"What is that?"
As the raging chakra swept across the land, the entirety of Konohagakure instantly sensed it.
No matter which village the shinobi came from, each of them couldn't help but turn their heads toward the distant surge. None of them could clearly understand what was happening.
"Rooaar!"
Yet the furious bellow of the One-Tail dragged their attention back in an instant, making everyone realize—the real trouble had only just begun!
Sarutobi Hiruzen was the first to react. He knew this situation was extraordinary, and he had to assert his strength to quell the chaos.
Otherwise, if these Kage developed ill intent, things would turn disastrous!
But at that very moment, Danzō reacted just as swiftly. As he leapt into the air, his hands flashed through seals, and his jutsu was unleashed.
Like the slash of a sickle-weasel, the Wind Release roared across the high platform, blowing back not only the target but also the surrounding shinobi who had been ready to make a move!
Seeing Danzō mid-air, Sarutobi Hiruzen struck with full force. Two releases intertwined, fusing together into a storm of fire and earth that surged furiously toward Danzō!
[Boom—]
In the blink of an eye, the roar of destruction resounded in midair. Danzō was battered until he resembled a honeycomb.
"Truly worthy of being Sarutobi Hiruzen—to wield such strength even at his age."
Ōnoki and the others, watching from the side, couldn't help but sigh in admiration as they saw Hiruzen casually execute a complex combination jutsu.
Yet, compared to Hiruzen's display, their gazes inevitably turned toward Danzō.
They seemed to understand—this man was already a corpse. And yet a corpse was being pulled up to continue fighting.
This jutsu… was even more intriguing!
"And without fear of casualties, at that…"
Watching as Danzō rapidly recovered, they too began to grasp the true severity of this technique.
"Orochimaru, to manipulate the souls of the dead… that invites Heaven's wrath."
Hiruzen's face grew grim, but Orochimaru only licked his lips and laughed lightly, utterly unconcerned.
"Perhaps. But, sensei, do you know why he fell into my hands?"
"What do you mean?"
A bad premonition stirred in Hiruzen's chest, yet Orochimaru's voice came, slow and deliberate.
"Because he betrayed you."
"?!"
Hiruzen stared in disbelief at Orochimaru and Danzō, while the latter, just restored, darkened with shame.
But under Orochimaru's control, he could not lie. Meeting Hiruzen's gaze, he let out a cold snort.
"Hmph! Don't make that shocked face. Is betrayal yours alone? Can I not counter with betrayal of my own?"
"I betrayed you?"
"That's right. You betrayed me. If you hadn't spied on me, why would I ever have resorted to such means?"
Bound by Orochimaru's jutsu, Shimura Danzō could no longer hold back. Grinding his teeth, he roared his accusations.
"You brought Jiraiya back, intending to make him Hokage—don't think I didn't know. I heard it all!"
"..."
"Though I blocked Jiraiya from succeeding, you went and summoned Tsunade instead. Wasn't that only to stop me?"
"..."
"And besides—you're far too indecisive! The Fourth Raikage was practically delivered to your doorstep, and yet you didn't even consider killing him to weaken Kumogakure. You think you're fit to be Hokage?!"
"..."
Danzō's furious roar left Sarutobi Hiruzen utterly dumbstruck. What kind of nonsense was this?
The other Kage were just as stunned. Who would have thought Danzō would unleash such a tirade?
Him?
He actually wanted to be Hokage too?
Their gazes inevitably shifted to the Fourth Raikage, whose fist was already clenched tight, his face twisted with fury.
That left the others silent in the end, though none could quite hide the amusement flickering in their eyes.
"I've worked tirelessly for Konoha, always willing to do whatever was necessary. And yet you never gave me a single chance!"
Now that the words were flowing—and with Orochimaru's control holding him—Shimura Danzō simply let himself go.
"Not only did you deny me every opportunity, you even spied on me in secret. What was your intent?
"And don't tell me you're ignorant of what I've done. If you could go so far as to use underhanded means to push your own student into the Hokage's seat, then why shouldn't I do the same?"
"You—"
Hiruzen's face darkened with anger, but these accusations were not so easily brushed aside.
To have Konoha's internal power struggle exposed here, to see a Hokage's advisor branded a traitor and slain—that alone was shame enough.
If it were also revealed that he had authorized investigations into Danzō and Orochimaru's experiments with the First Hokage's cells… that would be disastrous.
After all, that secret was Konoha's most closely guarded. And though Danzō was now implicated—and his partner Orochimaru—without Hiruzen's approval, such research never would have begun.
"Hiruzen, you're far too indecisive. You were never fit to be Hokage!"
Just as Hiruzen's fists trembled, Danzō's voice rang out once again.
"I told you—you would regret this!"
"Enough. Be silent, Danzō."
Hiruzen cut him off, his patience at its end. He couldn't allow this man to keep speaking.
"Don't forget—I am the Hokage!"
At that, Danzō nearly broke down completely. Even in death, Sarutobi Hiruzen still dared to speak this way?
"Well then, everyone—it's about time you made a choice."
Danzō tried to continue, but Orochimaru forced him still and swiftly formed seals with his hands.
In an instant, two more coffins burst up from the ground.
Orochimaru cast a glance at the grim-faced Sarutobi Hiruzen, then looked toward the other Kage, his voice low and drawn out.
"My preparations go far beyond this. And I am not acting alone."
"What you sensed just now was likely my allies making their move."
"Even if you won't lend me your hands, might I ask that you at least remain quiet?"
"Who are they?"
The Fourth Raikage suddenly stepped forward with a laugh. But Orochimaru only shook his head.
"At this point, does it matter who they are? What matters is that Konoha is already in chaos. Shouldn't you be thinking about what profits to seize from the aftermath?"
"Indeed. Profit is what we should be considering."
The Fourth Raikage nodded. Then he turned suddenly to the Fourth Kazekage.
"How long do you plan to hesitate? Without the support of the daimyō, how long can you possibly hold out? And with the One-Tail rampaging right here, do you really think Konoha will let you off once this is over?"
Rasa remained silent, his gaze fixed on the rampaging One-Tail as it roared and lashed out in madness. At last, he gritted his teeth and raised his hand.
In that instant, both Kumogakure and Sunagakure moved as well!
"You…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face grew even darker. Fortunately, Ōnoki exchanged a glance with Genji, and the two shook their heads together.
"We have no interest in joining. As long as you don't bother us, that's enough."
"Doesn't matter. In the end, it's all the same."
Orochimaru didn't care either. In truth, he owed Akatsuki a debt of gratitude.
Without them, this scene never would have come to pass!
His sensei was already old—what could be more fitting than having so many Kage gathered to send him to his grave?
"Rooaar!"
The One-Tail continued its furious roars. Below the high platform, shinobi from Kumogakure and Sunagakure had already begun to act, while Orochimaru slowly opened the two coffins.
He turned to face Sarutobi Hiruzen, whose fists were already clenched tight, and smiled.
"Sensei, how do you like this gift?"
But before the words had even fallen, Orochimaru suddenly sensed something.
In the next heartbeat, a surge of overwhelming chakra shot skyward.
[Buzz—]
A pillar of white light pierced straight through the One-Tail's chest, then came crashing down onto the high platform!
The two coffins hadn't even had time to open before they were obliterated entirely.
And the light beam did not stop—its devastating force blasted the entire high platform to rubble!
"What is that?!"
Ōnoki had already darted back to safety, but the instant he saw that column of light, understanding dawned on him.
He turned his head in disbelief, his face changing drastically.
And he wasn't alone. Everyone else turned their gaze as well, struck silent in that moment.
Through the gaping hole in the One-Tail's chest, they saw a boy standing there!
"That's… Kitagawa Gen?!"
"How could he have Dust Release?!"
Ōnoki scratched his head raw trying to grasp it, but no explanation came. For the first time, regret gnawed at him.
"Damn it… I spoke too soon."
...
"Kakashi, thirty-nine."
Inside Konohagakure, Kakashi and Guy were working together with other shinobi to evacuate the villagers while fighting shoulder to shoulder.
Guy kicked an enemy flying, then shot Kakashi a thumbs-up.
"I've taken down even more than you! This is the power of youth!"
"Now's not the time to be competing over that."
Kakashi couldn't help shaking his head, his tone weighted with concern.
"There are too many Oto shinobi—and now Kumogakure and Sunagakure have joined in. Things are getting bad."
"It's fine, Kakashi. Didn't we already make preparations?"
Guy's confidence held firm. Looking at the shinobi keeping order and escorting villagers to safety, he smiled.
"Only a few groups left. Once they're out, we can head to reinforce Hokage-sama."
"Mm. Let's push through."
"Don't worry. Don't forget—Gen is still out there."
"Yeah… Gen is still here."
At the mention of Kitagawa Gen, Kakashi also broke into a smile.
Gen hadn't joined the evacuation efforts. Instead, he had handed out all his Flying Thunder God kunai to the other Konoha shinobi. Wherever trouble flared, he would instantly appear to reinforce.
For now, however, there still didn't seem to be many places that required his reinforcement.
After all, the shinobi of Konoha were on constant alert, while Kumogakure and Sunagakure had moved much later than expected.
[Buzz—]
But at that moment, the ground suddenly shook with a thunderous roar, as if the very mountains were trembling!
An overwhelming surge of chakra then swept across the entire village.
The violent force made every building in Konoha shudder, while cracks spread across the ground without warning.
"What is… this?"
Kakashi and Guy stared in disbelief toward the distant source of the eruption.
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