"This is… the Shinigami?"
"Don't joke with me—I won't let things end the way you want!"
Orochimaru roared in panic.
Summoning every last shred of strength, he finally forced a trace of chakra to move.
His fingers twitched slightly.
The Kusanagi Sword inched forward, millimeter by millimeter.
Sarutobi Hiruzen spat out a mouthful of blood.
His strength was fading fast.
The Reaper Death Seal could no longer be sustained.
"Just die already, old man!"
"You'll never escape again, Orochimaru!"
Both of them were pushing themselves to the absolute limit, each trying to outlast the other.
Slowly, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a bleak, bitter smile.
He was too old. Too badly wounded. He couldn't hold on any longer.
Half of Orochimaru's soul had already been dragged out—but now informing back, inch by inch. Sarutobi no longer had the strength to stop it.
"It seems I can't pull out all of your soul… but your ambition ends here."
"It's not over!" Orochimaru shouted. "You can't stop my ambition!"
"You've indulged too deeply in ninjutsu. For someone addicted to power like you, I'll give you the punishment you deserve."
"I'll take away all your ninjutsu."
"What… what did you say? Don't tell me you're—"
Orochimaru's face turned deathly pale.
"Stop—!"
The Shinigami swung its blade down without hesitation.
It struck directly at the hands of Orochimaru's soul.
When everyone finally reached the scene, this was what they saw.
They couldn't understand what was happening.
They only heard Orochimaru screaming in absolute terror—screams filled with despair so deep it chilled the soul.
None of them could see the Shinigami.
Only Naruto raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly.
"My turn."
Orochimaru screamed in horror.
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt relief wash over him. His wish was about to be fulfilled. He had died in the right place.
Then—
Everything froze.
A figure appeared beside them.
Two fingers calmly pinched the Shinigami's blade.
The edge of the blade stopped less than a millimeter from Orochimaru's soul.
The Shinigami strained, but the blade wouldn't move forward at all—as if it had met its natural enemy.
For the first time, the Shinigami's expression changed.
Shock. Confusion. Rage.
Its prey was right there, yet it couldn't feed.
Furious, it opened its mouth and let out a silent roar.
On the rooftop, countless shinobi felt their minds reel. Their heads throbbed violently, as if struck by an invisible blow.
"Shut up," Naruto said coldly.
"Make another sound, and I'll kill you."
He folded his fingers.
The invisible blade shattered instantly.
The Shinigami's form became unstable and translucent.
Under Naruto's gaze, it froze—fear clearly visible.
After hesitating for several seconds, it glared angrily at Orochimaru's soul, then slowly dissipated.
The Reaper Death Seal… failed.
Orochimaru was ecstatic.
His chakra returned. His body responded again.
Then he plunged straight into despair.
Naruto's hand landed on his shoulder.
Endless sealing patterns spread from Naruto's palm like chains, wrapping Orochimaru completely.
His chakra was sealed again—far more thoroughly than before.
Even movement was impossible.
"Uzumaki Naruto… you—"
Orochimaru stared at him in terror.
He had expected the Konoha Collapse to fail.
He had even guessed Naruto was behind everything.
But he never imagined Naruto's sealing abilities were this terrifying.
"Orochimaru," Naruto said with a smile,
"You're the mastermind behind the Konoha Incident. If I let you go, wouldn't that make me look incompetent?"
Orochimaru suddenly realized—he couldn't even speak.
"I have to be careful with someone as persuasive as you. If you can talk, you might convince others to betray me."
"Take him away. Treat him the same as the Raikage."
Naruto tossed Orochimaru backward.
In an instant, a group of jonin rushed forward, scrambling to restrain him—each eager to stand out in front of Naruto.
"Why…?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice trembled. His eyes were filled with complex emotions.
"This wasn't how it was supposed to go."
"The Hokage of Konoha cannot die here," Naruto said calmly.
"At least—not in this incident."
His tone was gentle, but absolute.
"Tsunade-sama, I'll leave the Third Hokage to you. He must live."
Naruto flicked his finger.
The Kusanagi Sword flew out of Sarutobi Hiruzen's chest.
Sarutobi collapsed softly, his vision fading.
His injuries were far too severe.
Without immediate treatment, he would die within minutes.
Tsunade appeared beside him.
She stared at his aged face, her eyes filled with complicated emotions—nostalgia, resentment, and a trace of satisfaction.
Green healing light enveloped Sarutobi's body as she worked desperately to save him.
"Tsunade… why…?" Sarutobi murmured weakly.
"Why save you?" she replied flatly.
"You're my teacher. I'll save you. Simple as that."
"Though with injuries like this, the only thing I can do is keep you alive."
"Naruto… Naruto…"
"Naruto is the Fourth Hokage's son," Tsunade whispered into his ear.
"He's known it for a long time. Is that answer enough for you?"
Sarutobi's eyes widened briefly.
"So… that's why…"
Relief crossed his face as he finally lost consciousness.
Only now did he understand everything.
Why Naruto had suddenly become so decisive.
Why he allowed the Four Violet Flames Formation to be completed.
Why he let Orochimaru and his teacher fight to the brink of death.
It was deliberate.
A blade borrowed to kill.
After so many years, even stone would awaken.
Why had Naruto's feelings toward him vanished so suddenly?
Now Sarutobi finally understood.
Cause and effect.
He had sown the seeds long ago.
This was the harvest.
"Lord Third has fainted!"
"How bad are his injuries?"
"He survived by a miracle," Tsunade said coldly.
"Even if he lives, he'll likely remain a vegetable for the rest of his life."
"…I see."
"Poor Third Hokage."
"Damn Orochimaru…"
"But honestly, the Third isn't blameless either."
"Orochimaru and Danzo—one disciple, one lifelong friend. Without his indulgence, things wouldn't have reached this point."
"Enough," someone whispered. "Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama are still here."
"…So," another voice said quietly,
"Should we start thinking about the next Hokage?"
"The Fifth?"
"Who else but Uzumaki Naruto?"
"He captured the Kazekage and Raikage himself."
"If someone like that isn't Hokage, I'll be the first to object."
The conversation around Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly shifted.
Just as he had feared.
If he had died, he would have been remembered as a hero—enshrined, revered, untouchable.
But he lived.
And now, someone had to take responsibility for what happened to Konoha.
As Orochimaru's teacher.
As Danzo's longtime friend.
As the Hokage.
Whether he liked it or not—
Sarutobi Hiruzen had to carry the blame.
Because he was still alive.
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