: "Only a few days have passed, and Father is already going to trust the Third Hokage's orders again?"

Uchiha Fugaku muttered: "What would a child like you understand? That is the Hokage after all..."

Itachi Uchiha shouted: "Overthrow the Third Hokage, and Lord Orochimaru can become the Fifth Hokage; he is also a Lord Hokage!"