In the end, he still couldn't prevent the Third's death.
"May you rest in peace, Grandfather Hiruzen, our Third Hokage."
"Third Hokage!"
The Anbu in white robes stared with wide eyes. The Wood Release within the barrier had long been cleared away, allowing them to clearly see the old man lying lifelessly on the ground.
Shiki Uzumaki turned around, preparing to leap onto the attic for one last look at the Third's face.
"Kill me!"
A sharp voice pierced Shiki Uzumaki's ears, making him frown intensely.
Turning back again, he saw Hyuga Ao with a determined expression. His white teeth were stained red with blood, yet he stubbornly kept speaking.
Looking at Hyuga Ao, Shiki felt weary inside. "You still have a chance to live. It might mean spending a great deal of time locked behind bars, but at least you'll be alive."
"There's no need for excessive explanation. From the moment Orochimaru-sama took interest in me, my life belonged entirely to that master. Since I'm nothing more than a failure, I can naturally never do anything again for Konoha. So please, kill me. Consider it the final act of mercy toward someone who has always wanted to defeat you."
Hyuga Ao's voice grew weaker. Though he possessed the courage to face death, uttering the word "mercy" seemed to drain his very soul.
Staring into Hyuga Ao's eyes, Shiki searched desperately for any sign of hesitation. But there was none.
Sighing, Shiki once again drew out the Seiquan Sword that he'd already put away.
In the bright sunlight, a dazzling flash of steel cut through the air.
"Although all along I've held a terrible opinion of you, now I see you're simply a twelve-year-old kid. How many people your age could've done better than you?"
With this sigh-like remark, the blade shot forward. Crimson blood gushed from Hyuga Ao's abdomen, blooming like a beautiful crimson rose.
"Farewell, Hyuga Ao."
Hyuga Ao smiled—a pure, youthful smile—then nodded toward Shiki. "Thank you. Finally, just once, I got to decide my own fate. No longer just someone else's pawn."
Hyuga Ao collapsed. After this moment, he would never again stand up.
Clang!
Shiki sheathed the Seiquan Sword. Blood still stained its surface. It was the first time he'd ever felt that bitter ache that war leaves behind.
"I guess I'm still surprised even Ao—a former enemy—could face death so clearly. It really gets to me. But somehow, sadness isn't limited only to this incident."
Gently adjusting Ao's body and smoothing his clothes one last time, Shiki looked up toward the rooftop. The Four-Corner Sealing Barrier had already vanished, and the person inside had left freely.
Not even the Third's Anbu had the strength to stop the Gang of Four once they decided to escape.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
Sakon sounded slightly alarmed. He could see Orochimaru wasn't in good shape.
"Cursed! Operation ends here!"
"Let's go back."
Although surprised, the Sound Four had complete trust in Orochimaru and never questioned any of his decisions.
Thus, during this massive war, the Sound Four withdrew from the battlefield.
Perhaps only one person remained in a corner of the Konoha arena. Now, with no opponent or audience, the two men simply stared at him.
"Kabuto Yakushi! What exactly is your goal?"
Kakashi and Guy stood side by side, glaring at the young man.
Though Kabuto was once considered a man who failed the Genin exam multiple times in Konoha, no one now doubted his strength.
"Did you figure it out?" Kabuto asked as he calmly removed the Anbu white mask from under his dark hood.
"Are you trying to escape again right in front of me?" Kakashi fiercely questioned the man, exuding intense killing intent alongside Guy.
Yet Kabuto himself remained completely unaffected.
He replied coolly, "Your body isn't suited for the Sharingan, nor have you fully developed those eyes. So you cannot stop me from leaving. However, please pass a message to Uzumaki Shiki for me: I truly admire his performance—I trust he hasn't forgotten our little arrangement."
Guy's eyes flickered with a trace of coldness. "What arrangement?"
"That's none of your business. Don't worry—it's just something trivial. Excuse me!"
Boom!
A puff of white smoke obscured Kabuto's form. When it cleared, Kabuto had already vanished. The Oto ninja appeared to receive a signal as well and began retreating. To be continued...
Chapter 202 – Plotting
The event rang like a long tolling bell—still ongoing, yet gradually nearing its end.
Outside the village, few realized that another thrilling battlefield had also reached its conclusion—the battle between Naruto, aided by Gamabunta, and Gaara along with the unstable release of Shukaku.
Naruto even used Transformation Jutsu to transform Gamabunta into a copy of the Nine-Tails, using the fox's claws and fangs to pin down Shukaku tightly.
Eventually, Gaara awoke, and Shukaku returned into his body.
In the end, the final battle concluded with the victory of that dead-last—Naruto.
Sasuke, who witnessed this battle nearby, was deeply shocked, as if something pierced his heart. And this time, the feeling was more intense than ever.
Because this time, the power he so admired belonged to that same dead-last—Naruto.
"Is he growing stronger too? Or maybe I'm becoming weaker? I said I'd test my strength through battle… but I'm still this weak."
Lying on the ground, Sasuke had already exhausted all his energy from the earlier fight chasing Gaara. No one could say what might have happened if Naruto hadn't arrived in time.
Now, he gazed blankly at his right hand. Even his hands bore the calluses from endless training.
Why do I still feel so weak?
Has the gap between me and that man ever truly closed? No—it's only widened. After all, even as a child, he was hailed as a genius unmatched in the Uchiha clan.
With Otogakure beginning to withdraw after leading this attack, Sunagakure could no longer withstand Konoha's pressure. Even Baki, Sunagakure's jonin, hadn't anticipated this battle would be so grueling.
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