Chapter 20: The End
Chapter 20: The End
"Orochimaru, your ambitions end here."
As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, the Grim Reaper behind him stirred, and with its other arm, it forcefully pulled out the ninja sword from its mouth.
Sensing that something terrible was about to happen, Orochimaru's face tightened as he rebutted:
"No! My ambitions will not be stopped!"
As he spoke, he pulled his soul back with even greater force.
But it was already too late.
Hiruzen's expression remained calm as the Grim Reaper's sword swung down. With a loud proclamation, he declared:
"Orochimaru, you have indulged and squandered your ninja techniques. The most fitting punishment I can think of is to take away every jutsu you have mastered."
"No!" Orochimaru's face twisted in shock, his voice piercing, "Stop!"
"Seal!"
Hiruzen commanded, and the Grim Reaper's sword slashed down without hindrance. It sliced through the portion of Orochimaru's soul that belonged to his hands and instantly sealed it within Hiruzen's body.
"No!"
Orochimaru could only watch helplessly as his hands turned black and purple, eventually falling limp and useless.
Hiruzen, with his last breath, observed this and said faintly, "Now your hands are powerless. Since you can't use your hands, you can't perform hand seals. Orochimaru, you will never be able to perform ninjutsu again. Your plan to destroy Konoha has failed."
"You old fool! Give me back my hands!" Orochimaru screamed in rage, his ability to use ninjutsu lost along with his sealed hands.
"You've become foolish, Orochimaru," Hiruzen smiled. "Although I regret not being able to take you with me, my disciple, we will meet again in the next world."
"And also, Elder Hayagami."
Hiruzen turned his head with difficulty to look at Hayagami Fugetsu, his eyes filled with memories as he said,
"Since we were young, the elders in our family used you, Elder Hayagami, to inspire us. As a man who rivals the gods, I do not know what your true intentions are. But!!!"
Hiruzen's eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance.
He looked directly at Hayagami and finally said:
"Where the leaves of Konoha flutter, the Will of Fire burns eternally!"
"When us old folks pass away, there will always be a new generation to take up our mantle and continue our mission. No matter what your intentions are, Elder Hayagami, I believe that the next generation of Konoha's ninja will fearlessly face any challenge!"
"Elder Hayagami, I await you in the world that belongs to us."
With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes for the last time.
And so,
Year 60 of Konoha, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, passed away at the age of 69.
Ignoring Orochimaru's hatred, despair, and the faint trace of confusion and sorrow in his angry shouts, Hayagami Fugetsu watched as Hiruzen's body slowly fell to the ground. He remained silent for a moment.
The man who carried the memories of his previous life as a young ninja was truly gone.
What surprised him was that Hiruzen, in his final moments, had spoken about the Will of Fire.
Was he reminding him not to underestimate the current generation of Konoha ninja?
Even without the Hokage, Konoha would produce more exceptional individuals who would step up and fulfill their destined missions.
What a noble spirit.
It must be said that during Hiruzen's decades-long rule, there may have been various issues.
But at this moment, he had truly fulfilled the responsibility of a Hokage.
It's just...
Why do they all see me as some kind of apocalyptic maniac?
Is it wrong to seize any opportunity to survive?
And most importantly, why do they keep calling me 'Elder'?
With his hands unable to perform seals, the last vestige of threat from Orochimaru was gone.
This was why Yu Yi Xuan Yue had quietly waited beside Hiruzen, anticipating the use of the Shiki Fujin to seal away his soul.
Noticing Orochimaru's unwavering gaze on Hiruzen's body, Yu Yi Xuan Yue hooked his lips in a mocking smile.
"What? Not going to take out your anger on your teacher's corpse?"
"The dead are not worth my time," Orochimaru replied in a hoarse voice.
Orochimaru was a clever man. Though he was now wary of Yu Yi Xuan Yue, he understood his current state, and he knew that with the Edo Tensei's control gone, there was no longer any conflict between them.
Yu Yi Xuan Yue had clearly maneuvered to gain control over himself, and he did not seem to intend to simply observe the mortal world and return to the underworld.
Orochimaru did not mind stirring up more trouble in the already tumultuous ninja world. In fact, he relished it.
"Yu Yi, welcome back to the mortal world. Are you interested in paying me a visit?" Orochimaru asked, his attitude shifting as he invited Yu Yi Xuan Yue to cooperate with him.
Yu Yi Xuan Yue glanced to his left and right, "You should figure out how to leave first."
Yu Yi Xuan Yue's primary goal upon returning to the mortal world was to find his physical body and resurrect himself. Everything else was secondary.
After the Leaf Destruction plan, Orochimaru had become a thorn in Konoha's side.
Yu Yi Xuan Yue, who had intended to let Orochimaru attract attention and make it easier for himself to act, was naturally not interested in teaming up with him at this moment.
Orochimaru, sensing Yu Yi Xuan Yue's refusal, did not seem to mind.
Even in his prime, he would never let his guard down around this ancient fox who had left a deep mark in history.
And now, without the use of his hands, he was even more cautious.
"Then, until we meet again," Orochimaru said, his hands hanging limply at his sides. He then instructed the Sound Four, "Our operation ends here. Dispel the barrier, we're leaving."
"Yes!"
The Sound Four clapped their hands, and the Four Purple Flames Formation immediately dispersed.
After ensuring their escape, two Sound ninja supported Orochimaru, one on each side, and together with the remaining two, they vanished, swiftly making their way out of Konoha.
"Don't even think about escaping!"
The ANBU ninja outside the barrier didn't have time to think and immediately moved to intercept them.
Yu Yi Xuan Yue paid no heed to Orochimaru's escape and scanned his surroundings. He then casually chose a direction with fewer people and made his way out of Konoha.
However, just as he leaped onto another rooftop, a blinding light flashed in the air.
Accompanied by the familiar chirping of a thousand birds, a figure sped towards him, right hand raised, a violent lightning bolt aiming straight for Yu Yi Xuan Yue's heart.
In that instant, Yu Yi Xuan Yue's face turned pale from the lightning, but he raised an eyebrow, a smile of surprise tugging at his lips as he said,
"Hasn't anyone told you that you're trying to teach a fish to swim?"
As his words landed, Yu Yi Xuan Yue extended his palm and accurately grasped the wrist of the incoming attacker, halting their advance.
The attacker had no choice but to stop, their head snapping up in shock, revealing a face hidden behind a black mask, with a blood-red Sharingan eye, exuding an ominous aura.
(End of Chapter)
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