Yagura roared wildly, "DIE!"
He lunged at the Third Hokage, and the Third Hokage also picked up the Adamantine Staff and engaged him in combat.
But in terms of stamina and chakra, Yagura far exceeded the Third Hokage.
Now the Third Hokage was at an absolute disadvantage.
After entering Tailed Beast Mode, Yagura became incomparably violent, launching a frenzied assault full of murderous intent.
If the Third Hokage died and the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki couldn't control the beast, Konoha would soon fall into disarray and collapse.
Other ninja villages would immediately launch a full-scale attack due to Konoha's decline, and the Fourth Great Ninja War would soon break out.
At that time, no one would care about their isolated Land of Water across the sea.
The resolute Mizukage exposed many openings, attempting to trade injury for injury.
But the Third Hokage didn't fall for it at all, ignoring all the flaws.
Though he was at a disadvantage, defeat wasn't yet apparent, and things would likely drag on for quite a while.
Although reinforcements had already arrived nearby, the Third Hokage was still anxious.
Ordinary ninja couldn't compare with a jinchuriki, at most, they could only provide some distraction.
Should he really expose that person?
There was actually another expert by Hiruzen's side, but this was his final trump card, unless it was the last moment, he didn't want to use it.
After all, the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki was the most critical issue.
At this moment, an unexpected voice rang out.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A simple Great Fireball Technique, but the fireball was as large as a house, falling from the sky like a meteor.
Everyone was startled.
'So big?'
BOOM!
The giant fireball crashed into the ground, not only creating a massive crater, but its exploding flames splattered in all directions.
Both Konoha and Kirigakure shinobi scattered.
"Third Hokage, looks like your situation isn't looking so good."
The Third Hokage looked at the suddenly appearing Uchiha Rengoku and asked in a deep voice, "Uchiha Rengoku, what are you doing here?"
Rengoku slightly curled his lips, "Konoha's under attack. As a member of Konoha, naturally I'm here to assist the Third Hokage."
"Uchiha Rengoku, didn't your Uchiha clan break with Konoha?", Yagura was furious at this sudden Uchiha appearance.
'Couldn't you just hide in the shadows and kill the Third Hokage quietly?'
'Why appear all of a sudden and stand against me?'
Rengoku smiled cheerfully, "This is an internal conflict of Konoha, it has nothing to do with you of Kirigakure."
"You're quite bold for a Mizukage, daring to cause trouble in Konoha at this time."
While the Third Hokage still harbored suspicions, Rengoku had already jumped down in front of him, turning his back without any guard.
"Third Hokage, you should leave first. Leave this place to me."
Though puzzled, the Third had to check on the Nine-Tails situation immediately.
"Thank you for your efforts, Rengoku," The Third said a perfunctory phrase.
Then, taking the remaining Anbu, he rushed toward the Nine-Tails.
In the distance, an aloe slowly sank into the ground.
'How could it be the Mizukage? Damn you, Obito! Where the hell did you go?', Zetsu pondered for a moment, then still headed toward the Nine-Tails.
———
Rengoku, previously hiding in the shadows, had indeed considered killing the Third Hokage.
But with Anbu already arriving, he couldn't do it unnoticed.
And he had keenly sensed that there was a powerful ninja near the Third.
This expert's aura was faint but certainly not weak.
If an Uchiha elder directly assassinated the Third Hokage, that wouldn't be like putting a bounty on Danzo, it was a completely different matter.
If the Uchiha really did it, never mind the other clans.
The Sarutobi clan still had people alive. If Danzo or Koharu and Homura called for vengeance, the Uchiha would have no choice but to fight to the last man.
The Uchiha clan now was Rengoku's wool-gathering source, none of them could die.
Even in death, the Third Hokage might drag someone down with him. In the original timeline, he dragged down two people with him at fifty-something.
Now the Third wasn't that old, he still had combat strength.
With five thousand years of accumulated knowledge from his past world, Rengoku didn't fear losing in political games.
He still planned to use the Third Hokage in other schemes, since he wasn't dead yet, he'd keep playing the game.
Rengoku saw that there were still some Anbu nearby and waved his hand.
"You all go support the Third Hokage. Leave this place to me."
These Anbu glanced at each other, then quickly vanished.
Seeing everyone gone, Rengoku cautiously observed while speaking, "Lord Mizukage, I know exactly what you're thinking."
"But have you considered that if you fail, Konoha will retaliate against Kirigakure immediately?"
Yagura was well aware of that, so from the beginning, he hadn't planned to return alive.
But now, he realized which organization had controlled him.
A surge of immense killing intent completely shattered his earlier death wish.
Right now, Konoha was still in chaos. Though he hadn't killed the Third Hokage, Konan's attack had used quite a number of explosive tags, which he saw clearly.
Even after this incident, Konoha wouldn't have the spare capacity to cause trouble for Kirigakure.
Now, he just had to make it back alive.
"That's none of your concern. You Uchihas have played quite a good hand this time!", Yagura also seemed to be seriously responding to Rengoku.
In an instant, two shadows suddenly appeared behind Rengoku, attacking him from left and right.
Turns out Juzo and Zabuza had hidden themselves when Rengoku wasn't paying attention.
Assassination-focused shinobi naturally had an instinct for finding weaknesses.
As Yagura and Rengoku spoke, one blade slashed at Rengoku's neck, the other at his torso.
They had completely sealed off all paths of escape.
Juzo and Zabuza were very confident, at this close range, even the Mangekyo…
BOOM!
A huge burst of chakra erupted.
A pitch-black Susanoo formed in an instant.
With one sweeping strike, Juzo's Executioner's Blade was directly broken in two, the blade spinning away.
The remaining force slammed into Juzo, sending him flying and spitting blood.
CLANG!
Zabuza didn't fare much better. His strike against the Susanoo made him drop his sword to the ground.
'What is this?'
Zabuza's eyes nearly popped out. He had never seen anything like this before.
Luckily, Rengoku's first strike hit Juzo, otherwise Zabuza would've been doomed.
At this moment, Yagura also flew over and struck Susanoo with his palm.
A large number of coral formations instantly appeared on Susanoo's bone armor.
It was Yagura's Coral Palm.
Zabuza used the chance to stomp on Susanoo's surface.
While flying back, he grabbed the heavily injured Juzo and retreated.
Yagura didn't look at Rengoku's eyes, only staring at the area below his nose.
He still remembered the painful memory of being controlled by Mangekyo Sharingan.
And that masked man only had one Mangekyo Sharingan.
This awakened Mangekyo Sharingan was a pair.
Who was stronger remained uncertain.
He knew his own limits. Even if he could fight the Uchiha, there was no benefit in it.
'Mangekyo Sharingan, damn it, this Uchiha have two of them now?'
The opportunity to kill the Third Hokage had already slipped from Yagura's hands.
He signaled retreat, gesturing for Juzo and Zabuza to leave first.
Juzo was seriously injured, but his mind was still clear. He held tightly to the remaining half of his Executioner's Blade.
He spat out two mouthfuls of blood and forced down the pain, saying, "Go! Don't be a burden to the Fourth!"
Though Zabuza was arrogant, he understood that staying would be pointless.
'Susanoo—I'll remember this!'
He didn't dare linger, dragging Juzo away without looking back.
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