"Wake Gaara up and get him out of here!"
Maki loudly called to Kankuro and Temari, urging them to rush over and wake up Gaara, who was asleep on Shukaku's forehead, so that he could re-seal Shukaku and quickly escape from Konoha with the One-Tailed inside him!
Now, the plan to destroy Konoha had encountered a major issue, with the Fourth Kazekage Rasa nowhere to be found and Shukaku unable to cause chaos in Konoha...
This lousy plan...
Is very likely to fail!
The only thing that can be done now is to quickly minimize the losses!
However, Susanoo aimed and shot an arrow, instantly pinning Shukaku's body to the ground, causing it to return directly to the body of its Jinchuriki. Gaara shook his head and stood up!
"I'll hold him off!"
The Hidden Sand Jonin Maki stood bravely in front of Susanoo, loudly calling for Temari and Kankuro to take Gaara and leave: "We absolutely cannot let Shukaku fall into Konoha's hands..."
But...
The Konoha ninja also realized this issue!
"I'm going after them!"
Sasuke Uchiha immediately dispelled Susanoo, and with a light step, leapt over Maki to chase after Gaara and the others who were escaping into the distance!
Judging by the actions of Akihara Kagura...
In the event of the Third Hokage's death, a person as powerful as him should not be present, otherwise failing to assist the Hokage would leave a negative impression, and the Third Root Leader would not make such a political mistake!
Fortunately...
Chasing the One-Tailed Jinchuriki of the Hidden Sand Village isn't bad!
"Wait..."
Kakashi Hatake couldn't stop it in time, so he could only instruct the new generation ninjas not yet assigned tasks: "Naruto, Sakura, go assist Sasuke, and warn him not to fight in the village to avoid harming the innocent!"
"Okay!"
Naruto Uzumaki quickly nodded.
"What about us?"
Might Guy kicked away two Hidden Sound Ninjas and looked around, his gaze settling on the highest stand: "Shall we go save the Third Lord?"
"..."
Kakashi Hatake was silent for a while, he looked up towards the stand area and softly said: "That is a battle for the Third Lord, don't interfere..."
On the stand.
Orochimaru's appearance had already caused panic among a group of people.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Orochimaru had only exchanged a few moves, and a group of Konoha Anbu Ninja rushed over, wanting to step forward to protect the Hokage!
However, four figures leapt out from the crowd, landing around the roof of the stand, quickly forming hand seals and erecting a tall Four Purple Flames Array, blocking everyone outside, leaving only Orochimaru and Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen inside!
"Anbu Ninja..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen tossed aside his Hokage Kasa, removed his Divine Robe, revealing fully armed light armor, and commanded in a deep voice: "Immediately go support the others in the village, leave Orochimaru to me alone..."
"Teacher..."
Orochimaru smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth, slowly raising his palm: "Looks like you've long been prepared to sacrifice yourself... Are you ready to witness my new achievements?"
"This time..."
"I will correct the mistakes left from the past..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his hand to wrap his wrist, his gaze falling on Orochimaru, his eyes becoming somewhat profound: "Today, I will kill you with my own hands..."
"Then let's see who will fall here today..."
An icy glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes, his fingers swiftly formed hand seals, and his palm slammed onto the ground: "Ninpo: Summoning Jutsu!"
A summoning spell appeared on the ground, two coffins suddenly emerged from the earth, and a third coffin was shattered the moment it surfaced by Sarutobi Hiruzen's Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!
However...
For Orochimaru, the experimental subjects in the two coffins were enough!
Today, he intended to rely on the experimental subjects within these two coffins to kill his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and capture that little brat Sasuke Uchiha!
If there are no surprises...
No one in this village can stand against these two experimental subjects of his!
Clunk!
Two figures walked out from the coffins.
No matter who saw these two figures, their hearts would skip a beat, as if they had seen the spirits of the dead!
No...
Just the souls of the deceased!
"First, sir... Second, sir..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the two who had appeared, incredulous, his mind momentarily blank and frantic, as he was very aware of their power!
"That's right."
Orochimaru spread his palm, smilingly introducing, "The First Hokage of Konoha and the Second Hokage, although the Reanimation Jutsu can only utilize part of their power, it's more than enough to handle Konoha..."
Elsewhere.
Someone was surveying everything in secret.
With a hood over his head, Kabuto was wandering among the audience, even leisurely using his medical skills to save some of the injured.
"What a waste..."
Glasses on the bridge of his nose, Kabuto looked at the two Hokage brought forth by the Four Purple Flames Array and couldn't help but laugh, "Compared to the Reanimation Jutsu Sasuke taught me, Lord Orochimaru's version still has lots to perfect!"
Unfortunately.
This wasn't his stage.
Perhaps there never would be a stage for him in the future.
Kabuto was indifferent to this, simply focusing on the battle in the stands, quietly waiting for the "drama" of the Third Hokage's death to end.
Because this so-called drama...
Was merely the opening of another true spectacle.
The entire Ninja World was waiting for the death of the Third Hokage, this elderly man nearing seventy who held power over Konoha for decades and influenced the Ninja World's situation for as long. He maintained peace in his own way in both the Ninja World and Konoha.
Yet...
This peace seemed like decaying leaves.
Everyone felt they couldn't breathe freely beneath this elderly man's palm, not because of his power, but due to his omnipresent prestige.
This elderly man, by just being alive, made the Ninja World resemble a still-barren swamp unable to stir waves, forcing the ninja to struggle within its stagnant waters, whether the ninjas of Konoha Village or those in other Great Country Ninja Villages.
Now...
This elderly man's life finally reached its end.
No matter how rough Orochimaru's Reanimation Jutsu was, the summoned First Hokage Senju Hashirama and Second Hokage Senju Tobirama could only exert slight, insignificant power, yet it wasn't something a man nearing seventy could resist...
"Must use that Jutsu..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen fought with extreme difficulty, nearly suppressed by the First and Second Hokage, while struggling in the battle, he watched the arena's dynamics.
"Sasuke..."
"Went to hunt the enemy?"
"Such a pity..."
"Actually should've fought alongside Sasuke..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands slowly formed Hand Seals, regretting everything he hadn't achieved before dying, even already pondering his death scene.
If possible...
Sarutobi Hiruzen hoped in this battle, the First Hokage and Second Hokage summoned by Orochimaru could defeat Uchiha Sasuke, that at the most critical moment he as the Third Hokage would sacrifice his life, using Dead Demon Consuming Seal to conclude the Reanimation Jutsu...
In this way...
The Will of Fire would surely pass onto Uchiha Sasuke's heart...
Yet...
Uchiha Sasuke, the little fellow, wasn't present...
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt some regret but could only form the Hand Seal for Dead Demon Consuming Seal, ending, struggling to punctuate his faults with a period, hoping the Will of Fire that ignited his life would rejuvenate Konoha...
As Sarutobi Hiruzen concluded the Hand Seals, a towering shinigami phantom appeared behind him, with Orochimaru's fearful gaze, the emergence of this shinigami seemed to lead this elder and his adversaries away together...
"It's ending."
Kabuto removed his hood, watching the elderly man controlling the shinigami capturing the souls of the First and Second Hokage, even sealing Orochimaru's arm, he leisurely adjusted his glasses.
"Sasuke-kun."
"Our plan is about to begin..."
"Embrace the wind, become the shadow in the dark, let the shadow cover the Ninja World..."
Kabuto reached into his chest with his palm, touching a mask, with a longing smile at the corner of his mouth, "Let's start creating a new world, a world shrouded in darkness yet letting everyone feel like spring is arriving..."