Before Orochimaru could respond, the Third Hokage spoke first.
"No, Tōma. Orochimaru can't be allowed to leave. And the First and Second must remain here as well. We can't let him keep defiling the past like this."
"Third Grandpa," Fujimoto Tōma said calmly, "you shouldn't die here. As for the First and Second Hokage, the sealing team can handle them afterward."
"…Sealing?"
The Third Hokage hesitated.
People liked to pretend heroes were selfless, but hesitation was human. If death was the only option, he would've chosen it without blinking. But when another path appeared, doubt was unavoidable.
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
The moment Tōma appeared inside the barrier, Orochimaru knew it was over. If Tōma could teleport in, then he could just as easily teleport the Third Hokage out.
And outside the barrier?
ANBU.
And worse, Jiraiya.
Originally, Orochimaru had planned to kill the Third Hokage first, then use the First and Second Hokage to deal with Jiraiya. Now? He was facing the possibility of Jiraiya and the Third Hokage together, with a Flying Thunder God user lurking nearby.
Even worse, Tōma had just implied there was a way to deal with Edo Tensei without sacrificing a life.
Unknown methods were dangerous.
Orochimaru didn't hesitate.
"Release the barrier."
The Sound Four immediately dispelled the Four Violet Flames Formation and regrouped beside him.
"What are your orders, Orochimaru-sama?" they asked.
"Withdraw."
Before they could move—
"Orochimaru!"
Jiraiya arrived, red markings around his eyes, his body half-transformed, the two toad sages perched on his shoulders.
"Oh?" Orochimaru smirked. "You actually pulled it off. Sage Mode, huh? Still looks borrowed. Not very impressive."
His tone was casual, but his eyes flicked sharply.
The next moment, the Edo Tensei First and Second Hokage charged straight at Jiraiya.
Yes. Orochimaru was abandoning them.
He had loosened their restraints and thrown them away as disposable shields.
It was a painful loss, but Orochimaru valued one thing above all else.
His own life.
"OROCHIMARU!" Jiraiya roared.
"Call all you want," Orochimaru said lightly. "If you want to chase me, deal with them first."
Then his gaze slid toward Tōma, voice turning cold.
"Fujimoto Tōma. I'll remember you."
"Good," Tōma replied evenly. "Next time we meet, I'll kill you myself."
Orochimaru laughed as he retreated, his presence vanishing into the chaos.
Tōma didn't pursue.
He barely had any chakra left. Even with soldier pills, forcing Flying Thunder God through both a barrier and a seal had been the most expensive teleport he'd ever used.
If he'd been at full strength, he might've tested whether Rasenshuriken could actually kill Orochimaru. Cell-level destruction might have stopped even his snake substitution.
But Orochimaru was notoriously hard to kill.
There would be another chance.
"Jiraiya-sensei," Tōma said quickly, "hold them. ANBU, contact the sealing team immediately. Bring sealing tools. Edo Tensei requires sealing, not brute force."
The ANBU hesitated, then looked to the Third Hokage.
"Do as Tōma says," the Third ordered.
"Yes!"
As they vanished, the Third Hokage finally relaxed. Tōma briefed him on the situation across the village, leaving nothing out.
Hearing how much had been prepared in advance, the old man smiled faintly.
"Well done…"
And then his body gave out.
"Third Grandpa!" Tōma caught him just in time.
"Old man!" Jiraiya shouted, eyes snapping toward them.
Tōma checked him quickly, then exhaled in relief.
Alive.
"Jiraiya-sensei," Tōma said, steady but urgent, "he's not in immediate danger, but his condition isn't good. Medical teams are overwhelmed. I'll treat him here."
He swallowed another soldier pill without complaint and pressed his palm to the worst of the injuries.
Palm Sage Technique.
The wounds themselves weren't fatal. But age was a merciless enemy. Recovery would take time. A lot of it.
Jiraiya disengaged from Sage Mode and nodded grimly. Without Orochimaru present, he didn't need it to hold off the Edo Tensei bodies.
Elsewhere, Kakashi and Might Guy prevented fleeing Sound ninja from escaping. Baki, realizing the truth about the Kazekage, chose to retreat while he still could.
Soon, ANBU returned with the sealing team.
"The Hokage—!"
"He's alive," Tōma cut in. "Help Jiraiya first."
Understanding instantly, they rushed to assist. With Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima restraining them, the sealing team successfully sealed the Edo Tensei First and Second Hokage.
Only then did Jiraiya kneel beside the Third Hokage.
Looking at the unconscious old man, something heavy settled in his chest.
He really was old now.
"Tōma," Jiraiya asked quietly, "how is he?"
Tōma sighed. "The injuries aren't severe. But he's old, Jiraiya-sensei. What would be nothing to us… isn't nothing to him anymore."
"That he's alive is enough," Jiraiya said at last. "Recovery can wait."
He looked at Tōma, expression complicated.
Without him, everything would've been too late.
"Thank you," Jiraiya said sincerely.
Tōma smiled. "It's what I should do. Right?"
Jiraiya laughed softly, pride clear in his eyes.