Chapter 144: Farewell

Chapter 144: Farewell

"Let's make a trade."

Senju Tobirama pointed at Konan and spoke calmly.

"She's marked with my Flying Thunder God seal. I can remove it, but you'll have to release Hiruzen and the others."

He refrained from calling Hiruzen Monkey in front of others.

Nagato's eyes grew colder.

"You're… threatening me…"

Tobirama's words stirred memories of his most painful experiences.

Konan, without hesitation, tore off her long sleeve and prepared to sever her own arm.

Tobirama, surprisingly more anxious than Nagato, quickly raised his hand to stop her.

"Don't!"

"I'll remove it for you!"

"Why are you both so impulsive?!"

"Have neither of you ever learned basic negotiation skills?!"

Nagato gripped Konan's hand tightly, his voice icy. "I'm not releasing anyone. If you dare use the Flying Thunder God to approach Konan, I'll kill you too!"

"Don't think being an Edo Tensei body makes you untouchable. I have plenty of ways to deal with souls."

Tobirama couldn't dismiss the threat. Nagato had already demonstrated his capabilities.

Realizing the situation was escalating, Tobirama shifted the conversation, softening his tone.

These new-age shinobi are far too quick to resort to violence…

"You heard Uchiha Kagami. You've seen the power of that monster."

"If we continue fighting, even if you win, will you have the strength left to face that creature?"

"Knowing Kagami as I do, if no one defeats it…"

"He might just let it slaughter everyone to end this battle."

Nagato frowned in silence.

If he were at full strength, he had the confidence to deal with the Magu Rō.

Its power was at most Nine-Tails level, and Chibaku Tensei could certainly seal it away.

But such a powerful Chibaku Tensei required immense chakra reserves.

Jiraiya was clearly weaker than Orochimaru, and now Konan was marked with the Flying Thunder God seal.

If he had to reserve strength to suppress Kinkaku, Ginkaku, and Hiruzen, fighting Tobirama would be even more difficult.

Jiraiya had never taught them negotiation tactics, but their past experiences had been enough. Nagato understood one truth:

The more you care, the more indifferent you must appear.

His expression remained cold. "It doesn't matter. My original goal was to gauge the gap between myself and Uchiha Kagami."

"Whether this battle ends or not is irrelevant to me."

"Tobirama, weren't you the one who wanted to kill them? Why the sudden concern for their lives?"

"Nagato…" Jiraiya hesitated, wanting to persuade him—at least to release the old man.

But a single glance from Nagato silenced him.

This once-timid boy… now radiated terrifying pressure.

Yahiko's death must have truly shattered him…

Jiraiya sighed inwardly, his heart heavy with guilt.

If only I had been more decisive and taken them away…

If I hadn't left to search for the Child of Prophecy…

Would Nagato have turned out differently?

Tap.

Jiraiya jumped beside Hiruzen.

"Old man, this is pathetic. You've been captured."

"Well," Hiruzen chuckled, bound by the wooden dragon. "Once again, you choose to side with your student."

"Being able to fully trust your disciple… Jiraiya, you've truly grown."

"If only I had handed Konoha to you and Orochimaru earlier… perhaps things would have turned out better."

Hiruzen turned to Tobirama.

"Tobirama-sensei, this new era has no place for me."

"Orochimaru, thank you for giving me a chance to properly say goodbye to Biwako… and to see little Konohamaru."

His Edo Tensei body began to crumble, and his soul seemed to break free from the wooden dragon's restraint.

Nagato sensed the anomaly and immediately tried to use the Human Path to extract Hiruzen's soul.

Whoosh!

Hiruzen dodged the grasp at an inconceivable speed, his spirit now radiating a faint blue glow.

"This is… Spirit Transformation Jutsu!"

Both Tobirama and Orochimaru recognized the technique instantly.

Nagato tensed, ready for another fight, but Hiruzen's soul drifted several meters away, smiling in relief.

"Finally… I knew this jutsu would come in handy. It took me long enough to master."

Hiruzen's expression softened, lighter than it had been in years.

With the Spirit Transformation Jutsu, he could sense other souls, no matter how far away they were.

Though the barrier limited his range, the people he wanted to see were right here.

"Farewell, Orochimaru. Jiraiya. Tobirama-sensei."

"I'm taking a vacation. It's been far too long since I've truly rested… I'm so tired."

His soul shimmered, turning into a streak of white light, vanishing from sight.

Jiraiya stood frozen, experiencing for the second time the true death of a teacher.

And this time, he had a gut feeling:

He would never see Hiruzen again.

Tobirama's words confirmed it.

"That monkey… he has no more regrets."

The Edo Tensei had an obscure condition:

A soul with no lingering attachments to the mortal world could not be summoned.

---

Elsewhere in the Forest of Death.

Sakumo Hatake led his team through stealth maneuvers. Before even his ninja dogs sensed it, he raised his hand, signaling everyone to be on guard.

He fixated on the source of his unease.

In the blink of an eye—

Hiruzen materialized before them.

"Third Hokage?!"

Sakumo's eyes widened, shock evident in his expression.

After all, this was the man he had once loyally served for decades.

Kakashi, however, gazed at Hiruzen with conflicted emotions. He now understood the truth of past events and couldn't help but resent how his father had been treated.

He also despised the old generation's prejudice against the Uchiha.

After all, two of my closest friends were Uchiha.

"Sakumo…"

Hiruzen's brows furrowed, eyes heavy with remorse.

"What happened back then… was my mistake."

"I should have trusted the younger generation, just like Tobirama-sensei once trusted us."

"Kagami told me… In the future he foresaw, you would die. The Uchiha Clan would be annihilated…"

"I'm truly relieved that such a future never came to pass."

He glanced at the young faces behind Sakumo, his wrinkled features softening into a gentle smile.

"We misunderstood Tobirama-sensei's ideology, nearly dragging the village into catastrophe."

"You've done well, Sakumo. Don't be like me. Don't be like Danzo."

His words were slow, deliberate, and the crowd listened in respectful silence.

Finally, his gaze found Asuma, standing quietly among them.

"Asuma… take care of your mother. You've grown into an outstanding shinobi. Seeing you all thrive truly warms my heart."

"Farewell, everyone."

---

"Goodbye… Lord Third…"

Watching Hiruzen's soul drift away, Sakumo murmured, lowering his head.

He still remembered those childhood days—the towering elder who once spoke to him about the Will of Fire.

It was a lesson that shaped his entire life.

---

Hiruzen's soul continued its journey.

He had one last destination.

---

Deeper in the forest, Zoron led five children in circles toward the center.

It was the most effective way to stall for time—the monster behind, and superpowered shinobi ahead.

Zoron had already grumbled multiple times about Kagami ruining the game experience.

This was supposed to be a survival exercise, not a warzone!

Skrrrt—!

Zoron slammed on the brakes, nearly flinging the smallest child off his back.

"Ghost!!!" he squealed, chubby body trembling uncontrollably.

Hiruzen's translucent spirit floated in front of them, smiling wryly.

"I am Sarutobi Hiruzen. Children, you might not know me."

"But I mean no harm. Rest assured."

---

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