Dead Demon Consuming Seal

Orochimaru leaped into the air, dodging the first wave of attacks.

"Hehehe... Teacher, you've grown old. Your speed is far slower than it used to be."

Orochimaru laughed coldly. The moment his feet touched the ground, he exerted explosive force, his body skimming across the floor as he dashed forward.

The Kusanagi Sword in his hand emitted a chilling cyan glow, thrusting directly toward Sarutobi Hiruzen's throat.

"Don't get cocky, Orochimaru!" Sarutobi Hiruzen roared.

He swung his Adamantine Staff, creating a defense so tight not even water could leak through, perfectly parrying Orochimaru's onslaught.

Uchiha Yan watched the two clash, confident he could kill either Sarutobi Hiruzen or Orochimaru.

However, one was a slippery nuisance who wouldn't die, and the other possessed a move like Heaven and Earth Longevity.

Can't afford to mess with them, definitely can't.

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen shifted from defense to offense, extending his Adamantine Staff to strike at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru raised his Kusanagi Sword to block the blow.

Both men wore ferocious expressions as they began a contest of physical strength.

Just then, Senju Hashirama delivered a sweeping kick, knocking Sarutobi Hiruzen to the ground.

Seizing the opportunity, Orochimaru pushed his arms forward, forcing the Adamantine Staff back.

Senju Tobirama followed up immediately, landing a kick squarely in Sarutobi Hiruzen's stomach.

Taking advantage of the opening, Orochimaru plunged his Kusanagi Sword into the ground and pummeled Sarutobi Hiruzen, knocking him down once more.

Orochimaru then walked slowly toward Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "Teacher, is this really where it ends?"

"Pull yourself together, Teacher."

Orochimaru reached out a hand and hauled Sarutobi Hiruzen to his feet.

"You are the one known as the master of all ninjutsu, the Professor of Ninjutsu, the strongest Hokage in history."

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's long list of titles, even Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, despite their emotions being suppressed by Edo Tensei, couldn't help but falter.

The two exchanged a look, communicating silently through their eyes.

Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Orochimaru, who was drunk on his own arrogance.

Tears fell from his eyes—not out of fear of death, but out of a longing for the man he once was, the one who had been willing to sacrifice himself to cover his comrades' retreat.

Where had the dedicated Hokage of twenty years ago gone?

Over these years, he had become obsessed with political maneuvering, paying any price for stability, even calculating against the common people.

He had twisted himself into a monster for the sake of so-called politics.

Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured to himself, "I think I've found the man I used to be."

His voice was faint, so faint that Orochimaru could barely hear it.

But at that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to have rediscovered his former self.

He summoned strength from somewhere unknown.

He kicked Orochimaru directly in the knee.

Caught off guard, Orochimaru fell to his knees.

Nearby, the Adamantine Staff suddenly sprouted a hand, grabbing Enma by the throat.

"Orochimaru, you're finished! I'll snap your neck."

Enma gripped Orochimaru's throat tightly, the terrifying pressure instantly making Orochimaru feel a sense of suffocation.

Enma squeezed hard, causing Orochimaru to explode.

However, the Orochimaru in Enma's hand quickly dissolved into a puddle of mud.

Orochimaru reappeared before Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen kicked Orochimaru away.

Just as Senju Hashirama prepared to strike, Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled out a giant shuriken.

He performed a series of hand seals, using the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique to temporarily restrain Senju Hashirama.

In an instant, Senju Tobirama appeared before him as well.

As the two clashed, Sarutobi Hiruzen slapped an Explosive Tag onto Senju Tobirama's arm.

He immediately created distance and detonated the tag, successfully restraining both of them.

But now, the true advantage of Edo Tensei came into play.

Their bodies were slowly regenerating.

Senju Hashirama stood up slowly and continued to weave hand seals.

In an instant, Wood Release spread throughout the entire barrier.

Even Uchiha Yan couldn't help but twitch an eyelid at the sight.

As expected of Senju Hashirama; even when his strength was nowhere near its peak, he was still this terrifying.

Beside him, an Anbu member let his true feelings show, shouting out, "Lord Hokage, are you alright?"

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen shielded himself within a cage.

However, he was panting heavily due to the exhaustion of his chakra.

Yet, in the next second, his gaze turned resolute.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Two shadow clones instantly appeared beside Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He then slowly formed hand seals, and a massive phantom emerged behind him.

A Shinigami with a dagger clenched in its teeth appeared at his back.

Orochimaru was still gloating, saying, "Teacher, no matter what you do, I have already won."

"Is there even any chakra left in your withered body?"

"Konoha is finished!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, standing perfectly straight.

He felt as if he had grown decades younger. "Konoha is my home, and the existence of the Hokage is to protect this home."

"I will spare no cost to protect this home."

Senju Tobirama showed no reaction; he pressed his palms together to cast the "Darkness Technique," a jutsu specifically designed to counter the Uchiha.

The moment the technique was cast, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his vision plunge into total darkness.

His emotions were incredibly complex.

Because this technique of his teacher's was originally intended for use against the Uchiha.

He never expected it to be used against him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen barely managed to fend off attacks coming from all directions, his heart bracing for the final resolution.

He pressed his palms together and roared.

"Orochimaru, I am about to show you a ninjutsu I never taught you."

"Sealing Jutsu: Dead Demon Consuming Seal."

The Shinigami behind him, which had been motionless like a statue, suddenly rolled its eyes.

Then, it slowly raised its hand.

The prayer beads hanging from its arm transformed into layers of energy that covered its hand.

The Shinigami's cursed seal began to spread bit by bit from its arm.

The Third Hokage's soul was being slowly pulled out.

The Shinigami's hand burrowed inch by inch into the Third Hokage's soul.

The Third Hokage felt excruciating pain, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Cold sweat from the intense agony streamed down his forehead.

Sarutobi Hiruzen used his final ounce of strength to grab hold of the two men.

The Shinigami passed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's stomach and seized the souls of the two men.

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen regained his vision.

Senju Hashirama looked at him and said, "Monkey, my apologies."

Sarutobi Hiruzen replied to Senju Hashirama, "Please forgive me."

Senju Tobirama added, "We have caused you trouble."

The souls of the two men were sealed away by the Shinigami.

The shadow clones had also fulfilled their mission and vanished.

As the souls summoned by Edo Tensei disappeared, the two corpses used as sacrifices appeared before Sarutobi Hiruzen.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no time to pay attention to the two bodies, fixing his gaze instead upon Orochimaru.