Hokage vs Kazekage

"Heh… perceptive as ever, Naruto," Orochimaru replied, a smirk playing on his lips as he stepped out of the shadows.

Glancing at the barrier, I asked, "How's it going inside?"

He shrugged, keeping his grin. "It's rather one-sided. The Kazekage is weaker than Hiruzen, so he's having a rough time."

I raised an eyebrow. "Rasa didn't bring any backup?"

Orochimaru shook his head. "He assumed he could handle it on his own, but now he's clearly struggling."

"Are you planning to go in and give him a hand?"

Orochimaru nodded, fully prepared. "Yes, I'll lend him some support, but don't worry—I won't kill Hiruzen."

"Good. And everything else is ready?" I asked, my tone firm, ensuring our plan was in place.

Orochimaru gave a confident nod before moving toward the barrier. As he turned, I subtly placed a fūinjutsu mark on him, concealing it carefully. With this, I'd be able to track his movements, ensuring nothing unexpected came from his end.

An hour before

With Suna's forces launching their assault on the village, the Kazekage, Rasa, seized his moment and swiftly made his move. Using his sand manipulation, he caught Hiruzen off guard, binding him tightly before the Hokage could react. In one fluid motion, Rasa whisked Hiruzen away to a more isolated area where interference would be minimal, catching even the nearby Anbu off guard. They barely had time to process what was happening before the two vanished.

Once at a safe distance, Rasa began setting up the Four-Corner Barrier, aided by Orochimaru, with whom he had secretly struck a deal. Together, they positioned the barrier in each direction—north, east, south, and west—creating a powerful containment that would ensure the battle remained uninterrupted. Now trapped inside the barrier, Hiruzen found himself facing the Kazekage and Orochimaru, with the intensity of the confrontation escalating by the second.

With the barrier firmly in place, Hiruzen shook off Rasa's binding, standing face to face with the Kazekage. His expression turned stern as he addressed his opponent. "Rasa, do you truly understand what you're doing?"

Rasa's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Hiruzen, you left an opening, and we took it. This is how villages work, isn't it?" His tone was laced with sarcasm, but there was a deadly seriousness in his eyes.

Hiruzen's gaze hardened. "If you lose here, you know what awaits you." He removed his Hokage cloak, revealing his battle attire and signature staff, prepared to meet the Kazekage head-on.

The battle began in earnest. Rasa, who wielded the rare and potent Gold Sand, faced a significant disadvantage on Konoha's soil, where sand was scarce. The lack of resources forced him to conserve his chakra, his control over the Gold Sand faltering slightly in this unfamiliar terrain. However, despite the odds, Rasa pressed on, knowing that Orochimaru was lurking nearby, ready to tip the scales in his favor.

The weight and density of Rasa's Gold Sand granted his attacks an added force, making even a single hit potentially devastating. However, the shortage of Gold Sand in Konoha limited his options and left him exhausted as he strained to manipulate what little he had. Desperately hoping for Orochimaru's promised assistance, Rasa shifted to a defensive stance, determined to stall until his ally arrived. Although he couldn't entirely trust Orochimaru, he clung to the hope that he'd appear soon.

Observing Rasa's change in strategy, Hiruzen speculated that the Kazekage was biding his time, perhaps waiting for an opening or another means to overcome him. Seeing this as an opportunity to press his advantage, Hiruzen launched a fierce offensive. He unleashed a series of elemental ninjutsu attacks, alternating between fire and lightning techniques, each one relentless and precise.

Despite being hailed as the "Professor," Hiruzen favored a more restrained use of ninjutsu, conserving his chakra when possible. In close quarters, he relied on Enma's formidable abilities and his own taijutsu skills, using the staff's extendable reach to keep Rasa on the defensive and wear him down.

With Enma extended to its full reach, the five Hiruzens surrounded Rasa, closing in from every direction. Each shadow clone coordinated its movements seamlessly, delivering swift and powerful strikes meant to shatter the Kazekage's defenses. Rasa reacted by forming a barrier of Gold Sand, its density protecting him against the relentless blows. Still, with every hit, the barrier cracked under the pressure, only to be hastily reformed as Rasa clung to his defensive strategy.

Hiruzen, observing this desperate cycle, pressed harder, each strike faster and more forceful than the last. "Rasa," he called out, his voice unwavering, "do you truly believe you can win this fight? Or are you merely stalling for time, waiting for someone to save you?"

Rasa gave no response, his expression set in determined silence. The strain was evident on his face, but he continued to pour his chakra into the shield, hoping to buy just a little more time. Hiruzen's relentless onslaught left Rasa's defense barely holding, and with each passing moment, it became clear that the Kazekage's resilience was being pushed to its limits.

As Hiruzen's relentless strikes bore down on Rasa's weakening defenses, an unexpected figure slipped into the barrier, drawing the attention of both fighters. They paused, each one turning to face the intruder, their expressions wary and tense.

"Teacher… long time, no see," Orochimaru greeted with a chilling smile, his voice smooth yet tainted with malice.