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By the time Jiraiya entered Sage Mode, Hiruzen Sarutobi was already dead. He was a step too late.
“Damn you, Orochimaru!” Jiraiya roared angrily, charging towards Orochimaru. At this moment, all emotional ties were severed. Orochimaru had committed an unforgivable crime.
“Retreat!” Orochimaru yelled to the Sound Four.
“Didn’t expect that idiot Jiraiya to master Sage Mode.”
Orochimaru couldn’t afford to be surprised now. The situation was dire. If he didn’t leave, facing the Konoha ninja and the enraged Jiraiya, he would surely die.
His arms were crippled; he couldn’t even move a finger. How could he fight Jiraiya?
Furthermore, his battle with Hiruzen had depleted most of his chakra.
Orochimaru noticed Shin Uzumaki nearby, but he didn’t ask for help. He had to rely on himself; relying on others was useless.
The Sound Four—Kidōmaru, Tayuya, Sakon and Ukon, and Jirōbō.
They were quite skilled, elites trained by Orochimaru, serving as his bodyguards.
With Orochimaru’s arms crippled and unable to perform Ninjutsu, his escape relied entirely on the Sound Four.
——
“I wonder if Orochimaru can escape?” Shin watched with curiosity. This wasn’t like the original story; Jiraiya was personally pursuing Orochimaru now.
“I think it’ll be difficult for Orochimaru to escape,” Kushina commented. Orochimaru was clearly weakened, lacking combat strength. The Sound Four alone couldn’t possibly hold back Jiraiya in Sage Mode.
“Not necessarily. Who knows if Jiraiya will go easy on Orochimaru in the end.”
Although Jiraiya currently looked determined to kill Orochimaru and avenge the Third Hokage, who knew if he would hold back when the time came?
“This trip to Konoha has been entertaining.” Shin said with a light chuckle.
“ENTERTAINING?! Is that all this is to you?! A show?!” Naruto, hearing Shin’s words, was furious.
“Yes. Unlike you all, I’m an outsider. To me, this is a great show,” Shin replied flatly, glancing at the enraged Naruto Uzumaki.
“Naruto, be quiet.” Kakashi tapped Naruto’s head, telling him to shut up and avoid provoking Shin Uzumaki.
Even though Shin’s words made Kakashi uncomfortable, he knew they couldn’t afford to offend Shin—Orochimaru alone had caused such chaos in Konoha; what about Shin Uzumaki? Kakashi didn’t even want to imagine.
“Let’s go check on Lord Hokage,” Kakashi said gravely to Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto fell silent, tears welling in his eyes as he walked towards the Third Hokage’s body.
——
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, pursued by Jiraiya, managed to escape. However, the Sound Four were killed by Jiraiya.
More accurately, Orochimaru abandoned the Sound Four, using them to stall Jiraiya while Kabuto Yakushi helped him escape.
Orochimaru was truly cold-blooded and ruthless, sacrificing anyone necessary, even the carefully trained Sound Four.
To Orochimaru, the Sound Four had served their purpose—saving his life.
However, the events unfolded completely unexpectedly for Orochimaru. In his original plan, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a pathetic state.
But he hadn’t anticipated Hiruzen’s Reaper Death Seal, nor Jiraiya’s timely return.
Jiraiya stood with a dark expression, not pursuing further. He couldn’t catch Orochimaru now; Orochimaru had disappeared.
——
“Orochimaru escaped after all. Jiraiya held back a bit.”
Shin shook his head slightly.
If Jiraiya had gone all out, even if Orochimaru survived, he would have been severely injured. Perhaps Jiraiya still held onto their past bond and let him go.
“Danzō never showed up from beginning to end. I don’t believe for a second that he didn’t know what was happening,” Kushina muttered, pouting.
“Danzō wants Hiruzen dead. Wished for chaos in Konoha,” Shin said with a faint smile.
With Hiruzen dead, Danzō would have a chance to become Hokage. Even if Hiruzen survived, chaos in Konoha would give Danzō an opportunity to impeach him.
“Let’s go. It’s Konoha’s internal affair now. No more show to watch,” Shin said to Kushina and the others.
Shin left with Kushina, Hinata, and Karin. Hiashi Hyūga watched Shin leave, opening his mouth as if to say something. He had wanted to ask about his daughter Hanabi, but Shin was already gone.
This time, Shin hadn’t brought Hanabi to Konoha; she was still in the Land of Whirlpools.
Hiashi Hyūga glanced at Hiruzen’s corpse, his expression complex. Finally, he led the Kirigakure ninja away.
The Konoha ninja were relieved to see them leave. Their presence added another layer of danger to Konoha. They quickly escorted Hiashi and his group out, along with the ninja from other minor villages.
However, the Sunagakure ninja couldn’t leave. Konoha ninja surrounded them.
Sunagakure had clearly colluded with Orochimaru. Even though they later helped fight Orochimaru’s forces, the Konoha ninja hadn’t forgotten their initial attack.
——
Baki looked at the situation helplessly but knew there was nothing he could do.
“Don’t resist! Put down your kunai!” Baki ordered the Suna ninja. Resistance was futile now; Konoha’s ninja had gathered.
Fighting back meant certain death.
The Sunagakure ninja were temporarily detained. However, following Jiraiya’s instructions, the Konoha ninja didn’t resort to excessive force.
“Lord Jiraiya, what should we do now?” Kakashi and other Jōnin asked Jiraiya, clearly looking to him for leadership.
“First, prepare the old man’s funeral arrangements,” Jiraiya sighed.
Looking at the Third Hokage’s body now, he felt immense guilt. He hadn’t been ruthless enough when facing the escaping Orochimaru; he felt he had let down his teacher.
Kakashi and the others nodded. Indeed, regardless of anything else, this was the most important task. Other matters could wait.
“Lord Jiraiya, I hope you won’t leave Konoha for the time being, for the sake of the village,” Kakashi took a deep breath and said.
At this moment, Kakashi and the others feared Jiraiya might suddenly leave. With Hiruzen dead, if Jiraiya also left, they would truly be leaderless.
Jiraiya nodded. He wouldn’t leave without saying anything. At least until the old man’s funeral was over, Jiraiya wouldn’t leave Konoha.
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