Down in the venue below, after Satsuki instantly resolved all the summoned giant serpents with Sharingan genjutsu, she quickly regrouped with Kakashi and Guy to face the blocking Sound ninja elite.
The battle was nearly a one-sided crushing. Kakashi's kunai flashed through the crowd, while Guy's figure transford into a green whirlwind. Leaf Whirlwind and Dynamic Entry alternated, his heavy taijutsu sending Sound ninja flying like sandbags.
Satsuki's three-tomoe Sharingan allowed her to easily see through all attack trajectories. Her kunai and precise Fire Style techniques always struck first despite moving second, forcing enemies into desperate situations. The three's coordination was seamless, instantly tearing the Sound ninja's defensive line to shreds.
However, Satsuki's gaze kept anxiously glancing toward where Naruto had disappeared with Gaara. At this ti, other Konoha ninja had also sprung into action—so engaged in fierce combat with the invading Sound ninja, while others began tensely yet orderly evacuating the panicked spectators.
"Satsuki, focus on the task at hand and protect yourself!" Kakashi reminded in a deep voice during a gap after repelling a Sound ninja. "This is already an A-rank combat mission. Don't worry—that Sand brat is absolutely no match for Naruto."
"But!" Satsuki deflected an incoming kunai, the worry in her eyes not diminishing.
"Believe in him." Kakashi's voice carried unquestionable certainty. "He's the most outstanding ninja I've seen since Konoha's founding. This level of talent and potential—I've only felt it from the previous Hokages."
"...Mm!" Satsuki nodded forcefully, temporarily suppressing her inner restlessness.
However, trust aside, that uncontrollable worry still firmly gripped her heart. She resolved inwardly that she must defeat the enemies before her at maximum speed, then imdiately go find Naruto! She couldn't bear being away from his side when he might be facing danger.
"Orochimaru! Stop this now! While things can still be salvaged!"
Orochimaru tore off his facial disguise, revealing that pale, sinister countenance.
"Hehe... Sarutobi-sensei, has ti not only taken your strength but made your mind so naive, even foolish? Do you cling so desperately to that pitiful, false stability?"
"But unfortunately, you're the biggest obstacle on my path to obtaining the Nine-Tails. You'll die here soon... However, the Fifth Hokage candidate—I really never expected you'd pass it to that fool..."
At this point, Orochimaru's voice actually carried a trace of indecipherable complex emotion. A tear unexpectedly slid from the corner of his eye, forming a bizarre contrast with his cold declaration.
"...If you insist on taking my life, feel free to try." The Third Hokage's gaze was incomparably resolute. "But I absolutely won't give you the slightest chance to approach Naruto!"
"No, sensei, my goals go far beyond that..." Orochimaru slowly lowered the kunai holding the Third hostage, stepping back several paces. He casually tore off the long robe symbolizing the Kazekage's identity and tossed it aside, revealing beneath it a black robe embroidered with red clouds.
"You will die here. I will obtain Naruto and the Nine-Tails' power, and... the Konoha ninja village you so cherish will be completely destroyed today!"
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru struck first. His right arm mutated as venomous snakes suddenly extended, opening mouths full of fangs, lunging for the Third Hokage's neck!
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi threw a single shuriken with one hand, rapidly forming seals. In an instant, one shuriken split into dozens of solid duplicates in mid-air, precisely slicing the attacking snake hand into segnts!
However, the attack wasn't over. Behind the severed snake hand, those undiminished shuriken shadow clones continued shooting toward Orochimaru's main body. Facing this dense assault, Orochimaru's lower jaw suddenly opened in a manner that violated human body structure, expanding to a horrifying extent!
Imdiately after, a massive white phosphorus serpent burst from his mouth, coiling before him to form a solid at shield. The dense shuriken struck the hard snake scales, only sparking sporadically without causing effective damage.
The white phosphorus serpent released a hiss, its massive body surging toward the Third with crushing montum!
"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!"
The Third Hokage ford seals again, chakra surging in. The solid rooftop ground ahead instantly softened and churned, transforming into a surging mudflow attempting to engulf and trap the white phosphorus serpent.
As expected, the giant serpent sank into the viscous mire, its movents rapidly becoming sluggish, seemingly about to be completely bound.
But at this mont, unexpected change occurred! The white phosphorus serpent suddenly opened its giant maw, and a new Orochimaru covered in mucus burst out at astonishing speed! Even more chilling, this newly appeared Orochimaru spat out a Kusanagi sword from his mouth!
He firmly gripped the hilt, the blade tip stabbing straight for the Third Hokage's heart!
Squelch!
The sensation of a blade penetrating flesh ca.
"You really have grown old... ?!"
Orochimaru's triumphant words were only half-spoken when he discovered in shock that the "Third Hokage" pierced before him didn't bleed. Instead, his body rapidly softened and collapsed, transforming into a puddle of ordinary mud.
An Earth Substitution!
Orochimaru expressionlessly swallowed the Kusanagi sword back into his mouth, slowly turning his head. He saw the real Hiruzen Sarutobi standing unhard not far away.
"It seems I still underestimated you, sensei." Orochimaru's voice carried a trace of irritation at being toyed with. "However, these kinds of petty tricks alone cannot stop ."
"Then let's end these probing gas here."
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a low shout, abruptly tearing off the divine robe symbolizing the Hokage's position and tossing it aside, revealing the black tight combat uniform already worn underneath.
Seeing his teacher's battle attire already prepared beneath the robes, Orochimaru released an understanding laugh. "Heh... just as I thought. My plan was exposed long ago, wasn't it? It seems Kabuto has already been captured by you."
"Kabuto?" However, hearing this na, genuine confusion appeared on the Third Hokage's face, clearly ignorant of this person.
But Orochimaru no longer intended to dwell on it. His hands began forming seals again, massive chakra gathering around him, emanating an ominous, chilling aura.
"No more ti to waste... Summoning Jutsu: Impure World Reincarnation!"
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