Shinigami

His aura was arrogant, his ferocity wild.

Like a demon from hell crashing into the world, he had a pair of blood-red eyes, a head of golden-red hair, and six tusks extending from his cheeks, marked with red patterns, adorning his face.

Naruto moved like a flickering flame, his steps shaking the roof tiles. His exaggerated greatsword was raised in an exaggerated pose, slashing down like a half-moon.

BOOM!

A surge of potent Chakra erupted. The blade struck the barrier, not disappearing like the energy sword.

Instead, it felt like it had hit something solid, and the two forces became locked in a stalemate.

The unmoving, translucent barrier rippled with purple flames, attempting to engulf Naruto.

Naruto's own blood-red flames burned just as fiercely, meeting the onslaught head-on.

Inside the formation, the four Sound Ninja trembled, their faces rapidly flushing red as blood seeped from their seven orifices.

They looked in terror towards the outside of the formation, at the inhuman Naruto. They saw him, without pause, draw his sword and raise it again.

In Naruto's eyes, there was neither self nor other, only one thought: slash, slash hard, slash with all his might.

He no longer looked at the barrier but at the sky beyond the formation, as if nothing stood in his way.

An invisible pressure surged and swelled in his chest, stirring his Blood Essence. His Chakra billowed his trench coat, and the wind whipped up dust.

The Hell Demon Blade swung once more.

"Twenty thousand Chakra! Break for me!"

Naruto: "YEAH!!"

Blood flames and purple flames, roof tiles shattered and burned.

Like a muffled thunderclap, it exploded. The sleeping audience and Daimyo in the entire ten-thousand-person arena were suddenly awakened.

Might Guy, each hand gripping a Sound Ninja's head, looked up after smashing through the wall, "Fifteen minutes to deal with the remaining forty enemies, or you'll have to climb Konoha eight hundred laps on your hands and knees!"

Shikamaru, with his world-weary face, knocked out a trembling Gaara, "Alright, this job is a bit easier than Naruto's."

Thump, thump, more sounds came, growing denser, the echoes reverberating through the circular arena.

Finally, crack.

Cracks like tree roots spread rapidly across the purple flame barrier from in front of Naruto's blade.

The four Sound Ninja spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed, utterly drained. The Four Violet Flames Formation completely dissipated, revealing the entire Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence.

"Chakra? So much Chakra!"

They couldn't comprehend it.

"A Nine-Tails Jinchuriki." The First, surprised, remembered his wife, Mito Uzumaki.

Orochimaru's eyes were filled with malice.

His two attempts had been thwarted by Naruto. He had initially dismissed the boy as just a noisy nuisance, but now, he was genuinely disgusted, like a thorn in his throat.

Who was Naruto? Seeing the Demon Snake Spirit and the First and Second's dark eyes fixed on him, he didn't flinch. Without hesitation, he turned and ran, sprinting up the vertical wall.

"Old man Third! Keep up!"

He knew his own strength; breaking the formation was purely due to his massive Chakra reserves.

If these three monsters landed a couple of hits on him, he might actually die.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, did not follow.

He had fallen victim to the First's Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.

Deprived of all sight, his vision was plunged into darkness.

"Naruto, I'm afraid I can't keep up. I've wasted your effort."

Most importantly, Orochimaru's shameless threat: if he dared to leave, he would lead the First and Second in a massacre of the village.

He knew his student was capable of such a thing.

He loved Konoha and didn't want to see the villagers' blood flow like a river. He also didn't want his deceased teacher, the Second, to have his reputation tarnished.

"Where the leaves dance, a fire will burn. The new leaves will ignite a new flame. My old life ends here, and tragedy is what I must bear."

Three Hiruzen Sarutobis, their eyes unfocused, endured attacks from unseen sources, struggling to form hand seals, "Snake, Boar, Sheep..."

Enma, on the Adamantine Staff, widened his eyes like pearls. "Sarutobi! The formation is broken, you can wait for rescue."

"It's too late, and no one will save me." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, pressing his palms together. "Forbidden Jutsu! Reaper Death Seal!"

A massive, pale silhouette appeared behind him.

Its arms spread wide, its face heavily made-up and white, with wild, messy hair and two pointed horns. Its tusks bit down on a dagger.

The souls wrapped around its abdomen were its youthful forms.

The Shinigami could only be seen by the caster, at the cost of their life.

Still unable to see his enemies, Hiruzen Sarutobi's three clones scrambled, dodging the ninjutsu attacks by instinct.

He took hits while pretending to form hand seals, waiting for an opening to get close.

"Thirty degrees northwest, five meters, old man!"

Hearing the voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi decisively leaped blindly, his touch finding its mark.

He gripped the gaps in the First's armor. The Shinigami behind him opened its eyes, and an arm covered in dark Curse Marks plunged into his stomach.

The spiked ghost hand emerged from his abdomen, piercing the First's armor and flesh, and directly grasped his soul.

The First was controlled, the Genjutsu dissipated, and light returned. As his soul was torn out, his entire body crumbled like a clay figurine.

Naruto, wreathed in blood flames, had returned at some point, overlapping with the Shinigami behind him.

"You've got something there, old man. Two more to go, keep your spirits up!"

"I am the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi!" Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed revitalized. "You brat, Grandpa here is full of energy!"

Orochimaru gritted his teeth. "Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto stood behind Hiruzen Sarutobi. "What? You have something to say to me?"

Orochimaru had never seen such a strange Ninjutsu. The First was instantly killed, and he hesitated to advance rashly.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave him no time to hesitate. Three clones used the Adamantine Staff as stilts to leap towards Orochimaru and the Second.

The offensive and defensive positions instantly reversed.

"If you had such a powerful move, you should have used it earlier." After saying that, Naruto suddenly felt a chill, a coldness in his heart. "Will this shorten my lifespan?"

He stood on a giant vine tree, observing from afar, seizing the moment to unleash sword energy and throw a Rasengan, assisting Hiruzen Sarutobi and repeatedly making accurate predictions.

Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword was sharp and dangerous, capable of wounding even Enma, who was known for his indestructible body. It could also extend instantly, and several times it nearly struck his vital points, but fortunately, he was agile.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's movements were even swifter, just like his name.

After being hit by the Rasengan, the Second retreated. He lost his footing and was grabbed by Hiruzen Sarutobi, a look of relief on his face as he said, "Thank you."

That "thank you" contained so much. He knew Hiruzen Sarutobi could escape after the formation was broken, but he didn't, his intentions clear.

He was proud to have such a student, but what about his other students? Where had they all gone? Had they died of old age?

He didn't know, nor did he ask. His soul was snatched by the Shinigami, and his body disintegrated.

Dismissing two Shadow Clones with a vortex seal on their chests, Hiruzen Sarutobi panted, smiling at Orochimaru. "It seems you can't kill me today."

Orochimaru sneered coldly. "My Chakra is basically untouched, while you're already exhausted."

"Is that so?" Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned on his Adamantine Staff. "You can come and try!"

His face was fierce, his spirit high, without a trace of cowardice.

Orochimaru had never been one to engage in direct combat. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to invade with two Hokage. If Hiruzen Sarutobi had been ten years younger, he wouldn't have even shown up.

At this moment, the mournful cry of a Summoned Snake echoed from the village. The Twin-Blade Toad leaped into the air, severing the snake's head, which was as large as several houses. Blood sprayed like rain.

Jiraiya was free.

Orochimaru was unwilling, but things had come to this, and he had no more moves. "I will return."

Hiruzen Sarutobi hurled the Adamantine Staff with great force. "You think you can come and go as you please? Do you think Konoha is still your backyard?!"

The Adamantine Staff extended like an ape's arm.

Orochimaru cast one last venomous glance at Naruto. His entire body suddenly decomposed into countless small snakes, burrowing into the cracks of the houses and fleeing in all directions.

Naruto then leaped down from the tree. With a slash, he took down the lingering Sound Ninja Four, one by one.