"Uzumaki Menma? A member of the Uzumaki clan?"
The Jonin of Konoha's Sealing Corps exchanged confused glances. None of them had ever heard of this name before. However, one of the captains stepped forward and spoke with conviction.
"If you're from the Uzumaki clan, then you must be here to help us—help Konoha."
He said this with confidence, recalling the long-standing alliance between the Land of Fire and the Land of Whirlpools. After all, the wife of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, was none other than the princess of the Land of Whirlpools—Uzumaki Mito. She had willingly become the first jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, sealing the beast within herself to protect Konoha.
Mito was a hero of the village. Their nations had been allies for generations. Even now, the emblem of the Whirlpool Country remained emblazoned on the back of every Konoha ninja's uniform—a constant symbol of their friendship.
"Help Konoha? Hahaha!!!"
Uzumaki Menma burst into uncontrollable laughter. He bent forward, clutching his stomach, laughing as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
"Why are you laughing?" one of the Sealing Corps Jonin demanded.
Menma finally straightened up, his expression turning cold and menacing.
"Where was Konoha when the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed? Where was your great village when the Uzumaki survivors were hunted down, scattered, and bullied?"
"The so-called alliance? That was nothing but Konoha sucking the life out of the Whirlpools—stealing resources and benefits, then discarding us like trash when we were no longer useful!"
"But things are different now."
"The Land of Whirlpools will rise again… but Konoha—Konoha will be reduced to ash!"
The Sealing Corps Jonin were stunned. Was this truly the beginning of the end for the once-mighty Land of Fire?
"You... you don't know what you're talking about! Konoha has always—"
The captain tried to respond, but before he could finish, his heart was pierced by a streak of blue lightning.
The strike was quick, precise—deadly.
Lightning Style: Chidori Sharp Spear!
This was a jutsu created by Uzumaki Menma himself, combining the nature transformation of lightning chakra. It allowed him to strike with deadly force at long range.
Zzzzt! Zzzzt!
The lightning crackled fiercely, echoing like a thousand birds chirping in unison.
"Captain! Captain!" the remaining Jonin shouted in horror.
None of them had expected this masked man to strike so decisively. Though part of the Sealing Corps, each member was a seasoned Jonin—formidable in their own right. Their captain had been among the strongest, yet he hadn't even managed to react before he was killed.
The others now understood—this would be a fight to the death.
Uzumaki Menma grinned with growing excitement.
"Come, let Konoha's blood pave the way for the rebirth of the Land of Whirlpools!"
"Ughhh!!! Aaaaah!!!"
Within moments, the streets echoed with the pained screams of the Sealing Corps. Blood pooled across the ground.
---
"Why hasn't the Sealing Team arrived yet?"
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen had been doing his best to stall for time, but the longer the fight dragged on, the more desperate he became. Without the barrier to contain them, the rampaging First and Second Hokage—revived by Impure World Reincarnation—were overwhelming him.
The most troubling aspect of the technique wasn't just their immortality. These undead Kage had nearly unlimited chakra, and their strength hadn't diminished in death.
To make matters worse, Orochimaru constantly lurked in the shadows, waiting for an opening to strike with his Kusanagi sword.
If not for Enma—the monkey king transformed into a staff—Hiruzen wouldn't have been able to block Orochimaru's sudden assaults.
"Third Hokage-sama!"
An Anbu operative appeared in a blur, covered in blood. He stumbled forward, trying to speak, but collapsed before he could finish. A crimson puddle formed beneath him.
But the look in the Anbu's eyes was enough. Sarutobi understood the message loud and clear.
Konoha's Sealing Team—completely annihilated.
"Despicable… Orochimaru!"
Hiruzen gritted his teeth, fury boiling within him. But Orochimaru, surprisingly, looked puzzled.
Did I do this?
He hadn't planned for the Sealing Corps to be wiped out. In fact, he was currently at a disadvantage. With the barrier gone, the Third Hokage had much more room to maneuver, making it difficult for Orochimaru to launch coordinated attacks.
And if the battle dragged on much longer, Konoha's reinforcements would surely arrive.
Orochimaru wasn't delusional—he knew he couldn't take on all of Konoha's forces by himself.
From the beginning, he had one goal: Sarutobi Hiruzen's head.
As for the destruction of Konoha… that was Sand's objective—or rather…
Orochimaru's gaze shifted to Naruto, watching from a distance.
No… this is what Naruto wants to see.
---
"There's no other choice."
Sarutobi Hiruzen realized he could no longer wait. Even if another Sealing Team arrived, it might be too late—and they might suffer the same fate.
As Hokage, he had to make a final stand.
"Ninjutsu: Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
A massive Shinigami phantom appeared behind him. With an otherworldly presence, the god of death reached out and grasped the souls of the First and Second Hokage, devouring them instantly.
Their bodies—now soulless—crumbled to the ground, motionless.
Even Orochimaru was stunned. He had never seen this jutsu before.
While he was still recovering from shock, Hiruzen appeared directly in front of him and grabbed him with both hands.
A faint wisp of white soul began to emerge from Orochimaru's body.
"Third... old man… you bastard… what are you doing?!"
Orochimaru's calm shattered. His pale face was drenched in cold sweat, and panic flashed in his eyes.
His body felt heavy. He couldn't even lift his arms.
Then he saw it—the Shinigami standing behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, holding a blade in its mouth.
Terror coursed through him.
"Orochimaru, I will use this jutsu to drag you down with me!"
"Don't even think about it, old fool!!!"
Orochimaru fought back with all his might. Hiruzen quickly discovered that not only was he failing to extract Orochimaru's soul, but the portion already drawn out was slowly being pulled back into his enemy's body.
Cough! Cough!
Hiruzen doubled over in pain. His chakra and stamina were depleted—he had nothing left to give.
It was now clear: he couldn't take Orochimaru down by himself.
But then he remembered—Naruto was still there.
"Naruto... Naruto... I need... your help!"
At that same moment, Orochimaru also turned toward Naruto, speaking the exact same words.
"Naruto… help me!"
Both sides—mentor and traitor—calling upon the same boy.
What was happening?
A chilling realization struck Hiruzen's heart.
Could it be…?
Something was deeply wrong here.