"Not one of the disciples you trained takes you seriously!"
Yoru's light, sunflower-seed-flavored mockery was like a red-hot steel needle, viciously plunging into Hiruzen Sarutobi's already battered heart.
"Pfft—"
The old monkey could no longer hold on.
A sickly sweet taste of rust surged up his throat, and he violently spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the ground before him red.
He staggered back two steps, nearly unable to keep hold of the Adamantine Staff in his hand.
He raised his head, his cloudy old eyes filled with endless despair.
What did he see?
He saw Orochimaru, the disciple in whom he had once placed the greatest hopes, standing across from him with a sinister sneer, his eyes brimming with undisguised killing intent.
He saw the two corpses controlled by Orochimaru through the Impure World Reincarnation—his most respected teachers—now standing expressionlessly among the enemy ranks.
He even saw Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure whom he had never taken seriously, sitting nearby and gleefully stuffing oranges into his mouth.
Betrayed by all.
Enemies on every side.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the "Shinobi Hero" who had ruled Leaf Village for decades, had become a complete loner at this moment.
"Haha... Hahahaha..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly laughed.
His laughter was hoarse and desolate, filled with the tragic grandeur of a hero at the end of his road.
He knew there was no longer any room to turn things around today.
His reputation was ruined, the people's hearts had scattered, and even his last shred of dignity had been trampled beneath the feet of that sunflower-seed-cracking Uchiha brat.
Since that was the case...
Then they could go to hell together!
"Orochimaru!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly raised his head, and the clouded eyes of the old man erupted with the most frenzied resolve of his life!
"Even if