"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!?"
Orochimaru was stunned for a moment, then an expression of shock and anger appeared on his face.
The familiar phantom of the Reaper appearing behind the Third Hokage was undoubtedly the Uzumaki clan's forbidden technique, the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal'.
He didn't expect that the Third Hokage, who had only one arm left and couldn't form hand seals at all, would actually use the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' to perish together with him!
"No, this is impossible! A forbidden technique of the level of 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' cannot be activated with one-handed seals..."
Halfway through his words, Orochimaru realized.
A forbidden technique of the level of 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' indeed could not be activated by one-handed seals. But with the Third Hokage's attainment as the 'Professor of Ninjutsu', activating the 'Shadow Clone Technique' with one-handed seals was absolutely no problem.
And the Third Hokage could completely activate the 'Shadow Clone Technique' first, and then use the other hand of the Shadow Clone to help him complete the seals for the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal'.
Just as he figured out how the Third Hokage did it, Orochimaru felt his soul seemed to be bound by a powerful suction force. His limbs quickly stiffened, leaving only his mouth, eyeballs, and fingers barely able to move.
"Damn old man..."
Orochimaru's heart sank continuously.
He knew very well how powerful the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' was. If the Third Hokage really completed the seal, even he, who was nearly immortal, would be finished!
The Third Hokage smiled: "It seems you forgot my guidance. Even facing an opponent weaker than yourself, you must be doubly careful!"
At this time, the phantom of the Reaper behind the Third Hokage extended an arm. First, it pierced through the Third Hokage's body, then extended its hand from inside the Third Hokage's body, ruthlessly delving into Orochimaru's body, dragging Orochimaru's soul body out of his physical body bit by bit.
"Damn it!"
Orochimaru was helpless at this moment, only able to stabilize his soul body with all his might, engaging in a tug-of-war with the Reaper.
In the original timeline, when Orochimaru was controlled by the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' activated by the Third Hokage, he used his own Kusanagi Sword which could extend and retract freely and be controlled remotely by him. So even if only his fingers could move, he could remotely control the Kusanagi Sword to attack the Third Hokage who was activating the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal'.
But due to being captured last time, Orochimaru's own Kusanagi Sword was seized by the Hidden Leaf, and then stolen from the village's secret vault by Shinji and given to Haku. So at this moment, Orochimaru was using Sasuke's Kusanagi Sword.
Although the two Kusanagi Swords were on par in terms of sharpness, Sasuke's Kusanagi Sword did not have the ability of his own Kusanagi Sword to extend and retract freely and be controlled remotely.
Therefore, he could only stare helplessly, unable to make any effective counterattack at all.
While urging the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' to seal Orochimaru's soul, the Third Hokage laughed: "To avoid being disturbed, this is the Reaper I specially prepared for you!"
Hearing this, Orochimaru was horrified, instantly shifting his gaze upwards to look at the phantom of the Reaper behind the Third Hokage.
Sure enough, although the phantom of the Reaper behind the Third Hokage was very similar to the phantom of the Reaper he summoned before, the details of the face were somewhat different.
"You..."
Orochimaru was even more terrified.
If it was the Reaper contracted by the commonly used Reaper Mask, even if he was really sealed by the Third Hokage, he could at least expect Yakushi Kabuto to find a way to locate that Reaper Mask and use the method he had used to release his soul from the Reaper's belly.
But he never expected that the Third Hokage had even considered this point.
Actually selecting another Reaper Mask in the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Storage Hall almost blocked all his possibilities of escape.
Because without thinking, he knew that the Third Hokage must have hidden this Reaper Mask sealing him in a place known to no one. Even if Yakushi Kabuto was loyal to him, he probably wouldn't be able to rescue his soul from the Reaper's belly.
Thinking of this, Orochimaru no longer had his previous composure, his face full of fear: "Damn old man, let me go!"
The Third Hokage smiled with relief: "When we enter the Reaper's belly together, this old guy can finally teach you properly how to become a qualified ninja! At that time, I hope you won't find me annoying!"
"Let me go! Let me go quickly!"
Orochimaru roared hoarsely, completely losing his composure.
However, no matter how Orochimaru struggled, cursed, and abused, the Third Hokage remained unmoved, firmly urging the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal'.
For this moment, he had prepared for a long time.
Even to relax Orochimaru's vigilance, he actively refused Tsunade's proposal to clone a brand new arm for him.
Because he knew very well that only if he was a one-armed old man would Orochimaru relax his vigilance, and he would have the chance to perish together with Orochimaru.
As time passed, Orochimaru's soul was dragged out of his body bit by bit by the Reaper.
The separation of soul from body made Orochimaru's control over his body increasingly weak. He began to be unable to even maintain the tug-of-war. It seemed that in the next instant, his soul would be completely torn out of his body.
Just as Orochimaru fell into despair, a kunai suddenly shot from a distance, accurately slashing the Third Hokage's throat!
"Ugh..."
Blood vessels and trachea in the neck were cut by the kunai simultaneously. The Third Hokage was like a deflated balloon, his vitality withering rapidly.
And as the Third Hokage fell into his death throes, the 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' he activated naturally couldn't continue. The phantom of the Reaper had to give up Orochimaru's soul and took away only the Third Hokage's soul.
In his final moments, the Third Hokage saw Yakushi Kabuto rushing over in the distance, and Sasuke held in Yakushi Kabuto's hand. A final thought flashed through his mind: "Not being able to take Orochimaru away, what a regret!"
Swish...
At this time, Yakushi Kabuto came to Orochimaru's side with a panicked face and asked: "Orochimaru-sama, are... are you okay?"
Orochimaru looked somewhat dazed. He glanced sideways at the Third Hokage's corpse on the ground: "Old man, almost got played by you! Hmph, is this the last lesson you give me? It's really unforgettable!"
Yakushi Kabuto asked: "Was that 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal' just now?"
Orochimaru nodded slowly: "Mhm, didn't expect the old man was plotting against me all along. If you came a step later, I would have been sealed!"
Yakushi Kabuto apologized hurriedly: "Sorry, dealing with Sasuke took some time!"
Gradually recovering from fear, Orochimaru glanced at Sasuke held in Yakushi Kabuto's hand and smiled: "Solved the Third Hokage and caught Sasuke. Now we just need to get Shinji Uchiha's pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, and we can leave."
Yakushi Kabuto said: "I have investigated. Shinji Uchiha should be in the Hidden Leaf Military Police Building at this moment!"
Orochimaru said: "Let's go, finish all this as soon as possible. I'm already tired of this village!"