"Neither of you ever imagined that this little devil, who just shocked all of Konoha, would do something like this…"
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
The eyes of Hashirama and Tobirama flickered with unease.
It was a pity—their power was far too weak to resist Orochimaru's control.
They had witnessed Yuichi kill Sarutobi's Tobirama and Hashirama.
Even now, they could hardly believe it.
Not long ago, that boy had been so concerned for the Third Hokage's safety… and yet suddenly, he struck Sarutobi down.
Why?
What was the reason?
The brothers urgently wanted to know why this boy, who carried the pure blood of the Senju, had chosen such a path.
"That kid, Nagano Yuichi… he's remarkable in every way. But he probably didn't realize that the two of you would be able to see everything."
Orochimaru's tone turned mocking.
"Next, I'll release you from my control—just for a while. I hope you'll tell Konoha the truth."
As his words fell, the glaze of compulsion faded from Hashirama and Tobirama's eyes.
Though Hashirama's will had been erased, the moment his freedom returned, he easily shattered the Wood Style bindings.
Tobirama quickly broke free as well.
Both men rose to their feet, glaring coldly at Orochimaru.
"Our words may not be believed by anyone," Tobirama said flatly.
"No matter," Orochimaru smirked. "As long as doubt takes root."
At that, Hashirama studied him deeply. "Are you still brooding because you were outwitted by a child?"
"There's that… but the real reason is far darker." Orochimaru's expression grew solemn.
"A cruel little devil who hides his fangs—that kind of danger is far too great to leave in Konoha. No matter what he intends, such a creature cannot be allowed to remain."
Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged a grim look.
What Orochimaru said was not without truth.
The boy had inherited Wood Style and the Senju bloodline completely. His natural talent rivaled even Tobirama's.
Such a prodigy should have become Konoha's future pillar. Yet what he showed instead was ruthlessness and determination.
It marked him as something more than a genius—something closer to a hero who would sacrifice anything to reach his goal.
And his strength… it was formidable. In a fair fight, there was at least a seventy to eighty percent chance he could defeat Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But Yuichi had chosen to strike when Sarutobi was at his weakest.
The sword that Orochimaru drove into Sarutobi's body—Yuichi could have avoided it. His skill made that clear.
But he didn't.
Instead, he had calculated it precisely: that the blow wouldn't pierce the heart. It was proof of his absolute confidence in surviving it.
Sarutobi had always been wary of Yuichi.
But Yuichi was not content with mere caution—he wanted a strike with a one-hundred-percent chance of success.
And Orochimaru's sudden attack gave him exactly that opportunity.
Wounded and unguarded, Sarutobi Hiruzen never saw it coming.
Caution—sometimes too much caution—was exactly what made him vulnerable.
And the more they thought of this, the more Hashirama and Tobirama felt a chill of fear.
At that moment—
Yuichi was blasted outward, still clutching Sarutobi's body.
They crashed into the center of the exam arena with a thunderous impact.
On both sides of the grounds, Konoha's shinobi turned at the sound.
Their eyes widened when they saw Yuichi and the Hokage's limp form.
Even the Third Hokage had been hurled aside.
A wave of shock spread through the crowd as ninjas rushed toward the arena.
Yuichi slowly raised his head. One by one, Konoha shinobi surrounded him.
When they saw the lifeless body of Sarutobi Hiruzen in Yuichi's arms, silence fell.
The Hokage was gone.
He lay there quietly, no breath left in him.
The world seemed to stop.
Yuichi said nothing.
Then, little by little, voices rose in disbelief.
"Lord Third Hokage…"
"No… impossible! Hokage-sama can't be—"
"Did Orochimaru kill him?"
"That blade—it was the Kusanagi! Orochimaru's sword struck him down! This is treason!"
"Anyone who dares kill the Hokage cannot leave Konoha alive!"
"He must die!"
Some shinobi wept openly. Others twisted their faces in rage, their fury burning.
"But how could Orochimaru have killed him? Lord Third Hokage was not weaker than Orochimaru…"
All eyes turned toward Yuichi.
He remained motionless, like a carved statue, his profile steeped in grief.
Yet behind his lowered head, his eyes gleamed with a fierce light.
If one wished to become Hokage, three things mattered most:
Timing. Reputation. Strength.
The timing was now.
His reputation and strength were already established.
The moment had come to strike.
Whoosh!
Three figures leapt from the forest's edge.
Orochimaru stood in the center, hand over his chest, smiling faintly as he looked down at Yuichi.
That smile ignited Konoha's fury all over again.
To laugh—after killing the Third Hokage!
It was not only a provocation against the village, but also against his own master.
"Yuichi Nagano, you've played your hand well. But did you think you could outwit me so easily?"
"Damn you, Orochimaru! You killed Lord Third Hokage—we'll never forgive you!"
"Kill him! Don't let this traitor escape!"
The shinobi of Konoha charged toward Orochimaru.
But before they reached him, Hashirama and Tobirama stepped forward.
"Calm yourselves. Listen—"
BOOM!
The ground suddenly quaked.
Hashirama's words were drowned out as the shaking grew fiercer.
"What is this…?" He narrowed his eyes and turned sharply toward Yuichi.
In the distance, Yuichi rose slowly to his feet.
His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, locked on the three figures above.
Snap!
He clasped his hands together.
Chakra erupted violently from his body, flooding the arena.
"Wood Style…"
"The Tree Realm is Coming!"