Hiruzen Sarutobi's death

The underground base of the Root.

One of the Root members asked, "What do we do?"

Tenzo was silent for a moment, then said, "Following Lord Danzō's last request, go save the village. If you still have family, go home and visit them."

The few Root beside him sighed.

"Hey, where are my family? I've never seen my parents."

"It's been over ten years, I've even forgotten my own real name."

"Your codename is Chen, why not just call yourself Chen? That would be nice, unlike my codename, Bing..."

"Haha, then you'll be called Bingzi, right?"

"Get lost! What kind of man has a 'son's mark on his back? Why don't you just call yourself Chenzi?"

The leopard, clutching its belly, struggled to its feet and interjected, "Sounds like two lovely girls."

"Are you alright, Leopard?"

"Haha, leopard."

The group hadn't been this happy in a long time. Their missions were always filled with blood and death. The last time they were this joyful was many years ago when Danzō had them train together.

Hearing the cheerful laughter of the crowd, Yamanaka Fu lowered his head and remained silent.

No one else present had family, but he did.

He understood that Tenzo's last words were meant for him, and he looked troubled, clenching his fists tightly.

On the other side, Kanami his Mind's Eye of the Kagura to sense the changes in the village.

On the outskirts of Konoha Village.

The Three-Headed Snake summoned by Sunagakure was killed by Jiraiya's giant Toad sitting on it.

Inside the village, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, Akimichi Chōza, Tsume Inuzuka, Hyuga Hiashi, Shibi Aburame, and others unleashed their fury on the Sand Ninja and Sound Ninja after the villagers sought refuge.

Meanwhile, the tug-of-war between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru, located on the main battlefield, was nearing its end.

"Have you reached your limit? Then I'll take all your Ninjutsu with me!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, "Seal!"

Behind him, the Grim Shinigami summoned by the Reaper Death Seal slashed down at the part of the soul that had been torn out.

As the Shinigami Reaper swallowed the soul, Orochimaru's soul was now fragmented in his hands, and his arms instantly fell limp.

"You old bastard! My hand! My hand!"

Unable to feel anything in his hands, Orochimaru's face Hiruzen Sarutobi Killer Bee.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly, "It's a pity I can't take you with me, but I'll be waiting for you in that world, my disciple..."

thump--

Hiruzen Sarutobi, on the verge of death, collapsed backward.

The Enma, lying on the ground nearby, roared angrily, "Ape--"

Bang!

A plume of white smoke rose, and the Enma vanished.

This also means that Hiruzen Sarutobi's oil lamp has burned out.

"My hand! My Ninjutsu!"

Orochimaru was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with hatred as he stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi lying on the ground.

"Lord Hokage!!"

The Anbu members, including Xiang, who were outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, could not believe what they were seeing.

"The Lord Hokage has died in battle?"

"Damn Orochimaru! That's your teacher!"

Several Anbu members were angrily cursing.

Orochimaru gritted his teeth, remained silent for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Let's go. The plan is over."

"Yes."

The four Sound Ninja— Jirobo, Tayuya, Kidomaru, and Sakon and Sakon Ukon— who were maintaining the Four Violet Flames Formation around them, dispelled the formation.

In a flash, Tayuya and Jirobo helped Orochimaru leap into the air and jump away.

"Trying to run away!"

Xiang and the others also leaped into the air and chased after them.

"Ninpō: Spider Binding Technique"

Suddenly, Kidomaru spewed out a large spider web from his mouth, binding Enoki and the others.

He then followed Orochimaru and the others, and together they fled.

"Damn it! This spider silk is so sticky!"

On the other side, Kanami, who had been using Mind's Eye of the Kagura to sense the situation, muttered to himself after sensing Hiruzen Sarutobi 'Chakra chakra gradually fading away, "Is he already dead?"

In the forest surrounding Konoha Village.

As Naruto roused Gaara with a Rocket Headbutt, Shukaku, the One-Tails Shukaku, fell into a deep sleep.

The Konoha Crush Plan has failed.

The third exam was held in a circular area.

After witnessing Orochimaru's escape and the Konoha Ninja's counterattack, Baki and Kabuto Yakushi also stopped lingering, throwing out smoke bombs and fleeing from Kakashi and Might Guy.

Ultimately, the battle ended in the defeat of Sunagakure.

Following the complete ceasefire, Konoha Village began its repair and reconstruction project.

Two Konoha Elder approached Jiraiya, who was gathering information at the time.

Mitokado Homura: "Are you still doing this kind of pointless thing?"

"Well, this can be considered research and creation."

Jiraiya calmly put away his binoculars.

"What do you two consultants want from me?"

"You probably understand why we've come to find you, even without us saying it."

"The negotiations with Sunagakure have ended, haven't they?"

Mitokado Homura nodded. "The Sand Village claims that everything was caused by Orochimaru, and at the same time surrenders completely to Konoha Village. In order to rebuild the village and restore its strength, they had no choice but to agree to the complete surrender of the Sunagakure."

Now, the village is very weak and must prepare for a potentially larger crisis, not knowing when neighboring countries might launch another attack.

Jiraiya scratched his hair, took out his binoculars, and turned to look at the bathhouse.

"There's no need to tell me this specifically. I need to continue gathering material."

Utatane Koharu stepped forward and said, "What's needed most right now is a leader who can stabilize the people and unite their hearts, namely the Fifth Hokage."

"In yesterday's emergency meeting with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, we ultimately decided to choose you."

Jiraiya declined, saying, "I'm not cut out for that. Tsunade would be a better fit, wouldn't she?"

"She could, but nobody knows where she is."

"I'll take responsibility for bringing Tsunade back."

Mitokado Homura lowered his head slightly and pondered for a moment.

She began, "Alright, then as part of Tsunade's search team, we'll send three Anbu to you..."

Jiraiya turned to look at Mitokado Homura, and calmly said, "Don't worry, I won't run away. There's no need to send anyone to monitor me."

After saying this, Jiraiya vanished.

Two Anbu from the shadows asked, "Should we follow them?"

"No need. He already said that, and besides, he's one of the Legendary Sannin. Can you guarantee you won't be noticed by him?"

The Hyuga Clan's large conference room.

At the front of the conference room stand the Elder and Second Elder of the Hyuga Clan.

Most of the Hyuga Clan members were present, with the Main Family on the left and the Branch Family Branch Family Main Family the right.

The Hyuga clan members all sat upright in their kneeling positions, their expressions solemn.

Hyuga Hiashi, Hinata Hyuga, and Neji Hyuga are also among them.

After surveying the crowd, the Elder stated firmly, "There are only two matters for today's family meeting."

"First, the village needs our manpower for the subsequent reconstruction work."

"Second," the Elder glanced Hyuga Hiashi.

"The successor to the main branch of the Main Family head, Hiashi, today."