Chapter 13 — Isn't Killing One's Teacher a Konoha Tradition?
Amid the eerie laughter, the Death God's massive hand—covered in black curse markings—slowly extended forward. It pierced straight through Sarutobi Hiruzen's body and plunged into Orochimaru's torso, its five fingers gradually tightening as though grasping something intangible.
Back then, when Namikaze Minato used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to split the Nine-Tails in two—sealing one half within himself and the other within Naruto—Hiruzen, fearing that another Nine-Tails disaster might occur due to the jinchūriki's youth, had secretly learned the technique as Konoha's ultimate safeguard.
Now, seeing himself use this mutual-destruction forbidden jutsu on his former beloved disciple filled him with indescribable emotions.
What kind of feeling is this?
Orochimaru clearly could not see the Death God. He only sensed that something terrible was about to happen to him. Yet his body was rigid, completely immobile, and a trace of fear surfaced in his eyes.
As the Death God's arm began slowly retracting, Orochimaru mustered every ounce of strength to raise his arm bit by bit, forming a sword seal to regain control of the Kusanagi Sword.
The unattended Kusanagi Sword suddenly emitted a dazzling white light. It rose into the air, trembling faintly as it adjusted its angle, its tip locking onto Hiruzen from afar.
"Die!"
Master and disciple of the Third generation shouted in unison. The Kusanagi Sword shot forward at blinding speed toward Hiruzen, while the Death God's arm pulled harder, extracting a semi-transparent mass of light from Orochimaru's body.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed everywhere. The Kusanagi Sword mercilessly pierced through Hiruzen's body from behind. Had Enma not reached out in time from where he lay on the ground to seize the vibrating blade, Hiruzen's torso might have been completely skewered.
"Why… didn't you dodge?"
Orochimaru's strike had been meant more to break free than to kill. Seeing Hiruzen stand there without evading, taking the blow head-on, his golden vertical pupils contracted sharply.
Hiruzen did not answer. He continued urging the Death God behind him, steadily pulling Orochimaru's soul from his body.
Sensing death closing in, Orochimaru desperately attempted to form hand seals to counterattack—only to discover that the chakra within him was no longer responding to his control.
"There was no need for me to dodge. I will die regardless. When the sealing is complete, my soul will be devoured as well. This is the same forbidden technique once used by the Fourth Hokage—the hero who saved the village. And you will die with me."
Large beads of sweat slid down Orochimaru's forehead. His eye twitched as he recalled the origin of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
"This is the jutsu that sealed the Nine-Tails back then?"
The long strand of prayer beads wrapped around the Death God's arm slid back gradually. The semi-transparent soul took on a clearer human shape, deepening Orochimaru's fear. He struggled desperately, yet his body refused to obey.
"What a joke! You decrepit old fool—I won't let you have your way!"
Orochimaru strained to move his sword fingers. The Kusanagi Sword embedded in Hiruzen's body inched forward. The searing pain made it difficult for Hiruzen to continue controlling the Death God. The partially extracted soul slowly receded back into Orochimaru's body.
Cough!
A mouthful of blood sprayed from Hiruzen's lips. His once-straight posture gradually bent.
"It seems… I no longer have the strength to extract your entire soul…"
The killing intent in Hiruzen's eyes faded. In his mind, images of the Three Sannin as youths surfaced one after another.
"Orochimaru, you indulged in ninjutsu and squandered it. I shall give you the punishment most fitting for you—taking away all the ninjutsu you have mastered!"
What did you say?
Before Orochimaru could further drive the Kusanagi Sword forward, the gravely wounded Hiruzen mustered his remaining strength to pull the soul from Orochimaru's arms out of his body bit by bit.
The phantom of the Death God moved. Its other hand removed the short blade clenched in its mouth, raised it high, and brought it down in a decisive slash.
"Could it be… No!"
As if sensing something, Orochimaru lifted his head toward the empty space behind Hiruzen and let out a panicked cry.
"Seal!"
An invisible blade flashed. Orochimaru and Hiruzen were violently separated and thrown backward. As Hiruzen shouted, dazzling light burst from his chest, forming a massive sealing formula.
"My hands…"
Orochimaru tried desperately to lift his arms, only to discover they hung limply at his sides. A deathly gray spread at alarming speed, and he completely lost sensation in both hands.
"Now your hands are useless. You can no longer form hand seals, nor cast ninjutsu. Your plan to destroy Konoha has failed!"
Hiruzen was clearly at the end of his strength, yet his voice remained thunderous. There was no fear of death in his eyes—only the joy of having successfully protected Konoha.
Destroy Konoha?
Outside the light screen, Hiruzen's pupils shrank. At last, he understood why the future him—who had once shown mercy to Orochimaru—would resort to the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to perish together with him.
Without question, Orochimaru's intent to destroy Konoha had touched Hiruzen's reverse scale.
Hiruzen's gaze swept across Danzo's face. Seeing the latter struggling to suppress the curve of his lips, he sighed inwardly.
"May I ask, when does this take place?"
It was not that Hiruzen wished to escape his fate. Rather, he wanted to prepare for the succession of the Hokage in advance. Especially Danzo—his ambition must never be allowed to taint the Hokage's seat.
"That isn't important, is it? The future is ever-changing. I merely displayed one possible outcome. The real question is—now that you know your fate, can you alter it?"
Before Hiruzen could respond, a strange smile appeared on Tetsuya's face.
"Still, killing one's teacher truly is Konoha's fine tradition. Past or future, the same drama keeps repeating itself."
Before Hiruzen could grasp the meaning of those words, Tetsuya suddenly closed his palm. The blood that belonged to Hiruzen vanished instantly.
"Not good—seize him!"
As if realizing something, Hiruzen shouted orders for the ANBU to act, while he himself lunged toward Tetsuya without hesitation. Yet before he could even pass through the light screen, Tetsuya's figure began to fade and disappeared before his eyes.
The instantaneous movement Kakashi mentioned—seemingly involving flames?
But I ordered the ANBU to extinguish every open flame in the vicinity.
Hiruzen waved his arm. The ANBU scattered in all directions, searching for Tetsuya's trace.
Knowing the chances were slim, Hiruzen did not leave. His gaze returned to the light screen, watching as his future self's eyes slowly closed, no longer able to hear Orochimaru's curses.
"Wherever leaves dance, there is fire. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, new leaves shall sprout…"
Upon hearing those final words, Hiruzen's eyes grew resolute.
This old man's death is nothing—after all, it is the consequence of my earlier softness in letting Orochimaru go. But Konoha must not suffer further losses because of this. Otherwise, it could ignite a new war!
Jiraiya, Tsunade—even if I must cast aside my pride, I will bring you back to Konoha!
---
"Another ten days to wait…"
Inside a room, Tetsuya opened his eyes, sighing inwardly in disappointment.
Soon after, shifting lights formed before his eyes. A massive roulette wheel appeared, its pointer spinning at high speed.
What ability will I obtain from Sarutobi Hiruzen?
Watching the options flash past, anticipation filled Tetsuya's face.
Note—
In case you guys forgot just like I did, again.
[Sealed Artifact: Gift of Time and Fate]
[Beyonder Ability 1: Every ten days, condense a marionette possessing the status of Sequence 2, retaining Fool pathway abilities below demigod level.]
[Beyonder Ability 2: The marionette can summon projections from the River of History—images or even fragments of time itself—but must possess extremely detailed knowledge of the corresponding history and subject. The more detailed and accurate the understanding, the higher the success rate and the longer the duration. It may also obtain partial abilities from the target.]