Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation—
The Third Hokage, having activated the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, had reached the decisive moment of life and death with Orochimaru.
Pierced through the chest by the Kusanagi Sword, the Third Hokage coughed up blood.
"It seems… I no longer have the strength to pull out your entire soul…"
"But your ambitions end here, Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru's face was pale, his expression frenzied.
"It's not over! You old fossil—my ambitions will not stop here!"
"Orochimaru… You've drowned yourself in ninjutsu. I will give you a punishment you'll never forget…
I will take away every jutsu you have ever mastered!
Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
As the Third Hokage's voice fell, the Shinigami behind him drew the blade from its mouth and swung it toward the portion of Orochimaru's soul being dragged out—
At the same time—
Outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the figures of Uchiha Akihito and Tsunade appeared.
"Lord Uchiha Akihito."
"Lady Tsunade."
The surrounding ANBU immediately stepped forward.
Akihito nodded. "Withdraw. Leave this place."
Soon, only Akihito and Tsunade remained nearby.
Aside from the four maintaining the barrier—the Sound Four:
Sakon and Ukon, Kidōmaru, Tayuya, and Jirōbō.
Upon seeing Akihito and Tsunade, the four felt their hearts sink.
This… doesn't look good!
They naturally recognized Uchiha Akihito.
According to intelligence, the most terrifying figure in Konoha right now was not the Third Hokage trapped inside the barrier.
Nor was it Tsunade of the Legendary Three Ninja.
It was the Uchiha Clan Head—
The man who had single-handedly defeated the Fourth Raikage and captured the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki alive.
Uchiha Akihito!
Eastern quadrant—Sakon swallowed nervously.
"Are you kidding me? It's Uchiha Akihito!"
"And Senju Tsunade's here too!"
Northern quadrant—Tayuya frowned. "Didn't Lord Orochimaru say he wouldn't interfere?"
Sakon hissed, "This is bad… really bad…"
Western quadrant—Kidōmaru scoffed.
"What are you scared of? He can't possibly break the Four Violet Flames Formation."
Sakon snapped, "Idiot! Don't you know how terrifying he is? Even the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails together couldn't defeat him!"
Kidōmaru bristled. "You—!"
Tayuya cut in impatiently, "Enough. Talking won't help. Just maintain the barrier. Everything… we'll deal with it after Lord Orochimaru finishes inside."
The usually silent, bulky Jirōbō also spoke.
"Lord Orochimaru ordered us to hold the formation."
The four fell silent.
Outside the barrier—
Akihito and Tsunade looked at the Four Violet Flames Formation before them.
This type of barrier required four people to activate together. The translucent purple rectangular prism was lined with violet flames.
No one from outside could enter.
And touching its walls meant being burned by the flames.
But Tsunade wasn't afraid of that.
She leapt into the air, chakra gathering at her foot—
Then brought it down heavily onto the flaming barrier.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Boom—
The purple barrier trembled violently, shaking for a long moment before gradually stabilizing.
Inside, Sakon and the others paled.
So this was the power of a Kage-level shinobi.
That single kick had churned their blood and nearly destabilized their chakra.
Though the barrier still stood—
If Tsunade delivered a few more blows…
They didn't know if they could endure it.
The four grit their teeth.
No matter what, they had to hold the barrier!
If they failed, Lord Orochimaru's punishment would be far worse.
Just the thought of his cruel methods sent a chill down their spines.
"Tough shell, huh?"
Seeing the barrier hold, Tsunade looked slightly surprised, then clenched her teeth.
"Hiding inside like turtles? Fine! I'll smash your shell to pieces!"
She raised her foot again—
But Akihito stopped her.
"Tsunade, I'll handle it."
Perhaps a few more kicks would break it.
But that would be too troublesome.
Tsunade stepped aside without protest.
She had no doubts about Akihito's strength.
Under the tense gaze of the Sound Four, Akihito stepped forward.
His hand rested on the hilt of his blade.
Sakon swallowed hard, sweat dripping down his temple.
"One-Sword Style—Severing Wave."
The instant the blade left its sheath—
The slash had already been unleashed.
Fast.
Too fast.
So fast that Tsunade hadn't even fully reacted before Akihito calmly returned the blade to its scabbard.
Then—
A dark crimson arc of sword energy materialized in midair.
With unstoppable momentum, it tore through sky and earth—
And descended upon the Four Violet Flames Formation.
The scarlet blade-light was like the world-splitting slash of Hawk-Eye at Marineford—
Or Kurosaki Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō.
Even Tsunade, prepared as she was, couldn't help but feel shaken.
Akihito was strong.
She knew this better than anyone.
Yet she still didn't know where his limits lay.
A Kage-level shinobi like herself posed no threat to him whatsoever.
And strangely—
The thought that such a powerful man belonged to her side stirred a faint thrill within her.
The blood-red blade-light crashed into the barrier.
For a split second—
Silence.
Then—
Blinding brilliance erupted!
Boom!
A thunderous explosion split the heavens.
Where the sword energy passed, the rectangular barrier shattered like tofu!
Stone and timber exploded outward in all directions—
When the dust settled—
The Four Violet Flames Formation had completely vanished.
As for the Sound Four—
They lay scattered amid rubble and debris, their fate unknown.
"Let's go."
With the barrier broken, Akihito flickered forward.
He was somewhat curious—
Had events unfolded as in the original timeline?
Had the Third Hokage only managed to seal Orochimaru's arms?
Tsunade snapped back to her senses and followed closely behind.
Her fair fists were clenched tight.
She had long since been itching to beat Orochimaru senseless.
To dare desecrate her grandfather and great-uncle—
Unforgivable.
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