102. No Passage!
"BOOM!!!"
A thunderous roar split the air!
The pitch-black crescent slash crossed time and space in an instant, crashing heavily against the outer barrier of the Four Violet Flames Formation!
Everyone watching gasped in shock!
A piercing sound echoed through the air as the pitch-black blade of energy burst forth with tremendous power, penetrating deeper into the barrier bit by bit!
This was the ultimate battle between offense and defense!
The four Sound ninjas maintaining the Four Violet Flames Formation watched in horror as the sword light pressed against their barrier, creating a teeth-grinding sound that sent chills down their spines.
Had Lord Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage yet?
They couldn't hold on much longer!
The Konoha shinobi outside watched the sword light with mixed expressions. Some hoped the barrier would break, while others secretly wished it would hold firm.
...
Inside the barrier!
Orochimaru panted heavily, cold sweat breaking out across his pale face. His hands trembled uncontrollably as his snake-like eyes stared at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had finally collapsed:
"You stubborn old man! You almost succeeded, damn it!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen lay on the ground, his eyes barely able to remain open as they slowly closed.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru had survived in the end!
Perhaps this is my destiny...
Fortunately, new leaves have grown on the branches of the great tree.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, Naraku, Kakashi...
Danzo...
And Orochimaru...
Names and faces appeared in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind one by one, but the final image that flickered through his consciousness was that of a young Orochimaru.
My disciple—Orochimaru!
Here, on this rooftop, Konohagakure rogue ninja Orochimaru had personally killed Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Such shocking news would spread throughout the ninja world at lightning speed, causing countless ripples of consequence.
But for Orochimaru, still standing at the scene, his danger was far from over.
"Damn old man, to think he knew such a horrible sealing technique!"
"So close—I almost died here."
Recalling the terrifying battle moments before, Orochimaru glanced at Kaguya Kimimaro lying lifeless on the ground!
It had been dangerously close!
If Kaguya Kimimaro hadn't rushed forward at the critical moment, Orochimaru would have been completely sealed by that horrific jutsu.
"Reaper Death Seal? What kind of sealing technique is this? I couldn't even feel my own hands just now..."
"Could it be a sealing technique from the Uzumaki clan?"
Orochimaru regretted not studying more sealing techniques during his time in Konohagakure!
In the battle moments ago, Orochimaru had been restrained by the Shinigami summoned through Sarutobi Hiruzen's jutsu. Seeing the ghostly blade descending, if Kimimaro hadn't desperately rushed forward and sacrificed himself, Orochimaru might have truly been finished this time!
But now the outcome was different. It was Kaguya Kimimaro who had been sealed by the Reaper Death Seal, while Orochimaru remained standing, unharmed.
"Hahahahaha..."
"You damn old man, I was right after all. In the end, you fell, but I'm still standing here!"
"So my pursuit is right! Absolutely right!"
"To live forever without dying, to master all the jutsu in this world, and to control the truth—this is the true path to eternity!"
"Hahaha..."
In this moment, Orochimaru laughed maniacally, as if mocking the fallen Sarutobi Hiruzen as the failure, while he stood triumphant!
He had come all this way to be the victor!
"BOOM!!!"
Before Orochimaru could continue his celebration, the Four Violet Flames Formation was suddenly shattered by the sword light!
"Has Jiraiya returned? How did the barrier break?"
Orochimaru stared at the shattered barrier in astonishment, immediately thinking of Jiraiya. If it was him, breaking the barrier might indeed be possible.
Orochimaru knew that Jiraiya's true strength was formidable—if he fought with everything he had, the Four Violet Flames Formation couldn't contain him.
Seeing this, Orochimaru abandoned any further gloating. He quickly summoned a white snake to swallow Kaguya Kimimaro's body, then transformed into smoke and began to disappear.
Make no mistake—given Orochimaru's personality, he had no interest in providing Kimimaro with a proper burial. He merely intended to study what happened to someone whose soul had been sealed by the Reaper Death Seal.
If he encountered this sealing technique again in the future, he would know how to counter it.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen's body, Orochimaru wanted to take that as well, but he didn't dare!
Although Orochimaru had been a rogue ninja for years, the only one who had truly pursued him relentlessly was Jiraiya.
Now that he had orchestrated Konoha's invasion and personally killed Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, he would face the wrath of every Konoha ninja.
If Orochimaru took Sarutobi Hiruzen's body as well, he would have to face an entire village driven to madness with rage. Even from a dead Hokage's body, valuable information could be extracted.
No ninja village would ever allow this to happen!
So Orochimaru could only look at his teacher's body with regret before turning to leave quickly.
His next step was to find a way to escape!
Orochimaru leaped out of the broken barrier and immediately saw the four Sound ninjas lying on the ground covered in blood, their fate unknown.
"What a waste!"
He ignored them and quickly jumped away.
"Orochimaru, stay where you are!"
"Someone check on the Hokage!"
"Don't let him escape!"
Before the Konoha ninjas could catch up, two large white snakes suddenly sprang from Orochimaru's sleeves, fangs flashing coldly as they struck.
"Watch out!"
Even after an exhausting battle, Orochimaru with his unsealed hands couldn't be stopped by ordinary Konoha shinobi.
"Hiss..."
As Orochimaru darted between Konoha's buildings, the hidden Yakushi Kabuto fell in behind him with the last two Sound ninjas.
"What's the situation, Kabuto?"
Yakushi Kabuto briefly described the previous fighting, "The situation outside is unexpected. Lord Naraku is too powerful. I'm no match for him."
"Is that so?" Orochimaru smiled. "How would you compare him to me?"
Yakushi Kabuto answered truthfully, "Naraku-sama is stronger!"
"That's fascinating news."
Orochimaru extended his long tongue and licked the corner of his mouth. In the next second, he and Yakushi Kabuto dove aside in an undignified scramble.
"Swish!"
A pitch-black blade flashed, cutting down a Sound ninja before continuing through numerous houses and buildings without losing momentum. It sliced through everything in its path with unnatural smoothness before finally embedding itself in the ground!
Orochimaru, still in shock, turned to see Yakushi Kabuto also sweating profusely as he spread his hands in a clear gesture.
See? I told you so.
Orochimaru sneered and jumped directly onto a nearby rooftop, followed by Yakushi Kabuto and the remaining Sound ninja.
Opposite the three of them, Shihouin Naraku leaned against a roof wall, regarding them coldly.
The tip of Kurikara pointed downward, embedded in the roof tiles, its black blade gleaming in the cold wind.
"It's been a long time since we last met, Naraku, my most accomplished student!"
Orochimaru's mouth stretched into an unnatural smile as his eyes swept over Shihouin Naraku's form, seemingly curious about the source of his former pupil's tremendous power.
"Creak!"
With a slight sound, Shihouin Naraku pulled Kurikara from the roof.
"Long time no see, Orochimaru-sensei!"
"The path ahead—is closed to you!"
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