Rising Shadows: Uchiha's Wrath

After the intense battle, Kaito surveyed the scene, his gaze shifting between Itachi and Obito, neither sure what to expect.

Kaito's attire remained pristine, untouched by the chaos around him. Blood dripped from his left hand, and at his feet lay Fugaku, his eyes gouged out, his body lifeless.

Not far away, Danzo lay in a pool of blood, clinging to life with faint, shallow breaths.

Ahead, Sarutobi Hiruzen knelt, teeth clenched, his eyes burning with hatred as he glared at Kaito.

Hiruzen's sleeves hung empty, his summon Enma, the great ape, lay decapitated beside him. Defeat was written all over him.

Kaito emerged victorious.

Two minutes earlier...

"As Kaito transformed his lightning-infused blade into a crackling weapon, he swiftly slashed at Sarutobi Hiruzen's neck!"

Hiruzen lunged forward, committing fully to his strike.

Caught off guard by Kaito's sudden movement from behind, Hiruzen lost his footing.

It was uncharacteristic of the Third Hokage to make such a mistake, but the pressure Kaito exerted left little room for precision.

Now, Hiruzen found himself in this dire position.

The ape demon Enma moved to intervene, but it was too slow—Kaito's strike was already in motion.

"Damn!"

A flash of regret crossed Hiruzen's mind. If only he'd been more cautious, he might have avoided this moment.

But Sarutobi Hiruzen was not one to give in easily. He refused to die in such an undignified way.

Determined, he made a bold decision—he would catch Kaito's electrified blade with his bare hand!

"Swish!"

The blade pierced flesh.

"Aghhhh!"

Hiruzen cried out in agony as his left arm was severed, his chest torn open by the strike.

His strength waned, and he collapsed to one knee.

"The Third Hokage, always decisive," Kaito remarked, leaping back to avoid Enma's frenzied attack.

Enma positioned itself protectively in front of Hiruzen.

"Thunder Slash!" Kaito shouted, launching a powerful arc of lightning at his target.

Danzo, watching from a distance, stared in disbelief before rushing to Hiruzen's side.

Itachi, Fugaku, and Obito shared a glance and moved in to join the fray.

"Troublesome," Kaito muttered as his eyes scanned his four approaching opponents.

With more than 10% of his chakra depleted and his Sharingan straining, Kaito manipulated space using his mirror technique to create distance.

He had only a brief moment—a half-minute at best—to formulate his next move.

His gaze flicked to Enma, and with a sneer, Kaito prepared to strike without resorting to his full power.

Enma roared, swinging its massive palm toward Kaito.

But under the precision of Kaito's Sharingan, Enma's movements seemed slow.

Easily evading the attack, Kaito unleashed a flurry of slashes, leaving Enma covered in cuts.

Yet Enma did not falter, standing guard over Hiruzen.

"A loyal beast... but you'll be the first to fall!" Kaito declared, moving in for the kill.

Hiruzen, desperate, slammed his hand onto the ground and shouted, "Summoning Release!"

Nothing happened. Enma remained in place, unmoving.

"What's going on?!" Hiruzen's voice shook with disbelief.

Kaito smirked. "Did you think you could simply leave my mirror space?"

With a swift strike, Kaito severed Enma's head.

"Enma!" Hiruzen's voice cracked, mourning his loyal companion as he realized how vulnerable he had become.

But Kaito showed no mercy.

"Thunder Clash!" Kaito roared, unleashing another strike.

Danzo, panicked, activated his Sharingan-covered arm and plunged a kunai into his heart.

The sound of steel against flesh echoed, and Danzo collapsed into the blood-soaked earth.

But his body vanished, only to reappear in front of Hiruzen, shielding him from Kaito's blade.

Kaito hesitated for a moment, withdrawing his sword.

He eyed Danzo with an expression of surprise mixed with reluctant respect.

"I didn't expect such resolve from you, Danzo... Using Izanagi to protect Hiruzen, even in death."