Chapter 612: Sosuke vs. Hiruzen

Rain Country, Six Paths City.

Ninja Sect Office Building, Leader's Meeting Room.

"Sōsuke-sensei, I want to accompany you to the border as your guard," Yahiko stated his purpose.

Konoha had conducted two rounds of negotiations with the Ninja Sect, and coupled with the fact that the matter of Shimura Danzō had already spread throughout the ninja world, the tense relationship between the Ninja Sect and Konoha was no secret within the Ninja Sect.

Furthermore, Muyue had not specifically ordered the results of the negotiations to be kept secret, so most of the Ninja Sect's mid-to-high ranking members knew that Muyue was going to fight Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Upon hearing this, Yahiko immediately became agitated. After the battle, the Shimura Danzō incident would be put to rest, but it looked exactly as if Konoha wanted to use this as bait to kill Sōsuke.

However, Yahiko believed that with Sōsuke's wisdom, he wouldn't fail to see Konoha's intentions; accepting this condition must have his reasons, so Yahiko did not question the negotiations themselves, but just wanted to go along.

Yahiko did not doubt Sōsuke's abilities, but things are uncertain; who could guarantee what Konoha might do?

Although he could not compare to the monstrous Nagato, he was still outstanding among jonin.

Before Muyue could speak, suddenly a knock sounded from outside the door.

"Enter," Muyue said, looking toward the door.

Receiving Sōsuke's response, Kakuzu pushed the door open and entered.

Seeing Yahiko, Kakuzu wasn't too surprised and asked Sōsuke:

"Have you arranged the accompanying ninjas? Add me in. Let me see your full power."

Sōsuke had displayed such strong confidence, and had personally said that when he defeated him before, he hadn't even used twenty percent of his strength. Kakuzu was very curious about just how strong Sōsuke really was.

Kakuzu was a seasoned ninja; he had even fought against the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju. Although the result was that Hashirama Senju effortlessly thrashed him, at least he had fought.

Now, Konoha's Hanyu Muyue intimidated the ninja world and was considered by many ninjas as having the potential to become the second God of Shinobi.

Kakuzu wondered whether Sōsuke could be the second Uchiha Madara, in terms of strength alone.

Just as Muyue was about to speak, a knock sounded again.

"Enter."

Nagato pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Kakuzu and Yahiko standing inside, he was stunned for a moment.

"Sōsuke-sensei, I want to accompany you to the border." Seeing that neither of them spoke, Nagato casually closed the door and stated his purpose.

Nagato was the only person who knew about the connection between Sōsuke and Hanyu Muyue.

Nagato was not worried that Muyue would lose to Sarutobi Hiruzen; Muyue's any single identity displayed astonishing strength, enough to show that Muyue's true power would be even greater than what either identity showed.

But he felt that Muyue being caught between the Ninja Sect and Konoha would be very uncomfortable. He was a bit worried about this and thought something might go wrong, so he wanted to go along.

Knock knock.

Right after Nagato finished speaking, another knock sounded from outside the door.

Yahiko and Kakuzu's expressions turned strange. "It can't be more, can it?"

"Enter," Muyue said.

Konan and Rōshi walked in together.

The two of them paused slightly at the sight of the three people standing in the office, and showed somewhat surprised expressions.

"You go first," Rōshi said to Konan.

They had run into each other on the way to the leader's office; they did not come together seeking Sōsuke for something.

"Sōsuke-sensei, I want to go together with you..."

As soon as Konan spoke, the four people in the office all showed strange expressions.

Konan couldn't help but show a puzzled expression, and subconsciously glanced at her clothes, finding them as neat and clean as usual, with nothing unusual.

"It's not that I don't want to agree, but if all of you leave, who will handle the Ninja Sect's affairs?" Muyue said with a helpless smile.

Going with two or three is fine, but if too many mid-to-high ranking members go, who will do the work?

Just as Kakuzu was about to say something, another knock sounded again.

Next, one after another, several founding elders of the Ninja Sect walked into the office, expressing their desire to go with the leader to the battle site.

Soon the office was packed with people, leaving the last arrivals stunned.

"How about this: let's decide by drawing lots." Mu Yue finally decided to draw lots to take four people, and then select five ninjas from the Ninja Sect who had performed well usually to take them out to see the world.

After all, these people were all veterans who had traveled the ninja world with him, so he couldn't favor one over another.

Mu Yue's decision was approved by everyone.

They also knew it was impossible to go together; everyone was middle and upper management of the Ninja Sect. If they all left, what would that be like?

The method of drawing lots was also simple: put numbers into a box and let everyone draw. Only those who drew the four serial numbers one, two, three, and four could go with Mu Yue.

"Sun, do you have a way to see through?" Rōshi wanted to cheat.

The reason was simple: he thought his own strength was the strongest, and if a problem arose, he could help Sōsuke. This was well-intentioned cheating.

"I don't have that kind of ability." Four-Tails shrugged, indicating it was powerless.

If it was about fighting, that was no problem, but when it came to cheating in a lottery draw, it really couldn't find a corresponding ability.

Rōshi had to draw honestly, but to his surprise, his luck was unexpectedly good today—he drew number four.

In addition, Nagato drew number one, Kakuzu drew number two, and Chi Changye drew number three.

"Ah, of all days, my luck is bad today." Yahiko sighed and scratched his hair.

He drew number five, exactly one serial number off.

"Even if you don't go to the scene, you can cheer for Teacher Sōsuke in your heart." Konan comforted him.

After saying that, Konan walked up to Sōsuke and handed him a paper flower. "Wishing you all the best, Teacher Sōsuke."

"Thank you." Mu Yue smiled and accepted it, placing the flower on the office desk.

……

On the day of departure, the ninjas who didn't draw lots gathered together to see Sōsuke off.

Some of the more emotional ninjas even had misty eyes.

They didn't know how strong Sōsuke was, but they knew the Third Hokage was one of the pinnacles of the ninja world.

So from many people's perspective, Sōsuke had reluctantly agreed to this extremely dangerous battle in order to protect the Ninja Sect.

"We must work hard and train diligently, and soon expand the Ninja Sect so we no longer have to kowtow to the Five Great Ninja Villages!" That was the thought in many of the farewell ninjas' hearts.

In their hearts, Sōsuke was the greatest ninja of the Rain Country, and even Hanzo could not be compared to him.

Seeing their leader, the person they admired, suffer such grievance, how could they not feel distressed?

"At most I'll be gone for a few days; why does it seem like I won't be back for a long time?" Mu Yue smiled and advised everyone.

With Mu Yue saying this, the Ninja Sect ninjas were even more moved. As expected of their great leader Sōsuke, even at a time like this he could maintain such a demeanor to comfort them.

Mu Yue was also at a loss. In this situation, even if he said he could definitely win against Sarutobi Hiruzen, it was useless; these people had already preconceived that he was sacrificing himself for the Ninja Sect.

"Teacher Sōsuke, you must come back safely. I still want to hear you talk about the Ninja Sect ideology." A Ninja Sect ninja said with reluctance.

These words immediately stirred the emotions of the farewell ninjas, and they all shouted along.

The nine ninjas who could go to the border with Mu Yue also had solemn expressions, feeling the heavy burden on their shoulders.

Sōsuke's importance to the Rain Country and to the Ninja Sect was self-evident.

Without a soul figure like Sōsuke, could the Ninja Sect still maintain such vitality? No one dared to give a definite answer.

"Everyone, rest assured, I will come back soon." Mu Yue gave all the Ninja Sect ninjas a warm and confident smile.

After saying that, Mu Yue led Nagato and the others eastward.

During the journey, Mu Yue's real body arrived, and he took an opportunity to replace the shadow clone.

When Mu Yue was about to reach the mountain where the match was agreed, he activated Observation Haki to sense the surroundings and discovered that Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others were just climbing the mountain on the other side.

As for Orochimaru and the negotiation team he led, because they arrived early, they were already on the mountainside.

In the end, Mu Yue's group and Sarutobi Hiruzen reached the mountainside at about the same time.

The two sides stood opposite each other, sizing each other up.

However, regardless of which side, most people's gazes were focused on the leaders. On Konoha's side was Sarutobi Hiruzen, and on the Ninja Sect's side was Mu Yue.

A Kage is the pinnacle of the shinobi world. When not from the same hidden village, it is very difficult to meet a Kage.

As for Sōsuke, in the understanding of Konoha shinobi, he was also a powerful figure with an air of mystery.

Appearing suddenly in the Rain Country, he founded the Ninja Sect and stirred up the situation there, rapidly gaining fame across the shinobi world.

"Is that the Third Hokage of Konoha? Such a formidable presence!"

Several Ninja Sect shinobi of lesser strength felt immense pressure just from being swept by Sarutobi Hiruzen's sharp gaze.

"The Ninja Master versus the Ninjutsu Professor—it's hard to imagine the coming battle," Kakuzu thought to himself.

Kakuzu had seen the First Hokage, but he had never seen the Third Hokage.

Even though he had never seen him, Kakuzu had heard many tales of the Third Hokage's exploits.

Legend said that this Hokage had mastered most of Konoha's secret ninjutsu techniques, with an arsenal so vast it defied imagination. No one could counter him in battle; instead, they were easily countered by him.

However, Kakuzu felt that Sōsuke probably wouldn't be countered by Sarutobi Hiruzen. Based on the level of Sōsuke's theoretical lessons, his other elemental ninjutsu shouldn't be lacking.

"Not only Orochimaru, but even a Konoha elder has come," Rōshi noticed Mitokado Homura beside Sarutobi Hiruzen.

As a former enemy of Konoha, Rōshi was not unfamiliar with this Konoha high-ranking figure.

After becoming a high-ranking official, Mitokado Homura rarely made a move, but before that, he had been a famous genius ninja of Konoha.

Rōshi was glad he had come; otherwise, with so many strong individuals on Konoha's side, if the battle turned unfavorable for Konoha, the one-on-one fight might be interfered with.

"So he is Sōsuke. He really is young," Mitokado Homura thought as he looked at Mu Yue's transformed appearance.

Although Mu Yue's transformed appearance looked somewhat older than his original self, to Mitokado Homura, who was approaching his elderly years, that was still young.

"Former bounty hunter ninja Kakuzu, the shinobi world's greatest genius Nagato…" Mitokado Homura then shifted his gaze to the other Ninja Sect shinobi.

He did not believe that such a young Sōsuke could defeat Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Defeating Hanzō certainly requires strength, but that's about it.

With an antidote prepared in advance, Mitokado Homura was also confident he could defeat Hanzō, and Sarutobi Hiruzen was significantly stronger than him.

"The strongest combatants have all come, but I won't let you interfere with Hiruzen's battle." Mitokado Homura assessed the power of both sides and then became completely at ease.

On their side, whether in individual or overall strength, they surpassed the Ninja Sect.

"I hope it doesn't get too ugly," Shisui, standing beside Orochimaru, sighed inwardly.

He did not want to see the Ninja Sect and Konoha become enemies, but there was no way to stop it.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze quickly swept over all the Ninja Sect members, finally resting on the shinobi with short brown hair wearing a robe.

"Elder Sarutobi, pleased to meet you," Mu Yue said with a faint smile, taking the initiative to greet him.

Sōsuke's action somewhat surprised Sarutobi Hiruzen. He had imagined that Sōsuke would be more unsettled.

After all, the one he was about to face was the Third Hokage, renowned across the shinobi world—the leader of the strongest hidden village, the true pinnacle of the shinobi world.

"Pleased to meet you," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied indifferently.

One doesn't strike a smiling face. He did harbor murderous intent toward Sōsuke, but Sarutobi Hiruzen also knew that Shimura Danzo's death was mostly due to his own reckless actions; if he hadn't attempted assassination, nothing would have happened.

If one insisted on Sōsuke's fault, it was that his faction was too weak, and excessive self-defense had led him to provoke a force he couldn't afford to offend.

"Shall we begin now?" Mu Yue asked.

As he spoke, Mu Yue performed an appraisal on Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The chakra was largely the same as the appraisal result from a few years ago, but there had been some improvement in skills.

【Name: Sarutobi Hiruzen】

【Skills: Combination Jutsu, Fire Nature Transformation, Earth Nature Transformation, Lightning Nature Transformation…】

When Mu Yue first used the upgraded Appraisal Jutsu to look at Sarutobi Hiruzen's status panel, the dense array of skills left a deep impression on him.

At that time, he thought that if he could have a panel surpassing Sarutobi Hiruzen's, he wouldn't have to worry about survival and could do some things he wanted to do.

Over the course of four years, he worked hard continuously, and with a little help from the system, his current skills were no fewer than Sarutobi Hiruzen's. Moreover, he had several perfect-level skills that Sarutobi Hiruzen did not have.

He is indeed now doing what he wants to do, using his knowledge and abilities to bring some change to this world full of tragedy.

"Let's do it now."

As he said this, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the Konoha ninja and signaled them to retreat.

The battle of the strong is dangerous for ordinary ninja, even just the aftershocks.

Mu Yue also used his eyes to signal the Ninja Sect side to retreat.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's strength is formidable, and it stands out even more in the current situation without any cheats, so Mu Yue will show his true skills.

Since Sarutobi Hiruzen is actively picking a fight, Mu Yue won't hold back. It just so happens that he has some powerful abilities that haven't been tested in actual combat.

Orochimaru stared intently at the battlefield. He hadn't seen Sarutobi Hiruzen personally take action in a long time.

PS: Revised some descriptions of Limitless from the previous chapter.

Xiao Ju accidentally remembered something wrong. It's not that Limitless can't defend against poison gas; it's that when Gojo Roshi had just learned Reverse Cursed Technique and was developing the fully automatic Limitless, he couldn't properly distinguish things like poison.

Also, why give this to Kakashi to learn? Don't you think they are very similar?

Of course, it's also because Kakashi still lacks techniques, and it fits the setting in my book.