Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 121: Another Uchiha?

"Arrival: Thousand-Hand Strike!"

A golden Kannon statue with a thousand arms suddenly appeared behind Chiriku.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Before he could strike, a barrage of golden chakra fists from the statue swiftly attacked him.

"Too fast!"

Barely blocking a few hits, Sasuke was continuously pushed back, grimacing in pain. Remembering Hagoromo Gengetsu's permission to reveal his identity, he activated his Sharingan without hesitation.

Three black tomoe rapidly spun in Sasuke's blood-red eyes. Instantly, everything seemed to slow down, allowing him to clearly see the incoming golden chakra fists.

"I can dodge them!"

With a flash of lightning chakra enhancing his muscles, Sasuke's speed surged. Dodging the chakra fists with precision, he raised his sword and shouted:

"Chidori Blade!"

The blade, enveloped in lightning chakra, darted towards Chiriku, seizing an opening.

"Sharingan??"

Noticing the change in Sasuke's eyes, Chiriku quickly averted his gaze, filled with surprise.

The Uchiha clan was supposed to be extinct. The only known Sharingan users left were the traitor Itachi, the Copy Ninja Kakashi, and the recently defected last Uchiha, Sasuke.

The person before him could only be Uchiha Sasuke. But why was he at the Fire Temple? And who was the masked man he followed?

In the midst of these thoughts, Chiriku's movements remained calm. Facing Sasuke's attack, his expression stayed composed.

"Raging Vajra!"

The Kannon statue behind him entered an enraged state, its golden fists turning red and striking with even greater force towards Sasuke. Though Sasuke could still see the attacks, his body couldn't keep up.

*Bang, bang, bang!*

After a series of heavy blows, Sasuke was sent flying, rolling on the ground several times. It was clear that he was no match for the seasoned Chiriku.

Meanwhile, the monks cheered loudly, confident in their leader's ability to handle any threat.

"Damn it!"

Grimacing, Sasuke struggled to his feet, ready to charge at Chiriku again. However, Hagoromo Gengetsu stopped him, calmly saying, "No matter how many times you try, you can't win against him now. Perhaps in another year or two."

Clenching his fists in frustration, Sasuke understood the truth in Gengetsu's words. The opponent was on a different level than any he had faced before.

"One or two years, huh?"

Sasuke gave Chiriku a deep look, finally stepping back. Chiriku then asked, "Are you Uchiha Sasuke?"

Sasuke snorted, not bothering to respond. Chiriku, seeing his expression, confirmed his suspicion. He turned to the masked man.

"Who are you?"

The rumors said Sasuke had left with Hagoromo Gengetsu, but here he was with someone else. Chiriku couldn't piece it together.

Gengetsu ignored Chiriku's question, his attention focused on the Kannon statue behind him.

"It resembles Hashirama's True Several Thousand Hands. However, it's just a resemblance, lacking the same power. Perhaps someone witnessed Hashirama's technique and developed a similar one here."

"So, this is the so-called 'Sennin Talent'? It doesn't seem like Sage Arts; more like a use of natural energy."

With samples of Sage chakra, Gengetsu could discern the difference. "I should verify it myself."

Having come this far, he wasn't about to leave without confirming his curiosity. Gengetsu started walking towards Chiriku.

Chiriku, noticing Gengetsu's disregard, took a more serious stance, saying, "I don't care who you are, but you and Sasuke will not leave. This is the Fire Temple's duty as an ally of Konoha."

"Raging Vajra—"

Before Chiriku could finish, Gengetsu lifted his head, his right eye behind the mask locking onto Chiriku's.

Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!

In an instant, Chiriku's voice stopped, and his body stiffened. He felt as if large iron stakes had pinned him down.

"How? How could I be caught in a genjutsu so easily?"

Chiriku couldn't believe it. He thought he saw the familiar red of the Sharingan behind the mask.

"Sharingan??"

"Only a high-level Sharingan genjutsu could ensnare me so effortlessly."

"But the Uchiha clan is nearly extinct! Who is this man?"

Behind him, the monks were still cheering, unaware of the danger. They believed their leader could handle any threat.

However, as Gengetsu walked up to the immobilized Chiriku, the monks' cheers died down, sensing something was wrong. Rushing forward, they tried to save their leader.

But it was too late.

Gengetsu grabbed Chiriku's chin, forcing him to look into his eyes. Using the eye technique, he copied all the knowledge about the Sennin Talent from Chiriku's mind.

"Stop!"

"Release the chief monk!"

"Everyone, attack!"

As the monks rushed forward, worried for Chiriku's safety, Sasuke stepped in front of them, saying coldly, "I can't let you interfere."

*Clang~~*

The sound of a blade being drawn rang out. Soon, the sound of clashing weapons, cries of pain, and bodies hitting the ground filled the air.

What had been a tranquil temple was now filled with the sounds of battle.

(Translator's Note: This fanfic is fully translated and available on my Patreon at /CraxxTranslation. By joining my Patreon, you can access the completed chapters and enjoy the story without waiting for public releases. The lowest tier has limited spots available. Thank you for your support!)