Chapter 482: Aizen Appears—Clan Leader Showdown!
"Check the equipment and pet rankings."
"Rogue ninja Orochimaru is fully equipped with dark-gold gear, an SS-rank mature Ghoul pet, and a total necromancer skill score exceeding 2000…"
The more they analyzed it, the more terrifying Orochimaru became.
Even if you gave such powerful gear and skills to a pig, it could steamroll most low- and mid-tier factions.
Let alone giving it all to someone like Orochimaru.
Back in the ninja era, he was a legendary prodigy—matching Hanzo the Salamander in his youth, founding the Hidden Sound Village, assassinating the Fourth Kazekage, and orchestrating the Konoha Destruction Plan.
Fighting against someone like him—even Konoha players who deeply believed in the Will of Fire felt chills run down their spines.
A necromancer is supposed to be squishy?
But what did that matter when it was Orochimaru, the most powerful necromancer by total game score?
"Stupid Jiraiya…"
Orochimaru glanced at the torn mists of necrotic fog, and at the Konoha players gradually pushing back his undead army, with Tsunade regrouping after breaking free.
Scanning the area—
In Konoha clan territory, there was no way Orochimaru had reinforcements.
"Activate the clan emblem!"
At the very center of Hidden Leaf, the clan's sacred stone erupted with radiant light, a massive flame-shaped emblem emerging in the sky.
Scarlet light cascaded down.
A rich fire element spread across the battlefield, wrapping all Konoha players in its aura.
"The clan emblem has been activated!"
Although the First Hokage used Wood Style, the Second favored Water Style, and the Fourth used Flying Thunder God and Rasengan, with the Third as a generalist—
Most Konoha players specialized in Fire Style.
It was influenced by the elemental distribution throughout the ninja world—Kirigakure leaned water, Iwagakure earth, Kumogakure lightning.
So, when purchasing their clan emblem in the Samsara Game, Konoha chose fire.
"Yin Fire Style: Blazing Toad!"
"Spectral Fire Style: Sky-Piercing Flame!"
And more…
Empowered by the flame emblem, elite players unleashed high-powered fire jutsu.
These weren't normal fireballs—these were Tier 2 spells, each imbued with additional elemental enhancements.
Sapphire-blue spectral flames flowed like rivers, wrapping around Orochimaru's cursed serpent.
Brilliant blazes.
With the emblem boost, each attack neared the power of Jiraiya's elemental volcano summon.
"Orochimaru, thought about how you want to die?"
Tsunade's gaze was ice cold. Her holy hammer now glowed with flame.
With Jiraiya and Minato backing her—and her holy element directly countering undead—Orochimaru shouldn't stand a chance.
And yet,
This was a perfect trap. Theoretically, this was their moment to crush Orochimaru and stabilize the village.
But Tsunade felt a growing sense of unease.
"Orochimaru may disregard life, but he's never reckless. Why would he invade Konoha alone and cause such chaos?"
"Is he trying to die?"
Even if they'd parted ways and become enemies, the Sannin knew each other better than anyone.
They had grown together under Hiruzen's guidance—from bell-stealing drills to D-rank missions, to fighting side by side in war…
Orochimaru once cared—but later discarded all sentiment in his pursuit of immortality.
"Even now, as the strongest player, he wouldn't just march into Konoha alone. He must have some card to balance the odds."
Looking at Orochimaru—cornered but still calm—
Tsunade's frown deepened.
Just like during the Konoha Destruction Plan, Orochimaru first assassinated the Kazekage, disguised himself, then sowed discord between Sand and Leaf to create equilibrium.
Right now, while strong, Orochimaru still wasn't strong enough to solo Konoha.
Which meant… he had another tool, or ally?
With that thought,
Tsunade's unease spiked.
Nearby, Jiraiya—poised to help finish off Orochimaru—suddenly froze.
As a Seer, his [Prophetic Instinct] skill sometimes warned him of impending doom, though rarely.
Unless something truly terrible was coming.
Now—
His innate ability flared. His face tensed. He muttered, "A coincidence... or something more?"
BOOM.
A deafening explosion, like rolling thunder.
Waves of concussive force rippled out, engulfing the entire Konoha clan territory.
Buildings crumbled, mountains shifted, the ground caved in.
Weaker ninjas were swept away in landslides—life or death unknown.
"Is this a natural disaster?"
"Even the defensive walls… no way!"
"Prepare for battle!"
Konoha's million-point max-level wall was cracking, countless fissures spreading across its surface. Durability was plummeting.
Wall Pearls activated.
Vengeful spirits bred by curse masters released thick gray-black mist.
Hovering above the village was the [Abyss Lord], dressed in black and red robes, with demonic horns spiraling from his head.
A Wall Pearl loot from the [Abyss] dungeon Konoha had been farming.
Tsunade masked her dread and bellowed, "Orochimaru! No matter what you're scheming, you won't escape Konoha!"
As Mr. Fang Yi once said—
The era where a single pair of Rinnegan eyes could crush the strongest shinobi village was long gone.
Even if Orochimaru recruited allies equal or stronger than himself, escaping from Konoha's fortress-like infrastructure was impossible.
So why was her heart pounding?
"Foolish Jiraiya, Tsunade…"
Orochimaru's cursed serpent raised its head, scanning the activated wall defenses, clan emblem, spectral cannons, and other base structures.
A perfect trap.
Yet Orochimaru laughed, shaking his head. "What a shame. Looks like I win again."
As the words fell,
Every Konoha player saw black text flash across their system screens.
[[Konoha Clan]: Clan Leader Sarutobi Hiruzen has died. Elder [Aizen] has initiated a Clan Leader Showdown. Do you wish to participate?]
The tense battlefield fell still.
Konoha players were stunned—who would initiate a leadership battle now?
When the clan leader dies, the system opens two options:
One, elect a new leader by 90% member vote.
Two, initiate a Clan Leader Showdown, a competitive match among elite-ranked or higher players to decide the new head.
The winner becomes clan leader.
"Lord Aizen?!"
"No way—didn't Uchiha Itachi kill him? How could he initiate a showdown?"
Konoha players were stunned. Did Aizen… have a revival token?
Especially high-ranking members of the Shadow Organization—Yamato, Hayate—they had seen Aizen die.
Now they stood frozen in disbelief.
Thump.
Tsunade felt like an invisible hand clutched her heart. The anxiety she'd felt earlier exploded.
She turned her head, looking at Uchiha Itachi—battered and seemingly mad, trapped under the blows of the Uchiha Wraith Amalgam.
Aizen… isn't dead?
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