Outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, Hiruzen approached slowly under the protection of the ANBU, calmly puffing on his pipe.
"Well then, looks like the prey has walked right into the trap."
Staring at his former student, he spoke with a trace of nostalgia, "The mistakes of the past… I can finally correct them today."
Upon hearing that, Orochimaru signaled the Sound Four to drop the Four Violet Flames Formation and conserve chakra for a breakout. He then smiled nonchalantly at Hiruzen, saying, "So this was all a trap for me, wasn't it? You've really changed."
Even if he was losing, he wouldn't show weakness. He was already prepared to flee and tried to distract his teacher with words. "I suppose now you can understand the choices I made back then, right?"
He was trying to play on Hiruzen's guilt, after all, it was Hiruzen who expelled him from Konoha and ended his Hokage ambitions due to his twisted experiments on immortality. Now that Hiruzen had done something similar, how would he face his former disciple?
Why did Hiruzen do this? Most likely due to his age or the current decline in Konoha's power.
But Hiruzen felt no guilt at all, he had simply found a cheat.
"We're not the same. You're a heartless lunatic without morals or limits, while I burn with the Will of Fire," he said, taking a deep drag from his pipe. As he spoke, his other hand, hidden behind his back, quietly formed a hand seal.
Secretly, he summoned his true comrade, Enma.
"Will of Fire? It's probably the Hashirama cells I left behind with Danzō," Orochimaru sneered. Hypocritical old man. All the while, he looked for weak spots in the formation, ready to break out with his team.
"You foolish student. Ever heard of aliens?" Hiruzen casually retorted. There was no reasoning with this wayward disciple, he'd fallen too deep into darkness.
"You are senile."
"Orochimaru, don't try pulling that 'Could you really strike me down?' stuff again. I already dealt with Danzō. I'm not sparing you. Surrender."
"You're too soft, too late. I'm no fledgling anymore, I've already surpassed you!" Orochimaru laughed, spotting a weak point in the defenses and preparing to escape.
But just then, a familiar figure leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and turned his head toward Orochimaru, it was none other than Jiraiya.
So even that loser showed up. This is the worst-case scenario. Orochimaru smiled, he had no choice now but to go all in.
"Sensei, I brought a little surprise for you this time."
"I was just about to give you another lesson myself."
The duel between teacher and student began. They formed hand seals, nearly in perfect unison.
"Edo Tensei!"
"Edo Tensei: Release!"
---
Inside the Forest of Death, the intense ninja battle came to an abrupt halt. The fight between humans became a fight between humans and monsters.
The colossal tanuki-like monster went berserk, roaring as it launched indiscriminate attacks at everything in sight, releasing its inner rage. Its sand breath carved deep trenches in the landscape, and its giant claws of sand demolished countless towering trees.
At this moment, whether it was Lee, Neji, or the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, all they could do was dodge desperately while trying to protect the injured members of Team 8.
Even Temari and Kankurō were forced to dodge Shukaku's giant air blasts and sand claws with all their might.
The fiery power of the Eight Gates or the Gentle Fist… none of it was effective here.
How could a human defeat a monster?
Only a monster, or a superhuman, could fight a monster. Hearing the sounds of the massive battle, Kakashi's team arrived at the monster battleground.
Before their eyes, the twelve rookies were about to be reduced to just three survivors. Naruto began forming hand seals at the fastest speed of his life.
A giant, red, tattooed gangster toad, as big as Shukaku, descended from the sky.
"Extend—Staff!"
"Bunta, help me out!"
Grumbling, Gamabunta unsheathed his blade, and a massive Water Bullet formed in his mouth to clash with Shukaku's Drilling Air Bullet.
At the same time, the enlarged staff slammed hard into Shukaku's fat belly, interrupting the Tailed Beast Ball it was charging. The colossal sand raccoon rolled and roared through the forest in rage.
Crushed by a toad and jabbed by a staff, that must've hurt.
In that moment, just like before, the Nine-Tails, silently watching from within, didn't speak, he simply increased the chakra flow he was supplying.
Team Guy, Team Asuma, Team Kurenai, and the Suna siblings finally had a moment to catch their breath.
Gamabunta shouted impatiently at Naruto, who was standing on his head. "This better be the last time, I never gave you permission to stand there!"
"You're so stingy! Enma-jiji wouldn't say that!" Naruto shouted, holding his staff.
"You idiot!" Gamabunta growled. He decided this would be the only time he helped the blonde brat. "I can't hold out for long."
"Let's go! At least hold out until Jiraiya-sensei gets here!"
The other two members of Team 7 were helping evacuate the wounded.
Neji supported a post-Gate-exhausted Lee. As he looked back at the monster battlefield, he muttered, "Today is truly unforgettable."
With his Byakugan, he could clearly see Naruto vaulting himself up using the staff, landing on Shukaku's head, and attacking the hidden true body of the monster.
Sakura and Karin looked on in shock, one amazed at how strong Naruto had become since his training, the other stunned that this golden-haired clansman of hers could be so powerful.
Sasuke, unable to join the monster battle, boiled with envy and frustration, he yearned for that kind of power.
---
"Seems like many years have passed," the First Hokage said, his face covered in cracks. He looked at Hiruzen, donning the Hokage robes, and sighed, as if lifetimes had gone by.
"Looks like the technique I left behind caused you trouble," the Second Hokage scanned the area, quickly understanding the situation, and nodded to his former student.
"It's been a long time," Hiruzen, putting away his pipe with a heavy sigh. "A lot has happened."
But for Orochimaru, this reunion was incredibly awkward.
The lineup:
First Hokage (healer and powerhouse);
Second Hokage (land combat god);
Third Hokage (also healer and powerhouse);
Intelligence master Jiraiya;
ANBU and elite ninjas providing commentary from the sidelines;
vs.
Orochimaru + the Sound Four.
This time, he was really getting the "final boss" treatment. But now… what could he possibly do?
One of the Sound Four, the chubby one, was still shouting:
"Orochimaru-sama, I'll hold them off! Let them taste our power!"
The other three were also hyping him up… admirable courage, sure, but could they read the room?
You guys should stop with the stand-up comedy routines already.
The only smart one, Kabuto, had already slipped away unnoticed.
"Alright, I surrender." Orochimaru raised his hands. One second later, Jiraiya was about to land a Rasengan right on his face.
That idiot clearly had no intention of catching up on old times, he looked like he was in a hurry.