Death God Appears, Yin Spirit Possession!

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Mercenary Tao, whose body was impervious to blades and whose taijutsu was incredibly powerful. Though the intelligence was still incomplete, he had already realized that the man before him was likely a tailed beast wearing human skin.

Simply standing there, Mercenary Tao was probably beyond the reach of ordinary ninja. Their attacks could not break through his defense, while they themselves would be burned by those clinging flames.

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s armor was now black. He excelled at Water Release and all manner of Substitution Techniques, which was why he had not suffered too much damage during their series of probes.

Seeing that his five Shadow Clones were ready, he used this technique near Konoha Ninja Village for the first time. So long as there was even the slightest possibility of turning things around, he had been unwilling to unleash such a destructive attack upon his own home.

"Let this old man ask you one final question, Mercenary Tao. Why are you attacking Konoha?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s gaze was resolute, his eyes radiating icy determination.

Though the Third Hokage had many political flaws, with both merits and failings to his name, he was still the man personally chosen by Senju Tobirama to become Hokage. The Will of Fire within his heart had indeed never gone out.

Unlike Danzo, when it came to a matter of life and death, he truly was willing to become ashes for the sake of this village.

Bai Cangshu narrowed his eyes. He liked that look.

The look in the eyes of a powerful man prepared to risk everything in a death battle against him.

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen’s question, he tilted his head and pondered for a moment before muttering to himself.

"Why…?"

Seeing that Mercenary Tao seemed to be thinking, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s heart stirred. As long as there was a possibility of communication, that was a good thing.

"Were you once harmed by Konoha ninja?"

Bai Cangshu shook his head.

"Was your hometown destroyed by war? Did you lose your family and friends?"

Bai Cangshu still shook his head.

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s heart gradually sank. Those were the reasons most people who opposed Konoha had, and he could explain them all. There was no righteousness in war to begin with, but Mercenary Tao was none of those things…

"Then did you disapprove of some of Konoha’s actions and want to uphold justice?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen made his worst guess. Enemies like this were the most troublesome. People willing to do anything for some ideal in their hearts were the hardest to persuade.

Yet Bai Cangshu still shook his head.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was utterly confused.

But Bai Cangshu suddenly burst out laughing. He stopped teasing the other man. The Satsui no Hado grew ever more intense, now wrapping around him like a torch. Unlike the endlessly surging power of Yellow Springs and yin spirits within his body, which was difficult to stir, this raging Satsui no Hado battered his nerves almost every moment.

Bai Cangshu was beginning to understand how even a Martial Artist as powerful as Akuma could be ruled by these waves, because… it felt too damn good!

This surging power, this endless rush of adrenaline, the exhilaration of battle constantly stimulating his nerves—it was utterly intoxicating.

Bai Cangshu spread his hands and leaned forward at an angle that nearly defied all physical laws. His bare feet gripped the ground as he exerted force, and long, narrow cracks began to spread across the Third Hokage’s Hokage Rock.

"Why am I attacking Konoha?"

"Of course…"

"Because it’s exhilarating!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s pupils dilated. He was stunned to hear such an answer.

"In this world, only a place like Konoha could gather so many powerful ninja, right? Hmm… though it has declined quite a bit now."

"But I want to fight powerful people. Konoha was naturally my first choice."

Bai Cangshu’s gaze drifted as his voice kept rising. That spontaneous delight was not an act. He truly craved this.

"Besides, after Konoha collapses, this world will soon enter a war, won’t it? Those so-called Five Great Nations will all quickly mobilize."

"Chaos. Unprecedented chaos!"

"The greatest throne can only be forged by the greatest chaos. I…"

Five Elements: Great Bullet Technique!

Sarutobi Hiruzen could no longer bear to listen to this madman. He was insane through and through, more deranged than a tailed beast. Only by completely eliminating someone like him could the world be safe…

The five Shadow Clones of Sarutobi Hiruzen simultaneously spewed forth powerful Fire Release, Lightning Release, Wind Release, Water Release, and Earth Release. The five elemental powers mixed together once more in midair.

This was an advanced ninjutsu that only Sarutobi Hiruzen, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, could control. It brought the principles of nature transformation and combined ninjutsu to their utmost limit.

A terrifying Energy Torrent capable of instantly destroying an entire city block roared toward Bai Cangshu.

But Bai Cangshu merely shook his head. This was not the technique he wanted.

Bai Cangshu tapped his foot against the ground.

Bang!

A massive chunk of Hokage Rock shattered instantly, splitting open a large portion of Sarutobi Hiruzen’s stone head. Bai Cangshu himself leaped directly into the sky as Sarutobi Hiruzen watched, enduring the immense strain.

The five Shadow Clones formed hand seals at once and pointed toward the sky.

The elemental torrent reversed course in midair, changing trajectory as it rushed directly at Bai Cangshu in the air.

Boom!

A terrifying explosion erupted in midair.

Blazing white clouds of smoke spread outward like enormous ripples.

Even Uchiha Shisui, inside Susanoo, glanced toward the disturbance. Uchiha Obito, having once again evaded an attack, seized the opportunity to provoke him.

"See? The Third Hokage has probably already been driven into a corner by that Mercenary Tao. Instead of wasting yourself fighting me here, why not go support that old man?"

"I know you. You still can’t let go of the village, can you…?"

The unparalleled frontal combat power granted by Susanoo left even Uchiha Obito’s Wood Release unable to resist. He had not mastered large-scale Wood Release techniques such as the Wood Golem Jutsu, so he could only keep relying on Kamui to evade.

But he could already tell that Uchiha Shisui was nearly at his limit. No matter how talented he was, Chakra was ultimately limited at his age. Compared to himself, who possessed Hashirama Cells, Shisui could not possibly win a battle of attrition!

The only thing he needed to fear now was the ability within Uchiha Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan, which Shisui had yet to use.

He had Kamui, but what about Uchiha Shisui? What kind of ability did he possess?

Since Uchiha Shisui had yet to unleash that technique, Uchiha Obito guessed that it had to be something with an enormous cost, which was why Shisui was unwilling to use it lightly.

But an enormous cost also meant that its effects might be extraordinarily powerful. That was why Uchiha Obito had continued to maneuver around him.

The battle between Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi was quieter, but no less dangerous. Father and son used cold weapons and the perceptive power of the Sharingan to engage in continuous close combat, interspersed with a large number of Sharingan Genjutsu.

Uchiha Fugaku was astonished by his eldest son’s talent, but at the same time, the choice Itachi had made today filled him with dread.

He understood Itachi’s personality. He was not someone who thirsted for slaughter. For him to act this way now meant that, in Itachi’s judgment, even with Fugaku and Shisui here, Konoha was still doomed to lose today…

That was why he had removed himself from the Uchiha Clan. He had become the executioner in exchange for some kind of future from Mercenary Tao.

Distracted, Uchiha Fugaku glanced toward Hokage Rock. The Third Hokage’s Hokage Rock had completely vanished, along with the forest behind it. Flames lingered everywhere, while fierce air currents had formed in the sky from the massive elemental shifts.

The Third Hokage was still alive… Had he won?

Pfft!

A cold flash appeared. Uchiha Fugaku’s heart turned cold as he barely dodged, yet his arm was still slashed open.

Uchiha Itachi frowned, his expression as cold as ever.

"Father, step aside. Unless enough people die today, those people will not stop."

He intended to go kill Danzo again. If he did, Konoha’s upper ranks would be nearly wiped out. That should be enough to satisfy Mercenary Tao’s appetite…

In truth, Uchiha Itachi had thought further than Fugaku. He was not doing this merely for Konoha Village. He had gradually come to agree with Mercenary Tao’s insane theory.

War could not end because the Five Great Nations stood side by side, with countless smaller nations caught between them. Conflicts of interest never ceased, so war naturally could not be eliminated. The so-called hatred of ninja was merely a "petty grudge" swept along by the greater tide.

If they wanted to end war, it could not be done between ninja villages…

Therefore, he would use the operation to destroy Konoha to plunge the ninja villages into chaos. Then, together with that madman, he would go see whether the daimyō who controlled the world would… suffer!

Clang!

With one slash, he forced his father back. His body scattered like a flock of crows, and he was already rushing elsewhere.

Sarutobi Hiruzen panted, his mind still taut. He had a premonition that it was not over yet.

Ring!

Golden energy pierced through the smoke in an instant, boring straight through Sarutobi Hiruzen’s forehead.

Bang!

That Sarutobi Hiruzen exploded into smoke.

But the remaining figures charged into the smoke together.

As he sprinted, his hands formed seals at high speed.

"My old friend, are you really going to…"

Enma, transformed into the Adamantine Staff, saw this and tried to speak, but Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately swung the staff.

Bang!

As it collided with a fist, the terrible impact stirred the air and dispersed the smoke. Sarutobi Hiruzen’s charge was interrupted. The gap in their strength was too great; nearly every one of his opponent’s attacks left him unable to continue his movements.

Bai Cangshu stood before Sarutobi Hiruzen, fire and lightning coiling around his body. The wounds carved into his skin by Wind Blades rapidly healed. Then he grabbed the flesh covered in flames and lightning, tore it off, and threw it aside.

Beneath that flesh, countless cells gathered into trembling buds of meat. Soon, the muscles completed their regeneration, followed by the skin.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched this scene and exhaled the foul air in his chest.

"What an… immortal monster…"

Bai Cangshu continued walking toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, whose hand seals were already complete.

He spoke.

"Mercenary Tao, leave this world with me…"

Then he spread his arms and stepped forward, reaching to seize Mercenary Tao. He left himself completely open, using this opening—and the price of having his body punched through—as bait to catch Mercenary Tao.

Bai Cangshu could naturally have evaded, but he did not. Instead, the smile on his face grew ever more frenzied as he took a step forward and allowed Sarutobi Hiruzen to seize him.

Though Sarutobi Hiruzen was slightly surprised, he had no time to think.

He roared.

"Reaper Death Seal!"

A cold and ominous presence appeared behind him. Though he could not see it at this moment, he knew clearly that the technique had been completed.

Next, it was time…

With an enraged shout, the hand of the enormous Death God passed through his body, through his soul, and reached into the chest of Mercenary Tao, the monster with an Immortal Body before him.

Bai Cangshu looked at the Death God’s strange face and felt that icy touch enter his body. The corners of his mouth curled upward as he could no longer restrain himself.

"Hahaha, it’s here!"

The Death God pulled hard, but Sarutobi Hiruzen was astonished to find that Mercenary Tao, who should have been unable to move after his soul was seized, was still laughing. A black spirit body was helplessly dragged halfway out by the Death God.

Its silver-white hair and black clothing were completely different from Mercenary Tao’s.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was utterly dumbfounded.

"What… is going on…?"

Satoru Gojo looked at the thing holding his spirit body and helplessly shook his head.

"Hey, hey, you’re my host, aren’t you? How can you let someone drag your tenant out so easily?!"

Bai Cangshu’s face was equally frenzied as he looked at the Death God, Yellow Springs within his bloodline beginning to surge.

"Yin Spirit Possession!"