The Excellent Actor, Orochimaru

When the Kazekage uttered the words "Teacher Sarutobi," Sarutobi Hiruzen shuddered violently, his pupils contracting as beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

"Bastard..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth and slowly spat out the word.

However, the Kazekage paid no mind to the shift in Sarutobi Hiruzen's emotions, his tone suddenly turning flippant.

"Honestly, I had intended to spirit Sasuke away while Gaara was busy stirring up trouble. It seems things don't always go as planned."

The Kazekage lowered his head, peering intently into the eyes of the Third Hokage as if observing the fluctuations in his mood.

"I see, so that's how it is. Is your objective this Konoha Ninja Village and Sasuke?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly regained his composure, continuing to probe with his words.

"Does Konoha Ninja Village hold something so important? Besides, if Gaara fully awakens, he will show you something far more interesting. But let's set that aside for now; your incompetence has plunged Konoha into a chaotic mess."

At this point, the Kazekage's emotions suddenly flared, and he roared:

"I have won!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, a complex and inscrutable look flashing in his eyes as he said, "One never knows the outcome of anything until the very end. I believe that is what I taught you... Orochimaru!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his head to look at the Kazekage once more, only to find that his face had changed.

And this face was none other than his student—Orochimaru!

The Third Hokage chuckled softly and remarked, "I knew this day would come sooner or later. However, taking my head won't be so easy!"

Orochimaru's sinister slit pupils narrowed; he extended his long tongue to lick his kunai and said gloomily:

"I told you long ago that you should have decided on the Fifth Hokage sooner, because the Third—that is, you—is going to die right here!"

As if desiring a fair fight with the Third Hokage, Orochimaru stepped back a few paces and laughed:

"We can finally fight again!"

With that, the two sides stood in a standoff for a few seconds before simultaneously lunging forward.

The Third Hokage quickly formed hand seals and said in a deep voice:

"Ninja Art: Tile Shuriken!"

The roof tiles seemed to answer his call, trembling violently before detaching and hurtling toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's reaction was no less swift; he leaped into the air to dodge the tiles and then formed his own hand seals.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

As the seals were completed, Orochimaru opened his mouth wide, and a massive python lunged out, striking fiercely at the Third Hokage.

Caught off guard, the Third Hokage was bitten directly on the side of the neck by the giant snake!

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's feeble counterattack, Orochimaru sneered:

"This level of attack... I really don't want to grow old, Teacher Sarutobi..."

But before he could finish, Orochimaru's expression changed drastically. The Sarutobi Hiruzen held in the snake's jaws suddenly turned into a mud figure, slowly melting into the ground.

"Substitution Jutsu?"

Orochimaru landed, and the snake that had bitten the Third Hokage retracted back into his mouth, transforming back into his tongue.

Before he could react, a shout rang out from behind him.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!"

The Third Hokage had appeared behind him, his hands moving rapidly through seals.

The roof tiles beneath Orochimaru's feet instantly turned into a river of mud, sweeping him away.

Orochimaru struggled to steady himself in the mud flow, his hands moving quickly to perform a jutsu to escape.

But how could the Third Hokage let Orochimaru succeed?

Sarutobi Hiruzen shifted his hand seals, unleashing a new technique.

"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"

A dragon head erupted from the mud river he had just created, opening its massive maw to spray countless projectiles of earth and stone at Orochimaru!

"That's not enough!"

The Third Hokage changed his hand gestures again, unleashing another technique.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

Countless flames erupted from his mouth, combining with the mud and stones from the earth dragon to strike Orochimaru with overwhelming force.

"To think he could combine Earth Style and Fire Style so perfectly."

"He is truly worthy of being the Hokage of Konoha!"

Watching the battle from outside, unable to enter the Four Violet Flames Formation, several Anbu members couldn't help but marvel as the Third Hokage gained the upper hand.

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"

Engulfed in flames and swept away by the mud, Orochimaru let out a shrill scream.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt no joy at having struck Orochimaru with that move. He said in a deep voice:

"Stop with the tedious performance, Orochimaru!"

Crack—crack—

A somewhat illusory figure emerged from the shattered rooftop.

As the figure solidified, the onlookers outside the barrier were horrified to discover that not even a speck of dust had touched him!

Orochimaru curled his lips into a grin and laughed:

"Truly impressive, but I've been underestimated as well. Did you really think a move of that caliber could kill me?"

Seeing Orochimaru unscathed, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not seem the least bit surprised.

He said coldly: "You are still the same as ever; not the least bit likable."

As he spoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly removed his Hokage hat and cloak, tossing them behind him.

Beneath the Hokage attire, he was wearing a black combat suit!

Seeing this, Orochimaru tensed his muscles, though his tone remained flippant:

"Don't be like that, Teacher Sarutobi. Isn't it said that the most troublesome students are the most lovable?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not answer Orochimaru, instead keeping his gaze locked firmly upon him.

Both sides fell silent, as if locked in a standoff once more.

Crack—crack—

Just then, a sound echoed out, leaving the onlookers outside the barrier filled with horror.

Under the pressure of their terrifying auras, the roof tiles inside the Four Violet Flames Formation were slowly shattering!

The debris pulverized by their immense pressure began to drift slowly into the air.

What terrifying power was this? Was this the true nature of a battle between Kage-level fighters?

"Hehehe, tired of playing already?"

Orochimaru chuckled again, but his laughter was filled with chill.

"Fair enough. This isn't a lesson at the Ninja Academy, and I won't be holding back just because you've gone senile!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained expressionless, staring intently at Orochimaru as he said coldly:

"That suits me perfectly. I shall decide whether to drag you back to the Ninja Academy for remedial lessons based on the completion of your ninjutsu."

"Don't disappoint me, Teacher Sarutobi!"

After saying this, Orochimaru fell silent, focusing on gathering his strength to contend with the terrifying aura radiating from Sarutobi Hiruzen.

And at the very moment their auras reached their peak:

"Bang!"

With a sharp sound beneath their feet, both men lunged forward at a speed far exceeding their previous skirmish.

Sarutobi Hiruzen reached into the pouch at his waist, drew a shuriken, and hurled it forward with lightning speed!