The End of the Fire Shadow

Jiraiya frowned as he watched Aoike standing calmly in the distance.

He began to doubt his own judgment.

How could someone possess Hokage-level strength at the age of a fresh Ninja Academy graduate? He had previously assumed the boy would be at most on par with Kakashi.

Aoike tore off a piece of his clothing, which had been shredded during the fight, and let out a cold snort.

"My turn."

He threw a scroll into the air, which unfurled as a shadow clone appeared beside him to coordinate.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"

"Wind Style: Wind Wave!"

Nearly a thousand shuriken were scattered by the wind, turning the sky into a downpour of iron.

Jiraiya whipped his hair around to deflect the shuriken closing in on him, while the two Anbu members used Earth Style: Earth Wall to block the incoming projectiles.

The group had just prepared to launch a counterattack, but upon seeing the lightning crackling in Aoike's hands and the ground littered with iron tools, their hearts tightened.

"Fall back, quickly!"

Jiraiya shouted a warning, leaping to the perimeter with several body-flicker movements.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Storm!"

In an instant, the shuriken on the ground were linked by electricity. The two Anbu members, unable to retreat in time, were scorched black and collapsed to the ground.

It wasn't over yet. After the shadow clone dissipated, Aoike formed hand seals and opened his mouth, a small blue-and-red fireball condensing and gathering power.

Using the gravitational force of his Tenseigan to continuously compress the chakra, a terrifying ripple of energy permeated the surroundings.

Jiraiya, forced back, had no time to interrupt; the electric net formed by the shuriken hindered his advance, leaving him no choice but to use Earth Style to shield the two injured Anbu.

The next moment.

"Fire Style: Great Dragon Flame!"

A three-meter-wide pillar of blue fire erupted, surging straight toward Jiraiya.

After traveling a dozen meters, the high-pressure fire pillar lost its constraint, instantly surging into a hundred-meter-wide wave of fire.

The ground was torn apart by the shockwave, and debris flew through the air, mixed with the explosive crackle of lightning. Aside from those within the barrier, every building standing in the path of the fire was destroyed.

Orochimaru, drawn by the commotion, looked at Aoike with undisguised fervor.

How magnificent!

The neural reaction speed, the power, the technique, the chakra reserves, the age... and those eyes.

They were all part of the perfect vessel Orochimaru had been desperately seeking.

If not for the trauma inflicted upon him by the Rinnegan and the Mangekyō Sharingan previously, he would have lost control long ago.

In his state of excitement, Orochimaru couldn't wait to end this and begin his careful planning.

"Teacher Hiruzen, please, just hurry up and die!"

Tobirama Senju spread his thumbs and index fingers, forming the Tiger seal.

"Illusion: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"

Shadows enveloped Sarutobi Hiruzen, stripping him of his vision.

He slung the staff—transformed from Enma—onto his back and created two shadow clones.

"This time, I will correct my own mistake with my own hands. Go to hell and repent... Orochimaru."

Snake — Boar — Ram — Rabbit — Dog — Rat — Bird — Horse — Snake.

"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"

The Death God, visible only to the summoner, emerged. The aura of death-filled chakra made Orochimaru's hair stand on end; his snake instincts sensed extreme danger and began to panic.

"What exactly are you doing, you old fossil?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored Orochimaru's curses, took a breath, and focused on sensing the positions of the two Hokage.

Outside the barrier.

The charred black mass split open, and Jiraiya stumbled out, gasping. He cut away his singed hair, his heart filled with shock.

That old man Danzo had forced out a monster, only to hide away with his Root subordinates.

Jiraiya grumbled to himself while trying to find a way to break the deadlock.

Under normal circumstances, he could still contend with Aoike's formidable strength, but time was the most precious commodity now. If he didn't find a solution, the Third Hokage might be beyond saving.

To defeat Aoike quickly, he would have to enter Sage Mode. At this point, he had no choice but to take the risk.

Just as Jiraiya prepared to force himself into Sage Mode, the Konoha jonin finally arrived to provide support after dealing with the invaders.

A single exchange of glances told Jiraiya that it was finally time to wrap things up, and he let out a slight sigh of relief.

"You lot, hold off Orochimaru's accomplices inside. I need to enter Sage Mode."

"Understood, Lord Jiraiya."

When Kakashi led a group of jonin into the devastated, collapsed venue, all that met their eyes were broken walls and ruins.

"This is a natural disaster that only a Tailed Beast could cause, right?!"

Behind him, a medical jonin acted with sharp eyes and quick hands, pulling two Anbu who were hanging on by a thread from the rubble to begin emergency treatment, while the remaining combatants formed a perimeter, guarding against Aoike, who was leaning against the wall in the distance.

"Why would you do this? This place is your home too!"

Looking at the languid and indifferent Aoike, Kakashi demanded, his heart churning with fury.

"Heh."

"Ever since I was five, this place has been nothing more than a place I once lived."

The jonin present all knew the inside story of the Lightning Ninja attack, and Kakashi, having interacted with Aoike during a mission, had sensed the darkness within him—much like his own back then.

"If that's the case, then there is nothing left for us to say."

Kakashi lifted his headband, his Sharingan locked onto Aoike with murderous intent.

Might Guy stepped forward from behind, grabbing his arm and shaking his head.

The top priority was to support the Third Hokage, not to fight to the death with someone else.

Aoike didn't care about their calculating expressions; he was only here to help clear the siege, and there was no need to fight to the bitter end.

With seventy percent of his chakra remaining and the Tenseigan in his possession, he could come and go as he pleased; there was no reason to take on extra risks for Orochimaru.

"Aren't you done yet, Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru, who had transformed into the Snake Lady, licked her cheek with her long tongue upon hearing this.

"Almost there, just hold on a little longer, Aoike-kun."

Before the words had even faded, Sarutobi Hiruzen's Shadow Clones had already seized the reincarnated Hokage.

The Death God reached out, grabbed the two souls, and swallowed them into its belly with satisfaction.

"I've caused you trouble, Monkey," Tobirama Senju said apologetically a second before being sealed.

The aged Sarutobi's eyes streamed with tears, followed by an incomparable resolve; he had been soft-hearted and let Orochimaru go back then, never expecting it would pose such a great threat to Konoha.

The Bringer-of-Darkness Technique was dispelled, and Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Enma to engage Orochimaru in close combat once again.

Kakashi popped two Military Ration Pills to recover some stamina.

Aoike stood in a standoff with them, not forgetting to watch the show.

The old Third Hokage was destined to reach the end of his curtain call.

Taking advantage of Orochimaru's attention being drawn by Enma, Sarutobi Hiruzen flashed forward, pressing both hands against Orochimaru's stomach as the Death God behind him moved in unison.

"It's over!"

Orochimaru's entire body went rigid, held in place.

The unknown ninjutsu filled him with fear once again; the Death God's arm pierced into his body, leaving him able to move only his fingers slightly.

His fingertips trembled as he manipulated the Kusanagi Sword, striking toward Sarutobi Hiruzen's back.

At this critical moment, Kakashi finally finished gathering his power; the Mangekyō Sharingan was still too taxing for him to operate.

"Kamui!"

"Now, Guy!"

A gap was torn into the Four Violet Flames Formation by Kamui, and Might Guy, trusting Kakashi without reservation, rushed inside.

Following closely behind him was Jiraiya in Sage Mode, his face marked with the toad-like features.

"Rasengan!"