Chapter 88: All or Nothing
Kabuto Yakushi's abilities had always been a mystery. At this point in time, there was hardly any concrete information about his combat prowess. But his talent for deception and covert operations was undeniably impressive—truly the mark of an elite spy.
The sword that pierced through Hiruzen Sarutobi's chest was imbued with chakra, its blade twisting with the force of the Mystical Palm Technique, shredding the internal organs in his left chest.
Hiruzen stared in disbelief at the blade that had stolen his vitality, the feeling of powerlessness spreading throughout his body.
Even with the elixir, such a critical wound is beyond recovery.
The elixir was merely a catalyst to boost cell vitality and bodily functions—it wasn't a true healing potion. Severe damage to vital organs was far beyond its restorative scope. Without some unique constitution or regenerative ability, this injury meant certain death.
Having survived a seemingly impossible predicament, Orochimaru couldn't help but let out a maniacal laugh.
"Damn you, old man... Go die alone!"
Not far away, Danzo Shimura was still entangled with Manda, unable to approach.
Going around in circles only led back to the starting point? How futile—all these casualties and destruction for nothing.
Mizuki's clone looked up at the sky, feeling a strange sense of helplessness.
Is fate truly that unchangeable? Or is there some unseen force manipulating all of this?
The entire battlefield was in chaos. Though not many were dead, the number of wounded was staggering. Medical ninjas on-site struggled to keep up, and Mizuki himself occasionally lent a helping hand.
Everything seemed to have been thrown into disarray by a series of coincidences and missteps, but in reality, it was human nature that drove these events to unfold this way. The idea of fate or destiny might seem absurd, but talented people always found a way to rise to the top, while mediocrity remained stuck in the mud.
What about me? Mizuki couldn't help but question himself. In his past life, he was just an ordinary person. Did being transported to this world suddenly make things easier? Naruto, as the child of destiny, naturally held the spotlight. In comparison, Mizuki's efforts often felt insignificant and exhausting.
But it's not time to give up.
There were still three years left, and Mizuki planned to make the most of them.
While Mizuki's mind wandered, the battle between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru was reaching its climax.
Hiruzen's strength was rapidly waning. Even though the elixir continued to restore his vitality, it couldn't keep up with the catastrophic damage. A massive portion of his soul had already been torn out and was being pulled back into his body. Despite Hiruzen's iron will, his hands trembled from the strain.
Seeing the soul retracting, Orochimaru's face twisted with a mixture of relief and malice. He slowly regained his mobility, and his confidence began to surge again.
Hiruzen could feel his consciousness slipping away, but he mustered his last ounce of strength.
"Even if I can't kill you... I will take back all the techniques I taught you. Live the rest of your life in agony without ninjutsu."
As he spoke, Hiruzen's sight grew dim, and his body leaned backward.
So... this is death.
But suddenly, an Anbu figure appeared behind Orochimaru, thrusting a sword straight through his abdomen. The blade didn't stop—it continued forward, stabbing into Hiruzen's heart.
"What...?" Hiruzen coughed blood, his strength rapidly fading.
The Anbu removed his mask, revealing the unmistakable face of Kabuto Yakushi.
"Impossible... I should have noticed," Hiruzen murmured weakly.
Kabuto smirked, leaning closer to the dying Hokage.
"Too focused on Orochimaru—that's your weakness, Third Hokage. You dropped your guard at the worst possible moment."
Orochimaru's triumphant laughter echoed throughout the arena, drowning out the sound of Hiruzen's last breaths.
"Sensei, you always were too soft-hearted. That's why you lost."
Mizuki's clone clenched his fists in frustration.
Damn it... Even the Reaper Death Seal couldn't claim him. Things just went from bad to worse.
With Hiruzen critically injured and the Reaper Death Seal's power dissipating, Orochimaru's chances of survival surged. The tide had turned once more.
"Move it, Kabuto. We're leaving!" Orochimaru ordered, his voice strained and his hands lifeless.
"Understood," Kabuto replied without hesitation. He sheathed his bloodstained blade and moved to support Orochimaru.
"Don't worry about Manda?" Kabuto asked.
"Forget him. I'm in no condition to control that snake," Orochimaru snapped.
Seeing their master attempting to flee, the Sound Four, exhausted and battered, immediately regrouped and formed a defensive perimeter around Orochimaru. Using their remaining chakra and skills, they fought off any attempts at pursuit.
"Let's go!" Kabuto urged, guiding the weakened Orochimaru through the chaos. Sound ninja reinforcements continued to distract and delay Konoha's forces.
Danzo looked at the unfolding chaos, his face expressionless but his mind calculating.
The Third is dead... but Orochimaru is also on his last legs. Taking him down now would be ideal.
Several Root shinobi received Danzo's silent signal and began pursuing the retreating Sound group.
Mizuki's clone glanced at the scene and felt a surge of mixed emotions.
Orochimaru's at his weakest. Killing him now could change everything... but who's capable of pulling it off?
The battle had taken a drastic turn, and with Konoha's leader fallen, the village was plunged into uncertainty. Orochimaru's last gamble might yet secure his escape, but his injuries left him vulnerable, perhaps for the first time in his life.
As the dust settled, Mizuki couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
If we let him go now... he'll only return stronger and more dangerous.
But at that moment, chaos reigned supreme. The best Konoha could hope for was to mitigate the damage and regroup for the next inevitable confrontation.
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