Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 7: One Dead, One Crippled

"Earth Style: Mountain Earth Technique!"

Under the relentless assault of Byakuren and the others, Hagoromo Gengetsu instinctively retreated to an open space.

Nearby, Ishikawa emerged from camouflage and slapped the ground with both hands, unleashing a high-level Earth Style jutsu that had been prepared in advance.

Boom! Boom!

In the quaking earth, two enormous hemispheres suddenly appeared on either side of Hagoromo Gengetsu, pressing down on him with the force of a mountain.

Hagoromo Gengetsu tried to escape the jutsu's range but found the narrowing passages ahead blocked by Byakuren and the others. They released dazzling and dangerous jutsus to prevent his advance.

Frowning slightly, Hagoromo Gengetsu stopped.

He observed the two mountain-like formations about to crush him and didn't waste energy on futile efforts.

With a tremendous roar, a colossal mountain appeared within the canyon.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The four figures landed on the mountain's edge.

Observing the motionless mountain, Reto, who was attending to his injured arm, asked casually, "Is it over?"

Ishikawa nodded confidently, "Even a tailed beast would struggle to escape the Mountain Earth Technique in a short time."

Byakuren furrowed his brow, uneasy, "I'll add an extra layer of security."

With that, he approached the mountain to perform a sealing jutsu.

Boom!

The mountain in front of them suddenly trembled.

Byakuren, who was closest, changed his expression drastically and tried to act, but it was too late.

Like a volcanic eruption, the mountain's earth burst forth, spewing hot lava into the sky and flowing downward due to gravity.

A figure, enveloped in lava, erupted from the mountain and charged straight at Byakuren.

"Got you!"

Hagoromo Gengetsu lunged at Byakuren like lightning.

Byakuren's expression changed drastically as he quickly performed a jutsu to delay Hagoromo Gengetsu.

But this time was different.

Facing the oncoming torrent of jutsus, Hagoromo Gengetsu extended his right hand directly.

Dark Release: Absorption Hole!

In an instant!

Hagoromo Gengetsu's right palm became like a black hole, greedily absorbing all the jutsu that Byakuren cast.

This was one of Hagoromo Gengetsu's hidden trump cards that he had not revealed in previous encounters with the Four Kage, saved for this very moment.

"One!"

With the sound of Chidori ringing, Hagoromo Gengetsu reached Byakuren, and his right hand thrust out.

"You—"

Byakuren, stunned, began to speak, but—

Ssshh!

Hagoromo Gengetsu's right hand had already plunged into his heart.

"Stop it!"

Everything happened too fast.

When A, the fastest, reacted and arrived, it was already too late.

"Damn it!"

No one expected that one of the Four Kage would fall first under their siege.

Enraged and humiliated, A immediately turned his focus on Hagoromo Gengetsu.

However, due to his hasty reaction and the lack of time to understand why Byakuren's jutsu had vanished, A continued with his body techniques, attacking Hagoromo Gengetsu.

A did not understand why Reto and Ishikawa, who were arriving, kept shouting at him to stop.

Until the next second, A noticed the lightning chakra wrapped around him rapidly disappearing and being absorbed by Hagoromo Gengetsu, realizing too late and hurriedly withdrawing his attack.

But it was also too late.

Hagoromo Gengetsu withdrew his hand and the Chidori continued to slice toward the unsuspecting A.

In a desperate moment, A gritted his teeth and made the best decision possible.

Rip!

Blood splattered.

A massive severed arm fell from the sky.

One dead, one crippled. This was Hagoromo Gengetsu's meticulously prepared killing trap.

This demonstrates the crucial importance of ninja intelligence.

Just like how, without knowing the full extent of Pain's abilities, he managed to destroy three of his bodies.

If there had been prior knowledge of their capabilities, the outcome would have been different.

The same goes for now.

Reto and Ishikawa helped the wounded A, their eyes now filled with shock, concern, and even despair.

Since the birth of the Shinobi Sect and Indra's development of the jutsu, a thousand years have passed.

During this time, various bloodline limits have emerged.

Some have flowed like a long river, such as many ninja clans today.

Others have flashed like shooting stars.

Such as the culprit behind this situation, Dark Release.

Dark Release is an extremely rare and uncommon bloodline limit.

In today's ninja world, probably nine out of ten don't know about it.

Ishikawa and Reto knew about it because they had gathered information through the large-scale intelligence network of the ninja villages after unifying the Earth and Wind countries.

Their understanding made them feel despondent.

Dark Release can directly absorb all external jutsus and chakra, and use them for oneself.

For jutsu-based ninjas, it is undoubtedly a true nemesis.

That's not all.

The key issue, besides Dark Release, is that Hagoromo Gengetsu also possesses Steel Release, which is resistant to physical damage.

How to fight against someone with both?

At present, not only the Kages present but also future generations of the Second Hokages are astonished by the luxurious combination of Steel Release and Dark Release.

Hozuki Gengetsu once wanted to avenge his predecessor, but now, observing Hagoromo Gengetsu's unreasonable power, he is unsure if his strongest jutsu can harm him.

Compared to others, Senju Tobirama, who has seen much from his elder brother, remains calm.

"Dark Release and Steel Release are quite a combination. However, no matter how powerful a bloodline limit is, it has its limits. If the Four Kages can't handle it, it doesn't mean the Elder Brother can't."

Tobirama's assessment is indeed correct.

The same Dark Release possessed by Hiroku, when facing Naruto's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, could not absorb it due to the latter's massive chakra, resulting in his demise.

This proves that Dark Release has limits.

Of course, Hagoromo Gengetsu is not the inferior version of Hiroku who forced Dark Release with brute methods, which would eventually lead to bodily collapse and death.

In contrast, Hagoromo Gengetsu, who is on the right path, far surpasses Hiroku in both strength and foundation, making his Dark Release much stronger.

At least, absorbing multiple Wind Release: Rasenshurikens is no problem.

After contemplating and assessing, Senju Tobirama, who is increasingly anticipating Hagoromo Gengetsu's body, frowned slightly and looked toward his elder brother:

"Maybe waiting a bit longer would be better. But it seems, Elder Brother can no longer sit still."

Knowing his brother well.

Given the current situation, Tobirama actually hopes that Hagoromo Gengetsu's achievements expand further.

To gain more benefits for Konoha after the battle.

However, he is well aware of his elder brother's nature.

He would never allow the Four Kage, who are his current companions, to fall one by one before his eyes.

As expected.

The usually aloof Senju Hashirama finally took action.