Although the visit to the Daimyō had produced unexpected developments, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not linger.
The Jōnin Assembly to submit candidates for Fourth Hokage would convene the day after tomorrow. They had to return before then.
At dawn the next morning, Hiruzen's party departed the capital and moved swiftly toward Konoha.
The Valley Stop
By midday, they reached a narrow valley with a flowing stream. After hours of travel, Hiruzen raised a hand.
"Stop. Rest for one hour. Refill water, eat rations. Rotate watch duty."
Even under time pressure, shinobi could never afford exhaustion.
A brown-haired ANBU kunoichi approached after dispatching sentries.
"Lord Hokage, please eat something."
"Thank you, Sachiko."
The woman was Sarutobi Sachiko—ANBU squad captain, deputy to Sarutobi Shinnosuke, and his wife.
Shinnosuke refused food with textbook rigidity.
"According to mission protocol, the squad leader eats last."
Sachiko sighed. She was used to it.
Hiruzen watched quietly, briefly entertaining the thought of transferring one of them out of ANBU after the Fourth Hokage took office. At this rate, grandchildren would remain a distant dream.
He suppressed the thought.
The village's political undercurrents were far more urgent.
"Enemy Attack!"
Suddenly—
"Enemy att—ahhh!"
A scream. Then silence.
Hiruzen shot to his feet.
ANBU scattered into formation instantly.
Sachiko pressed two fingers to the ground, eyes shut.
"We're surrounded. Ten standard jōnin squads. Two leaders—both with extremely unusual chakra signatures."
Hiruzen removed his ceremonial robe, revealing battle gear beneath.
"Prepare for combat. Test their strength first."
He would not run.
The Third Raikage had once held off ten thousand Iwa shinobi for three days. He, Hiruzen—Hokage of Konoha—would not flee from dozens.
The Clash of the Five Elements🔥 Fire vs Water
"Fire Release: Head-Hardening Pain!"
A sea of scorching flame erupted, swallowing the valley.
"So strong… such refined Fire-nature transformation," Hiruzen murmured.
He formed seals rapidly.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
The nearby stream surged upward into a towering wave. Fire and water collided violently, steam exploding skyward.
Water suppressed flame.
🌍 Earth vs Water
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
Massive stone spikes erupted from beneath the flood, severing the water's flow and stabbing toward Konoha's formation.
Earth restrains water.
"Scatter! Lightning Release: Thunder Spear!"
Hiruzen launched a spear of crackling lightning that shattered the earthen spikes and shot toward the caster.
Lightning pierces earth.
🌪 Wind vs Lightning
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
A roaring gale dispersed the lightning and became a massive wind sphere racing forward.
Wind overwhelms lightning.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"
Hiruzen's fireball caught the wind, swelling instantly into a blazing inferno that charged back at the enemy.
Wind feeds fire.
💧 Water vs Fire
"Water Release: Water Curtain!"
A massive water cannon extinguished the flames before they could expand.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A towering rock wall rose before Hiruzen, blocking the torrent—
⚡ Lightning vs Earth
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
A bucket-thick bolt tore straight through the rock wall and blasted toward Hiruzen.
"Wind Release: Air Cyclone!"
A vortex formed around him, dispersing much of the lightning—
—but not all.
A portion struck his body.
Hiruzen grunted as smoke rose from his robes.
The Realization
From the side, Shinnosuke watched in disbelief.
"That person… not only masters all five basic nature transformations like Father…"
"The power matches him."
"The hand seals are even faster."
"He's suppressing Father."
The valley fell momentarily quiet—steam drifting through shattered earth.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
Five elements.
Perfect counters.
Seamless transitions.
No wasted motion.
Whoever stood opposite him was not merely powerful—
They were a mirror.
And in that mirror, he saw a reflection capable of challenging the title of Hokage itself.
"Who… are you?"
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