The Shinigami had just appeared and then vanished right back into the void.
Everyone present was dumbfounded. You're the Shinigami! Is it really okay to be that cowardly?!
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stared in disbelief. He had just steeled himself for death, casting the Reaper Death Seal with full resolve.
But the jutsu had barely activated, and the Shinigami bolted?!
Now here he was, clinging tightly to his disciple Orochimaru's leg, looking utterly awkward…
On top of that, Hiruzen was already gravely injured. He wasn't young anymore, his body weakening by the day. After enduring a Rasengan and the Adamantine Sealing Chains, even if he survived this, his body would be ruined…
That's why he had been ready to die, intending to drag his dear disciple Orochimaru down to hell with him!
But now? The Shinigami had bailed. Should he try casting the Reaper Death Seal again?!
And why was Hirofumi Ito here?
He even seemed… familiar with the Shinigami…
In that moment, a memory flashed through Hiruzen's mind—Hirofumi's reverse summoning incident back at the Ninja Academy.
Could it be that Hirofumi had formed some kind of connection with the Shinigami because of that?!
If so, this kid's future was limitless…
"Hirofumi!!! Get out of here!!! This isn't a place for you! Leave! I, the Third Hokage, have made mistakes my entire life, but this time, I won't falter!
Today, I'll use my life to protect the new sprouts of the Hidden Leaf Village!!!
Hirofumi, remember this! Where the leaves dance, the fire burns eternal! The flames will light up the village and nurture new sprouts!
This… is the Will of Fire!!!!"
With those words, Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered the last of his chakra and charged recklessly at Orochimaru…
Hirofumi froze, struck by the sight. For the first time, the Third Hokage truly looked like the hero of the ninja world!
Minato Namikaze, standing nearby, clenched his fists tightly. Back when he was young, the Third Hokage had mentored him, teaching him about the Will of Fire…
The irony of fate…
Who could've imagined that the Fourth Hokage would be here to witness the Third's final moments?
Kushina Uzumaki's heart was heavy. After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been kind to her once. But that was exactly why she couldn't forgive him!
To Kushina, her family in the Hidden Leaf was small—Grandma Mito, Sister Tsunade, the Third Hokage, and her husband, Minato…
So, learning about her son's suffering felt like a betrayal by family!
She had believed the Third would take care of Naruto, ensuring he'd at least be treated as the hero's son, even if not pampered!
But…
Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha watched coldly from the sidelines, silent.
Compared to others, they harbored even deeper hatred for the Third Hokage!
Their son had been brainwashed into a cold, family-less monster…
Their clan had been wiped out!
Leaving their youngest son to bear the pain alone…
If Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't die, their rage would never subside!
And then there was Danzo Shimura…
Orochimaru, facing his teacher's desperate attack, understood—Hiruzen was seeking death.
"Teacher… let your disciple send you off."
Muttering those words, Orochimaru opened his mouth, and a snake slithered out. From the snake's mouth came a sword.
In one swift motion, Orochimaru drew the Kusanagi Blade and thrust it straight into Hiruzen's chest!
Shunk!!!!
As the blade pierced Hiruzen's chest, Orochimaru felt a sharp pang in his heart. He caught his teacher's collapsing body, holding him tightly…
"Teacher…"
Hiruzen's pupils were fading, his body growing limp, blood trickling from his mouth.
Yet, a faint smile of relief curled on his lips.
"Orochimaru…
In my heart…
You were always my most outstanding student…
Unlike Tsunade, with her clan's legacy…
Or Jiraiya, with his incredible luck…
Cough… cough…
If only…
You hadn't gotten involved with Danzo back then…
Maybe…
The Fourth Hokage…
Would've been…
You…"
With those final words, Hiruzen's spirit began to fade. But just then, he heard Hirofumi Ito's voice in his ear.
"Third Hokage! We'll meet again soon!!!"
Hiruzen didn't have the strength to process those words. His arm, gripping Orochimaru, fell limp…
Orochimaru gently laid his teacher's body on the ground.
"Teacher… we'll meet again soon."
And so, Orochimaru's plan to collapse the Hidden Leaf ended abruptly…
From start to finish, they had only faced Hiruzen Sarutobi!
The elite jonin were out on missions with their students, the Anbu were restrained by Kakashi to avoid unnecessary casualties, and the major clans barely contributed—especially the Hyuga, who locked their gates tight.
The Root?
It was as if the Root didn't even exist in the Hidden Leaf Village. Not a single Root member was seen among the ninjas aiding in the aftermath…
In a shadowy Root base, Danzo Shimura sat in the leader's seat, lost in thought, his single eye dark and unreadable…
He seemed conflicted, his hand clenching into a fist, then relaxing, only to clench again.
Finally, he let out a long sigh…
"Hiruzen!
I told you, you'd regret it!
Everything I did was for the Hidden Leaf!
So don't blame me…
Only with you gone can I become Hokage!
I'll take up the mantle!
I'll make the Hidden Leaf stand at the pinnacle of the ninja world again!
I'll show the other nations and villages!
The Hidden Leaf… isn't something they can trample on!!!
Hiruzen! This time… I'm the Hokage!!!"