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The movements of Senju Tobirama were incredibly swift! Even Sarutobi Hiruzen was left bewildered and stunned!
"Lord Second Hokage?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, still puzzled, looked at the rushing Tobirama and furrowed his brows, asking, "Getting rid of me? What exactly is going on? Has Orochimaru controlled you?"
"No."
Senju Tobirama kicked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and responded coldly, "We already know what you've done. I could ignore the Uchiha matter..."
"Tobirama, we can't ignore the Uchiha matter either!"
Senju Hashirama quickly interrupted Tobirama, rushed towards Sarutobi Hiruzen, and struck him on the arm with a punch, forcefully pushing him back!
"Monkey, you've been Hokage for too long..."
Tobirama quickly continued the offensive rhythm, kicking Sarutobi Hiruzen in the shoulder, sending him flying once more: "Have you been blinded by power?"
"Our only goal..."
Senju Hashirama looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and spoke reluctantly, "To prevent that young lad, Kagura, from being forced by you to become a rogue ninja, we had to deal with you here. That young lad might even be stronger than me, and if he becomes a rogue ninja, have you thought about the consequences?"
"!!!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart tightened, and he sharply turned to look at the smirking Orochimaru: "Orochimaru, what exactly is happening?"
This bastard…
What on earth did he tell the two previous Hokages!
The most troublesome part is, why did they have to bring up Kagura's defection!
"I didn't say anything..."
Orochimaru watched with glee as his teacher was attacked by the two resurrected Hokages, seemingly enjoying the sight: "Even this wasn't initiated by me; it was the two Lord Hokage who wanted to get rid of you, Teacher!"
"After all..."
"You've done too many wrong things..."
Orochimaru smirked, presenting a strong piece of evidence: "Didn't you just say you wouldn't pass the position of Hokage to Kagura?"
"Kagura is too young."
Sarutobi Hiruzen coldly rebutted and continued, "If he were to become Hokage, Konoha would surely fall into chaos, perhaps even war…"
Seizing the advantage, Orochimaru suddenly laughed: "So you're saying, Konoha will only be peaceful when you hold the power?"
"…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen realized he had fallen into a verbal trap.
By not passing on the title of Hokage to Kagura and continuing to hold the position himself, in Orochimaru's words, he had become a true power-hungry person.
Power…
It's always about power.
Shimura Danzo used his love for power to attack him, and now Orochimaru was doing the same. Today, this has become an insurmountable threshold!
The trouble is…
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't even have an excuse to refute.
Because he had held the position of Hokage for too long, and had not been willing to pass it on to a suitable candidate, he had become someone perceived as overly desirous of power in both words and deeds.
This kind of thing…
It can't be explained away in just a few words!
And even with plenty of time, it would still be difficult to explain clearly!
Many of Konoha's ninjas had witnessed the scene of the Four Violet Flames Formation, and many had even gathered, trying to attempt to rescue the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
These people also heard the exchange between Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Compared to Shimura Danzo's rhetoric, Orochimaru was very skilled in interpersonal communication, quickly grasping Sarutobi Hiruzen's pain point, not allowing any shift in the topic.
Other issues are too easily flawed!
The fact that Sarutobi Hiruzen had always held onto the power of the Hokage and refused to let go had substantial evidence and was indisputable; he even just mentioned that the strongest Kagura was not suitable to be Hokage, directly setting a trap he couldn't escape!
"So it is indeed so..."
A look of disappointment crossed Tobirama's face.
"The Hokage's burden is not about power…"
Senju Hashirama frowned again and charged at Sarutobi Hiruzen!
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly formed hand seals and expelled a series of fireballs!
However, Hashirama didn't care at all; he simply dispersed the fireball with his bare hands and charged straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Orochimaru watched as Hiruzen struggled under the pincer attack of the two Hokages, his smile deepening: "Teacher, don't blame the two Hokages for their determination to kill you. Everyone once thought of using the young Akihara Kagura as a tool, but your methods were just more sophisticated and cunning, using the power of the Hokage to bring the child closer to you…"
"I did not!" Hiruzen hastily retorted, but was punched in the face by Hashirama, yet stubbornly countered: "I have never treated Kagura as a tool; it was to allow the Will of Fire to be passed on to him…"
"Isn't that just your usual excuse for using people as tools?"
Orochimaru laughed lightly, tactfully continuing: "Always under the guise of doing it for Konoha, any ninja who defies your will or orders is deemed disloyal to Konoha, until everyone is forced to act according to your wishes…"
"Reflect on this…"
"Isn't that the truth?"
Orochimaru, who knew Hiruzen well, directly broke through his defenses: "Teacher, how are you different from Danzo in your deeds for Konoha?"
"A Hokage who hypocritically coerces others with righteousness, any dissent is branded as a threat to Konoha…"
Hiruzen felt a headache coming on.
This battle was already tough enough, and here was his former student, Orochimaru, using words to coerce and humiliate him!
Orochimaru's face grew more smug: "You want to mold everyone into what you desire, yet you are utterly unaware of your own rights and wrongs…"
"Orochimaru!"
Hiruzen retreated, glaring hard at his student: "You are still alive, which is my greatest mistake; I should not have been merciful and spared your life! When you and Danzo conspired to harm our comrades in the village, I should have killed you while I still had the strength!"
The two Hokages suddenly halted their attacks!
Hashirama quickly turned to look at Orochimaru, then at Hiruzen: "Danzo and Orochimaru... plotting against comrades?"
This is…
How come I've never heard of this!
Isn't Danzo like a white lotus?
Seems like there are things he didn't know about. Could it be that Danzo is also corrupted? Didn't Danzo say he was always trying to correct Hiruzen's mistakes?
"Lord Hokages, you have been deceived by him and Danzo!"
Hiruzen's expression turned grim as he continued: "Danzo and Orochimaru conducted unauthorized human experiments and harmed innocent people, and after I discovered this, they chose to defect. Danzo even tried to kill a fellow comrade, Mitokado Homura, during his defection…"
Hashirama's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What exactly is going on?"
Hashirama furrowed his brows, puzzled: "Danzo told us that it was you who exterminated the Uchiha clan and conducted unauthorized human experiments…"
"Brother!"
Tobirama quickly intervened to stop Hashirama.
Some things can be said, some cannot.
Once spoken, they could rapidly deteriorate the political environment of Konoha.
Tobirama originally intended to eliminate Hiruzen, who had strayed from the right path, but unexpectedly there were unforeseen complicacies.
"I had long called a halt to all human experiments!"
Hiruzen, as Tobirama's student and having governed for many years, quickly understood what the Second Hokage wanted to cover up and stated the truth outright: "Only Danzo and Orochimaru continued the experiments in secret; it was my mercy at the time that did not kill them, leading to today's events…"
"Go call someone to bring Danzo back…"
Tobirama frowned and gave a directive in a stern voice.
"What a hassle…"
Orochimaru sighed, raising his finger: "I knew this method was unreliable, just a slight slip is troublesome, and there are too many flaws, how could it possibly fool the astute Second Hokage?"
The next moment!
Both Hashirama and Tobirama's figures retreated to Orochimaru's side!
"Orochimaru!"
Tobirama coldly questioned Orochimaru: "What exactly is going on between you and Danzo! What have you both done!"
"It would be better to make you lose your senses…"
Orochimaru produced two spells intended to obliterate willpower in his hands, inserting them into the back of their heads while chuckling softly: "Can't you just obediently help me kill my teacher?"
"You!"
Tobirama realized he might have been deceived by Danzo!
"You deceived me again!"
Hashirama did not fully grasp the situation, but knew he had been deceived!
However, their anger was futile, as they could only let Orochimaru insert the spells into the back of their heads, completely eradicating their will. Their expressions gradually calmed and they became totally mindless.
"Orochimaru! What have you done to them!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen angrily stared at Orochimaru!
"Don't worry, teacher."
Orochimaru turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen, squinting slowly: "I just wanted you to see the results of my training outside. This is a spell that obliterates the will of those resurrected by the Edo Tensei, making it easier to control their bodies…"
"With your frail body, I could have easily killed you already…"
Orochimaru resumed controlling the two Hokage in battle, continuing with a smirk: "You just defeated Danzo, which cost you a lot of chakra…"
"…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart sank.
Orochimaru's words were indeed true.
Danzo, that old friend, was not so easy to deal with; he himself had also expended a lot of energy and chakra in that battle, making it even more difficult to confront Orochimaru, not to mention facing the two Hokage revived by the Edo Tensei.
Yet…
He still had to deal with Orochimaru and the two controlled Hokage.
Because Akihara Kagura had not dealt with the two Hokage and Orochimaru, meaning dealing with Orochimaru was not an easy task for Akihara Kagura either, and who knows if Akihara Kagura might be deceived and used by Danzo…
However…
It should be alright.
As long as he sacrifices himself here for Konoha, any accusations of coveting power will be dismissed. Once Jiraiya takes over as Hokage, there is still hope for redemption.
"It's time…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed deeply, recalling his considerations on how to completely deal with Orochimaru and the resurrected beings, slowly forming hand seals!
"Ninjutsu: Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"
Two shadow clones appeared beside Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's chakra was not ample; his original body and the two clones were already at their limit, but it was enough!
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the two Hokage charging at him again, glanced at Orochimaru standing afar, then looked up at the Four Violet Flames Formation, and joined hands in forming seals again…
"This time…"
"Let you be buried here!"
As Sarutobi Hiruzen formed his seals, his expression suddenly became stern: "I am a man who has inherited the will of the First and Second Hokage. Don't take your teacher too lightly, Orochimaru!"
"Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal!"
Behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, a sinister specter of the Shinigami suddenly appeared. His two shadow clones quickly rushed out, seizing the First and Second Hokages!
From the sinister specter's mouth hung a short dagger. With a sudden thrust of its claw, it devoured the souls of the First and Second Hokages!
"That technique… once used to seal the Nine-Tails…"
Orochimaru instantly recalled this technique and hastily tried to retreat, but the Shinigami technique closed off the space, trapping him!
Even if he managed to break the Shinigami in time, the gap was enough for Sarutobi Hiruzen to catch him!
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, quickly grabbed Orochimaru's shoulder, indifferent to his own impending death: "This technique will also offer my soul as a sacrifice, but it will seal all the threats to Konoha…"
The Shinigami's claw was already reaching for Orochimaru's soul!
Orochimaru felt his soul slipping away, glaring at his former teacher, desperately thinking of ways to delay!
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, a smirk suddenly appearing: "Teacher, you don't really think killing me will end everything, do you? Care to guess who is really behind the Konoha collapse plan? Danzo and I are merely pawns of that person…"
"What?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was immediately captivated by his words!
Could there be someone else behind Orochimaru, orchestrating all this? Was it that Uchiha Obito guy?
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately thought of a name.
But before Sarutobi Hiruzen could inquire further, Orochimaru's arm suddenly extended a long snake, which quickly coiled behind Sarutobi Hiruzen and spat out a sharp sword, piercing Sarutobi Hiruzen's body!
"You!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils began to dilate.
The old man realized he had been duped by Orochimaru, who was merely distracting him to kill him before the Reaper Death Seal was completed!
Awareness swiftly faded…
Sarutobi Hiruzen knew his life was nearing its end, trying desperately to seal Orochimaru into the Shinigami's body, but he had no strength left…
All he could do…
Was to seal a part of the soul.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes drooped slightly, mustering his last breath: "Then I shall take away your hands, preventing you from using ninjutsu ever again!"
As soon as he finished speaking!
Sarutobi Hiruzen grasped a part of Orochimaru's soul and swallowed it into the Shinigami's body!
"You old bastard!"
Orochimaru immediately felt a strange sensation in his arms, as if they were being scorched by flames, even the skin turning somewhat purplish, completely devoid of strength!
As Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to collapse to the ground, Orochimaru leaned close to his shoulder, furiously whispering into his ear words that left Sarutobi Hiruzen dying in torment!
"Teacher, I wasn't lying just now…"
"Indeed, someone behind the scenes has been controlling the Konoha collapse plan, someone you would never expect, someone we all intended to use as a tool…"
"But now…"
"We have all become his tools."