Chapter 81: The Airborne Beast as Large as a Tailed Beast, Daytime Tiger!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was filled with rage.

As the Hokage of Konoha Village, to have his door kicked in and be told to ascend to the heavens—no matter how calm he usually was, this was infuriating!

"Uchiha Akira, do you even know what you're saying?"

The Third Hokage, who had always presented a kind and smiling demeanor to the public, now wore a face as dark as a stormy night.

"People, once they get old, should learn to step aside and give opportunities to the younger generation. Otherwise, if they cling to power until their death, they just become resented," Uchiha Akira shot back, his words laced with unrestrained criticism.

These harsh words only deepened the scowl on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.

Without further words, he formed a hand seal.

Seeing Hiruzen prepare to attack, Uchiha Akira wasted no time, his chakra boiling to life.

Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder...

In one breath, Uchiha Akira opened the seventh gate.

Blue steam began to rise from his body.

The so-called "Strongest Hokage"? The "Professor of Ninjutsu"?

In Uchiha Akira's eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi was nothing more than a self-glorifying hypocrite! Killing him should be no different from killing Danzo; the seventh gate should suffice, no need to open the eighth!

"Seven gates... again!?"

By now, Hiruzen Sarutobi had finished his preparations, holding the Nyoi staff, transformed by Enma, in his hand. When he looked up to see Uchiha Akira enveloped in blue steam, he cursed inwardly.

The Eight Gates are a forbidden technique that harms the user before harming others!

Unless absolutely necessary, the Eight Gates should not be used, especially the later gates!

But Uchiha Akira? He opens the seventh gate without even starting the fight?

It's like playing poker and throwing down all your aces at the start!

The trump card meant to turn the tide was being used as a regular move?

Regardless of Hiruzen Sarutobi's internal complaints, Uchiha Akira, now with the seventh gate open, charged forward with lightning speed!

Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen Sarutobi, though older now, was still five or six years younger than in the original timeline. Gripping the Nyoi staff, he met Uchiha Akira head-on!

Despite Uchiha Akira's powerful taijutsu after opening the seventh gate, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still a top-tier Kage-level fighter!

He had always kept Danzo in check; Hiruzen's raw power was indeed much stronger than Danzo's!

Additionally, the Nyoi staff provided a significant advantage in close combat.

The staff could extend and retract at will, and in critical moments, Enma's arms could emerge from the staff to assist in attacks, making it a formidable weapon in hand-to-hand combat.

For a while, despite Uchiha Akira's dominance in taijutsu, he couldn't quickly end the battle with Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Sigh, "If Might Guy opened the seventh gate, he could easily crush the Third Hokage, right?"

"After all, Guy, in his seventh gate state, could still trade blows with Madara in his Six Paths form!"

"But I'm struggling just to take down the Third Hokage?"

Though Uchiha Akira held the advantage, the ever-changing Nyoi staff frustrated him, and he sighed inwardly. But upon reflection, Uchiha Akira understood.

While his current battle was centered on taijutsu, he was not truly a taijutsu specialist.

More precisely, the Uchiha clan excelled in using the Sharingan, with ninjutsu and genjutsu being their strengths, not taijutsu!

In contrast, Might Guy, apart from summoning techniques, was entirely focused on taijutsu, just like Rock Lee.

So, it made sense that even in the seventh gate state, his taijutsu was not on par with Guy's.

"Nyoi staff, extend!"

After being pressed for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally seized an opportunity. The Nyoi staff, now aimed at Uchiha Akira, suddenly extended with incredible speed!

Uchiha Akira crossed his arms in front of his chest, lowering his stance in a defensive position.

The thick Nyoi staff slammed into Uchiha Akira's arms, forcing him to skid back seven or eight meters, carving a long trench in the ground with his feet.

"What power!"

To be pushed back seven or eight meters by the Nyoi staff? Uchiha Akira marveled at the force behind the blow.

While the title "Strongest Hokage" might have been exaggerated, Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength was on par with Onoki and the Raikage, ranking him among the top Kage-level fighters!

"What!? How is this possible!?"

Though Uchiha Akira was inwardly impressed by Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength, which exceeded his expectations, he didn't realize that Hiruzen himself was in utter disbelief.

He even wondered if he had grown weak with age.

A few years ago, during the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, he had used this very same Nyoi staff to push the Nine-Tails out of the village.

But now, using the same move on Uchiha Akira, he couldn't even push him out of his own yard?

Could it be that seven-year-old Uchiha Akira was physically stronger than the most powerful Tailed Beast, the Nine-Tails?

As Uchiha Akira was pushed back by the Nyoi staff, it sprouted two thick monkey arms that grabbed his wrists tightly.

"Hiruzen, run! This little monster is stronger than a Tailed Beast; you're no match for him!"

At the same time, Enma's eyes and mouth appeared on the staff, urgently shouting to Hiruzen Sarutobi!

"This..." Hiruzen hesitated.

As the Hokage of Konoha Village, if he were to flee with his tail between his legs, wouldn't his lifelong reputation be ruined?

Though the righteous image he had maintained over the years was a tool for gaining public support, he was reluctant to see it collapse now!

"Do you think a mere Enma can hold me?"

Despite Enma's arms gripping his wrists tightly, Uchiha Akira sneered and struggled.

"Run, run now!" Enma's voice twisted with strain, as it used all its strength to hold onto Uchiha Akira.

But it only managed to hold him for two seconds before Uchiha Akira broke free from Enma's grasp!

After breaking free, Uchiha Akira twisted his waist, his leg whipping out like a lash toward the Nyoi staff.

Leaf Great Whirlwind!

But just as his kick was about to land, the Nyoi staff rapidly retracted, causing Uchiha Akira's kick to hit nothing but air!

Indeed, the Nyoi staff, with its ability to change length at will, was a troublesome weapon in close combat.

Uchiha Akira sighed inwardly.

Though the attack missed, he wasn't too concerned. He quickly formed a hand gesture, resembling a seal.

"What kind of seal is that?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart skipped a beat as he watched Uchiha Akira's hand movements.

Any ninja would recognize the seals needed for ninjutsu, but Uchiha Akira's gesture wasn't a typical ninjutsu seal. So what was it?

Air—massive, powerful air—began to gather and compress in Uchiha Akira's hands.

This wasn't chakra, just pure, highly compressed air.

"Run, Hiruzen, run!"

Even though it was just air, the sheer volume and density made it terrifying.

Enma urgently shouted at the Third Hokage.

In truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't need the warning. He could already feel the ominous, heart-pounding pressure from the air compressed in Uchiha Akira's hands!

All thoughts of pride and reputation forgotten, Hiruzen Sarutobi swiftly retreated.

"Trying to run? Think you can get away?" Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi turn to flee, Uchiha Akira smirked coldly.

Then, he unleashed the highly compressed air from his hands.

The air twisted and exploded, forming the shape of a massive tiger.

The enormous tiger, as large as a Tailed Beast, roared toward Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Daytime Tiger!

In the original story, Might Guy in his seventh gate form could topple even Madara's colossal Susanoo with this technique. The air-formed tiger was so massive that it could stand toe-to-toe with Madara's Susanoo!

"What... what is that!?"

In the quiet night, the sudden appearance of a gigantic Daytime Tiger was a shocking sight.

Countless people in Konoha Village looked up at the beast, their faces filled with awe and disbelief.