Chapter 12 — Dead Demon Consuming Seal
Fortunately, Hiruzen didn't see that…
Danzo swept his gaze sideways and noticed that the faint glow on the wooden wall had already extinguished. The trace of unease in his eyes immediately vanished.
"The village has been infiltrated. As one of Konoha's guardians, it is only natural for me to spare no effort in capturing the intruder and bringing him back for strict interrogation—to uncover how he infiltrated Konoha and what his purpose is."
Danzo believed he had long since grasped Sarutobi Hiruzen's temperament. His words were righteous and imposing.
Tetsuya curled his lips into a faint smile, watching the two Konoha elders perform their political theater before him. His composure despite being surrounded caused the old pair—bound by love and rivalry—to halt their act.
"May I ask where you come from?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward. The chakra pressure of a Kage-level powerhouse surged outward. An invisible gale radiated from the Third Hokage as its center, tearing spreading cracks across the ground. Even the gradually cooling broth of Ichiraku Ramen rippled with waves, and the neatly arranged chopsticks clattered onto the tabletop.
The ANBU who had rushed in revealed looks of admiration, stirred by the Hokage's might.
Beside him, however, Danzo stared at the clearly visible age spots on Hiruzen's gaunt face, his eyes filled with longing for the position of Hokage.
Hiruzen… you're old.
If this were your prime, would your pressure amount to only this? You probably can't even perform the Five Release: Great Combo Technique that once shook the shinobi world.
With the power of the Senju and the Uchiha now in my hands, I have already surpassed you!
"I come from beyond this world."
Faced with the oppressive force that caused the entire Ichiraku Ramen shop to tremble slightly, Tetsuya seemed utterly unaffected. The storm-like pressure and killing intent brushed past him like a spring breeze.
"Beyond this world?"
Hearing such an unexpected answer—and realizing his chakra pressure had produced no effect whatsoever—Hiruzen's steadily rising aura faltered abruptly. He repeated the phrase under his breath.
"He still dares to spout nonsense. Hiruzen, hand him over to me. I'll pry every last secret out of his mind!"
Whether Tetsuya spoke truth or lies, Danzo was eager to learn the path by which he might seize the Hokage's seat. He immediately volunteered.
"You have intruded into Konoha multiple times. What exactly is your objective?"
The slight disturbance on Hiruzen's face quickly returned to calm, revealing nothing of whether he believed Tetsuya's words.
"Of course, I'm here to trace the whereabouts of the Ōtsutsuki Clan."
Tetsuya's eyes shifted slightly as he fabricated a reason.
The Ōtsutsuki Clan?
Is there such a clan in Konoha?
Though his memory was no longer what it once had been, Hiruzen—who knew Konoha inside and out—dismissed the notion instantly.
"There is no such clan in Konoha. In fact, among all renowned shinobi across the ninja world, none bear the name Ōtsutsuki."
Hiruzen spoke calmly, his chakra pressure mixed with killing intent surging once more.
"Ignorance can be a form of happiness. After all, any single member of the Ōtsutsuki Clan possesses the strength to destroy Konoha. Their power is far beyond you so-called shinobi—"
Before finishing his sentence, Tetsuya stopped, his gaze settling on Hiruzen's face.
"Forget it. You wouldn't be able to comprehend the terror of the Ōtsutsuki Clan anyway. Besides, Konoha will soon have bigger problems. Its destruction is imminent."
Stretching his legs, Tetsuya rose from his seat. He placed several two-hundred-denomination bills beside the ramen bowl, preparing to leave.
"Stop. Until you clarify your origins, I'm afraid we must detain you."
Hiruzen suddenly extended his hand. Though appearing thin and aged, it was swift and powerful as lightning, pressing toward Tetsuya's shoulder in an attempt to restrain him.
Whoosh!
Just as his palm was about to touch Tetsuya's shoulder, the sharp whistle of air splitting sounded. A banknote shot into the air, folding rapidly mid-flight into the shape of a shuriken. At astonishing speed, it sliced toward Hiruzen's palm. If he persisted, the paper shuriken would pierce straight through his hand.
This was the Fool Pathway's ability—paper turned into a weapon. Even the thinnest sheet could instantly become a lethal blade.
The strike came too suddenly. Accustomed to reacting through sensing fluctuations in chakra, Hiruzen was a fraction too slow. By the time he tried to retract his arm, it was too late.
With a tearing sound, the paper shuriken embedded itself into the wooden wall of Ichiraku Ramen like metal. Two or three drops of blood fell to the ground—Hiruzen's arm had been sliced with a shallow cut.
"To attack without chakra… is this a cultivation system different from that of shinobi?"
Injured by such a method, Hiruzen's old face flushed slightly. He tore off his outer robe, revealing the black combat suit beneath.
"The Hokage's days are numbered. You'd best make arrangements for your funeral."
Facing the ANBU who had drawn their weapons, Tetsuya curled his finger slightly. The droplets of blood on the ground floated up and gathered into his palm.
Just as battle was about to erupt, a light screen suddenly appeared in between Hiruzen and Tetsuya.
"Stand down!"
As the gathered shinobi formed hand seals to unleash their jutsu, Hiruzen recalled the intelligence Kakashi had provided and waved his arm, stopping the ANBU.
After the light screen flickered briefly, the image became clear. Hiruzen, wielding a massive staff, appeared within it.
This is…
Hiruzen leapt high into the air, swinging his iron staff downward. The scene shifted—revealing a stern middle-aged man in yellow robes, a purple rope tied at his waist, holding the Kusanagi Sword.
"Is that Orochimaru?"
Nearly everyone present recognized the man instantly—the famed one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru.
Sword and staff clashed. Hiruzen's movements were agile beyond belief for a man nearing seventy. The massive Adamantine Staff whistled through the air in his grip. Within seven or eight exchanges, Orochimaru could no longer hold onto the Kusanagi Sword; it was knocked high into the air.
So I die at Orochimaru's hands…
Watching the scene unfold, Hiruzen already understood.
The staff transformed by Enma suddenly extended, slamming toward Orochimaru. From its tip, an arm shot out, grasping for Orochimaru's shoulder.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru had anticipated this. With a flick of his arm, seven or eight long serpents burst forth, hissing as they coiled around Enma, halting its advance.
Whoosh!
Just as a smile appeared on Orochimaru's face, his vision darkened. Hiruzen had vanished in a flash and reappeared before him. Ten fingers, sharp as talons, clamped tightly onto Orochimaru's shoulders, leaving him no escape.
"Got you!"
The former master and disciple stood less than three inches apart. The warmth of the past had long since vanished from their eyes—only naked killing intent remained.
What is that?
The instant Hiruzen seized Orochimaru, a towering figure appeared behind him—a Death God with long white hair, a pair of horns upon its head, and a short blade clenched in its mouth.
Even through the screen, those present could feel the icy aura of death radiating from the phantom. Their souls trembled inexplicably.
Dead Demon Consuming Seal!
The moment Hiruzen saw the phantom, he immediately recognized it as the Death God summoned only through the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
What exactly happens in the future that would drive me to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal… to perish together with Orochimaru?