Things Never Go as Planned

"Disperse! Fire the signal flares!"

The Third Hokage sensed something was off and immediately issued the order to his subordinates. He needed to alert the village in case Orochimaru had any other schemes targeting Konoha.

Whoosh... Whoosh...

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Without hesitation, several Anbu operatives fired signal flares into the night sky. After a series of loud explosions, dazzling fireworks illuminated the darkness.

"Orochimaru! What is your purpose in sneaking into the village?"

"Heh, do I even need to sneak into Konoha?" Orochimaru sneered contemptuously. "Sensei, there's no need to be so tense. I didn't return of my own volition this time—someone specifically invited me back for a visit."

"As for who that person is, I think you already know very well, don't you? After all, you know exactly how I left Konoha back then."

The Third Hokage's anger flared once more.

He knew that his former student was referring to his old friend, Shimura Danzo.

Years ago, when he discovered Orochimaru conducting inhumane illegal experiments in secret, he had deliberately let him escape. He knew that Danzo and Orochimaru had long been in collusion, cooperating for mutual benefit. Even if there were forces trying to intercept Orochimaru, Danzo would surely use the secret transit points of Root to help him escape Konoha.

But he hadn't expected that after all these years, the moment he left the village for just two months, Danzo had already become impatient and re-established contact with Orochimaru.

"Letting you go back then out of sentimentality was the biggest mistake I ever made. Now, I will correct that mistake."

As he spoke, the Third Hokage removed his Hokage robe, revealing the battle armor he had worn in countless battles.

"Oh?" Orochimaru's eerie golden snake-like eyes narrowed. "Are you planning to kill me? I look forward to it. But Sensei, if you couldn't do it back then, you certainly won't be able to do it now."

"I also heard that a lot of interesting things have been happening in the village lately. Konoha is getting messier by the day, and an increasingly senile you may no longer be fit to sit in that Hokage seat."

"Especially seeing how old and frail you've become... Ah, the cruelty of time. How utterly hollow it all feels."

The Third Hokage took a step forward, an overwhelming aura of killing intent emanating from him. "Orochimaru, you're just as you've always been—spouting nonsense. But tonight, your fate is already sealed!"

Orochimaru's expression turned thoughtful. "Is that so? Sensei, didn't you always teach me that nothing is certain until the very end?"

"Or perhaps, among these insignificant weaklings, there's actually some hidden powerhouse giving you this confidence?"

The Third Hokage didn't respond. Instead, he slid his thumb across the rivets of his shoulder armor and slammed his palm to the ground.

"Ninjutsu! Summoning Technique—Monkey King, Enma!"

Boom!

A white-haired old monkey dressed in a tiger-skin loincloth leaped beside the Third Hokage, his expression solemn as he locked eyes with Orochimaru.

"Sarutobi, I told you before—you would regret this. The snake you raised has become far more dangerous than you ever imagined."

"There's still time to fix it! Come, Enma—Adamantine Staff!"

"Understood! Transform!"

With a puff of smoke, Enma vanished, and in the next instant, the Third Hokage was gripping a massive iron staff.

Orochimaru's golden pupils constricted slightly. He licked his lips with his long tongue.

"Summoning for assistance? Heh... It seems we really do think alike, Sensei."

"Now, get ready to receive my gift."

As soon as he finished speaking, Orochimaru clapped his hands together in a seal.

"Summoning Technique—Impure World Reincarnation!"

Boom!

The ground shook violently. A coffin burst out of the earth, and on its lid, the kanji for "First" was clearly visible.

"What is that…?"

The surrounding Anbu were confused. They had no idea what Orochimaru intended to do with a coffin.

But the Third Hokage's face had already turned pale.

"You bastard!"

"Orochimaru! How dare you desecrate the souls of the dead!"

Meanwhile, Naruto sat by the windowsill in his bedroom, debating whether to detonate the explosive tags Gen'o had planted.

The Third Hokage had been lured to the Forest of Death—this seemed like an opportunity.

But he had no idea what exactly was happening there.

He had originally planned to trigger the explosive tags at a critical moment in Konoha's future.

If he detonated them now, would it cause unpredictable consequences that could interfere with his long-term plans?

Just as he was deep in thought, the night sky flared up with signal fireworks. At the same time, he sensed that Konoha's shinobi were suddenly mobilizing. All except for the ones watching his apartment—those remained still. The others' chakra signatures darted frantically throughout the village.

The village was on high alert.

Naruto decided against detonating the explosive tags for now. He wasn't the type to deviate from a plan so easily.

Still, he was very interested in what was happening in the Forest of Death.

Just then, he sensed something strange—the chakra signatures of the Anbu who had followed the Third Hokage into the forest suddenly disappeared. Now, besides the eerie chakra and the Third Hokage's own, two more chakra signatures had mysteriously appeared.

One of them felt... odd.

Its fluctuations were extreme—surging wildly one moment, then weakening dramatically the next.

Naruto immediately formed a hand seal, creating a shadow clone. He handed the clone a mask and gave it some instructions.

"They're not far from the Flying Thunder God mark. Disguise yourself and check out the situation. You know what to do."

"I am you. Of course I know what to do."

The shadow clone transformed with a jutsu, donned the mask, and vanished with the Flying Thunder God technique.

Swish!

Naruto's clone reappeared in the Forest of Death. After confirming the Hokage's location, he swiftly moved in that direction.

At the scene, the Third Hokage and Orochimaru were locked in a standoff. The Anbu around them were all unconscious, and the coffin Orochimaru had summoned had been reduced to shattered wood.

At the center of the debris lay a corpse with an obscured face.

"Orochimaru, it seems your ninjutsu is lacking. You should stay and take some lessons."

"Oh? Weren't you excited to see the First Hokage just now, Sensei? What a shame my technique isn't fully complete yet. That touching reunion could have been so much more memorable. I think you actually liked my gift, didn't you?"

"Silence! You vile desecrator of souls!"

The Third Hokage leaped forward, wielding his Adamantine Staff.

"Adamantine Staff: Raging Tempest!"

He swung the staff with all his might, channeling Wind Release, generating a powerful vortex that surged toward Orochimaru.

"Heh, not a chance! Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Orochimaru's arm transformed into a mass of writhing serpents, latching onto a tree, pulling him to safety.

"Sensei, don't be naïve. You've already lost so many subordinates. We know each other too well—if this drags on—wait, who's there?!"

Orochimaru's forked tongue flicked out as he suddenly caught an unfamiliar scent. His gaze sharpened as he turned toward the shadows.

The Third Hokage also shifted his focus.

A moment later, a masked figure with black hair and robes emerged from the darkness.

"Pity. I was hoping to watch a little longer... It's not easy to find a good show."

Naruto's shadow clone had only just arrived and hidden himself, yet somehow, Orochimaru had already detected him.

"Who are you?"

The Third Hokage demanded. From Orochimaru's reaction, he was certain this person wasn't one of his allies.

"I am..."

The shadow clone's voice was low as he slowly approached, raising his right hand toward the sky.

"Hm?" Two voices simultaneously questioned.

Orochimaru and the Third Hokage tensed.

Just as the clone reached the center, his fingers spread open. In his palm, a dense sphere of rapidly spiraling chakra took form.

"Great Rasengan Maelstrom!"

BOOM—

A blinding light erupted.

The Forest of Death exploded!

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