Chapter 87: One Fatal Strike
The battle between Gamabunta and Shukaku had escalated from probing strikes to a full-on clash. Gamabunta's strength was inherently inferior to that of a tailed beast, as his flesh and blood couldn't match Shukaku's sand-based form. Thus, Gamabunta began using his weapon—his enormous longsword. Despite the oddity of a toad wielding a sword, the upright posture and masterful swordsmanship displayed an undeniable sense of grandeur.
The two colossal creatures clashed head-on, and the sound of steel meeting sand echoed throughout the battlefield. In the aftermath, Shukaku's massive sandy right arm was sliced cleanly off. However, the tremendous impact caused Gamabunta to lose his grip on the blade, sending it soaring in an arc before embedding itself into the ground some distance away.
Staring at the dismembered arm of sand, Mizuki's pupils contracted in disbelief.
How can this be? The detached arm just dissolved back into sand? It didn't retain any tailed beast chakra? Did I miscalculate?
It seemed that he had misunderstood. In the original timeline, the sandy arm that enveloped Sakura was actively controlled by Gaara, imbued with both his will and chakra. But here, the arm severed by Gamabunta's blade had been abandoned by the tailed beast altogether.
As expected, the physical form is irrelevant. It's all about chakra. What should I do now? Moving forward recklessly would be foolish. Should I just give up?
The moment of Shukaku's full awakening was approaching, and once the Fake Sleep Technique activated, the rampaging beast would unleash wind blasts indiscriminately. Staying too close would be exceedingly dangerous.
Giving up left a bitter taste, but at this point, it seemed like the only sensible choice.
Meanwhile, at the Chunin Exam arena, the chaotic battlefront was drawing closer to the spectator stands. Particularly troublesome were the reanimated corpses of the First and Second Hokage, whose undying nature and relentless attacks were pushing Konoha's forces to their limits.
"Sarutobi, we can't keep this up much longer," said Enma, still fighting alongside the Third Hokage.
"I know," Sarutobi replied with a grim expression. "There's no other way. Even if it means condemning my teachers' souls to eternal unrest, I must end this. As long as I can take Orochimaru with me, it will be worth it."
On the other side, Danzo Shimura was locked in combat with Orochimaru and Manda, his summoned Baku aiding him in battle. Even though he was holding his ground, Danzo intentionally avoided revealing his full strength. It wouldn't do to show all his cards just yet. Besides, even if Hiruzen died, claiming credit for protecting the village would strengthen his bid for the Hokage position.
Just then, both Orochimaru and Danzo noticed something strange—Hiruzen had created multiple shadow clones, more than he should logically be able to maintain.
How could he be using so many clones after expending that much power?
While Orochimaru remained ignorant of the Reaper Death Seal, Danzo immediately grasped the situation.
Sarutobi... I always knew you were resolute, but even I must admire your resolve.
More than a decade ago, when the Nine-Tails attacked the village, Danzo had been too weak and wounded from years of warfare to fight. He could only watch helplessly as Hiruzen battled the beast and Minato sacrificed his life. Danzo's ambition to become Hokage was overshadowed by his inability to act, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
Now, seeing Hiruzen's resolve once more stirred old memories of respect and frustration.
One by one, Hiruzen successfully sealed the souls of Tobirama and Hashirama, causing the vast forest summoned by Wood Release to gradually dissipate.
"What... what is this?" Orochimaru murmured, shocked to see the seemingly unstoppable Hokage ancestors finally subdued. "Does Konoha have secret techniques I never learned about?"
"Orochimaru, there's much you don't know," Danzo scoffed as he parried an attack from Manda. "A mere rogue ninja like you will never truly match Konoha. Today marks your defeat—and your death."
Orochimaru gritted his teeth, his confident sneer faltering. "Death? I refuse to die here! There's still so much I need to accomplish!"
"You have no chance," Hiruzen stated, appearing directly in front of Orochimaru with unimaginable speed. Two shadow clones restrained Orochimaru's arms as Hiruzen's real body placed his hands on Orochimaru's shoulders.
"Orochimaru, it's over. The price of your transgressions is your soul—an eternal sacrifice to the Shinigami."
A sudden chill shot through Orochimaru's body as he felt a spectral presence enveloping him. A terrifying, soul-wrenching sensation paralyzed him. For the first time, genuine fear showed on Orochimaru's face.
"What... what is that behind you?" he whispered, his voice shaking.
Hiruzen's lips curved into a rare smile. "Feel it, Orochimaru? That's the Shinigami—the god of death. You and I will battle eternally within its belly, never finding peace."
Just then, a figure moved behind Orochimaru, silent and swift—a masked Anbu with a drawn sword aimed directly at Orochimaru's back. Hiruzen noticed the approach but didn't flinch, trusting his clones to maintain the grip.
The sword pierced straight through Orochimaru's abdomen—and continued forward, plunging directly into Hiruzen's chest.
"What...?" Hiruzen coughed up blood, his strength draining rapidly.
The Anbu removed the mask, revealing the familiar face of Kabuto Yakushi.
"Impossible... I should have noticed," Hiruzen whispered.
Kabuto smirked, leaning close to the old man. "You're too focused on Orochimaru, Third Hokage. That's what makes you weak. You let your guard down at the most critical moment."
As Hiruzen's vision blurred, Orochimaru's triumphant laughter echoed in his ears. Kabuto pulled the sword free, letting Hiruzen collapse to his knees.
Orochimaru, regaining his composure, sneered down at his fallen teacher. "You were always too sentimental, Sensei. That's why you've lost."
From a distance, Mizuki's clone clenched his fists. Damn it... That snake managed to outmaneuver even the Reaper Death Seal. Now things have really taken a turn for the worse.
The tide had shifted once more, and with Hiruzen critically wounded, Konoha's hope seemed to waver in the face of the relentless ambition of Orochimaru.
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