"Hokage-sama…", Uchiha Itachi hadn't expected Sarutobi Hiruzen to vouch for him in front of so many Konoha shinobi, and he almost even revealed the hidden truth behind the Uchiha clan's massacre.
"It's better not to let the villagers know what happened back then," Although he was very grateful for Sarutobi Hiruzen's trust, Uchiha Itachi had his own principles.
He didn't want Konoha to bear infamy because of him.
He alone would carry the sin of the massacre.
Moreover, if Sasuke were to learn the truth too early, the Konoha hero training plan he had arranged for Sasuke would fall apart.
"I think this matter will be made public sooner or later. I just don't want to see you being misunderstood by everyone forever."
'Perhaps this matter regarding Uchiha Itachi can be used to divert future conflicts within the village…'
Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that if they tried to counterattack Sunagakure under the current circumstances, there would definitely be voices in the village opposing him.
To eliminate those voices, diverting attention and public sentiment might be a very effective strategy.
Therefore, even though he knew that what Uchiha Itachi said about continuing to conceal the truth was right, Sarutobi Hiruzen still intended to proceed with it.
"Third Hokage…", Uchiha Itachi didn't know what to say.
But he couldn't help but feel a bit of hope, if Sarutobi Hiruzen truly intended to help him clear his name in Konoha, then…
Maybe there was still a chance for him and Sasuke to be together.
"How touching. The traitor of Konoha, the sinner of the Uchiha clan, and yet so deeply connected with Teacher Sarutobi. Truly eye-opening," From the side, Orochimaru found the pairing of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uchiha Itachi strange no matter how he looked at it.
However…
Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!
While Uchiha Itachi and Sarutobi Hiruzen were "gazing at each other emotionally," Orochimaru took the opportunity to order his subordinates to activate the pre-arranged barrier around them.
With Konoha's large numbers, to avoid unnecessary interruptions, Orochimaru decided to stick to the original plan and deploy the barrier first.
With this barrier, even if Jiraiya arrived soon, he would be blocked for a while.
"But I didn't expect that Teacher and I would think alike, both not wanting others to interfere in this battle."
At this moment, Orochimaru also realized that Sarutobi Hiruzen had deliberately sent Kakashi and the others away earlier.
"I suppose to you, letting those useless people stay here would just be a burden, right?"
"I didn't think that."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared intently at the Orochimaru before him, and the Edo Tensei Rasa standing beside him.
Considering the effects of the forbidden jutsu Edo Tensei, the resurrected dead should not be able to possess the majority of their power from when they were alive.
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had used Edo Tensei long ago in wars against other villages, but unfortunately, it only served as a disruption tactic and was of limited use in actual combat.
Moreover, using this jutsu attracted condemnation and criticism from the entire ninja world.
Ultimately, it wasn't worth the cost.
But earlier, Edo Tensei Rasa had summoned underground gold dust from such a high elevation…
That was clearly extraordinary.
'Has Orochimaru, that guy, actually improved this overpowered forbidden jutsu, Edo Tensei?'
"And you, Orochimaru, were willing to risk killing the Fourth Kazekage just to get revenge on Konoha and assassinate me, this old man, what are you really after?"
"What for?", Upon hearing this question, Orochimaru couldn't help but sneer.
"Maybe… I simply wanted to send you, this old undying geezer, down to the afterlife, and while I'm at it, destroy your beloved Konoha. Is that answer good enough?"
"Still angry that I didn't recommend you back then?", Sarutobi Hiruzen had long sensed Orochimaru's intentions.
But what was done was done, and back then, Minato Namikaze was indeed the more suitable candidate.
"Yes, yes, yes, and also the matter of how you drove me out of Konoha like a stray dog, I still hold a grudge about that too. Is this answer satisfactory to you, Teacher?", Orochimaru mocked Sarutobi Hiruzen with a tone used for coaxing children.
"Such old matters from years ago, I no longer have the interest to hold grudges about them, Teacher. Don't treat me as that child who only followed behind you."
"Is that so?", Sarutobi Hiruzen knew very well just how contradictory his student could be.
"But you really are the type who doesn't need hatred or motive to act."
Still, to give Orochimaru a graceful exit, Sarutobi Hiruzen followed his words.
"So, Teacher, are you planning to beg me for mercy now, or planning to use that rogue ninja over there to deal with me?"
The moment he noticed Uchiha Itachi's eyes had turned into crimson Sharingan, Orochimaru had maintained his hand seals.
He had suffered losses too many times to the Mangekyō Sharingan, he couldn't be careless.
"Orochimaru, you seem to have known all along that I would bring Itachi to deal with you today?"
"And didn't Teacher also know I would attack today? You even deliberately made a 'deal' with me three days ago, worked out just right for you, huh?"
Not only did Sarutobi Hiruzen want to know who leaked information to Orochimaru, Orochimaru himself was just as eager to know where his own plan had leaked.
That Hiruzen had already noticed his scheme in advance.
And even prepared the powerful weapon, Uchiha Itachi, specifically for him.
"Orochimaru, you're still as smart and perceptive as ever…", Clearly, mere words would not get any useful intel out of Orochimaru.
Sarutobi Hiruzen knew his student's character well.
The only way to make Orochimaru talk, apart from that matter, was to first defeat him in battle.
"If I could, I really wish I could go back and educate you a little better."
"No need for that. I'm very, very satisfied with who I am now."
Riiip!
Orochimaru tore off the human-skin mask on his face, revealing a shockingly youthful female face.
"Could it be… not just Edo Tensei, but even that forbidden jutsu that even the Second Hokage failed to complete, Living Corpse Reincarnation, you've mastered it too?"
Seeing Orochimaru's youthful female face, Sarutobi Hiruzen was completely stunned.
"Fufufufu… That's right. I now have eternal youth and eternal life, I just need to change bodies from time to time."
After revealing his true face, Orochimaru's voice even became more feminine.
"Though the flesh changes often, my spirit is eternal and indestructible… Jealous, aren't you? My wrinkled old teacher who looks like he's one foot in the grave!"
Magnet Release: Gold Dust Funeral!
While guarding against Uchiha Itachi, Orochimaru continued to control Edo Tensei Rasa to attack Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Stealing other people's bodies to achieve immortality. Orochimaru, you really have gone down an evil path!", Sarutobi Hiruzen denounced Orochimaru righteously.
"This inhuman form is definitely not true immortality…"
Earth Release: Earth Flow River!
Seeing the massive wave of gold dust rushing toward him again, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly countered with one of his signature jutsu.
In an instant, the gray mud current and the golden wave of dust collided violently, forming a black torrent that soon canceled each other out and dispersed in all directions.
But just as the torrent subsided, several long spears formed from gold dust suddenly shot out from the black mud, aiming for Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was still forming hand seals.
"Hokage-sama!", Uchiha Itachi quickly used his Water Release: Water Fang Bullet Technique to block the golden spears for Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"You've really aged, Teacher Sarutobi. The old you would've never been overwhelmed by something like this gold dust."
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen almost get ambushed by Rasa, Orochimaru couldn't help but mock him again.
"Edo Tensei's summoned strength is nearly identical to that when they were alive? How did you do it, Orochimaru?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen had indeed misjudged Edo Tensei Rasa's power just now.
But more than that, he began to feel a growing interest in Orochimaru's Edo Tensei.
'This improved forbidden technique… might really be usable for… war.'
"Heh, this is something I only recently discovered. Speaking of which… I owe it all to you, Teacher."
"What are you talking about?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was completely puzzled by Orochimaru's words.
"Thanks to you bringing Uchiha Itachi here, thanks to the appearance of the masked man during your Chūnin Exams, I learned the weakness of Edo Tensei, and gradually discovered areas of improvement in the jutsu."
Originally, it was only to increase control over the resurrected ninja that he added the First Hokage Senju Hashirama's cells into the corpses, yet Orochimaru was pleasantly surprised. The more Hashirama cells added, not only did the restraint become stronger, but the summoned dead also regained power closer to when they were alive.
"And also, thanks to you, I finally found the long-lost corpse of Uchiha Shisui, the most talented genjutsu master of the Uchiha clan!"
Orochimaru's face revealed a mix of madness and glee, then he suddenly bit his finger and slapped it on the ground.
Summoning Technique!
In an instant, one, two, three, three white wooden coffins slowly rose up from the summoning barrier of his jutsu.
"Stop him!"
As soon as the name Uchiha Shisui was mentioned, not only Sarutobi Hiruzen, but even Uchiha Itachi's eternally stoic face showed a trace of panic.
———
"Gaara should be fine with Naruto and Sasuke over there."
'Time to do something meaningful.'
Uchiha Kage looked around.
Ino, Sakura, and the others were escorting the last remaining civilians toward Konoha's evacuation facilities. Ninja from Sunagakure who jumped out of the crowd were now battling Konoha's ANBU in scattered combat zones all across the stands and the square.
As well as corpses that occasionally fell down, had their throats slit, or were kicked away.
Uchiha Kage looked out.
The ground was covered in fragmented ninja gear and soul forms emerging from those corpses.
This scene wasn't something suitable for Kushina and Mikoto to see…
Before sending his shadow clones to clean up the corpses, Uchiha Kage first paused the "live broadcast" in the dream space.
"Yugao!"
Just as Uchiha Kage was about to look elsewhere, he suddenly heard a scream coming from a battle group nearby.
'If I am not mistaken, that is Gekko Hayate's voice?'
Instinctively looking up, Uchiha Kage quickly spotted Uzuki Yugao locked in a fierce battle with a Sunagakure ninja.
Though she wore a mask, the kunoichi's striking purple hair made her instantly recognizable.
———
Ding!
The ninja blade in Uzuki Yugao's hand was knocked to the ground by a surprise attack from a Sunagakure jōnin.
'Was I careless?'
Seeing the long blade fall from her hand, and the cold kunai rapidly approaching her face, Uzuki Yugao finally snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream.
She had been constantly paying attention to Uchiha Kage's direction.
And had personally witnessed him defeat dozens of Sunagakure ninja with astonishing techniques…
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