Chapter 280: Decisive Battle
The massive rooftop of the Chunin Exam venue, though its interior was already a complete mess, hadn't collapsed thanks to the Four Violet Flames Formation's powerful reinforcement.
However, the barrier's interior had long been unrecognizable, completely unlike its original appearance. Thick trees burst through bricks and stones growing wildly, hard rock walls rose from the ground, traces of moisture left by Water Style and scorched explosive tag craters crisscrossed everywhere—all of this was evidence left behind by intense exchanges.
The Adamantine Nyoi staff that Enma had transformed into was deeply embedded in the ground. The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned on it, his chest heaving violently, severe chakra depletion making him gasp for breath.
On the opposite side, the damage caused to the First and Second Hokage by explosive tags was slowly repairing at visible speed. The opening the Third had desperately found and the damage he'd inflicted seemed only able to delay things for an extremely limited time.
Compared to Orochimaru, the Third's condition was obviously much worse. Though Orochimaru still appeared composed on the surface with far less chakra consumption than the Third, that signature cold smile on his face now seemed somewhat stiff, even carrying a trace of barely perceptible... anxiety.
According to the final memories transmitted back by his distant clone, his carefully prepared three trump cards for capturing the Nine-Tails jinchuriki—two Uzumaki clan members proficient in sealing techniques and the Fourth Kazekage Rasa who could suppress Tailed Beasts—had all been intercepted by that suddenly appearing Menma alone!
What made his heart run even colder was that substantial, bone-chillingly cold killing intent the clone felt before dispersing. Even he felt a wave of dread.
As expected... I've thoroughly enraged him.
Moreover, just moments ago, Orochimaru clearly sensed his connection with those three distant Impure World Reincarnation bodies being forcibly severed! Were they sealed? That guy's strength was even more troublesome than estimated.
And there was that One-Tail Shukaku that briefly appeared, rampaging in Konoha's center... It seemed the Akatsuki's reinforcements had made their move. He'd originally anticipated seeing the Third Hokage's panicked expression, but this anticipation hadn't lasted long.
Because his true target—Naruto Uzumaki—had appeared.
Through the forbidden technique he'd developed, Immortality Reincarnation, Orochimaru had to some degree already achieved immortality. He'd set his next goal as exhausting all truths in the world.
However, when he personally witnessed that god-descending-like power, that brilliant golden Nine-Tailed Fox defeating Shukaku with crushing force and standing like a guardian deity above Konoha... even Orochimaru himself hadn't immediately noticed what kind of complex and twisted expression had appeared on his face then.
It was envy of possessing that perfect power.
It was intense greed desiring to claim that power for himself.
It was jealousy at why fate so favored that youth.
It was wild joy at discovering such a perfect "truth" vessel.
It was fear of that absolute power beyond comprehension.
And more nakedly, crazy desire to completely possess and dominate.
That momentary display of ugliness and loss of composure—even the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi who'd known him for decades saw it for the first time in his life.
Those were no longer a scientist pursuing truth's eyes, but the gaze of a beast... completely devoured by greed and obsession.
Outside the barrier—or rather, the barrier itself was already on the verge of collapse. The originally solid Four Violet Flames Formation now had dim light, the purple becoming nearly translucent. The chakra needed to maintain the barrier had obviously reached near depletion. Even without external attack, its complete dissipation was merely a matter of time.
And the casters who'd laid this barrier were currently in dire straits themselves.
"This thing is the so-called 'curse mark'? It does bring some power improvement, but the side effects and weaknesses are equally obvious... indeed still somewhat troublesome."
Kakuzu's low voice slowly rang out. However, the enemies he evaluated as "somewhat troublesome" were now completely routed.
Jirobo's body was covered in scorched and torn marks left by various elemental jutsu bombardment. He lay unconscious on his back, breathing weakly, life or death uncertain.
Kidomaru's condition was even more miserable—his chest directly pierced through by a violent Lightning Style jutsu, having already lost all vitality.
The giant spider summoned beside him also had its head burst like a smashed watermelon, green fluid pooling everywhere.
Sakon and Ukon lay collapsed on the ground barely breathing. Though still alive, the backlash from forced curse mark release, severe injuries covering their entire bodies, and completely depleted chakra left them unable to even lift a finger.
And Kakuzu's hand covered in black tendrils firmly gripped Tayuya's neck, lifting her entire body off the ground. The flute she'd used for genjutsu had long since broken in two, fallen aside.
The several bandaged humanoid creatures composed of unknown material that she'd pinned her hopes on and summoned had also long been dismantled into scattered pieces, transformed into rigid fragments scattered around.
"However, your combat experience is far too lacking compared to mine."
Having completed their task, the four mask monsters slowly re-merged into the stitched seams on Kakuzu's back and disappeared.
"You... arrogant bastard! Let me go... go die!" Even with life hanging by a thread, breathing difficult, Tayuya still used all her strength to squeeze angry curses from her throat.
Shukaku completely suppressed, the invading Sound and Sand ninja already routed under Konoha ninja counterattack and that golden figure's sweep, even his carefully cultivated Sound Four completely annihilated...
Orochimaru rapidly weighed the current situation. Though his own chakra consumption wasn't great, the only external force he could still deploy that could influence the battle was the First and Second Hokage controlled by Impure World Reincarnation?
After rage and greed cooled slightly, a trace of rationality returned. That guy... before he arrived, did he have confidence to finish things quickly under Sarutobi-sensei's desperate counterattack?
For the first time, Orochimaru's heart sprouted thoughts of retreat. Today's plan to obtain the Nine-Tails jinchuriki had already failed. Continuing to entangle seemed to rapidly increase risk.
Contrary to Orochimaru sprouting retreat thoughts, the Third Hokage's eyes became unprecedentedly resolute! He understood too well how many life-preserving methods his student had. The crimes Orochimaru committed in Konoha today—colluding with foreign enemies, launching attacks, desecrating previous Hokage's souls...
Not one was forgivable! He'd already made up his mind—even at the cost of this old life, he absolutely couldn't let Orochimaru escape again. He had to completely keep him here!
Now Konoha's Fifth Hokage had someone to inherit it, the village had a new pillar, Naruto's displayed power protected the village, and Jiraiya could safely announce his identity as the Hokage's son... He had no more attachments.
The only thing he couldn't let go of... was that perfect successor he'd designated... A trace of complex emotion swept through the Third's heart.
No, I still can't completely believe that person who protected the village with his life would use military force to threaten peace...
It seems only by reaching that world can I understand this answer. Hopefully... Sensei's judgment was wrong.
Facing the once-again controlled, expressionless First and Second Hokage closing in, the Third Hokage's eyes sharpened. His hands slowly raised, preparing to form that ultimate sealing jutsu at the cost of life.
Just as his fingertips were about to touch, resolved to perish together with the two previous Hokage and drag this traitorous student Orochimaru into hell with them—
"I'd advise keeping that life, Third. I'll clean house for you."
A low voice suddenly sounded from above the barrier.
The Third Hokage looked up in shock.
Orochimaru's face instantly darkened enough to drip water, his serpent pupils suddenly contracting!
The next moment, a profound, pitch-black chakra sphere silently descended from above, landing on the wavering Four Violet Flames Formation barrier's top.
BOOM!!!
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