Asuma's eyes grew dim, as if all light had faded from them, and he seemed to age decades in an instant. His hand, which had been gripping his trench-knife-like Chakra blades, loosened, letting the weapons fall to the ground with a sharp metallic clang. He sat on the ground, his hands hanging limp at his sides.
Hiromi's expression remained calm. A flicker of orange flame emerged from his palm, and as more orange flames condensed, a streak of gold gradually appeared, as if it were consuming the fire itself.
Asuma watched that streak of gold shoot toward him. Everything before his eyes became a dazzling, brilliant gold. Finally, the golden flames consumed him.
Asuma was dead.
Following that, Hiromi looked around. The ground was littered with the bodies of Sarutobi clansmen, those of the Uchiha clan were few and far between.
This was mainly because the Sarutobi Clan had been caught off guard by One-Tail, and with their Three-Tomoe Sharingan, the Uchiha Clan Members were essentially all elite Jonin-level combatants. With these elite Jonin launching a surprise attack, even with only a few dozen people, facing the three thousand ninjas of the Sarutobi Clan was easy.
Seeing Hiromi surveying the area, an Uchiha clan member immediately stepped forward to report the situation.
"Currently, 90% have been annihilated. Not a single person has escaped the Sarutobi Clan Compound. Most are now gathered around One-Tail, while a small portion has gone into hiding."
Hiromi gave an 'en' of acknowledgement and said, "Tell Shukaku to go back."
"Yes!" The Uchiha clan member looked excited.
He didn't know what kind of deal Hiromi had made with One-Tail, but the fact that he could command such a powerful Tailed Beast was, in his eyes, incredibly cool.
The Uchiha clan member departed.
Hiromi looked toward Manda in the center of the village, and Hiruzen's face appeared in his mind. He glanced at another mission in his mind.
[Mission Name: So You're the One Who Brought in Outsiders to Target the Uchiha?]
[Mission Content: Kill Sarutobi Hiruzen!]
[Mission Reward: Rinnegan]
It was time to wrap things up.
Golden flames erupted from Hiromi's body. The intense heat caused the surrounding blood and severed limbs to sizzle as their moisture rapidly evaporated.
A Crown, Gilded Patterns, bracelets, anklets...
All the Uchiha Clan Members looked at Hiromi with reverence.
The golden flames swept out, enveloping Hiromi's entire body. The turbulent aura was constantly compressing, filled with unstable, violent energy that made one's heart race with unease. Finally, the compressed golden flames could no longer be contained and exploded outward.
Hiromi soared into the sky, turning into a streak of golden light and vanishing.
...
The center of the village.
Hashirama's Wood Release had caused giant trees to grow all around, making it feel as though they had entered a forest.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. Standing before him were the Edo Tensei versions of the First Hokage and the Second Hokage.
Across from them stood the Third Hokage Hiruzen, panting heavily with blood dripping to the ground.
Facing Hashirama and Tobirama, who simply could not be killed, a phrase couldn't help but echo in his mind— Where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew.
He held the Adamantine Staff, transformed from Enma, and his gaze became resolute.
"Orochimaru! This time, I will bury you and make up for my mistake back then!"
In the next moment, his hands formed seals.
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Seeing this, Orochimaru's expression instantly turned grim.
With so little Chakra left, he was actually splitting it up now?
This was practically accelerating his own death.
Utterly foolish!
"As expected, you've grown old."
As he spoke, Hashirama and Tobirama charged forward, showing no mercy.
"Could it be that you..."
Enma's pupils shook, he seemed to have guessed what Hiruzen intended to do.
Hiruzen remained unmoved and began to form seals.
Snake-Boar-Ram-Rabbit-Dog-Rat-Bird-Horse-Snake.
He formed each seal slowly, but they were precise and perfect.
Finally, he pressed his palms together. In an instant, the air grew frigid. It was as if some kind of special entity had appeared, making one's heart turn cold and filled with profound unease.
"No matter what you do, it's too late. I've won, and Konoha is going to be destroyed." Orochimaru said with a cold smile.
"Konoha is my home! The Hokage exists to be the pillar that protects this home! This is the person to whom the Will of Fire is entrusted and inherited. Don't think you can defeat me so easily!"
Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!
Tobirama formed a hand seal, stripping away all light from Hiruzen and plunging his world into darkness.
At that moment, Orochimaru's mocking voice rang out. "Boring nonsense. In the history of the organization known as Konoha, you are nothing more than a temporary leader."
Meanwhile, Hiruzen could only scramble to deal with the attacks coming from the darkness. He was covered in wounds, but his gaze remained resolute.
"To me, Konoha is not just an organization. Every year, many ninjas are born in Konoha. They grow up and fight bravely, sacrificing themselves to protect the village."
Scenes flashed through Hiruzen's mind.
His teacher, the Second Hokage Tobirama.
His teacher's brother, the First Hokage Hashirama.
His students: Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.
His grand-student, Minato.
Minato's students: Kakashi, Obito, and Rin.
Minato's son, Naruto.
Countless people flashed through his mind, moving him deeply. All of them were smiling and happy.
The will in Hiruzen's eyes grew even firmer.
"Even if the people in the village aren't related by blood, to me, they are all important family!"
Orochimaru sneered, "Then I'll just break you, the pillar, and destroy this home called Konoha."
"Even if you kill me, this pillar will not break! I am the man who inherited the will of the First and Second Hokage! I am the Third Hokage! No matter how much you covet Konoha, the new Hokage who inherits my will will become the pillar and protect this home!"
Hiruzen looked up slightly, as if responding to a certain smiling person, "Right, Fourth Hokage?"
He lowered his gaze, staring into the darkness before him. "Orochimaru, I am about to show you a secret technique you have never seen before."
Just as his voice fell, the attacks came again. But this time, they were caught by Hiruzen's two Shadow Clones.
"Watch closely!"
"Reaper Death Seal!"