I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 372 Showdown! Hiruzen Sarutobi!

The base of the plant was completely silent.

All eyes were on Nara Rinka.

Even Tsunade didn't expect Nara Rinka to make such a "request" to the old man.

But when she came to her senses, all she wanted to do was pat Nara Renka on the back and give him a thumbs-up.

Well done!

Since the Third Hokage believed that it was wrong for comrades in the village to kill each other.

Then let the Third Hokage himself personally deal with those scum who slaughtered their comrades!

As the creator of Naruto, he should have the right to interpret everything.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at Nara Rinka.

He realized that this kid was very likely not going to let Shimura Danzo go...

Even the Hokage's orders could be completely ignored by the other party.

It's lawless!

No matter how angry Hiruzen Sarutobi was, he couldn't just stand by and watch Danzo Shimura be executed by Nara Rinka or Tsunade.

Even if Danzo Shimura did many bad things in secret and took the blame for many things, he was still a high-ranking elder of Konoha.

As members of the village's ninjas, Nara Rinka and Tsunade attacked Shimura Danzo.

It is in accordance with sentiment, but not with law and reason.

If the other ninjas in the village followed suit and acted as swiftly and decisively as Nara Rinka and Tsunade, wouldn't Konoha become a chaotic place with no sunshine?

What's the point of having a Third Hokage then?!

In any case, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not allow Danzo Shimura to die here.

Since it is impossible to force Nara Rinka and Tsunade to release the people through words or commands.

Then the only option left is to use force.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced silently at the trees beside Nara Rinka and abandoned the plan to "reclaim Shimura Danzo by force".

The only option left is to use other means to rescue Shimura Danzo...

Fortunately.

At this moment, they were not the only ninjas inside the Root base.

The image of Minato Namikaze flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.

He was unaware of Minato Namikaze's reasons and purpose for entering the Root Base.

However, Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique is definitely the best way to save people!

Several steps of the plan flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, but he did not reveal them to the public.

He needs to create some opportunities for Minato Namikaze...

"Sandaime-sama."

Nara Rinka saw that Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent for a long time, and thought to himself, "Just as I expected."

Based on his understanding of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the other party would never lay a hand on Danzo Shimura—he didn't know how Danzo Shimura had gained such high regard from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Since the other party is unwilling to make a decision, Nara Rangsei plans to intensify its efforts.

"You don't want to execute Shimura Danzo yourself, but you also don't want us to solve your problems... I'm really in a difficult position!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly watched Nara Rinka.

There were no warning signs whatsoever.

The Third Hokage's figure vanished from the spot, leaving only a blurry afterimage that gradually faded away.

Even though he hadn't publicly fought for many years, Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength hadn't declined too much.

A loud whooshing sound came from mid-air.

Nara Rinka's expression suddenly hardened.

Is Hiruzen Sarutobi planning to solve the problem by force?

This is really...

Exactly what I want!

To deal with Shimura Danzo, Nara Rinkei remembered Tsunade's instructions and only used Wood Release to deal with this half-crippled old man.

There's absolutely no need to use the Wood Release technique, which is only slightly familiar to Hiruzen Sarutobi, since he's not very proficient with it.

Nara Rinkazu's eyes were fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was rapidly approaching along an irregular path. Suddenly, a thick, sturdy, jet-black arm burst forth from his shadow.

Black Knight!

The pitch-black hand, formed from Yin Release chakra, reached out to grab Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was approaching, both to block and to capture him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand swept across his waist like a phantom, and he instantly pulled out a finely crafted kunai mixed with a little chakra metal from his ninja tool pouch, stabbing it heavily at the oncoming dark hand.

Back when Nara Rakan subdued the Five-Tails Kokuo, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already witnessed this special giant ninjutsu of the opponent.

Later, he received intelligence reports more than once that Nara Rangatsu was using giant ninjutsu.

Unfortunately, I've never had the chance to personally experience the power and effects of Nara Rinka's special giant ninjutsu.

Now, the opportunity has finally arrived!

Hiruzen Sarutobi gripped the finely crafted kunai tightly, the sharp and sturdy kunai instantly closing the distance between itself and the pitch-black, pure giant hand, before they collided violently.

Ding--

A faint, flickering spark was followed by a crisp, pleasant collision that echoed far and wide within the root base.

The sharp tip of the finely crafted kunai pierced the surface of the Black Knight's palm. The seemingly sturdy and sharp metal tip was immediately shattered by the recoil, and metal fragments flew in all directions.

What amazing defensive capabilities!

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sudden surge of emotion.

[A-rank ninja battle mission detected!]

[Rank A Ninja Battle Mission: The Third Hokage]

[Mission Objective: Defeat/kill the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi]

[Mission Reward: Rank A Ninja Scroll]

A quest prompt for Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately popped up on the panel.

Nara Rinka didn't pay any attention to the task panel; he was just watching Sarutobi Hiruzen's amazing maneuvers.

He originally thought that "Kunai stabbing Susanoo" was just Danzo Shimura's personal act.

I never expected Hiruzen Sarutobi would do something like this!

Is this a tradition from the old days?

Nara Rinkasa's mood was strange, but his speed of action was by no means slow.

Almost at the very moment Hiruzen Sarutobi used a kunai to stab Susanoo, a brand new chakra arm emerged from the shadows of Nara Rinka, its pitch-black palm slamming towards Hiruzen Sarutobi like a door panel, with astonishing speed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was well aware of Nara Rin's strengths—his ninjutsu without hand seals.

But he never expected that this level of giant ninjutsu could be released without hand seals.

That's way too much!

With his keen eyesight and sharp hearing, Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly detected the movement of yet another dark arm.

Using the recoil from the kunai that had just pierced Susanoo, Hiruzen Sarutobi was sent flying backward like a piece of paper, taking several steps back before lightly tapping the ground a few times to dodge the blows from the second chakra arm.

During his retreat, Hiruzen Sarutobi put his thumb in his mouth and bit it, drawing blood.

"Spiritual communication!"

Pong!

With a burst of smoke, the Sarutobi clan's exclusive summon beast—the Enma-oh—made its appearance!

"Ape Demon, transform!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Enma worked together very skillfully.

Upon hearing the command, the ape demon did not hesitate for a moment and transformed into a straight, smooth, diamond-hard iron rod.

The advantage of unsealed ninjutsu in ninja battles is simply too great.

Even a "professor of ninjutsu" like Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't erase the time difference between hand-marked and unmarked ninjutsu simply by using hand speed.

Using ninjutsu in combat is undoubtedly undesirable.

However, coincidentally, in addition to ninjutsu, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also extremely skilled in taijutsu.

The Vajra Iron Rod, transformed from the Monkey King, was firmly held in his palm. Hiruzen Sarutobi twirled the rod, performing a slightly flashy flourish, before pointing the tip directly towards Nara's laurels.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi channeled chakra into his weapon, the iron rod instantly grew longer, covering the distance between him and Nara Rankei, reaching the log binding Shimura Danzo.

But at that moment, a jet-black bullet shot out.

Strike straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow!

【Spiral Shadow Binding Bullet】!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's senses were incredibly sharp, and he immediately noticed the unique chakra bullet.

He knew very well that if he continued to attack Shimura Danzo's location...

Then he would be blown to the head by that dark shadow bullet.

Prioritizing and weighing the important and urgent matters.

Hiruzen Sarutobi ducked low, dodging the attack of [Spiral Shadow Binding Bullet].

However, it was precisely because of his change in position that the attack trajectory of the weapon that the Monkey Demon transformed into also changed to a certain extent, failing to reach Shimura Danzo.

"So this is Lord Three's answer?"

Nara Rinka's eyes were cold.

"This has truly broadened my horizons!"

(End of this chapter)