Chapter 145: Master Killing
Tonight, the Hidden Leaf Village was in chaos.
Outside the village walls, Anbu and Root ninjas were in hot pursuit of the runaway Jinchūriki.
Inside the village, the Uchiha district was a sea of corpses, strewn beneath a blood-red barrier. The remaining village shinobi—those without current missions—had gathered to support the Third Hokage, but the Sound Ninja's barrier kept them at bay. They could only watch, helpless, as a battle of titans unfolded behind the glowing seal.
Within the barrier, Sarutobi Hiruzen fought Orochimaru, alongside a summoned puppet of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. It was three men and one beast in a deadly standoff.
The surest way to end the Impure World Reincarnation was simple: eliminate the caster. That was why Sarutobi engaged Orochimaru head-on while the demon ape, Enma, held off Tobirama's puppet.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."
From Orochimaru's body burst a wave of black, venomous serpents. They slithered out in torrents, writhing like a tidal wave as they surged toward Sarutobi.
Unfazed, Sarutobi inhaled deeply, then exhaled a massive blast of chakra-infused fire.
Boom!
The explosion echoed across the battlefield. The stench of burning flesh filled the air as the snakes were roasted in the blaze. Yet many kept charging, their instincts long buried beneath Orochimaru's will.
Seeing the relentless advance, Sarutobi changed his hand seals mid-technique. A shadow clone formed instantly, then hurled itself into the firestorm.
As the clone merged with the flames, the inferno flared even hotter, swallowing the snake tide whole—engulfing Orochimaru in the process.
By now, most of the Uchiha district lay in ruins. Ninjutsu had obliterated the once-proud homes and training grounds. Only a few corners of the clan compound remained untouched.
One such area sheltered Uchiha Sasuke.
Neither Orochimaru nor Sarutobi had targeted him—Orochimaru needed Sasuke alive as a future vessel, and Hiruzen would never harm a child of the village.
From the shadows, Sasuke observed the battle, silent and unmoving.
"So this is the difference between nature transformation mastery and elemental control…"
"The five elements, fused in tandem… such refined techniques. Their coordination and adaptability—how much knowledge does it take to reach this level?"
"Orochimaru… one of the Sannin… his style isn't even recorded in our clan scrolls. Has he created his own system?"
Sasuke, injured and knowing full well he could not contribute, didn't intervene. He simply watched—absorbing everything, eyes wide.
His two-tomoe Sharingan spun, reflecting the raw ferocity of the battle.
The pain in his body faded into the background. The bleeding wounds didn't matter. All that filled his vision now was the clash of legends.
This—this was the battlefield at the summit of the shinobi world.
The Third Hokage. The Second Hokage. Orochimaru one of the Sannin. And the Ape Clan's King—Enma.
Three men and one beast, locked in a fight to the death within the crimson barrier.
His Sharingan whirled faster.
Sasuke's heart pounded. He could feel it—his visual prowess was on the brink of evolution. The phantom third tomoe flickered at the edge of his vision, interweaving with the existing two.
His sight grew sharper. He was close—so close—to reaching the next stage. But still… something was missing.
The emotional spark needed to awaken the full power of the Sharingan hadn't ignited.
Then—
"Sasuke-kun seems quite… excited by our little performance."
Orochimaru's body slithered from the sea of fire, using a repulsive substitution technique. Unbothered by the flames, he extended a forked tongue and licked his lips, grinning with interest.
"I'm looking forward to the surprise he'll show me after this fight."
His tone was light, unbothered by the recent clash. His new host body, fresh and full of youth, let him fight at full capacity.
Unlike his aging teacher.
Orochimaru fought with calm precision. He knew time was on his side. The longer the battle dragged on, the more Sarutobi would be worn down by age.
In contrast, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't afford to waste time.
"I won't let you take another child from Konoha," Hiruzen said grimly, barely dodging a Water Style thrust from Tobirama's puppet.
"I showed you mercy once, Orochimaru. Never again."
"Mercy?" Orochimaru scoffed. "Sensei… do you still believe you're in control?"
His voice dripped with disdain. "You always thought you could guide us, that you could shape every outcome. But in the end, all you ever did was abandon the ones who believed in you."
The words cut deep.
There was a moment of silence. Only the sharp clash of metal on metal echoed in the still air.
Sarutobi's heart ached. His most talented student… the one he once cherished most… had become this.
"I've made mistakes," he said quietly. "Some decisions were right. Others, wrong."
"But I don't regret driving you out. What you did was unforgivable."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, his usual calm cracking.
"You agreed to my experiments," he hissed. "You gave me permission to study forbidden jutsu. You let me explore the essence of life itself!"
Sarutobi used the Shadow Clone Technique to gain a momentary reprieve from Tobirama's puppet. Gasping for breath, he stared at his former student.
"I never agreed to you using the villagers as test subjects," he growled.
"What's the difference?" Orochimaru snapped. "Life is life. It doesn't matter where it comes from."
Orochimaru walked his chosen path with unwavering conviction. He no longer hesitated, no longer regretted. To him, this was the price of truth—of mastery over life and death.
"Enough," Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered, steadying his breath. "There's no point in continuing this discussion."
He knew he couldn't drag this out any longer. Age had dulled his body; his stamina was fading. If this continued, he'd die here—without saving Naruto.
I have to end this. Now.
His aged but sharp mind raced. He needed a shift in tactics, a way to change the tide of battle.
Not far away, Ryosuke was quietly maneuvering Naruto's body toward the battlefield. His true self had already arrived, hidden in the shadows, silently observing everything.
Unlike Ryosuke's usual silent efficiency, the clash between Hiruzen and Orochimaru wasn't just about survival. It was a war of ideologies—teacher and student, ideals and betrayal, legacy and ambition. Each wanted to force the other to acknowledge their truth.
But words would not end this.
Ryosuke narrowed his eyes.
"Hiruzen's physical decline is accelerating. We don't know how long the battle's gone on, but his chakra and stamina are near exhaustion."
"If he wants to end this quickly, his only option is the Shiki Fūjin. It's the only technique capable of sealing Orochimaru and Senju Tobirama simultaneously."
"But the cost… is his own life."
"If he dies, he won't be able to save Naruto—and he likely doesn't even know Naruto's in danger right now."
Assessing everything with cold logic, Ryosuke watched the battlefield closely.
What will you do, Third Hokage?
The battle was entering its final stage. The once-furious tempo had slowed. Both Orochimaru and Hiruzen were conserving chakra, their techniques more measured.
But Hiruzen wasn't done yet.
His mind shifted gears. The Impure World Reincarnation… it's rooted in summoning techniques.
As one of the most learned shinobi in history, Sarutobi's mind rapidly cycled through everything he knew. There was one possible solution—a seal used to sever the bond between summoner and summoned.
The Contract Seal.
Normally used to break connections with summoned beasts, perhaps it could sever Orochimaru's link to Tobirama's body. It wasn't guaranteed—but it was worth trying.
"Enma!"
His voice rang out.
The battle-hardened man and the fierce beast exchanged a glance.
No words were needed. They understood each other perfectly.
Like a weathered mountain rising to its full height, Sarutobi charged—not at Orochimaru, but at Senju Tobirama.
He had to end this puppet's threat first.
As Tobirama prepared to counter, Sarutobi closed the gap. Swift and precise, he slammed his palm—branded with the special seal—against the kunai embedded in Tobirama's back.
"Contract Seal!"
A pulse of chakra surged out.
Sarutobi felt a subtle shift, as if Tobirama's body reacted to the technique.
But in that same instant—
Shhk!
A blade pierced Sarutobi's side.
So focused on executing the seal, he'd overlooked Orochimaru's advance. Enma hadn't been able to stop him in time.
"Ugh…"
Blood sprayed from Hiruzen's mouth as the Kusanagi sword drove deep. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the blade with trembling hands, trying to keep it from being pulled free and worsening the wound.
But Orochimaru couldn't pull it out anyway.
Tobirama had already severed the hilt.
"...Little monkey," the puppet spoke at last, voice low and burdened. "I can only help you this far."
Hiruzen turned his head, locking eyes with his teacher one final time.
Tobirama's gaze held something unexpected—regret.
Then, his body crumbled into ash and vanished with the wind.
The Contract Seal had worked.
For a brief moment, it had given Tobirama back control.
But Orochimaru had modified the sacrifice's soul. Tobirama couldn't break the jutsu from within. All he could do was cancel the Reanimation, release his soul, and return to the Pure Land—before he caused more harm to Hiruzen.
"Such a method exists?" Orochimaru chuckled, stepping back to avoid the counterattack.
His tone was both mocking and impressed. "As expected of my teacher. Even now, you manage to suppress the Reanimation… but it's too late, isn't it?"
Though he couldn't remove the blade, its tip was still lodged deep in Sarutobi's body—close to vital organs. There were no medical-nin inside the barrier. And Orochimaru certainly wouldn't give him time to heal.
This battle was over.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't have long to live.
"Heh…"
Even as blood leaked from his side, Hiruzen turned toward Enma with a pained smile.
"As long as my heart still beats and my eyes remain open… this battle isn't over."
He forced himself to stand, voice hoarse but firm.
"Orochimaru… I won't let you take that child."
I'm sorry, Naruto... I may not be able to tell you the truth in person.
On the edge of death, Sarutobi's thoughts returned to the same boy who had haunted his final years.
Uzumaki Naruto.
That name had come to mean so much. Hope. Regret. Responsibility.
"Sasuke… tell Naruto I'm sorry."
"And tell him... yes. His father was the Fourth Hokage."
"I've always… considered him family. These are my last words. Please… don't let them be lost."
His voice—so warm, so gentle—drifted into Uchiha Sasuke's ears.
It stopped him cold.
Sasuke, who had been entranced by the battle's intensity, snapped back to reality.
"…I understand."
He didn't know what to feel. Hiruzen had risked his life to protect him. Sasuke didn't know how to process that.
But one thing was clear:
He would keep that promise.
Fwoosh.
Exhaling slowly, Sasuke formed hand seals.
Even in the face of death, Sarutobi Hiruzen still stood—still tried to protect the next generation.
Even Uchiha children like him.
But just then—
BOOM!
A violent surge of chakra exploded from the sky in the distance.
Something… someone… was coming.
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