Naruto's training with Gojo Satoru continued, each day more peculiar than the last. The collaboration with Kurama was almost seamless, and Naruto had even managed to faint some frogs with his nascent Emperor's Haki.
Just as Gojo was considering introducing Naruto to the concept of domain expansion, an unexpected notification appeared in his Dimensional Shop.
[Critical Plot Mission Received!]
[Objective: Secure Waterfall Village from an attack by an uncontrolled Bijuu (the Seven-Tails)]
[Success Reward: 25,000 Dimension Points (DP) and a 'Plot Gift']
[Fail: Unknown Plot Consequences]
Gojo raised an eyebrow under his blindfold. "My, my, a real mission. And with a giant monster? Now this is fun."
He quickly informed Naruto. "Blondie! We have a change of plans. A real adventure! A giant bug is causing trouble in a nearby village. Let's teach it some manners!"
Naruto, always ready for action, shouted excitedly. "A Bijuu! Gojo-sensei, this is going to be awesome, dattebayo!"
Without wasting a second, Gojo used his teleportation ability to whisk Naruto away instantly. They left Konoha at just the most inopportune moment, unaware that the village was about to face a second, more devastating invasion.
As Gojo and Naruto made their way to the Waterfall Village, all hell broke loose in Konoha. Orochimaru, having recovered from his encounter with Gojo and consumed by an even greater obsession with the sorcerer's power, launched his most brutal attack yet.
His goal was no longer simply Sasuke's power, but the total annihilation of the village that harbored his new and hated rival.
The invasion was massive and relentless. Ninjas from Otogakure and Sunagakure, now with renewed ferocity due to the terror Orochimaru inspired in them, swept away Konoha's resistance.
The attack quickly focused on the Chunin Exams arena, where the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was located.
Konoha's jōnin and anbu fought with desperate valor, but Orochimaru's strategy was perfect.
He himself appeared on the roof of the arena, summoning the Rashomon Gate to block the exits and revealing his true objective: to kill his former teacher.
"Orochimaru!" Hiruzen shouted, preparing for the final battle.
The fight was brutal. The Third Hokage, the Professor, the God of Shinobi, fought with all his might, summoning the Monkey King Enma and demonstrating the pinnacle of his skills. Orochimaru, with his forbidden jutsus and summonings of giant snakes, pressed forward mercilessly.
The roof of the arena disintegrated under the ferocity of the clash. Hiruzen knew he could not win without help. Without Gojo's incomprehensible power, without Naruto and Kurama's brute force, Konoha's fate hung in the balance. With grim determination, Hiruzen made a decision.
"Shiki Fūjin!" shouted the Third Hokage, performing the hand seals of the Death Demon Consuming Seal.
It was the technique the Fourth Hokage had used to seal the Nine-Tails. A technique that claimed the user's life.
Orochimaru paled as he recognized the jutsu.
He tried to escape, but Hiruzen pinned him down in Enma's arms. The spectral figure of the Shinigami appeared, his demonic face watching the sacrifice.
With a final scream, the Third Hokage managed to seal Orochimaru's arms, taking away his ability to perform jutsus and leaving him gravely injured. But the price was his own.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's body fell lifeless onto the rooftop, a noble sacrifice to protect his village. The invasion of Konoha, though contained at a terrible cost, had claimed the life of its leader.
The shinobi world would mourn the loss of Professor, the God of Shinobi, and Konoha would face an uncertain future, without its Hokage and with a new and unknown power floating in the wind: Gojo Satoru, the absent savior of the first invasion.
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