Uchiha Aki formed a hand seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Poof! With a burst of white smoke, five shadow clones appeared beside him.
Four of the clones leapt in different directions.
"Barrier Ninjutsu — Dimensional Cage!"
All four clones simultaneously performed hand seals and slammed their palms onto the ground.
In an instant, the surrounding space became sealed. Invisible and intangible walls formed an independent dimension.
From the outside, people could see and hear what was happening within — but they couldn't enter unless they broke the barrier.
Even space-time ninjutsu couldn't penetrate it — not even Kamui.
This technique originated from the Flying Thunder God and was one of the Uzumaki clan's long-lost high-level barrier techniques.
"This one really drains chakra... but it'll stop that bastard Obito from sneaking in," Uchiha Aki muttered, glancing at the unconscious Naruto Uzumaki.
If Obito took advantage of the chaos to steal the Nine-Tails, that would be troublesome.
As long as the Nine-Tails remained in his hands, Obito would have no choice but to fight for him today.
After all, the Nine-Tails' immense chakra was the most crucial among all the tailed beasts for awakening the Ten-Tails.
The fifth clone sat on Naruto, keeping him under watch to prevent a massive release of Nine-Tails chakra.
"This will be your grave," Uchiha Aki declared coldly, gazing down at Hiruzen Sarutobi with his Mangekyō Sharingan. "You have nowhere left to run. I'll use your head to show the world just how laughable the so-called Will of Fire truly is."
"Come, Sarutobi. Show me what a Hokage is really worth."
"Sarutobi," said the Monkey King Enma, his Ruyi Staff form revealing a beast-like eye that stared into Aki's Mangekyō. "This kid is strong — stronger than he showed earlier. Even you won't beat him without paying a price. Especially with that Mangekyō Sharingan..."
"Among all the enemies you've ever faced — even in your prime — this one may be the strongest," Enma warned as his eye disappeared. "I'll help block some attacks. Just focus on fighting."
"Aki is strong... but so what?" Hiruzen slowly got to his feet, glancing at his trembling left arm with a frown.
Just one strike — and such damage!
What happened to Aki in such a short time? How did he reach this level?
"Uchiha Aki! Don't underestimate the Hokage!" Hiruzen roared. "I'll stake the title of Hokage itself to eliminate a menace like you!"
With a burst of overwhelming chakra, Hiruzen radiated the might of a king.
He leapt high into the air, hands flashing through hand seals. "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!"
He exhaled a massive stream of fire that shaped into a gigantic dragon, twisting and roaring through the sky, jaws wide as it lunged toward Uchiha Aki.
"How laughable," Aki said with indifference. As the fire dragon neared, a hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes. He raised a Haki-coated hand and, before the stunned gazes of all, casually slapped the dragon away.
Even Hiruzen was momentarily frozen in disbelief.
"This guy's not normal," Hiruzen muttered. The blazing flames had behaved like a physical object in Aki's grasp.
"Then how about this? Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu—"
Before Hiruzen could finish, Aki vanished with a flash step and struck with his blade.
"Careful!" Enma cried. As Aki disappeared, a massive pressure and killing intent surged, enough to threaten even his steel-like body.
"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!" Hiruzen slammed his palms to the ground.
A thick wall of earth shot up like a fortress.
Clang! A cold flash cut the wall in two. Aki appeared before Hiruzen, his Haki-wrapped blade slicing straight for his neck.
Hiruzen's eyes widened as he barely raised the Ruyi Staff to block the strike.
Boom!
The collision sent cracks spidering across the Ruyi Staff's body. The force was so great it broke Enma's transformation, reverting him to his true form — the Monkey King.
Aki's eyes narrowed with interest. His slash, which could cleave through steel, hadn't fully severed Enma's body.
"The strongest summon beast, huh? You're one tough bastard."
"Cough—!" Blood spurted from Enma's mouth as a deep gash tore through his upper body. He grabbed Aki's sword with both hands and spat a mouthful of blood toward Aki's eyes.
"Now, Sarutobi!" he roared.
Aki tilted his head, letting the blood narrowly miss his eyes.
Hiruzen lunged with a kunai aimed at Aki's throat — despite his concern for Enma, he knew this might be their only chance.
But in a flash, Aki sprang upward, spun, and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to Hiruzen's head, sending him flying like a cannonball.
"Cheap tricks like that are just pathetic."
"Now, let's finish this one." Aki drew back his sword, Ghost Chokutō, and slashed at the Monkey King.
Enma's eyes widened. He tried to dodge, but his injuries left him too weak.
A cold gleam flashed.
Enma was bisected at the waist.
"So dirty," Aki muttered, frowning at the blood on his blade. He looked toward where Hiruzen had crashed, a mocking smile on his lips. "That's what real Fire Style should look like."
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!" A torrent of blazing flames erupted from Aki's mouth, forming a surging wave that scorched everything in its path, bearing down on Hiruzen.
"What overwhelming firepower!" Hiruzen exclaimed, cold sweat on his brow. He hurriedly formed hand seals — he had no time to mourn Enma now.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A giant water dragon roared from his mouth, crashing into the wall of flame.
Steam billowed violently.
The fire evaporated the water dragon instantly and continued its advance, undiminished.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!"
Slamming his palms to the ground, Hiruzen summoned a raging mudslide to meet the flames.
BOOM—!
The collision neutralized both attacks.
Huff, huff... Hiruzen panted, glancing at his scorched right arm. "His swordsmanship is terrifying — but even his ninjutsu is this strong. We really did let a monster slip away back then..."
"You actually blocked it — I'm impressed," Aki said calmly, examining the aftermath of his Fire Style attack. "I held back a little. After all, even if you die, there are still many powerful shinobi in this village."
"So that's... Uchiha Aki..."
In the distance, Uchiha Sasuke sat on the ground, staring in shock.
He's terrifyingly strong. The Third Hokage couldn't even fight back!
Meanwhile, outside the barrier—
ANBU and jonin had arrived, surrounding the entire perimeter.
"What kind of barrier is this? Our attacks don't work!"
"Hokage-sama!"
They watched helplessly as Hiruzen struggled within, faces etched with worry.
"Step aside! Let me try!" A low voice rang out.
"Eight Gates Released Formation — Sixth Gate: Gate of View, Open!"
With a bestial roar, a green figure launched into the air and slammed into the barrier with a thunderous kick, shaking the entire structure.