Battle Between Master and Disciple

Orochimaru!

At this moment, the Hokage Building is almost in ruins. Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi are using all sorts of tricks, and this battle between master and disciple has entered a white-hot stage.

With a roar, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in perfect coordination with his summoned Enma, charged straight at Orochimaru. Unlike mortal enemies, their battle, though deadly, seemed to still retain a semblance of master-disciple affection. Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes held a hint of heartache, while Orochimaru's eyes also flashed with complex emotions...

Meanwhile, Anbu were lurking nearby, ready to provide assistance at any moment, but they were blocked by the barrier formed by the Four Violet Flames Formation and could only watch helplessly as the Third fought Orochimaru.

This space, surrounded by a barrier, temporarily belongs only to the master and disciple; no one will disturb them anymore...

"Kusanagi Sword!" Orochimaru chuckled, and a long sword with a sharp edge appeared in his hand. With the Kusanagi Sword in hand, the Enma King's golden cudgel was already close at hand. He lightly blocked it, and even the Enma in his weapon form felt a sharp pain.

"So this is how it turned out... Sarutobi, you should have killed him a long time ago..."

"I was just about to do that..." Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru clashed several times in Taijutsu. Despite the many years that had passed, Orochimaru's familiar Taijutsu, executed with almost instinctive muscle reactions, still bore traces of what Hiruzen had taught him. This caused Hiruzen Sarutobi to slightly narrow his eyes. Even as he spoke these words, looking at his most beloved disciple, he still hesitated to make a decision...

"It seems that Teacher Sarutobi has indeed grown old... Is this all the ability he has left?" Orochimaru sneered, seemingly having long forgotten the bond between master and disciple, as his Kusanagi Sword hurtled straight towards Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.

"Earth Release: Earth Flowing River!"

Seeing that his Taijutsu were no match for Orochimaru, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly leaped away, unleashing the weapon that Enma had transformed into. His hands instantly formed Hand Seals, and Enma, already in perfect harmony with Hiruzen Sarutobi, instantly reverted to its original form and attacked Orochimaru again, leaving him unable to escape...

Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu," was proficient in all Five Elements Release currently existing in Konoha. He could easily wield Earth Release, and its power was immense. Mud, like a slurry, enveloped the entire area and began to devour Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique!" With a slight frown, the Kusanagi Sword slashed across Enma's chest, drawing a few drops of blood. A powerful whip kick slammed down on Enma's head, but in the brief moment of engagement, Hiruzen Sarutobi 'Enma Earth Stream was already upon him. Seeing that Orochimaru's figure was unable to dodge, he was actually swallowed whole by the Earth Stream...

The next moment, as if shedding its skin, it emerged from the swamp and reappeared in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Teacher Sarutobi, are you satisfied with today's surprise...?" Seeing that the earth technique didn't seem to have caused Orochimaru any harm, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, while Orochimaru just smiled slightly.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"

"Fire Dragon Bullet!"

Orochimaru was met with Hiruzen Sarutobi's silence, followed by a relentless barrage of Ninjutsu. Earth Dragon Bullet, imbued with Fire Release, slammed into the rubble, like a persistent, scorching wound—sticky, hot, and impossible to shake off. They even gave the rubble a slightly crystalline, scorching quality, demonstrating the exceptional skill of Hiruzen Sarutobi's Five Elements Release...

Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!" Orochimaru leaped up to dodge the Earth Dragon Bullet, and seeing several fire dragons rushing towards his landing spot again, he quickly Hand Seals Orochimaru seals, enveloping his entire body in a water wall. The Setsuna the fire dragons collided with the Water Release, a violent surge of water vapor rose up, engulfing the entire space...

"Water Release: Rain Senbon!" "Lightning Release: Lightning Release: Earth Walk!" "Wind Release: Gale Sweep!" Hiruzen Sarutobi unleashed three Ninjutsu in quick succession. The water vapor that had been rising suddenly transformed into an endless Rain Senbon in the air. A gale arose, and the Rain Senbon Orochimaru with lightning speed.

Between those Rain Senbon, lightning flashed and bolts of electricity constantly flowed within them; Hiruzen Sarutobi had actually used the rainwater to form a vast net of lightning...

Water harnessed the wind's power, lightning borrowed the rain's force—three ordinary Ninjutsu combined to unleash tremendous power, seemingly poised to annihilate Orochimaru in one fell swoop...

"Summoning Technique: Rashomon!" Just as the Rain Senbon, accompanied by thunderous roars and almost filling the entire space, fell, Orochimaru slammed his hand on the ground. The runes of the Summoning Technique flashed, the ground suddenly cracked open, and a huge door rose up.

"Thump... thump thump... sizzle..." A Rain Senbon struck the Rashomon, producing a crisp sound of metal clashing. The gate remained undamaged, but the continuous Rain Senbon seemed endless. In an instant, the entire space was filled with a dense cacophony of crisp sounds and sizzling lightning. The Anbu, concealed outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, felt the violent sounds assaulting their ears, almost causing them to lose their hearing...

Orochimaru, hiding behind Rashomon, turned to look and saw that, apart from the area behind Rashomon, a continuous Rain Senbon had completely shredded the collapsed Hokage Building, turning it into a sieve. All the broken walls and ruins were now shattered into tiny pieces, and even more so, they were reduced to dust by the lightning strikes...

"Teacher Sarutobi... it seems I underestimated you..." His Ninjutsu flowed seamlessly, each move perfectly linked to the next, allowing him to make decisive decisions and adapt to the environment to unleash the most appropriate combination of Ninjutsu. He was like a Ninjutsu turret, his releases perfectly timed, his Ninjutsu firepower covering a dense and relentless barrage. In the entire Shinobi World, only a handful could achieve such a level of skill...

"Whoosh!" Hiruzen Sarutobi his breath slightly, inwardly sighing. If he were ten years younger, he wouldn't feel so exhausted, and his Chakra was almost completely depleted. But before he could react, a sharp longsword suddenly extended and headed straight for his heart...

"Get out of the way!" Enma shouted suddenly, shoving Hiruzen Sarutobi. His own arm instantly fell to the ground. Enma endured the pain, not yet using Reverse Summoning Technique to escape. He knew Hiruzen Sarutobi still hadn't made up his mind. Having spent decades together, he knew Hiruzen Sarutobi's personality, and a hint of worry crept into his eyes...

"Sarutobi, it's up to you now... Orochimaru is too dangerous... We absolutely cannot let him leave... Konoha... is what you've always cherished most..."

"Cough cough..." As it spoke, the Enma's blood had already flowed all over the ground. It knew that if it didn't leave now, it would probably lose its life here. "Sarutobi, you must! Survive..."

"Boom!" A cloud of smoke billowed up, and Enma vanished from the spot. Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the severed arm left in the air, somewhat incredulous. He had fought Enma across the Shinobi World for years, and today...

"Orochimaru... this time, I will absolutely not let you go again..." His eyes gradually turned cold. He thought of Enma Konoha. Those beautiful memories of Orochimaru being taught by him shattered suddenly, leaving only Hiruzen Sarutobi with his cold eyes, staring intently at Orochimaru...

Now, he is the Third Hokage of Konoha. He must eradicate this cancer for the sake of Konoha and personally make amends for his past act of kindness...

"Teacher Sarutobi, have you forgotten? Today is a special day..." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed as he watched Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly unleash a fighting spirit, seemingly reminiscent of his former glory.

"Could it be..." Upon hearing Orochimaru's voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled, as if he had realized something, and a murderous intent began to flicker in his eyes as he stared at Orochimaru...

"Uchiha Clan... Orochimaru! You actually colluded with the Uchiha Clan!"

"Does... you really want to destroy Konoha that badly?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi clenched his fists, staring intently at Orochimaru. The moment Orochimaru appeared, he had wondered if Orochimaru was colluding with the Uchiha Clan, but he still held onto a sliver of hope that Orochimaru's arrival today was just a coincidence. But now, that last glimmer of hope had been shattered...

Compared to killing Orochimaru, or being killed by Orochimaru, the Hiruzen Sarutobi was far more important to the Uchiha Clan Hiruzen Sarutobi. He knew that even if he died, Konoha, with its numerous clans stationed there, wouldn't descend into chaos. But the Uchiha Clan coup, if handled carelessly, could utterly destroy Konoha...

"Destroy Konoha... I don't understand what Teacher Sarutobi is saying. Does the rise of a Hokage who doesn't meet your expectations mean Konoha is destroyed...?"

"Teacher Sarutobi! Tell me! Why can't the Uchiha Clan become Hokage...?" Orochimaru stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his eyes sharp and filled with anger, as if he were questioning himself, not the Uchiha Clan...

"Orochimaru... it seems you still harbor resentment about not being chosen to become Hokage..." Orochimaru's words caused Hiruzen Sarutobi fall silent for a moment, but he had never regretted choosing Minato Namikaze...

"Hmph, the Hokage Position? I've never cared about it..." Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, Orochimaru felt a little disheartened. Did he really care about the Hokage Position?

"I'm afraid the Uchiha Clan has already taken control of the entire village... Teacher Sarutobi, a surname you absolutely didn't want to become Hokage, yet you're about to become Hokage. It seems your orders to the Anbu haven't had any effect..." Orochimaru looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and chuckled. At the beginning of the battle, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered all the clans in the village to annihilate the Uchiha Clan, but even now, there seems to be no movement...

"I'm really looking forward to seeing if Konoha will truly fall apart after someone you dislike becomes Hokage..."

The inaction of the village's clans cast a shadow over Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart. These clans had always prioritized their own interests, a principle that had persisted throughout Konoha's many years of existence. Even the disbandment of the Senju Clan had had no effect. But he understood one thing: they would side with whoever won. And he still had one last hope— Jiraiya ...

"Orochimaru! You will not succeed! The Uchiha Clan will not succeed!"

"Hmph, he really is getting senile..." Orochimaru sneered inwardly, not wanting to say anything more.

"Further words are unnecessary... Come on, Teacher Sarutobi! Let me offer you one last grand gift right here!"

"Yin–Yang Release: Myriad Snakes Formation!" Orochimaru's voice was somewhat manic as he frantically Hand Seals, his eyes fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi. The madness and coldness in his eyes momentarily stunned even the battle-hardened Hiruzen Sarutobi, but he quickly regained his composure and began Hand Seals as well...

Countless black Orochimaru shadows burst from the ground and rose into the air around Orochimaru. The densely packed Orochimaru, with their heads raised, swayed their bodies under the night sky, and then instantly grew to enormous size. Their eyes were filled with an impenetrable blackness. Orochimaru spread his arms and suddenly thrust them downwards. The snakes seemed to have found their target, gathered together, and rushed towards Hiruzen Sarutobi's location.

"Ninja Art: Five Dragon Bullet Barrage!" Hiruzen Sarutobi completed his Hand Seals, unleashing the five dragons: Earth Dragon, Water Dragon, Thunder Dragon, Wind Dragon, and Fire Dragon. These five dragons, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, yet also mutually dependent, roared and clashed with the howling serpent. For a moment, their roars echoed throughout Konoha...

"How could this be..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were filled with shock. The five dragons and the giant serpent were entangled, but the giant serpent seemed to be both solid and not solid, and in an instant it transformed into black shadows, twisting and binding the five dragons like shadows...

"Teacher Sarutobi, you've grown old... The secrets hidden in this world... you'll never see them again..."

"Remnants of the old era... The new era has no ship left to carry you!" Orochimaru's eyes held amusement as he silently watched the somewhat bewildered Hiruzen Sarutobi, as if he were witnessing the power of Yin–Yang Release for the first time...

The power of Yin–Yang Release is indeed mysterious. Before the collapse of the power system in the era, this power did exist in the Shinobi World, but it was generally considered a secret technique, such as Shadow Technique, Expansion Jutsu, and Mind Body Switch Technique. People in the Shinobi World had very little knowledge of Yin–Yang Release; most ninjas practiced the Five Elements Release...

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage and one of the most powerful men in the world, rarely dabbled in this kind of power...

"Snake! Pig! Sheep! Rabbit! Dog! Rat! Rooster! Horse! Snake!" Upon seeing this scene, Hiruzen Sarutobi keenly realized that he could no longer defeat Orochimaru, let alone kill him, with Ninjutsu alone. He then took a deep look at the slightly deranged Orochimaru and instantly formed a series of hand seals.

"Orochimaru! Let's put an end to our feud here!"

"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!!!" With his hands clasped together, a huge phantom slowly appeared behind Hiruzen Sarutobi — the Shinigami had appeared!

"The Dead Demon Consuming Seal..." Orochimaru seemed utterly unafraid as he gazed at the Shinigami behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, a slight smile still playing on his lips. Having already witnessed the Shinigami, how could Orochimaru not be prepared for this move? However, Hiruzen Sarutobi, having unleashed this attack, was doomed!

"It's your turn to make a move..." Orochimaru's calm voice startled Hiruzen Sarutobi, and then a young man leading a large black dog appeared silently outside the barrier as if he had just appeared out of nowhere.

He walked step by step towards the Four Violet Flames Formation, and then a faint blue light emanated from his body, enveloping even the large black dog. As if melting away ice and snow, the Four Violet Flames Formation did not cause him any harm. He simply walked into the barrier and quietly watched Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Shinigami behind him...

"Orochimaru- sensei, I've really kept you waiting..." Kato Osamu glanced at the big black dog, whose eyes revealed anthropomorphic anger and shock. Then it barked wildly at Hiruzen Sarutobi, but after a moment it whimpered like a mournful cry. Hearing this sound, Kato Osamu couldn't help but smile slightly.

"You are... Orochimaru's disciple... Kato... Kato Osamu!" The name seemed a little unfamiliar, but after a moment's thought, he immediately remembered it. After all, this was the disciple of his most beloved disciple. However, at this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the two of them, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.

"It seems you're one of Orochimaru's accomplices too..."

"Well then, since you're here, don't leave!" Seemingly still remembering Kato Osamu as an ordinary Jonin, Chakra Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly activated the last of his chakra, and the Shinigami behind him immediately stretched out its semi-transparent hand to grab Kato Osamu and Orochimaru.

"A creation without intelligence is just a failure..." Looking at the Shinigami behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kato Osamu shook his head. Compared to the Tailed Beasts, which were almost meticulously crafted and possessed intelligence, Yin–Yang Release Shinigami like a 'program' that simply carried out its mission based on instinct. This made Kato Osamu feel really unmotivated.

The black sword had somehow appeared in his hand. Kato Osamu merely slashed lightly, severing the Shinigami's attacking arms. The arms of the soul-gathering entity vanished into thin air. Hiruzen Sarutobi silent, as if struck by lightning...

He seems to have completely lost understanding of this world...

"How... how is this possible!" His eyes were filled with horror. The Shinigami he had summoned with his Sealing Jutsu, which he had intended as a killing move, had its arms so easily severed...

"Nothing is impossible... Third Hokage, you know too little about this world..." Shaking his head finally, Kato Osamu swung the black sword with one hand, sending it hurtling towards the Shinigami's forehead like a streak of Shinigami ...

"Hiss..." An invisible, violent aura emanating from the Shinigami suddenly filled the entire space, as if something terrifying was about to descend. Kato Osamu merely frowned slightly, and the power of Yin–Yang Release suddenly emerged. The entire black sword shone brightly, and a pitch-black Uzumaki appeared where the sword had pierced the Shinigami. The Shinigami struggled, but its entire body was twisted by the immense power within the Uzumaki. In an instant, its entire body was swept into the Uzumaki and completely vanished. Kato Osamu then lightly waved his hand, and the black sword disappeared into the air.

"Sizzle..." The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh rang out. As Chakra 'Hiruzen Sarutobi of chakra by the Shinigami, suddenly plummeted from the sky, Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword struck out, piercing straight through Hiruzen Sarutobi's body in an instant. At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no strength left in his body, and a mouthful of blood gushed out from his mouth.

Feeling his life force rapidly ebbing away, tears slowly streamed down Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. His gaze remained fixed on Orochimaru, a mixture of relief and gratitude...

"What, Orochimaru- sensei? Are you afraid to see the Third lying on the ground, struggling desperately, looking utterly pathetic and old? Would you still be able to bring yourself to do it then?"

"Teacher Sarutobi shed tears for Konoha, and also for the sake of me personally sending him away... He is finally free..." As if he hadn't heard Kato Osamu's voice, Orochimaru simply stared silently at Hiruzen Sarutobi lying on the ground. His most revered master had died completely at his hands...

"Woof woof... woof woof... woof..." Struggling frantically, Dogzang, seemingly insane, lunged towards Hiruzen Sarutobi, tears welling in his eyes...

"This black dog seems to be more than just a simple creature..." Orochimaru's silence lasted only a moment before he turned his gaze to the struggling black dog, sensing something unusual about it...

I named him Dogzang!

Seeing the smile on Kato Osamu's face, Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he understood something...