"Lord Third—"
"Naruto, there's no need to say more. This fight is between Orochimaru and me. You don't need to interfere."
Naruto stood outside the Four Violet Flame Formation, his eyes flickering as he spoke.
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised a hand to stop him.
He spoke loudly, making sure everyone could hear.
"Old man…"
"Sensei…"
Jiraiya and Tsunade stared at the two figures inside the barrier, their expressions tangled with emotion, unable to find the right words.
One was their teacher.
The other, their former comrade.
Now those two stood facing each other on a battlefield where there was no turning back.
How could this not stir emotions?
"Third Hokage… are you ready to die here?"
Orochimaru laughed.
Rather than being afraid of the Konoha shinobi surrounding him, he seemed delighted by the crowd.
He was enjoying this.
"Orochimaru," Sarutobi said calmly, "if only you had remained the disciple I was once proud of. But again and again, you chose the wrong path—disregarding human life, trampling forbidden arts, walking deeper into evil."
"Oh?" Orochimaru replied mockingly.
"Third Hokage, I don't agree. Didn't you allow me to walk this path step by step? Danzo, Root, even my research—weren't all of those happening right under your nose? Don't tell me you didn't know what your subordinates were doing behind the scenes."
"I knew," Sarutobi said quietly. "Of course I knew. And that's why I regret it now. I regret indulging you again and again, letting things spiral into an irreversible mistake."
His thin frame suddenly seemed taller, broader.
"Back then, when you defected, I hesitated. I showed mercy and let you escape. Today, I will correct that mistake."
"I am the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. And today, in the name of the Hokage, I will bring you—Orochimaru, traitor of Konoha—to justice!"
His voice was firm and resonant, his gaze icy and unyielding.
At this point, there was only one thing left to do—
to face Orochimaru with everything he had, and end this as a Konoha shinobi should.
"Orochimaru," Sarutobi continued, "my student—give it everything you have. Show your teacher what you've learned all these years."
"It's my honor," Orochimaru said with a grin,
"to personally send you on your final journey, Third Hokage."
As he laughed, his tongue suddenly shot out like a snake, stretching unnaturally and striking at Sarutobi's neck in an instant.
Fast. Bizarre. Impossible to guard against.
Sarutobi's body twisted—then melted into mud.
A substitution.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow—"
Sarutobi reappeared in another corner, already forming seals.
The rooftop instantly turned into a surging river of mud, rolling forward, trying to swallow Orochimaru whole.
"Only that much?" Orochimaru sneered.
Within the mud, his hands blurred as he formed seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!"
Sarutobi completed his seals in an instant. The two jutsu merged mid-air, forming a massive burning earth-fire projectile that crashed down like a raging inferno.
Orochimaru screamed.
The rooftop was engulfed in flames. In an instant, Orochimaru was reduced to ash.
The mud receded, leaving shattered ruins behind.
"Stop playing tricks, Orochimaru," Sarutobi said coldly, his expression unchanged.
"As expected of you," came a strange laugh.
"But don't underestimate me. Did you really think something like that could kill me?"
From the ruins, Orochimaru slowly emerged, smiling faintly.
"You really are an unpleasant man," Sarutobi muttered.
"Isn't that what they say?" Orochimaru replied.
"The more troublesome the student, the more lovable they are—right, Sensei?"
Teacher and student faced each other on the rooftop, trading killing intent while reminiscing with smiles.
"Quick, record this!" Karin said excitedly, staring at the screen.
"What an incredible scene—the battle between master and disciple! Good thing we have cameras, or we'd miss something this legendary."
Earlier, Naruto's battle against the Kazekage and Raikage had been the pinnacle of raw power—absolute domination.
But this fight was different.
This battle carried mystery, history, emotion.
Decades of teacher-student bonds, tangled with resentment and regret, culminating in a final confrontation—it was irresistible.
"So this is a real Kage-level fight…"
"The Third Hokage is incredible. And Orochimaru really lives up to the name of Sannin."
"I wonder who'll win."
"Didn't you bet on the Third Hokage?"
"He's amazing, but he is old. Orochimaru's at his peak. I'm leaning toward Orochimaru."
"…Yeah. He really is old."
Konoha shinobi whispered among themselves.
Compared to Naruto's overwhelming suppression, this fight felt more familiar—more understandable. They could see the techniques, follow the exchanges, and even learn from them.
"Enough warm-up," Orochimaru sneered.
"This isn't a ninja academy lesson. With this many spectators, don't you think it's embarrassing, Third Hokage, to keep using such trivial tricks?"
"Hmph," Sarutobi chuckled. "You're right."
The air between them distorted with pressure.
Roof tiles cracked and shattered as killing intent clashed violently.
"Don't expect mercy just because you're old," Orochimaru said.
"That's exactly what I want," Sarutobi replied.
"If your skills aren't sharp enough, I'll send you back to school."
"Don't disappoint me, Sensei."
Their voices sounded almost casual—but their eyes were filled with pure, lethal intent.
"Such terrifying chakra…"
"It feels like it's about to burst out of their bodies."
Outside the barrier, everyone held their breath.
Then—both moved at once.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
Sarutobi charged forward, forming seals.
The shuriken he threw split instantly—two became four, four became eight—until a storm of steel roared toward Orochimaru.
"Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation!"
Orochimaru slammed his palms together and struck the ground.
Boom!
The rooftop shook violently.
In dim, eerie light, a coffin slowly rose from the ground.
The character "One" was carved clearly on its surface.
Then a second coffin rose—marked "Two."
"This technique—!"
Sarutobi's face changed drastically.
A third coffin began to emerge.
The character "Four" was unmistakable.
"No matter what, I have to stop the third one!"
Sarutobi roared, pouring chakra forward.
The third coffin shook violently—then slowly sank back into the ground and vanished.
Orochimaru hid behind the first two coffins.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The storm of shuriken crashed down, striking the coffins relentlessly.
-------------------------
For advanced chapters, visit patreon.com/Varnok