Orochimaru's strength was rapidly fading, leaving him with no choice but to rely on his traditional Five Release Ninjutsu.
Fearless as ever, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately countered with his own technique.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Projectile!"
The flames erupted forward like a roaring dragon. Although Hiruzen's Fire Release was not as overwhelming as Jiraiya's or Sasuke's, the Third Hokage's mastery and precision were on an entirely different level.
The massive fire dragon suddenly split apart.
One became two.
Two became three.
The blazing dragons attacked simultaneously from the front, left, and right. Orochimaru's own Wind Release only made the flames burn even hotter, causing the inferno to roar violently across the battlefield.
Orochimaru's face instantly turned pale.
Without hesitation, he abandoned his attack and twisted his snake-like body away, desperately trying to escape.
But then—
"Don't forget… I'm still here, Orochimaru!"
"Naruto Uzumaki?!"
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
While in his Yin Seal state, Naruto's chakra reserves seemed almost endless. Gripping the Kusanagi Sword tightly, he poured an enormous amount of Wind Release chakra into the blade.
The sword screamed through the air.
A gigantic crescent-shaped wave of compressed wind exploded outward with terrifying force.
Orochimaru was forced to raise his own Kusanagi Sword to defend himself, but it was useless.
Boom!!!
The violent slash cut directly through his body.
Orochimaru's final White Serpent body was split cleanly in half.
"AAARGHHHH!"
This was no ordinary vessel.
It was his true White Serpent form—the body he had painstakingly perfected over countless years. Losing it meant he could no longer recover as easily as before.
"Well done, Naruto!"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and formed another set of hand seals.
"This is goodbye… my student."
"The Fifth Great Offensive!"
In an instant, five different elemental attacks erupted together.
Wind.
Earth.
Lightning.
Water.
Fire.
The five elemental ninjutsu merged into a devastating bombardment that completely engulfed Orochimaru's body.
The White Serpent writhed violently inside the storm of destruction, twisting and thrashing in agony, but there was nowhere left to escape.
Only miserable screams echoed through the battlefield.
Watching the scene before him, Hiruzen's aged eyes slowly became clouded with tears.
"Farewell… Orochimaru."
Orochimaru let out one final furious roar.
"Damn you, Naruto… damn you, old man!"
"Do you really think I'll die so easily?!"
"I may lose today, but I will never truly disappear!"
"The day I return… all of you will die!"
"I am immortal!"
"Like a white snake shedding its skin, I will continue to live forever!"
"Mine—"
His voice suddenly stopped.
Slowly, the enormous White Serpent body turned to ash before everyone's eyes. The remains scattered into the wind and vanished completely.
One of the Legendary Sannin…
The man believed to have achieved immortality…
Orochimaru had fallen.
Chapter 155 – Promotion to Jonin! Fame Across the Shinobi World! The New Chunin Exams Begin!
Hiruzen Sarutobi silently watched the ashes drift away.
Unexpectedly, tears rolled down the old Hokage's face.
The wrinkles carved into his aged features seemed deeper than ever.
Nearby, Monkey King Enma returned from his Adamantine Staff form to his original body and glanced toward Hiruzen.
"What's wrong, Hiruzen?" Enma asked quietly. "Does killing your own student still pain you that much?"
Hiruzen shook his head slowly, unwilling to answer.
But suddenly—
White smoke began rising from Orochimaru's ashes.
Hiruzen's expression changed immediately.
"Quick! Retreat, Naruto!"
Naruto did not understand what was happening, but his instincts were sharp enough to react instantly. He jumped backward without hesitation.
"What is that?!"
Hiruzen frowned deeply.
"The poison hidden inside the White Serpent body… Once the body is damaged, the poisonous mist is automatically released. Anyone caught in it could die without even realizing they'd been poisoned."
Naruto stared in disbelief.
"Even after dying, that freak still causes trouble…"
Hiruzen sighed heavily.
"That was Orochimaru."
Naruto hesitated for a moment before asking the question that weighed on everyone's mind.
"Did he really die?"
"Yes," Hiruzen replied.
"But just like he said… he probably isn't completely gone."
Naruto blinked.
"What does that even mean?"
Hiruzen looked toward the fading ashes.
"Orochimaru's research into ninjutsu and forbidden techniques surpassed almost everyone else in history."
"Especially his obsession with immortality."
"He may have reached a level no one has ever achieved before."
"We destroyed his true body today, but knowing Orochimaru… he undoubtedly prepared other methods to survive."
"One day, he may return."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"That's actually possible?"
"Most people would call it impossible," Hiruzen admitted. "But Orochimaru was never an ordinary man."
Seeing Naruto's shocked expression, the old Hokage smiled faintly and gently patted his head.
"Don't worry, Naruto."
"Even if he does return someday, it won't happen anytime soon."
"For now… Orochimaru is gone, and our mission is complete."
"That man's lifelong ambitions ended here today."
"At last… the darkness in my heart can finally rest."
At that moment, Sasuke and Hinata approached.
Both stared silently at the ashes left behind by Orochimaru.
"What a monster…" Sasuke muttered quietly.
As he looked at the battlefield, countless thoughts ran through his mind.
If Naruto had never brought him back…
Would he have eventually become Orochimaru's next vessel?
Would he have ended up dying just as tragically?
Sasuke didn't know the answer.
Beside him, Hinata hurried toward Naruto with worry written all over her face.
"Naruto-kun… are you alright?"
Naruto clenched his fists.
His body was exhausted, his clothes torn apart, and his chakra nearly depleted, but he still forced his usual bright grin onto his face.
"Of course I'm fine!"
Then he looked back at her.
"What about you, Hinata? How are your injuries?"
Hinata smiled softly.
Her face was still pale, and sweat covered her forehead, but she nodded gently.
"Karin already healed me."
Naruto immediately turned toward Karin.
"Thank you, Karin!"
Karin gave a bitter smile and shook her head.
"No… I should be the one thanking all of you."
"If you hadn't saved me, I would've either been killed by the Grass Village shinobi… or turned into one of Orochimaru's experiment subjects."
"Either fate would've been worse than death."
She looked at Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata before bowing deeply.
"Thank you… truly."
Naruto scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Ahaha, you don't have to be so formal!"
Hinata then turned toward Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama… what will happen to Karin now?"
Hiruzen's expression softened.
"An orphan of the Uzumaki Clan…"
He sighed quietly.
"When Uzushiogakure was destroyed, Konoha was too occupied with its own conflicts to help. It remains one of our greatest regrets."
"But you don't need to worry anymore."
"Konoha will accept you."
"The Uzumaki Clan has deep ties with our village. Both the First Hokage and the Fourth Hokage married members of the Uzumaki Clan."
"You could even say our bloodlines have been connected for generations."
"You may return to Konoha with us."
Karin's eyes widened with disbelief.
"R-Really?!"
"Thank you so much, Hokage-sama!"
Hiruzen chuckled softly.
"I'm not Hokage anymore…"
"But I can still make decisions like this."
Naruto and Hinata exchanged relieved glances.
Finally…
Everything was over.
Naruto stretched his aching body and sighed.
"I seriously didn't expect a simple B-rank mission to turn into something this insane…"
"Still, I never thought you adults would use Team 7 like this!"
Hiruzen laughed loudly.
"That was Jiraiya and Tsunade's idea, not mine."
"If you want to complain, go complain to those two."
Naruto's eyes widened immediately.
"What?!"
"That pervy sage and Granny Tsunade?!"
"Those terrible adults!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Soon afterward, Hiruzen turned his attention toward the Grass Village ANBU.
His expression became cold once more.
"Konoha and the Grass Village have always maintained peaceful relations."
"However, no matter your reasons, the cruel treatment inflicted upon a child is unforgivable."
"If the Grass Village is dissatisfied with our actions today, Konoha is fully prepared to respond."
"But if you wish to preserve peace between our villages… then let this matter end here."
The Grass Village ANBU exchanged nervous glances.
After witnessing Orochimaru's defeat and Team 7's terrifying strength, none of them dared to argue any further.
The difference in power was overwhelming.
Moreover, they knew they were the ones in the wrong from the beginning.
"O-Of course…"
"The Grass Village wishes to maintain friendly relations with Konoha for generations to come!"
Hiruzen's cold gaze finally softened, returning to his usual gentle smile.
"Good."
"That's for the best."
With Orochimaru defeated, the mission was finally complete.
Team 7 successfully brought Karin back with them as they returned to Konoha alongside Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Yamato had successfully infiltrated Orochimaru's hidden base.
Naturally, Orochimaru himself was already gone.
However, they encountered something even more shocking.
The reanimated First and Second Hokage.
Senju Hashirama.
Senju Tobirama.
This time, Orochimaru's Edo Tensei was far more complete than before. The two Hokage possessed greater awareness and strength than during previous encounters.
Fortunately, Jiraiya had already fought against them multiple times in the past. Because of that, he had gradually learned both the strengths and weaknesses of the Edo Tensei technique.
After a difficult battle, the group managed to survive without suffering major casualties.
Then, at the exact moment Orochimaru died, the control talismans embedded inside the reanimated Hokage suddenly lost their effect.
Although the Edo Tensei itself did not disappear, the brothers temporarily regained their free will.
The fighting immediately stopped.
Both sides quickly explained the current situation.
Hashirama appeared emotional after hearing everything, while Tobirama remained calm and analytical as always.
At last, Tobirama spoke.
"Now that we've regained our will… that can only mean one thing."
"That vile Orochimaru is dead."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)