Zeldris blinked in surprise as the shadow clone launched itself toward him.
"What's with this old geezer Sarutobi always going after me?" he muttered. "I've already told you I'm just a bystander here. Why's he still targeting me?"
With a helpless sigh, Zeldris lifted off the ground, floating even higher into the air.
Naturally, the clone missed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed the moment his shadow clone failed to grab Zeldris. A hint of frustration flickered across his aged face before it hardened with resolve.
He raised his head and stared at the figure in the sky, eyes filled with silent determination.
Too high.
He knew it.
At that altitude, there was no way to reach Zeldris, let alone drag him into the Reaper Death Seal.
'That one's out of reach… but at least Orochimaru's still grounded.'
Sarutobi's gaze turned sharp. His plan shifted instantly. If he couldn't seal both of them… one would have to do. The war hinged on it.
"Kakashi and the others… I'll leave the Kazekage to them."
Gritting his teeth, he focused on the enemy he could reach.
Across the field, Orochimaru frowned.
His attention snapped back as the shadow clone—having failed to seize Zeldris—rushed toward him instead. And before Orochimaru could react—
It grabbed him.
"What the—?!" Orochimaru's eyes widened.
"What's that old fool trying to pull?!"
Unlike Zeldris, Orochimaru didn't possess the enhanced perception granted by Zeldris's mysterious eyes.
He couldn't see the Shinigami hovering behind Sarutobi. So when the clone latched onto him, his first response was confusion—followed swiftly by unease.
His gaze darted to the reanimated First and Second Hokage standing beside him—motionless.
Not just still. Paralyzed.
Orochimaru's pupils dilated.
No matter how he manipulated the hand signs to control them, their bodies refused to respond.
"What… what is this?!"
It wasn't a failure in the Edo Tensei jutsu. He would've sensed that.
This was something else entirely.
Something Hiruzen had done.
Something powerful.
Dark.
"Old man," Orochimaru growled, panic creeping into his voice, "what the hell did you just do?!"
Across the battlefield, Sarutobi forced a smile, though his body trembled with strain. Blood dripped from his lip.
"Scared, Orochimaru?"
"That's not the look of someone in control anymore," he rasped.
Zeldris, hovering in the sky, calmly observed the exchange like an amused spectator. His glowing eyes narrowed slightly as something shifted.
He saw it.
A monstrous spectral arm burst from Sarutobi's chest—massive, ethereal—and plunged straight into the bodies of the First and Second Hokage.
Their souls began to tear free.
Then, the Death God behind Sarutobi unsheathed the blade clenched between its teeth—and without hesitation, it swung.
At the same moment, another arm emerged from Sarutobi's shadow clone, piercing directly into Orochimaru's chest.
Orochimaru gasped.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't move.
"What… what is this?!"
His voice trembled.
He looked down—and froze.
A bluish-white spirit, flickering and formless, was slowly being dragged out of his body.
"No…"
Sarutobi's voice cut through the chaos, hoarse but resolute.
"Don't fight it, Orochimaru."
"That soul of yours… it already belongs to the Shinigami."
"You and I… we'll both be consumed."
"Master and student… devoured together by death."
Sarutobi's voice was weak, trembling with pain. His body was fading.
But a small, satisfied smile curled his lips.
He was going to die. But that was fine.
Konoha would survive.
He couldn't get Zeldris, true. But sealing Orochimaru would be enough.
It would have to be.
Orochimaru's face contorted as realization dawned.
Cold sweat streamed down his cheeks.
"The Reaper Death Seal…?!"
"The Uzumaki clan's ultimate forbidden technique?!"
"No way… when did he… when did Sarutobi master something like that?!"
He strained his neck upward and finally saw it—the entity looming behind his former sensei.
A grotesque, towering figure with green skin, fangs, and a hunger that chilled his blood.
The Death God.
Real. Tangible. Horrifying.
Orochimaru's scientific mind reeled.
He had always dismissed such myths.
Until now.
It was real.
And it wanted his soul.
"Damn you… Sarutobi…" he growled, his voice cracking.
His fingers twitched, desperate to form a seal, any seal.
But his body no longer responded.
All he could do was watch in horror as the spectral claws gripped tighter, dragging his soul out inch by inch.
After a brief moment of silence, even Orochimaru was stunned.
That guy…
He suddenly looked up, struggling to lift his head, eyes fixed on the lone figure hovering mid-air — Zeldris.
If there was any hope of salvation now… it was only him.
Zeldris!
His soul hadn't been touched by the Death God — that was their only chance!
If Sarutobi Hiruzen could be killed in time, the sealing technique would fail. Orochimaru realized this and, despite the pain wracking his body, screamed at the top of his lungs:
"Z-Zeldris-kun…!"
"Hurry… help me…! My body… I can't move!"
"Please…! Help…!"
His voice cracked with desperation, and finally, a cry of agony burst from his throat.
Orochimaru no longer looked calm.
The cold, calculating mask had shattered.
Now, faced with the specter of death, even he couldn't hide the fear twisting his features.
And his last hope—
Was Zeldris.
But Zeldris… didn't move.
Floating silently, he gazed at Orochimaru with a calm, unreadable expression.
Unbothered. Indifferent.
"...?!"
Orochimaru's blood froze.
He… he's not going to save me?
His eyes widened. Panic surged.
Why?! Aren't we allies? A team?!
His already pale face lost the last of its color, frozen in disbelief.
He gritted his teeth. Fear and despair overtook his pride, creeping into his voice and eyes.
How… how could I die here?!
No. No, this wasn't supposed to happen…
The great scientist of the ninja world, reduced to begging — and still, his only lifeline was choosing to do nothing.
Across from him, Sarutobi Hiruzen heard it all — every plea, every cry.He had been nervous at first, worried Zeldris might intervene.
If that happened, the sealing wouldn't be completed in time.
But as seconds passed and Zeldris remained still, even Hiruzen's aged face twisted into confusion.
"…?!"
What is going on…?
Zeldris… you're really not going to save him?
He hadn't expected this outcome. Not at all.
Breathing heavily, Sarutobi looked toward Zeldris and spoke, his voice raspy but sharp:
"Zeldris… you're still the same."
"Still so cold-blooded…"
"Not surprised at all…"
He coughed, his strength nearly gone. Between summoning the shadow clone and calling forth the Shinigami, his chakra was almost depleted.
Only the thought of sealing Orochimaru kept him upright.
And if Zeldris wouldn't interfere… then he could at least succeed in that.
But then…
Zeldris's voice drifted through the battlefield.
"…Cold-blooded?"
"You really have the nerve to call me that?"
His tone was calm — too calm.
He narrowed his eyes, voice laced with something deeper, sharper.
"You think you're any better?"
"You, who abandoned your student… covered the crimes of your village… sacrificed others in the name of peace?"
"Compared to me, you're no saint, Sarutobi."
He paused.
"…And just so you know…"
"Everything—changes."
In the next instant, Zeldris vanished from the sky — a blur of black lightning streaking toward Sarutobi.
"?!"
Sarutobi's eyes widened.
No… no!
Orochimaru's soul hadn't been fully extracted yet!
Zeldris was supposed to stand by—
So why now?!
Across from them, Orochimaru's heart surged with hope.
Just moments ago, he had given up.
But Zeldris's sudden movement reignited the fire within him.
He's going to save me!
I'm going to live!
Sarutobi gritted his teeth, eyes locked on Orochimaru's translucent, half-drawn soul. He knew… he didn't have time.
If he couldn't take Orochimaru's life—
Then he'd take everything else.
"…If I can't seal your soul…"
"…Then I'll take all your ninjutsu with me!"
"?!"
Orochimaru's eyes shot open in alarm.
And before he could speak—
The Shinigami's blade slashed through his half-extracted soul.
A silent scream echoed as the ethereal form was devoured.
In the next heartbeat, the God of Death turned — and swallowed Sarutobi Hiruzen's soul whole.
Zeldris, who had almost reached them, halted mid-motion.
The plan… had worked.
The panic he caused had disrupted the sealing just enough.
Orochimaru's life had been spared.
That was the goal all along — not to save him outright, but to interrupt Sarutobi's focus, prevent the full soul extraction.
If Orochimaru died, the entire commission Zeldris accepted would collapse.
He wouldn't let that happen.
As he hovered silently, watching the aftermath, Sarutobi let out one final, shuddering breath.
"Ugh…!"
His heart stopped.
His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Behind him, the Shinigami faded, vanishing into the air with its task complete.
The old Hokage had fallen.
His lips still held the faintest of smiles — as if satisfied, even in death.
Sarutobi Hiruzen—the strongest Hokage—had fallen.
And on the other side…
Orochimaru collapsed to his knees, as if every ounce of strength had drained from his body. His face, pale and exhausted, suddenly contorted with shock.
"W-What…?"
A wave of dread washed over him. His hands… he couldn't feel them.
Why… why can't I move my hands?!
Beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he looked down in horror. Before his very eyes, his hands began to darken—inky black veins spreading like poison across his skin.
His breathing grew rapid and shallow.
No… no, no, no!
What's happening?!
Desperately, Orochimaru tried to move, to flex his fingers, but nothing responded. His limbs hung uselessly at his sides. And in that crushing moment of helplessness, the truth finally hit him.
His mind reeled.
That old man…!
He wasn't trying to kill me—he was sealing my arms!
He froze in place, teeth gritted so hard they threatened to shatter. Rage boiled up inside him, pure and venomous.
That senile fool… he did it. He actually did it.
Hiruzen's final words echoed in his ears like a curse:
"Then I'll take away... all your ninjutsu."
Orochimaru's despair twisted into something darker—fury, frustration, and fear all tangled together.
How the hell am I supposed to continue my research like this?! I can't even form a single hand seal!
He shot a venomous glare at the lifeless body of Sarutobi Hiruzen lying on the ground. Even in death, the Third Hokage's expression held a faint, satisfied smile.
"Damn you…" Orochimaru hissed, voice low and trembling. "You knew exactly how to break me…"
Just then, footsteps echoed through the silence.
Zeldris approached slowly, unhurried, his figure bathed in shadow. His crimson eyes locked onto Orochimaru, and a thin smirk curled on his lips.
He stopped a few steps away, arms folded.
"Looks like things didn't go as you planned, Orochimaru-san."
Orochimaru glared up at him, eyes wild, his pride shattered.
Zeldris tilted his head slightly, his voice calm but edged with amusement.
"You seem…" He paused for just a moment.
"…in need of help again."
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