The sudden turn of events silenced everyone in the council hall.
Just moments earlier, the masked attacker had launched a deadly strike. Yet in the blink of an eye, Hiruzen Sarutobi's entire body dissolved into mud, flowing like liquid earth before reassembling from the far wall. His hand remained locked in a precise seal, his expression frosted with cold authority.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
The attacker's arm remained completely imprisoned, encased in hardened earth that wrapped around him like stone bindings. He couldn't lift a hand, much less form seals or escape.
The council—terrified only seconds ago—finally breathed again. This was the Third Hokage, the Professor, the God of Shinobi's student. His mastery of ninjutsu reassured the shaken elders. Their confidence, once wavering, returned in a rush.
"As expected of Hokage-sama…"
But Hiruzen did not share their relief. His eyes narrowed. His instincts—sharpened through decades of war—screamed that this enemy was far from ordinary. Even the Earth Clone Binding Technique wouldn't restrain someone of this level for long.
Without letting it show, he began circulating chakra through his body, preparing to act at a moment's notice.
Then—
Something grotesque occurred.
The attacker's head twisted a full three hundred and sixty degrees, vertebrae cracking unnaturally. A pair of dark-gold, slit pupils glared at Hiruzen with chilling amusement.
A cold, serpentine laugh followed.
"Hehehe… Hiruzen-sensei. Long time no see. Your attitude hasn't changed at all!"
The familiar voice froze Hiruzen.
His pupils contracted sharply.
"Orochimaru…? Is that really you?"
He had suspected this from the moment he saw the golden snake-like pupils. But hearing the voice—hearing that tone—confirmed it in a way nothing else could.
Orochimaru.
His prodigy.
His student.
His disappointment.
His regret.
They had not met for almost ten years—not since the day he banished Orochimaru from the village, choosing Minato instead as the Fourth Hokage.
Now she had returned.
Not as a wandering missing-nin.
Not as a rogue scientist.
But as an enemy infiltrator wearing a mask.
And from her eyes, her intent was unmistakable.
She had come to settle old scores.
Is she angry about Minato?
Or because I spared Danzo but expelled her?
Or… has she come simply because Hokage blood would satisfy her pursuit of immortality?
Before Hiruzen could steady his thoughts, the earthen bindings crumbled into lifeless dirt. Orochimaru's chakra surged violently. With a simple twist of her body, she shed the mud prison entirely. The mask fell away, revealing that pale, almost corpse-like face that had always unsettled even the bravest shinobi.
Hiruzen's expression turned grim.
"Orochimaru… how many innocent lives have you taken in your pursuit of immortality?"
Orochimaru tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… I lost count long ago."
The casual tone made several council members flinch.
Homura finished stabilizing Koharu's injuries and turned to Hiruzen with urgency. "Hiruzen, we cannot let Orochimaru escape this time. If we do, the consequences will be catastrophic."
"Hehehe…"
Orochimaru suddenly formed a rapid sequence of hand seals.
Countless serpents erupted from her body, scattering across the chamber. The council hall descended into chaos as the snakes lunged at guards, shattered desks, and tore apart the ceiling.
BOOM!
The roof of the Hokage Building burst open.
Orochimaru soared onto the rooftops atop a massive white serpent, gazing down with hungry anticipation.
"Fire Release: Multiple Great Fire Dragon Technique."
Three colossal fire dragons spun into existence, spiraling skyward before detonating.
When the flames cleared, Hiruzen stood on the roof opposite her, staff in hand, eyes sharpened by battle readiness.
Immediately—
Buzz.
Four figures appeared at the four corners of the Hokage Building. Sakon, Ukon, Kidōmaru, Tayuya, and Jirōbo completed their seals.
"Four Purple Flame Formation!"
Purple flames erupted upward, surrounding the entire Hokage Building in a shimmering, impenetrable barrier that sealed off the battlefield from the rest of Konoha.
Outside the barrier—
Kimimaro coughed lightly, a thin sheen of sweat on his pallid face. He unsheathed his bone sword and cut down several shinobi attempting to approach.
He whispered weakly, "Our mission… stop all reinforcements. Orochimaru-sama must face Hiruzen alone."
---
Hyuga Clan Compound
A branch member sprinted into the patriarch's residence, face pale.
"Lord Gensuke! A powerful enemy has infiltrated the village! The Hokage Building is in chaos, and Lord Third seems to be fighting an invader!"
Hyuga Gensuke's expression hardened. "What? Who dares invade Konoha? Is it Kumogakure?"
Given the current war, Kumogakure was the most likely suspect. Their lightning-fast strike teams were infamous.
"We cannot confirm!" the clansman responded anxiously. "A barrier has enveloped the Hokage Building—Byakugan cannot see inside."
A bad premonition struck Gensuke.
"Gather the clan immediately."
Within minutes, dozens of elite Hyuga shinobi assembled, awaiting orders.
Gensuke spoke sternly:
"A powerful enemy has intruded. To ensure the village's perimeter remains secure, proceed at once to the outer walls and coordinate with the Patrol Corps. Do not let any enemy forces slip through."
The clansmen exchanged confused glances.
Shouldn't they reinforce the Hokage?
A bold main-branch ninja stepped forward. "Lord Gensuke… do you intend to go yourself to aid Lord Hokage?"
Gensuke shook his head sharply. "The clan compound must not fall. I am staying here."
"Then the Third Hokage—"
"Are you questioning me?" Gensuke snapped, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"N-No, Lord Gensuke." The ninja bowed at once.
"Go. Now."
With a flurry of movement, the Hyuga force dispersed.
Left alone, Gensuke stared in the direction of the Hokage Building, unable to shake the ominous feeling gnawing at his chest.
"This time… something terrible will happen."
---
Root Headquarters
Danzo sat at his desk, half of his body cloaked in shadows. Three stacks of intelligence reports lay before him—freshly gathered from every active battlefield.
Though he personally remained in Konoha, his grasp of the war was second only to Hiruzen's.
At that moment, an ANBU was escorted in by two Root operatives.
"Lord Danzo," the ANBU said respectfully, "an enemy has infiltrated the Hokage Building. Hokage-sama orders Root to mobilize its elites and eliminate the intruder."
Danzo calmly placed down the scroll he had been reading.
"I understand."
One Root ninja saluted and escorted the ANBU out.
Another Root operative stepped forward. "Lord Danzo, I will mobilize our forces at once—"
"There is no need." Danzo waved a dismissive hand. "Root will remain on standby."
The Root operative froze.
Standby? At a time like this?
"Lord Danzo," he said carefully, "the Hokage Building is under siege. An enemy capable of fighting Hokage-sama must not be taken lightly. Lord Third is aging—he may not be—"
BANG!
Danzo slammed the scroll onto his desk.
"Do you think I require your reminder?"
"Th-this subordinate misspoke!"
Danzo glared before waving him away. "Leave."
Once he was alone, Danzo slowly opened a drawer and removed a tiny shed snakeskin.
He had found it on his desk just last night.
A message. A taunt.
A promise.
And an opportunity.
He ran the snakeskin between his fingers and murmured:
"Orochimaru… I am watching your performance. Do not disappoint me."
Hiruzen, at his peak, was one of the greatest shinobi ever to live. Orochimaru could not compare.
But age erodes even legends.
Hiruzen was old. His power had faded.
And Danzo knew—Orochimaru might well kill him.
If Hiruzen died… the Hokage's seat would become vacant.
If Danzo led Root to "avenge" Hiruzen by killing Orochimaru…
His fame
His prestige
His contribution
All would skyrocket.
He could finally claim the title he had pursued his entire life.
But Danzo's flaw was always the same.
He hesitated when decisive action would benefit him most.
Just as he had done during the Nine-Tails attack.
Just as he had done during Pain's invasion.
"Everything… for Konoha," Danzo whispered to himself.
The greatest lie he ever believed.
---
Kakashi vs. Kirigakure
Elsewhere, chaos tore through the dense forest surrounding Konoha.
The Kirigakure strike team had initially pressed the advantage. Their numbers were small but highly elite, and Mei Terumī herself fought on the front lines.
But this was Konoha territory.
And reinforcements for Leaf shinobi arrived faster and faster.
Soon Kirigakure began to falter.
Mei attempted to break through Kakashi's defense—but she underestimated him. With a quick seal, Kakashi summoned eight ninja hounds, catching her off guard.
"Tch…!"
Her leg was bitten. Enraged, she unleashed a wave of boiling lava.
Kakashi immediately retreated, eyes glowing crimson.
This woman was troublesome—a wielder of two kekkei genkai. But he could handle her.
What he couldn't handle was—
A sudden feeling.
A chill crawling down his spine.
A suffocating sense of being watched.
A heat blooming behind his left eye—
—an omen he had experienced only once before.
The day Rin died.
Kakashi stiffened. A master-level enemy?
Before he could react—
WHOOSH!
Zabuza Momochi descended from the trees, Kubikiribōchō hacking downward.
Kakashi blocked with a kunai, sparks bursting like miniature fireworks. The two vanished into the fog, steel clashing endlessly.
"Hidden Mist Technique!"
Zabuza flooded the battlefield with thick, suffocating white mist. Kakashi immediately lost sight.
Then—
Shurikens.
Metal clashes.
The sound of bodies falling.
A groan.
And silence.
Someone else is here…
A shadow lunged at Kakashi from behind, swinging a chain. Kakashi sensed the movement and countered with two explosive-tagged kunai.
The explosion thundered across the forest.
Obito flickered into view for only a second before vanishing.
Kakashi's heart dropped.
Red light glowed from the shadow's pupils.
Sharingan.
"Are you… from Kumogakure?" Kakashi demanded.
Since the Uchiha had joined the Cloud in this timeline, the Sharingan was now their symbol.
Obito stared at Kakashi's Sharingan, shock flickering across his face.
Then, coldly, he said:
"Kakashi… you cannot win. Surrender."
"Death isn't painful. I will free you from this fake world soon."
Kakashi's breath tightened.
Is this guy… targeting me specifically?
Something far larger than he imagined was unfolding.
And he was no longer sure he would survive what came next.
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