The Third Hokage's Choice

"Uchiha Ye Fan... Is this your true strength? Jiraiya really did take on an excellent student!"

The Third Hokage watched as Ye Fan kicked through the Water Wall and then kicked the Second's body in half. He couldn't help but sigh.

"Our Konoha has a bright future. The Will of Fire will burn on forever!"

A relieved smile spread across the Third Hokage's face. He had absolute faith in anyone Jiraiya had taught.

"Teacher Sarutobi, don't let your guard down in the middle of a fight!"

Orochimaru seized the opening and pierced the Third Hokage's arm with his sword. Blood sprayed out with a hiss.

After piercing his arm, Orochimaru twisted the Kusanagi Sword by its hilt, then yanked it out, tearing away a good deal of flesh.

The moment the Kusanagi Sword came free, the Third Hokage lost all feeling in his right arm.

The Third Hokage's mouth twitched. He endured the intense pain, gasping as he put some distance between himself and Orochimaru.

The attack had badly wounded the already elderly Third Hokage, costing him most of his fighting strength.

"Lord Third Hokage, look out!"

Outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, Sakura cried out in anguish, tears streaming down her face.

But no matter how loudly she shouted, her voice couldn't pass through the Four Violet Flames Formation.

Bang!

The Third Hokage's body flew backward and smashed through several thick trees before finally coming to a stop.

Pfft!

The Third Hokage spat out a mouthful of blood, disbelief written all over his face.

"Hadn't the Second already been killed by Ye Fan? Why is he..."

"Hahaha, Teacher Sarutobi, it seems even the Professor of Ninjutsu doesn't know every technique in the world!"

"The Reanimated Body is immortal. How could Ye Fan possibly kill him?"

Orochimaru sneered. "Teacher Sarutobi, it seems you really are old and useless!"

Laughing wildly, he sent his Shadow Snake Hand speeding toward the Third Hokage. In the blink of an eye, it reached him.

Dragging his badly injured body, the Third Hokage barely managed to dodge most of the attacks, but some still struck him.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet Technique!"

The Third Hokage formed hand seals with one hand and unleashed a Fire Style attack at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's lips curled upward. He didn't consider a technique of that level worth worrying about.

Schk!

Before the Third Hokage could react, a sword pierced his thigh once again.

Thud!

With almost no Chakra left, the Third Hokage could no longer hold himself up and collapsed face-first onto the ground.

"Lord Third Hokage!"

Outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the Konoha Ninja shouted in alarm as they watched, attacking the barrier with all their might.

At that moment, they hated themselves more than anything. Why couldn't they help the Third Hokage?

"Lord Third Hokage, hang in there!"

"Please hold on! We'll come rescue you any moment now!"

In an instant, Fire Style, Water Style, and all manner of other techniques battered the barrier outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, making a tremendous racket.

The Konoha Ninja were all focused on the Third Hokage. None of them noticed that sand had already covered the ground around them.

The first to spot it were Neji, who had activated his Byakugan, and Sasuke, whose Sharingan was active.

"Everyone, get out of here!"

Neji shouted and struck Rock Lee and Tenten, sending them flying out of danger.

Sasuke also led Sakura away from the area where the sand was spreading.

The other Anbu Jonin weren't so lucky.

By the time they realized what was happening, there was no way to escape. The sand had already wrapped around them completely!

"Sand Burial!"

Gaara's face twisted into an evil smile as he clenched his outstretched hand.

In an instant, the sand crushed every last one of the Anbu Jonin!

Blood slowly seeped outward, soaking the sand.

The yellow sand was now drenched in blood, a gruesome sight.

Gaara let out a long breath, savoring the feeling.

To him, killing was a pleasure, the only source of happiness he had.

It seemed that only when he was killing could he feel alive, could he feel that his life had meaning.

"Watch out for Gaara. He's our enemy too!" Neji shouted. Rock Lee and the others braced themselves for battle.

Gaara glared at Rock Lee and the others, the aura of bloodlust around him growing heavier.

Just as he was about to start killing again, Temari forcibly dragged him away.

Temari knew they had a more important mission ahead of them. They couldn't waste too much time here.

All they had to do was buy Orochimaru more time.

They had already accomplished their goal: killing all the Anbu Jonin.

"Sasuke, stay here and attack the barrier. We'll go after Gaara!"

Neji said quickly, then hurried off with Rock Lee and Tenten in pursuit.

Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the Third Hokage lay on the ground, barely clinging to life. Only after seeing Gaara kill the Anbu Jonin did he understand that the Chunin Ninja Exams had been a trap all along.

It was a plot by Orochimaru and Sunagakure to destroy Konoha!

The Kusanagi Sword rested against the Third Hokage's neck. If Orochimaru applied even the slightest pressure, the Third Hokage would die instantly.

Now that it had come to this, Orochimaru's expression grew complicated, and two tears slipped involuntarily from the corners of his eyes.

Even so, he couldn't bring himself to kill his former teacher with his own hands.

The tears fell onto the Third Hokage's face. Feeling their warmth, the Third Hokage was overwhelmed by mixed emotions.

Memories of the past slowly surfaced in his mind.

It was as if they had returned to that summer long ago, the summer of Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru, you never really changed. You're still the same Orochimaru you've always been."

The Third Hokage gave a bitter smile.

Orochimaru looked at the Third Hokage lying on the ground. After a moment of silence, he held a kunai with his tongue and drove it hard into his own shoulder.

Blood spattered everywhere. The intense pain steeled his resolve.

"Teacher Sarutobi, farewell!"

Orochimaru laughed maniacally and swung the Kusanagi Sword, intent on killing the Third Hokage in one blow.

Just as the Kusanagi Sword was about to cut off the Third Hokage's head, Ye Fan appeared. He kicked Orochimaru in half at the waist, and the Kusanagi Sword shattered into several pieces.

Ye Fan stood in front of the Third Hokage, his expression utterly calm, showing neither joy nor sorrow.

"Since Jiraiya asked me to protect you, you'll never die in front of me."

Looking at Ye Fan's back, the Third Hokage suddenly felt old. This era no longer belonged to old men like them.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

"Ye Fan, your body really is exceptional!"

"Of everyone I've met all these years, you have the finest physique!"

Orochimaru slowly crawled out of the mouth of his severed body, his presence noticeably weaker.

Clearly, Ye Fan's attack had wounded him badly too.

Meanwhile, the First and Second, whom Ye Fan had smashed to pieces, joined back together once more, their bodies restored without a flaw.

"Wood Style: Forest Descent!"

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

The newly restored First and Second immediately attacked Ye Fan.

Looking at techniques of this caliber, Ye Fan felt it was a shame and sighed.

"At your current strength, you're probably not even a tenth as strong as you were in your prime."

"Honestly, I'd really like to see you at your full strength."

Ye Fan moved at such incredible speed that no one present could react.

By the time he returned to the Third Hokage's side, the First and Second had already been reduced to fragments once again.

But, just as before, their bodies slowly began to regenerate.

The Third Hokage watched this happen, then looked deeply at Ye Fan. He had made up his mind.

He understood that if they dragged this out, they would all die once Ye Fan ran out of strength.

Only one method could stop this from happening!