At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly heard a sound coming from behind him!
"Flying Thunder God Technique!!!Third Hokage, long time no see!I'll take the fucking kidney!!!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't expect such an attack at all! There was no time to react.
BOOM!
A Rasengan struck him directly in the back! The force of the attack sent him flying dozens of meters away, crashing through debris and rolling across the ground like a ragdoll. His body tumbled violently before he finally came to a stop, coughing out blood as pain surged through him. He struggled to stand, his breath ragged, his entire body screaming in agony. He could feel it—his injuries were severe.
But at this moment, Hiruzen didn't care about his injuries at all. His trembling eyes were fixed on the figure standing before him.
"You..... Minato?!!"
The man before him was none other than Namikaze Minato. His golden hair swayed under the moonlight, his blue eyes filled with an unfathomable coldness. But what sent chills down Hiruzen's spine was not just Minato's appearance—it was the sheer hatred in his gaze.
Minato smirked. "Ah... I didn't expect that the Third Hokage-sama would still remember me, a mere civilian ninja, Namikaze Minato?"
Then his voice turned colder, sharper, dripping with sarcasm.
"I, Minato Namikaze, really want to thank Hokage-sama for taking such good care of my son all these years."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart clenched. Shame washed over him, but an even deeper feeling took hold—fear.
Because this was impossible.
Minato had been dead for years. He had personally seen the man perish during the Nine-Tails' attack. Yet, here he stood, alive, his presence undeniable.
"What the hell is going on?!"
Hiruzen tried to steady himself, to regain his composure, but Minato wasn't done speaking.
"Minato!!! Don't forget that you are the Fourth Hokage of Konoha Village!!!"
But Minato only scoffed.
"The Fourth Hokage?" His eyes darkened. "The Fourth Hokage is dead. Did you choose that, Sarutobi?!"
Minato's voice grew louder, filled with a burning rage.
"Today, Sarutobi Hiruzen, you will die! Even the Sage of Six Paths can't save you!"
Hiruzen's mind reeled. He couldn't believe the words coming out of Minato's mouth. This was not the Minato he had known. The man before him was filled with hatred.
Had he... truly done something wrong?
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
A sudden burst of laughter echoed in the air, sharp and mocking.
Before Hiruzen could react, BAM!
A golden chain struck him, sending him flying once again!
His body crashed through rubble, blood spilling from his lips as pain wracked his entire being. He coughed violently, struggling to lift his head. His eyes widened as he saw the figure who had attacked him.
Her crimson hair swayed, her violet eyes burned with fury, and her face twisted with disgust.
It was Uzumaki Kushina.
"What the hell are you looking at?!" she spat, stepping forward.
"Is there anything wrong with what my husband said?!"
She glared at Hiruzen, her killing intent almost suffocating.
"I really want to thank you, the Third Hokage, for taking care of my son over the years!!!"
Her voice dripped with venom.
"My son was hated! Bullied! He ate expired food while this village mocked him! All thanks to you, the Third Hokage!!!"
Kushina's golden chains rattled as her rage swelled.
"And you still have the nerve to look at my husband?!"
She raised her fist.
"Duel! Come out and challenge me!!!"
PFFT!
Hiruzen coughed out another mouthful of blood, his vision spinning. He couldn't believe what was happening.
"Kushina..." he muttered in disbelief.
But before he could process anything, footsteps echoed from another direction.
Hiruzen turned his head, and his pupils shrank in horror.
Two figures approached him with calm, measured steps.
"Uchiha Fugaku... Uchiha Mikoto..."
Fugaku's Sharingan gleamed ominously under the moonlight. His expression was unreadable, but the hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.
Mikoto, usually gentle and warm, had a cold, ruthless gaze.
"Long time no see, Third Hokage," Fugaku said, his voice void of warmth.
Hiruzen's body trembled.
Five people surrounded him. Five people who should not be standing before him.
His mind was in turmoil.
But what terrified him more than their presence was the realization that no one was coming to save him.
His mind raced.
"Where is Kakashi? Where is ANBU?!"
"Where is Danzo's Root?!"
"Where is Koharu?! Where is Mitokado Homura?!"
"Why is no one coming?!"
The truth struck him like a blade to the chest.
Kakashi had long since learned the truth. He knew what Hiruzen had done. Though saddened, he had chosen not to act. Instead, he had taken control of ANBU, ensuring that not a single ANBU member interfered.
Koharu and Homura had already fled.
And Danzo... Danzo wanted him dead.
Hiruzen's breath came in ragged gasps as he looked toward the village.
The major clans made no moves.
The Hyuga had sealed themselves inside their compound, refusing to interfere.
The other clans only sent a few members to help evacuate the civilians.
Not a single soul had come for him.
At that moment, memories flooded his mind.
The day he had taken the mantle of Hokage. The years he had spent guiding Konoha. The power he had wielded. The peace he had maintained.
But also—
The rumors that had spread unchecked, leading Hatake Sakumo to take his own life.
The moment he had let Hyuga Hizashi die for the sake of political balance.
The night he had allowed Uchiha Shisui to perish.
The Uchiha massacre.
The child he had abandoned—Naruto Uzumaki—left to suffer alone.
"If I had done things differently... would today have been different?"
Hiruzen lay motionless, his body too weak to move.
His past flashed before his eyes. The younger days spent training under his sensei. The time he had spent ruling as the Hokage.
The first half of his life had been glorious.
But in the latter half... he had been blinded by power.
"Is this really me?"
"Is this really the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
Wrong.
He had been wrong.
"Cough... cough..."
More blood spilled from his mouth.
Orochimaru stepped forward, looking down at him with an expression of mockery.
"Sensei... are you satisfied with the exit your student has prepared for you?"
Orochimaru spread his arms, gesturing to the chaos around them.
"Konoha is rotten. To make room for new growth, the old branches must be cut away."
His golden eyes gleamed.
"Sensei, you should be satisfied. You'll die as the Third Hokage—the hero of Konoha."
But then—
A hand shot out.
Hiruzen gripped Orochimaru's ankle.
"Orochimaru..." His voice was hoarse but firm.
"As your teacher... I am proud to have taught a student like you."
He coughed, his grip tightening.
"But I will never allow anyone to destroy Konoha!!!"
His voice roared with the last of his strength.
"Shiki Fūjin—Reaper Death Seal!!!"
Orochimaru's eyes widened in sheer panic.
"F-Fuck!!! Old man, are you insane?!?!"
"Hahahahahaha!!!" Hiruzen laughed madly.
In that instant—
The Shinigami appeared.
But then—
"Ahem..."
A calm voice interrupted everything.
A figure walked forward.
Souta Kazuki.
He looked at the Shinigami and simply said—
"Oi, Death God, get lost."
The Shinigami froze.
Then—
It vanished.
It still remembered the good beating it got from Hashirama, Madara and Tobirama...