The God of Death had barely emerged before it suddenly recoiled and vanished once more, a scene so absurd that even the most battle-hardened shinobi present were left speechless. Was this truly the terrifying entity that claimed the souls of the dead? Or was it merely a cowardly specter fleeing for its own survival?
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared in disbelief. He had unleashed the Dead Demon Consuming Seal with full resolve, prepared to drag his student Orochimaru to the grave alongside him. Yet, before the sealing could even take effect, the God of Death had fled? He had steeled himself for this moment, but now, clutching Orochimaru's leg, he could feel only a deep and gnawing embarrassment.
His body was failing him. The years had weighed him down, and after suffering Minato's Rasengan and Kushina's Adamantine Sealing Chains, he knew that even if he survived, he would be crippled beyond recovery. That was why he had chosen to sacrifice himself—to take down the wayward disciple he had once cherished.
But now, the Reaper had abandoned him. What was he supposed to do? Activate the jutsu again? Could he even muster the chakra to try? And then, there was the young man who had dismissed the God of Death so effortlessly—Souta Kazuki.
Hiruzen's mind raced as he recalled a peculiar event from past, a moment buried in the depths of his memory. The incident during the Academy days, when Souta had accidentally reverse-summoned himself into another realm… Was it possible? Had he somehow formed a connection with the God of Death back then? If that was true, then this boy's potential was beyond anything he had imagined.
Hiruzen clenched his teeth, forcing himself to focus. He couldn't dwell on the past now. He had failed too many times already. But this time, he would not fail.
"Souta Kazuki! Leave this place! This is not a battle for you!" Hiruzen's voice rang out with surprising strength. He pushed himself to his feet, blood dripping from his lips, his aged body trembling from the exertion. "I have made mistakes my entire life, but this time, I will not falter! Today, I will protect Konoha with my life!"
He turned his gaze to the young shinobi, his vision blurring. "Souta! Remember this! Wherever the leaves dance, the fire burns bright! The fire's shadow will illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout! That is Konoha's Will of Fire!"
With a final burst of strength, Hiruzen surged forward, his battered body moving faster than it had in years. He threw himself at Orochimaru, launching a desperate attack with every ounce of chakra he had left.
Souta stood frozen for a moment, watching the spectacle unfold. He had never admired the Third Hokage, but at this moment, the old man truly embodied the spirit of a shinobi.
Minato Namikaze, watching from the side, clenched his fists. The words that Hiruzen had once spoken to him echoed in his mind. The Will of Fire… He had once believed in it, carried it in his heart. But now? Now, he had returned, not as the Fourth Hokage, but as a man seeking vengeance.
Kushina Uzumaki felt a complex mix of emotions. She had once respected Hiruzen, had believed that he would protect her son as he had promised. Yet, the sight of Naruto suffering alone, ostracized, and starving had shattered that belief. Betrayal from family hurt more than anything else.
Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha remained cold and silent, their hatred burning beneath their composed exteriors. The man who had allowed their clan to be slaughtered, who had turned their son into a tool—his death was long overdue.
Orochimaru watched Hiruzen's desperate charge with an eerie calm. He knew what his former teacher intended.
"Sensei…" he muttered under his breath. "Let me send you off properly."
A serpent slithered from Orochimaru's mouth, revealing the gleaming edge of the Kusanagi blade. In one fluid motion, he grasped the sword and drove it straight into Hiruzen's chest.
The impact was brutal. Blood gushed from the wound, staining the Hokage's robes as he staggered. Yet, even as his strength left him, a faint smile lingered on his lips.
"Orochimaru… In my heart… you were always my most gifted student…" Hiruzen gasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "You never had Tsunade's noble lineage… nor Jiraiya's boundless luck… Cough… cough… If only… if only you had not followed Danzo…"
His vision blurred, and his body felt impossibly heavy. "Perhaps… you would have been… the Fourth Hokage…"
His arm, which had been grasping Orochimaru's, suddenly went limp. His body sagged, collapsing into his student's arms.
Orochimaru held him for a brief moment, his golden eyes reflecting an unreadable emotion. Then, with cold finality, he placed the lifeless body of the Third Hokage gently onto the ground.
"Sensei…" Orochimaru murmured. "Rest well."
Silence fell over Konoha.
The Konoha Crush had ended. The Third Hokage had fought alone, and no one had come to his aid. Kakashi had restrained the ANBU, ensuring that no unnecessary bloodshed occurred. The clan leaders had remained passive, their shinobi only assisting in civilian evacuations. The Hyuga had locked their gates, refusing to involve themselves in the conflict.
And then there was Root…
Deep beneath Konoha, in the shadows of an underground chamber, Danzo Shimura sat alone, his single eye unreadable as he tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair. His mind was a storm of calculations, his next moves falling into place like pieces on a shogi board.
Sarutobi was dead.
For the first time in decades, the seat of Hokage was vacant.
Danzo's lips curled into the faintest smirk.
"Sarutobi… I told you, didn't I?" he muttered. "You would regret it… Everything I did was for Konoha."
His fingers tightened into a fist.
"Now… it is my turn."
"Sarutobi! This time...l am the Hokage!!!"