The Deformed Will of Fire
Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with five Anbu—including Kakashi— infiltrated Orochimaru's base.
Led by Kakashi, they smoothly arrived at the door of Orochimaru's room, which was sealed with a barrier. Hiruzen Sarutobi forcibly broke the seal, entered the room, and confronted Orochimaru.
Hearing Orochimaru ask if he intended to kill him, Hiruzen Sarutobi sternly said,
"Orochimaru, it seems you already know that what you've done is intolerable. I gave you a chance before, yet you remain unrepentant. Since that's the case, I have no choice but to clean house!"
Orochimaru smiled.
"So, in your eyes, it's unrepentant? It's your narrow-mindedness. You only see what you want to see. Once something exceeds your understanding, you deny it and resist it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi coldly said,
"Orochimaru, there's no need for sophistry. Your experiments are grotesque, something no one can tolerate!"
Orochimaru gently shook his head.
"Sarutobi-sensei, it's not that you can't tolerate it, but your position restricts you. You cling too much to power. Otherwise, you wouldn't have turned a blind eye when Danzo and I performed the Hashirama cell transplant experiments on infants back then.
Now you reap the fruits of those experiments, yet you stand here to accuse me.
Yes, my research is inhumane in many aspects, but I don't torture needlessly. I minimize suffering where I can. In contrast, Root's experiments are far crueler—yet you never rein in that man, Danzo.
So it isn't the experiments you can't tolerate, it's me. Because I am beyond your control. If the truth were exposed, I—your disciple—would leave an indelible stain on your legacy as Hokage. Am I wrong?"
Hiruzen's expression hardened, then shifted with anger. Finally he roared,
"Orochimaru, enough of your fabrications!"
Compared to Hiruzen's fury, Orochimaru's emotions remained calm.
"Fabrications or not, Sarutobi-sensei, you know the truth. Your vision is too narrow. Your petty struggles for control are as childish as children playing house.
No matter what you gain now, all tangible things will eventually be destroyed. They are impermanent. Even as Hokage, once you die, everything you clung to will turn to dust. After you die, what do you think you'll truly leave behind?"
Hiruzen replied firmly,
"I will leave behind the Will of Fire!"
Orochimaru laughed, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"The Will of Fire? Where Konoha thrives, fire is said to keep burning, its light illuminating the village, nurturing new leaves.
But is today's Will of Fire the same as yesterday's? Haven't you noticed it has already twisted out of shape?
Perhaps once, you upheld the Will of Fire passed down from the First Hokage. But the older you get, the more you refuse to let go of power. That obsession has driven you to decisions that betray that very Will.
You may still believe you uphold it, but in my eyes, Konoha's Will of Fire has been deformed—and the one responsible is you."
"Silence, Orochimaru!" Hiruzen roared. "You know nothing! You are a traitor who has turned against Konoha!"
He quickly formed hand seals.
"Summoning Technique!"
The Monkey King Enma appeared in a burst of smoke.
Orochimaru glanced at Enma, then smiled coldly at his former master.
"It's not only me who betrayed Konoha, Sarutobi-sensei. You betrayed it long ago as well."
He formed hand seals and thrust out his arm.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Venomous snakes shot from his sleeve, striking toward Hiruzen.
Lightning flared.
"Chidori!"
Kakashi surged forward, severing the snakes in an instant.
Orochimaru turned to him.
"Kakashi… so you too are bound by the Will of Fire? I thought you, of all people, would see through it. After all, your father's death was the village's doing. Shouldn't Sarutobi be your enemy?"
Kakashi's voice was steady.
"Don't twist things. This is my own choice. As a shinobi of Konoha, I will protect the village!"
He charged again, his blade wrapped in Chidori lightning. The screech of a thousand birds echoed through the base. Kakashi closed the distance at blinding speed, swinging down in a powerful slash.
But his strike rang with a metallic clang.
Orochimaru's body had hardened like steel. He had used his snake-body techniques to deflect the blow.
Smiling, Orochimaru caught Kakashi's blade in his bare hand.
"Still far from your master's level, Kakashi."
He kicked him away, sending Kakashi crashing into shelves lined with jars. Glass shattered and scattered across the floor as Kakashi staggered to rise.
Hiruzen and Enma charged together.
Orochimaru pressed his hands to the ground.
"Summoning Technique: Rashōmon!"
A massive demonic gate tore upward from the earth, blocking Hiruzen's path and splitting the chamber apart.
Hiruzen grimaced. Orochimaru wasn't trying to fight—he was preparing to escape.
Though Hiruzen could no longer see him, Orochimaru's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Sarutobi-sensei… when your leaves wither, I'll let you end your life as Konoha's Hokage, a hero who dies protecting the village once again. That is the final gift I'll grant you… as your disciple."
His voice faded into the darkness.
Hiruzen, the four remaining Anbu, and a bruised but standing Kakashi bypassed the Rashōmon gate, searching for him.
Not far ahead, they found a passage descending underground.
It was clear—that was the path Orochimaru had taken.
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