"Let's put an end to the children's games here..."
Uchiha Madara stood within Susanoo's crystal, his peripheral gaze skimmed over the Sannin of Konoha on the ground, then turned back to the figures rushing over from afar.
"Next, it's a game between adults..."
Uchiha Madara, manipulating Susanoo, drew the ninja sword, and suddenly lifted it high, slicing straight towards Konoha!
The strike had yet to be delivered, but the Sannin of Konoha already realized its terrifying power, paralyzed by the momentum of the Complete Form of Susanoo!
"Madara, bullying children isn't very nice, is it!"
A towering wooden figure burst out from the ground, its hands clasped together, and in a bare-handed stance, it caught Susanoo's sword, averting Konoha's destruction!
Senju Hashirama arrived just in time, manipulating the wooden figure to grasp Susanoo's sword while looking back at the younger ones in the village.
"Tsunade, are you okay?"
"Still alright..."
Tsunade's face still bore traces of unabated fear.
"You all fall back for now."
Senju Tobirama landed beside them, speaking solemnly, "The battle to come is not one you can partake in, it's not even one we can partake in..."
"Yes, granduncle..."
Tsunade nodded, her expression immediately turning sullen: "Wait, I have a question. Have you all been controlled by Akihara Kagura all this time..."
"You've finally realized..."
Senju Tobirama fixed his gaze on Tsunade.
"Why..."
Tsunade furrowed her brows, asking in a low voice: "Why wasn't I informed? Akihara Kagura clearly hasn't erased your consciousness..."
"If we told you everything, then let Akihara Kagura knew that the Fifth Hokage of Konoha wanted to kill him, could you deal with that brat Akihara Kagura?"
Senju Tobirama looked at the deeply furrowed brows of Tsunade, posing a lethal question, shaking his head, and sighed: "Now you've seen the consequences of turning against Akihara Kagura, all we could do was try to leave some hints for you, hoping you would notice soon enough to find a way to deal with him..."
But...
Tsunade never took any action.
Tsunade's face didn't look good, she struggled to recall the hints Tobirama gave her: "When... did you hint about Akihara Kagura to me, granduncle?"
"Every time during meetings."
Senju Tobirama crossed his arms, speaking coldly: "Every time during discussions at the Hokage Tower, I specifically mentioned that brat Akihara Kagura was too extreme, didn't you understand what extreme means?"
"..."
Tsunade's expression suddenly became unusual.
Everyone in Konoha Jonin and above knew about Akihara Kagura's extreme personality, even if she heard it, what use would it be!
Before she succeeded as Hokage, Jiraiya had mentioned Akihara Kagura's extreme nature, telling her to bear with it; after taking over, the two Hokage Advisors also mentioned Akihara Kagura's extreme ways, asking her to bear with it...
Such words...
Tsunade was used to hearing them!
Senju Tobirama glanced at the fierce battle between the wooden figure and Susanoo, coldly reminding, "Uchiha Madara is acting up a bit, that brat asked big brother to handle it, you better quickly seal us while there's still time..."
"However..."
After speaking, Senju Tobirama added: "Both I and the Fourth Hokage are adept with the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, so you won't be able to catch us, but you can seal the monkey..."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated standing in place, glanced at the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, and couldn't refute the Second Hokage's words.
After all...
If the Second Hokage and the Fourth Hokage didn't assist, he indeed couldn't escape, and being not as strong as the First Hokage, he was the easiest to be sealed...
While Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru exchanged glances, then collectively looked towards Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Clang.
Jiraiya suddenly threw a hidden weapon towards Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his hand to catch it, his aged voice sounded deep: "Jiraiya, if you want to launch a sneak attack..."
The next moment.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice abruptly halted.
For in his opened palm, he saw a bell, a bell that bears the memories of many Konoha Ninjas during their Genin years.
"You fool..."
Tsunade glared at Jiraiya, feeling that this guy was making trouble: "At this time, still messing around with these things, hurry up and seal the old man!"
"It's kind of nostalgic..."
Jiraiya looked embarrassingly at Tsunade.
"It's not bad."
Orochimaru didn't oppose Jiraiya's actions, his gaze fixated on his teacher, almost unable to hold back.
"Alright, alright..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the bell in his hand, then at his three disciples, a smile appeared on his face: "So, shall we begin the last test now? If you seal me, then consider your test passed..."
"..."
The expression of the Sannin of Konoha turned grave as they heard the old man's pretend casual words, recalling how he had raised them by hand.
The Sannin of Konoha were different from other ninjas.
Because they graduated early from the Ninja Academy and had been with Sarutobi Hiruzen almost from a young age, until they became Jonin and participated in the war.
"The final test, begin!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook the bell in his hand and rushed at his disciples, a shuriken appearing in his hand, which he threw directly at them!
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Orochimaru quickly threw a shuriken as well, his fingers rapidly forming hand seals, retaliating against his teacher!
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bomb!"
Jiraiya opened his mouth and spat a flame towards Sarutobi Hiruzen!
This wasn't a simple ninja test. Sarutobi Hiruzen, being a body of Reanimation, didn't have to worry about death, they needed to defeat the old man as quickly as possible!
"Ninpo: Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly formed hand seals, creating two shadow clones!
One of the shadow clones raised its hand to release a Fire Dragon Flame Bomb, blocking Jiraiya's attack!
Faced with long-term cooperation from the Sannin of Konoha, dividing the battle was the only chance of winning, though Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't actually want to win...
Boom!
Tsunade punched the ground!
The ground shattered into ruins, Sarutobi Hiruzen's two shadow clones dissipated into smoke under Tsunade's Monster Strength!
The next moment!
The Sannin of Konoha rushed at Sarutobi Hiruzen from three directions!
Orochimaru's arm grew a snake that wrapped around Sarutobi Hiruzen's body, Tsunade swung her fist at him, and Jiraiya took out a scroll to prepare a sealing jutsu.
"Goodbye, Sarutobi-sensei."
The Sannin of Konoha watched their teacher, their gazes complex.
They were ninjas raised by Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had questioned and even opposed their teacher, but eventually understood him.
This teacher always spoke of the Will of Fire, loved saying that Konoha's future hope rested on the new generation, and rambled on in Ninja Academy.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's body shattered...
Jiraiya extended a scroll, wrapping Sarutobi Hiruzen's body, sealing their teacher within it!
Until the last moment of being sealed, Sarutobi Hiruzen's lips still bore a smile, saying one last sentence to his disciples.
"Congratulations... you passed the test."