Chapter 186: Someone's Coming! It's the Second Hokage!
Hatake Kakashi lay helplessly on the hospital bed.
Because Akihara Kagura directly resolved the trouble caused by Momochi Zabuza, the plan for Team 7 to gain some experience fell through.
However, Hatake Kakashi could not disclose this underlying reason and could only helplessly watch as Akihara Kagura left with the Root ninjas, even refusing to let Karin help treat his wounds, leaving only two large fish behind.
"Never mind."
Hatake Kakashi had to treat this as a routine C-rank escort mission, planning to lead Team 7 to protect Tazuna once his injuries healed, to complete the bridge connecting the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves, and consider it finished once they dealt with Gato's gang entrenched in the Land of Water.
No matter what...
It would still involve these young ones in a real battle.
During his recovery, Hatake Kakashi had the three youngsters of Team 7 practice tree climbing, water treading, and refining their chakra control.
Tazuna's family, upon learning of Akihara Kagura's identity and that Momochi Zabuza, Gato's strongest subordinate, had been dealt with, felt somewhat relieved.
A week later.
Tazuna continued with the bridge construction.
After Hatake Kakashi recovered, he led Team 7 in protecting Tazuna. The bridge was shrouded in dense fog, making it impossible to see any figures.
"Didn't Gato send anyone to stop us?"
Hatake Kakashi was still puzzled and stroked his chin, pondering, "Could Gato have been dealt with by Kagura too?"
Could it be...
Was this trip for Team 7 just a leisurely outing?
Just as Hatake Kakashi was contemplating, Sakura noticed a shadowy figure at the end of the bridge through the fog and quickly alerted her teammates.
"Everyone, it looks like someone is coming."
"Huh?"
Team 7 looked toward the bridge in astonishment.
On the foggy bridge, a figure in the mist approached them, appearing slightly stiff and even somewhat staggering.
"It doesn't look like an enemy..."
Hatake Kakashi was still doubtful as he observed the newcomer.
However...
In the next moment!
The figure in the mist suddenly clasped his hands together, and a towering wave rushed towards Team 7!
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
The wave, swirling like a tornado, turned into a raging river as it neared Team 7, aiming to sweep everyone on the bridge away!
"This level of Water Release..."
Hatake Kakashi quickly positioned himself in front of the three youngsters of Team 7, rapidly forming hand seals while urgently shouting, "Everyone, get behind me!"
This level of Water Release technique, more fearsome than that of Momochi Zabuza, had gathered a large river on the bridge surface!
This was no ordinary foe!
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Walls!"
Hatake Kakashi's hands swiftly completed the seals, and walls carved with dog heads emerged around them, encircling them to protect against the onslaught of the water wave!
"The enemy is strong!"
Hatake Kakashi pressed his hands to the ground, solemnly instructing his subordinates, "You all must be extra careful, don't..."
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
The enemy suddenly unleashed another technique!
Crack!
The multiple earth flow walls were instantly penetrated by a stream of water!
The water surged like a high-pressure water cannon, cutting through the entire earthen wall and revealing Team 7 and Tazuna among others hidden inside; the water immediately flooded in!
"Everyone, walk on water! Protect Mr. Tazuna."
Hatake Kakashi quickly instructed, thankfully he had urgently trained the three young members of Team 7, who were quite adept at using chakra to walk on water.
However...
Hatake Kakashi looked at the cut in the earthen wall.
Even Kakashi, with his extensive knowledge and mastery of thousands of ninjutsu, had never seen such a technique of Water Release. He was astonished, staring in disbelief at the smooth and neat cut surface of the severed earthen wall!
"Take Mr. Tazuna and go first!"
Hatake Kakashi sensed something was amiss!
The next moment!
"There's someone under the water..."
Naruto felt someone grab his foot, barely had he shouted a warning when he was pulled down into the water!
"Naruto!"
Sasuke quickly grabbed Naruto's hand, trying to rescue him from the water, but he too was pulled in!
"The enemy is under the water!"
Hatake Kakashi rushed over, grabbed his two subordinates, and rescued Naruto and Sasuke!
The two engaged in a fierce clash!
While resisting Orochimaru's invasion, Tobirama began explaining how to break the Edo Tensei: "First defeat me, and my body will be forced to recover and be unable to move. At that moment, take the opportunity to seal me away..."
"..."
Kakashi's feelings were complicated.
Was the Second Hokage expecting too much from them?
The first step to defeating this Hokage is a significant challenge; with just the group of graduates I have, it seems nearly impossible to defeat a Hokage, so don't make it sound easy. My subordinates aren't like that guy, Akihara Kagura...
Wait a second...
Akihara Kagura?
Hatake Kakashi quickly came up with an idea; he didn't need to worry about these problems as long as he could delay until Akihara Kagura arrived!
Of course...
He also had to hope that Akihara Kagura had learned the sealing techniques.
However...
It wouldn't be easy for Hatake Kakashi to stall...
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, felt he had fully assessed Kakashi's strength and proactively offered a battle strategy: "Use that Uchiha kid as bait, I'll rush over and kill him, and you can take the opportunity to break my body too..."
"I can't sacrifice my comrades..."
Hatake Kakashi found it a bit peculiar.
Though the strategy suggested by the Second Hokage seemed somewhat sound, Kakashi, who values his comrades above all, couldn't possibly consider his subordinates as sacrificial pawns!
"But you're no match for me..."
Tobirama's figure moved swiftly along the water, charging toward Sasuke, a kunai appearing in his hand!
It was clear!
If the Second Hokage could get close to Sasuke first, given Sasuke's prowess in physical techniques, the outcome would not be favorable!
"Sasuke, come to my side!"
Hatake Kakashi quickly converged with Sasuke!
Yet, someone else got there even faster—Naruto was closer to Sasuke, suddenly a burst of red chakra enveloping him and a red chakra tail appeared, shielding Sasuke!
"This is... the Nine-Tails' chakra?"
Tobirama immediately recognized Naruto's identity, his mind intensely battling against Orochimaru's influences, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is extremely important to Konoha!
"Driven back, huh?"
Kakashi also noticed the chakra cloak on Naruto and Tobirama's retreat: "Worried about the village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
However...
Regardless, it was a good thing!
As long as the Second Hokage wasn't fully controlled, they weren't without hope. Kakashi took the opportunity to get close to his two disciples, protecting them!
"Everyone, come over."
Kakashi called out loudly to his disciples, placing his palm on the ground where a black seal appeared: "Stand inside the seal for now, if the Second Hokage circles around to attack you, I can immediately come over!"
"This is..."
Tobirama looked at the black seal on the ground, about a meter wide, frowning as he tried to discern what it was: "It looks like... the Flying Thunder God seal?"
This kind of Flying Thunder God seal...
Doesn't it look a bit novel?
However...
Tobirama quickly thought of a solution based on the Flying Thunder God seal, saying sternly: "Wait, don't let these kids stand inside the seal!"
"Let them set up explosive tags and traps around it, you can instantly teleport me to the traps near the seal, and use them to break my body!"
"..."
Kakashi also quickly understood.
The Second Hokage was clearly familiar with the effects of the Flying Thunder God Technique; his battle tactics and intelligence were astonishingly sharp, finding a solution so swiftly!
At the bridgehead...
Orochimaru stood here, still recording information about this battle and summarizing the lessons learned: "It won't do. The consciousness of these reanimated beings must be extinguished; otherwise, if some highly intelligent practitioners figure it out, they could easily devise a plan on how to defeat them..."
Especially the Second Hokage, Tobirama!
The wisdom of this Hokage is astonishing in any era, and in just a short while, he provided Kakashi and Team 7 with a solution.
"However..."
"What good does it do to handle the Second Hokage?"
Orochimaru glanced at another coffin beside him and chuckled lightly: "There are even more formidable people than him. Hurry and embrace the source of your power, Kagura-kun..."
~~~
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