Having successfully locked onto Orochimaru's soul, Sarutobi attempted to extract it in one go. As the Shinigami's claws emerged from his body, a thick claw pierced through Orochimaru, yanking out nearly half of his soul.
A chilling sense of death instantly gripped Orochimaru's heart.
But Sarutobi was no Minato. Weakened by age and drained from earlier battles, he had reached his physical limit. Acting on pure survival instinct, Orochimaru resisted. With one hand forming a seal, he directed the Kusanagi Blade to stab into Sarutobi's back. The two engaged in a fierce battle for the soul.
Unable to understand the battle, Sasori turned to Anya and asked, "Big Brother Kurotsuchi, what's the result?"
Anya analyzed, "It's a stalemate—right now, Sarutobi can't completely seal Orochimaru. In the end, one will die and the other will be left injured."
"This version of him can still hurt Orochimaru," Sasori asked. "How can this sealing technique be countered?"
Anya smiled easily and said, "For me, this sealing technique is useless. The Spirit Transformation Technique allows me to leave my body first. As for you, puppets are the best defense. He won't even find your real body."
"That's true," Sasori sighed in relief. At the same time, he realized that staying near Anya for too long had unknowingly created a dependency. Truthfully, with his own combat mindset, he might have figured out a solution as well.
While lost in thought, Sasori suddenly heard Anya say gravely, "Here it comes—the final moment."
Inside the barrier, Sarutobi roared, "Seal!"
A sealing formula formed over his chest, and his frail body could no longer endure. He collapsed straight backward. Though Orochimaru succeeded in killing Sarutobi, there was no joy in his expression. Instead, he wildly howled and furiously cursed at Sarutobi's corpse.
Sasori said with a smile, "What did Sarutobi do? Why is Orochimaru so furious?"
Already knowing the answer, Anya replied, "He sealed Orochimaru's hands. Now, he can no longer use hand seals or perform any ninjutsu."
"How ruthless," Sasori sucked in a breath of cold air. This was worse than killing Orochimaru outright—a true master move. He knew exactly where to strike to wound a student the deepest.
With the battle concluded, the longest-serving Hokage finally fell. Anya felt neither sorrow nor joy. Calmly, she said, "Inform Sunagakure to retreat. There's no need for unnecessary sacrifices."
"Alright."
Without delay, Sasori vanished immediately, having prepared in advance. At the same time, a red smoke bomb exploded above Konoha.
"It's the retreat signal."
"What should we do?"
"Keep fighting?"
The Sand ninja in the middle of combat hesitated.
Then, from high above, a giant shadow descended. A colossal fortress appeared in the sky. Standing atop it, Sasori looked like a god. Fueled by chakra, his authoritative voice echoed across Konoha.
"All Suna ninja, withdraw from Konoha!"
"It's Lord Red Spider! Hurry, we must retreat!"
"We're leaving!"
From the sky, the massive fortress deployed numerous flying machines. One by one, the Suna ninja were picked up and carried away. The Konoha ninja witnessing this scene stood stunned, forgetting entirely to attack the retreating enemy.
Now, a Suna ninja approached Scorpion on the fortress and said, "Lord Red Spider, Gaara's team of three is trapped and in mortal danger. Please save them."
Scorpion said with indifference, "Fine. You go ahead first."
Without hesitation, Scorpion leaped forward, tracing an arc across the sky as he sped toward a battlefield in Konoha.
There lay Gaara, already using [Feigning Sleep Technique], lying on the ground barely alive. Sand scattered all around, while Shukaku had long vanished. Temari and Kankuro stood firm before Gaara, desperately defending him. Karasu, Kankuro's Puppet: Corpse Crow, had been smashed to pieces, and Temari was also injured in many places.
Their opponent was Guy, who had released the [Eight Gates]. Otherwise, Temari and Kankuro wouldn't have lasted even a second against someone with that level of power.
"Stand aside," Guy declared. "He's a dangerous ninja who dared cause such massive destruction in Konoha. I must..."
"No way," Temari interrupted directly.
Kankuro stood just as firm. "Even if we die, we won't abandon Gaara."
Gaara, lying on the ground, widened his eyes. He couldn't believe they would go this far for his sake. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Why? Why are you risking your lives to save me? Am I not a monster in your eyes?"
"A monster... perhaps," Kankuro managed a strained smile. "But you're still my little brother. It's my job to protect you."
Temari raised her Three-star Fan and said, "Same here."
"You..." Gaara felt a warmth he'd never known before spread through his life.
Guy remarked emotionally, "I admire your bond. Unfortunately, you're our enemies. That means I won't hold back. Get ready."
Once serious, Guy—even without activating the Eight Gates—was too powerful for two Genin to resist. He launched a heavy [Leaf Whirlwind] kick at them. Neither Temari's Wind Release nor Kankuro's puppets could do anything to counter it.
"Boom..."
Just when the two closed their eyes and awaited death, a thunderous explosion sounded. Guy's kick felt like striking a small mountain, and the retaliatory force sent his entire body flying backward.
"Who!?" Guy became alert. This newcomer wasn't ordinary.
"It's Red Spider—also the combat commander from Sunagakure. With this battle, Suna has lost," Scorpion timely appeared, blocking Guy's attack.
Looking at the familiar mask, Guy curiously stated, "Huh, didn't I remember you as a Genin from Takigakure?"
"What a brain you've got?" Scorpion muttered, unimpressed. Straightforwardly, he explained, "It was just a disguise. The real culprit behind this fight is Orochimaru. I think Sound Ninja should be your true enemy. After this battle ends, Sunagakure will provide Konoha with its explanation."
Guy shook his head. "No can do. I'll deal with you lot first before any further discussion."
"Guy, let them leave," Kakashi arrived from afar, letting out a sigh. "The Third has passed away."
"What!" Guy was stunned.
Without another word, Scorpion immediately departed, taking the three with him.
Guy stopped chasing after them, repeatedly confirming, "Is it really true?"
Kakashi, with a trace of lament on his face, said, "It's true."
Orochimaru, with his hands under the Seal, was at the weakest moment of his life. After a surge of rage came deep regret—why had he been so careless? There had been ten thousand ways to kill Sarutobi easily, yet he had stubbornly insisted on choosing the stupidest one.
Damn you, old fool! Anya, I know you're lurking around here, watching all this go down. Did you already see this end coming for me?
Emotions flickering in his eyes, Orochimaru allowed the Sound Four to carry him away as they retreated.
Just as they were about to cross Konoha's border,
a chilling blade light flared up. A thunderous, dragon-like roar echoed out [representing an Eastern mystical creature]; before one could even see clearly, the surrounding life force and ambient energy surged toward the blade's flash like lightning [representing qi or spiritual energy]. A chilling stillness and bloodthirsty aura pierced straight into Orochimaru's chest.
Even before the blade struck, Orochimaru's eyes narrowed into slits—death's icy breath chilled him once more.
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