Nearly a month had passed since he left Konoha.
Meanwhile, however, Konoha was engulfed in brutal warfare.
The Konoha Crush Plan was fully underway.
Armies of Sound Ninja and Sand Ninja rampaged through the village.
On the roof of the Chunin Ninja Exams venue.
Four elite ninja from Otogakure had joined forces to cast the Four Violet Flames Formation.
The purple barrier completely sealed off the rooftop.
Inside the barrier.
Orochimaru and Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi were locked in a fight to the death.
A cruel smile spread across Orochimaru's face.
He pressed his palms together, and two coffins marked "First" and "Second" rose from the ground, their lids crashing down.
First Hokage Hashirama Senju and Second Hokage Tobirama Senju slowly stepped out.
Holding the Adamantine Staff, the Third Hokage stared at his two former teachers, consumed by fury.
"Orochimaru!"
The Third Hokage roared through gritted teeth.
"How dare you use such evil ninjutsu to toy with the souls of the dead!"
"You've completely lost your mind!"
Orochimaru sneered.
"Teacher Sarutobi, this is the grand farewell gift I prepared especially for you."
The battle erupted in an instant.
Although the Third Hokage had summoned Enma, age had weakened his body.
Faced with the tireless attacks of the First and Second Hokage, with Orochimaru waiting nearby for an opening.
The Third Hokage soon found himself at a disadvantage.
He had wounds all over his body and was gasping for breath.
With nowhere left to turn.
The Third Hokage's gaze hardened with resolve.
His hands rapidly formed hand seals.
Snake-Boar-Ram-Hare-Dog-Rat-Rooster-Horse-Snake.
He resolved to use the sealing jutsu Reaper Death Seal, determined to drag Orochimaru down to hell even if it meant dying with him.
The Reaper's spectral figure slowly materialized behind the Third Hokage.
Just as the Third Hokage was about to complete the final step.
Orochimaru gave a mocking smile.
He had known all along that the Third Hokage would use this move and had guarded thoroughly against his trump card.
Orochimaru's fingers twitched slightly.
The First Hokage abruptly slammed his palms together.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Countless thick trees burst through the roof tiles, growing wildly.
A Wood Clone the First Hokage had created beforehand darted out of the trees.
The Wood Clone transformed into tough vines, binding the Third Hokage's hands and body tightly.
The Third Hokage's hand seals were forcibly interrupted.
The Reaper's spectral figure behind him also slowly dissipated as the jutsu was interrupted.
He stared at Orochimaru in shock.
"How did you know to guard against this move?"
The Third Hokage's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"This is the Uzumaki Clan's forbidden jutsu, the Reaper Death Seal."
"The Fourth Hokage used it to seal the Nine-Tails back then, but no living person knew the truth."
"How did you know?"
Standing a short distance away, Orochimaru extended his long tongue and licked his lips.
"Teacher Sarutobi, you underestimate me."
Orochimaru casually spread his hands.
"I've conducted countless investigations over the years in my research into immortality."
"How could a mere sealing jutsu of the Uzumaki Clan possibly escape my notice?"
The Third Hokage's expression darkened completely.
He had very little chakra left.
The trees of Deep Forest Emergence were still steadily absorbing his chakra.
Meanwhile, the Second Hokage unleashed a powerful Water Release jutsu.
A raging Water Dragon Bullet slammed into the Third Hokage's two Shadow Clones.
Two loud bangs rang out.
The Shadow Clones were instantly blasted apart, dissipating into white smoke.
The Third Hokage's situation had become extremely unfavorable; he was almost at the end of his rope.
Looking at the disciple he had once been proudest of, he felt sorrow well up within him.
"Orochimaru."
The Third Hokage tried one last appeal to sentiment.
"Do you truly intend to destroy Konoha?"
"This is where you grew up, where your former comrades and memories are."
Those words failed to change Orochimaru's mind and instead fully roused his killing intent.
"Memories?"
Orochimaru burst into unrestrained laughter.
"Such tedious things only hinder my pursuit of the truth."
Orochimaru's gaze turned bone-chillingly cold.
"Of course I intend to destroy Konoha."
"And I'll personally send you off on your final journey, my once most respected teacher."
Orochimaru opened his mouth.
An incredibly sharp Kusanagi Sword emerged from it.
He seized the hilt, his figure blurring into an afterimage as he thrust straight at the Third Hokage's heart.
The Third Hokage closed his eyes, ready to meet death.
At that critical instant.
Something unexpected happened.
Without warning, ink-black flames ignited on Orochimaru's sword-wielding hands.
"Aaaaah!"
Orochimaru let out an agonized scream.
He felt as though even his soul was being scorched by the black flames.
The Kusanagi Sword slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
Orochimaru rolled frantically across the ground, trying to extinguish the black flames on his hands.
But the flames would not go out; instead, they rapidly spread up his arms.
Amid the excruciating pain, Orochimaru displayed ruthless decisiveness.
He opened his mouth and used the Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique.
An unharmed Orochimaru, covered in slime, crawled out of his original body.
The old shell engulfed in black flames, along with its arms, burned to ash in the blink of an eye.
Orochimaru gasped for breath, his entire body drenched in cold sweat.
He stared fixedly at the black flames still burning on the ground, his eyes full of terror.
Black flames that never go out.
Orochimaru roared inwardly through gritted teeth.
Uchiha Xin!
He instantly realized this was Uchiha Xin's covert handiwork.
That terrifying youth had actually planted such a deadly dōjutsu trap on him without his noticing.
The Third Hokage opened his eyes and stared at Orochimaru's wretched state, utterly bewildered.
He had no idea where the black flames had come from.
Orochimaru glanced warily around, afraid that Uchiha Xin was nearby.
He had already lost the courage to keep fighting.
"Retreat!"
Orochimaru gave the order to the Sound Four outside the barrier.
The Four Violet Flames Formation was instantly dispelled.
Taking the First and Second Hokage's coffins with him, Orochimaru turned into a whirlwind and swiftly fled the rooftop.
Several Anbu ninja who had arrived late drew their ninja blades, intending to pursue him.
"Stop!"
The Third Hokage weakly raised his hand and stopped them.
"Lord Hokage, we can't let him get away!"
An Anbu shouted anxiously.
The Third Hokage shook his head and coughed up two mouthfuls of blood.
"Don't pursue him."
The Third Hokage explained between labored breaths.
"I'm severely wounded and have no strength left. I can't provide support."
"Fires are burning throughout Konoha, and the village has fallen into chaos."
"There are still large numbers of Sand Ninja wreaking havoc everywhere. Our immediate priority is to quell the unrest in the village, not pursue Orochimaru."
The Anbu ninja could only grit their teeth and stop, hurrying forward to support the Third Hokage as he swayed on his feet.