Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 20: The End

"Orichimaru, your ambition ends here."

As Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, the Shinigami behind him moved, drawing the kunai from its mouth.

Sensing impending disaster, Orochimaru's face tightened in response:

"No! My ambition will never stop!"

As he spoke, he fiercely tried to pull back his soul.

But it was already too late.

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained calm as he declared with the Shinigami’s kunai raised:

"Orochimaru, you’ve become obsessed with jutsu, wasting it away. The punishment I can think of most fitting for you is to take away all the jutsu you’ve mastered."

"Could it be..." Orochimaru's face suddenly changed, his voice turning shrill, "Stop!"

"Sealing!"

At Sarutobi Hiruzen's command, the Shinigami’s kunai came down with force, slicing through the part of Orochimaru’s soul associated with his hands and sealing it within Sarutobi Hiruzen’s own body.

"No!"

Orochimaru could only watch helplessly as his hands turned dark and purple, eventually collapsing uselessly.

The dying Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the scene and said calmly:

"Now your hands are useless. Since you can't use your hands, you can't perform seals. Orochimaru, you can no longer use jutsu. Your plan to destroy Konoha has failed."

"You old fool! Return my hands!" Orochimaru, now powerless to perform jutsu, screamed in frustration.

"You’ve become foolish, Orochimaru," Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "Although I regret that I can't take you with me, my disciple, we will meet again in that world one day."

"And to you, Elder Hagoromo."

Sarutobi Hiruzen forced himself to turn and look at Hagoromo Gengetsu, his eyes full of reminiscence as he continued:

"Growing up, our elders used you as an example to motivate us. As a man who stands shoulder to shoulder with gods, I don't know what your true intentions are. But!!!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes shone with unprecedented brilliance.

He stared directly at Hagoromo Gengetsu and said:

"Where Konoha dances, the fire will continue to burn!"

"Our generation may die, but new generations will always rise to take on our tasks. No matter what your intentions are, Elder, I believe the young ninjas of Konoha will bravely face the challenges ahead!"

"Elder Hagoromo, I will wait for you in our world."

With that, Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes for the last time.

Thus.

In the 60th year of Konoha, Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen passed away at the age of 69.

Ignoring Orochimaru’s hatred, unwillingness, and his own confusion and sorrow, Hagoromo Gengetsu watched silently as Sarutobi Hiruzen’s body slowly fell.

It was surprising that Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke of the Will of Fire before his death.

Was it a message not to underestimate the current ninjas of Konoha?

Even without a Hokage, Konoha would still have many outstanding individuals to fulfill their duties.

Such rare passion.

Although Sarutobi Hiruzen may have had issues during his decades of leadership.

At this moment, he truly fulfilled the responsibilities of a Hokage.

Yet, why did everyone see him as a world-destroying villain?

Is surviving by seizing every opportunity such a crime?

And why does everyone keep calling him "Elder"?

He was never old.

In truth, Sarutobi Hiruzen had experienced more than he had walked roads.

Hagoromo Gengetsu sighed and lamented the hardships of life.

Glancing over Sarutobi Hiruzen’s body, Hagoromo Gengetsu turned his attention to the now quickly settling Orochimaru.

With his hands unable to perform seals, Orochimaru no longer posed any threat.

This was the reason Hagoromo Gengetsu had waited quietly while Sarutobi Hiruzen used the Shinigami’s technique.

"So? Not going to vent your anger on your teacher’s corpse?" Hagoromo Gengetsu smirked as he noticed Orochimaru staring at Sarutobi Hiruzen’s body.

"The dead are no longer worth wasting time on," Orochimaru replied in a hoarse voice.

Orochimaru was a smart man.

He realized that, despite his current state, his conflict with Hagoromo Gengetsu had ended with the removal of the Reanimation jutsu’s constraints.

Hagoromo Gengetsu, who was keen on controlling himself, clearly wasn’t planning to return to the underworld after just glancing at the present world.

Orochimaru had no objection to throwing another big stone into the calm ninja world.

On the contrary, the more turmoil in the ninja world, the happier he was.

"Elder Hagoromo, welcome back to the living world. Interested in visiting my place?"

With a rapidly changing mindset, Orochimaru extended an invitation to Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Hagoromo Gengetsu looked around: "You should first figure out how to leave."

Hagoromo Gengetsu’s primary goal in returning to the living world was to find his own body, which was essential for his revival.

As for other matters, they were secondary.

After the Konoha destruction plan, Orochimaru had become a thorn in Konoha’s side.

Hagoromo Gengetsu, who initially planned to let Orochimaru attract more attention to facilitate his own actions, had no interest in joining forces with him now.

Orochimaru, sensing Hagoromo Gengetsu’s refusal, didn’t take it personally.

Even in his current state, he didn’t dare underestimate the old man who had left a significant mark in history.

Not to mention, now that he had lost his hands.

"Then I look forward to our next meeting."

After saying this, Orochimaru ordered his four Sound ninjas: "The operation ends here. No need for the barrier anymore, let’s go back."

"Yes!"

The four Sound ninjas clapped their hands, and the Four Violet Flames Formation dispersed immediately.

After completing this, two of the Sound ninjas supported Orochimaru, and together with the remaining two, they swiftly moved towards the outskirts of Konoha.

"Don’t even think about escaping!"

The Anbu outside the barrier didn’t have time to think and immediately moved to block their escape.

Without further watching how Orochimaru fled Konoha, Hagoromo Gengetsu scanned his surroundings, chose a less populated direction, and set off to leave Konoha.

However, just as he leaped and landed on the roof of another building.

A brilliant light flashed from the sky.

Accompanied by the familiar sound of Chidori, a figure raced towards him at high speed, raising their right hand with violent lightning aimed straight at Hagoromo Gengetsu’s heart.

In an instant, Hagoromo Gengetsu, with his face illuminated white by the lightning, raised an eyebrow and smiled in surprise:

"Didn’t anyone tell you about the folly of showing off in front of the master?"

As his words fell.

*Snap!*

Hagoromo Gengetsu extended his hand and precisely grasped the wrist carrying the Chidori.

The newcomer was forced to stop, staring in shock as they lifted their head to reveal a face covered by a black mask, with ominous red chakra eyes.