"Big brother, that man was terrifying. He actually made me bleed… I hate pain."
"Who doesn't fear pain? If even with our speed we couldn't dodge his attack, then he's no ordinary opponent."
In the entire shinobi world, they had never met anyone faster than themselves.
Their survival owed not only to their abilities but, most importantly, to their mastery of Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique)—speed that made them nearly untouchable.
"He's immune to genjutsu. Should we try another method?" asked the younger brother, the red-masked yaksha.
"No. We have a mission—the One-Tail."
The two nodded. After a quick bandaging and short rest, they set out again.
Explosions echoed through Konoha, one after another. Outside the village, vast forests had already been flattened by the rampaging One-Tail, Shukaku. Inside, although most of the Sound and Sand ninja had been subdued, a new wave of black-clad attackers prolonged the chaos.
These enemies refused open confrontation. They struck from the shadows, throwing explosive tags before vanishing again.
And to make matters worse, the infernal melody of the Evil Strings and Demon Drums Duo rose once more, rippling through the village and tormenting everyone who heard it.
Hearing that unbearable sound, Shigeo reached into his robe, pulled out two pieces of paper, crumpled them, and shoved them into his ears.
He turned toward the Four Violet Flames Formation.
"Third Hokage," he called out, voice laced with impatience, "when are you giving me that mission? This is the last time I'll ask. Miss this chance, and I'm gone!"
That damn duo's music was enough to drive anyone mad. Even with his immense chakra and focus, it grated on his mind. For weaker shinobi or civilians, it was pure agony.
"They're known as the Jakki-Magoku Futari-gumi (Evil Strings and Demon Drums Duo)," Orochimaru said coldly, glancing back at him.
"They're brothers. Famous for their Shunshin, and for using sound—drums and strings—to manipulate the battlefield. Their music isn't just genjutsu—it can also physically damage anyone who hears it."
Shigeo nodded slightly, acknowledging the explanation.
Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, Orochimaru commanded the reanimated First and Second Hokage forward.
"Mokuton (Wood Release): Jukai Kōtan (Birth of the Trees)!"
The massive forest technique surged upward, roots and trunks covering the barrier.
Orochimaru had meant to use this attack to crush Hiruzen, but the Third responded by transforming Enma into the Kongō Nyoi Bō (Adamantine Staff), forming a cage to defend himself.
Then, Hiruzen formed seals and split into three clones.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)."
Each clone began hand seals in sequence—"Mi–I–Hitsuji–U–Inu–Ne–Tori–Uma–Mi!"—their hands pressed together at the end.
He had begun the Shiki Fūjin (Dead Demon Consuming Seal).
"Why is the Third spreading his chakra with clones?" one ninja outside asked in confusion.
Only those bound to the technique could see the Shinigami's presence.
Shigeo tilted his head slightly. So this was the legendary jutsu—offering one's soul to the Death God in exchange for sealing the enemy's.
As Hiruzen invoked the jutsu, Orochimaru smirked, unaware of what was coming.
"Whatever you do, the Leaf must perish today!"
"This is my home," Hiruzen said firmly. "A Hokage is the pillar that protects this house. This village is the vessel of the Will of Fire. It cannot fall!"
His voice carried conviction and finality—he had already accepted death.
Tobirama Senju weaved seals, using Genjutsu: Hiding in Shadow Technique, creating a sealed dark space to assist in the killing blow.
"Shigeo, the third mission—protect Konoha!" Hiruzen shouted, as darkness closed around him.
This was his final chance. He had hoped the Leaf's shinobi could prevail without playing his last card, that Shigeo's third owed favor could remain unused.
But the battle had dragged until dawn. Explosions still roared through the village.
He couldn't let it all burn. He was the Hokage. It was his duty to protect it.
He knew his time was up. Once the Shiki Fūjin was cast, his death was certain.
So, for his last act, he entrusted everything to Shigeo—the village's final hope.
He could have used Shigeo to save himself. But compared to the Leaf's survival, his life meant nothing.
"…Good. That's all I needed to hear."
Shigeo rose to his feet, turning his gaze toward the barrier that now pulsed with both the Shishienjin and Tobirama's dark genjutsu.
"For a moment there, you almost earned my respect, Third Hokage."
With that, he formed seals.
"Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Multi Shadow Clone Technique)!"
In a burst of chakra, hundreds of Shigeos appeared, scattering in every direction.
Across Konoha, the battle still raged. The black-clad assailants continued their sabotage, their piercing music echoing everywhere.
Strong chakra users could suppress the pain.
The weak and the ordinary had no such mercy—they could only endure.
Shigeo's clones moved swiftly, intercepting the attackers, surrounding and crushing them in coordinated assaults.
With Konoha's ninja pressing the advantage, most of the invaders were captured within minutes.
Only a few managed to escape.
High above, Shigeo floated midair, eyes locked on the village gates.
He had been tracking the Evil Strings and Demon Drums Duo through sensory ninjutsu—their chakra signatures were calm, unhurried.
There they were, walking leisurely toward the exit—one strumming the biwa, the other beating his drum, laughing and chatting as if on a stroll.
Any ninja they met were instantly slain through genjutsu and ambush.
In a narrow alley, the brothers had just killed two jōnin.
"I told you to take that route, but no—you had to pick this cramped alley! It ruins the acoustics! Without the music, how can we control our targets? How can we win?!" the black-masked brother shouted in his strange, genderless voice.
"And what, your path is better? Let's just check this side. If that monster's chasing us, we'd better stay low! You want him to stab us full of holes again? I don't ever want to see blood again!"
Perched atop the wall, Shigeo heard it all. A faint smile crossed his lips.
He pressed his hands together. Doton (Earth Release): Doryūheki (Earth Flow Wall) rose from both sides of the alley, sealing them in.
The brothers stiffened.
"What—who's there?!"
They didn't have sensory abilities and couldn't detect that, above them, Shigeo had already begun his setup.
He didn't fully understand their abilities—Orochimaru's description had been vague.
But to stop their accursed music and prevent further harm to Konoha, he'd decided on a simple tactic: trap them and crush them.
"Move!" the red-masked brother shouted, bolting toward one wall.
They fired Raiton (Lightning Release) at the barrier, blasting a crater into the dirt—but behind the cracked stone, a dark, magnetic layer gleamed.
That was Shigeo's Jiton (Magnet Release)—reinforcing the walls like iron.
"This way!" the red-masked one hissed, gripping his drumsticks tight.
He swung hard at the wall and struck with all his strength.
(End of Chapter)
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