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That person... the one treated as a tool by others?
That person, in turn, treated everyone else as tools.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze became vacant as he recalled a frequently mentioned name. Only that person was desired by everyone to be made into a tool.
How could this be?
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen could no longer stand, his soul already taken by the Shinigami, leaving no trace of life as his body struggled and collapsed to the ground!
"Let's go quickly!"
Orochimaru commanded harshly.
Orochimaru knew his mission was complete; staying in Konoha could lead to his being killed by Akihara Kagura for his accolades!
Especially now, at his weakest, with his soul sealed in his hands, he was completely powerless against Akihara Kagura!
The Sound Four quickly dispelled the barrier, dashed to Orochimaru's side, threw a smoke bomb, and hurriedly carried him away!
In the distance.
Akihara Kagura removed his forehead protector.
Karin stood with a group of Root at Akihara Kagura's side.
"Bring Orochimaru back."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, signaling Karin and the Root to charge: "Now, at his weakest, don't consider his feelings, tell him, I can help him resolve the matter of the Reaper Death Seal."
"Yes!"
Karin and the Root quickly rushed towards the outskirts of Konoha Village.
The Sound Four were to flee Konoha with Orochimaru, but he had become a burden, unable to move quickly, and their chakra and physical strength were no match for the ready Root.
Inside Konoha Village.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's body lay on the high platform.
The Sand ninja were still battling with the Konoha ninja, even the Genin were fighting. Gaara, unable to turn the tide, furiously unleashed Shukaku again, capturing other Genin with sand claws!
"I'll protect everyone! Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!"
Uzumaki Naruto unapologetically used the Nine-Tails' chakra, summoning the giant toad Gamabunta, who sat down on Shukaku!
Perhaps because it involved beating Shukaku, the Nine-Tails spared no chakra, lending it to Naruto for the summoning.
"I'll kill you!"
Gaara, standing on Shukaku's head, furiously controlled the sand sweeping towards Naruto, but Gamabunta swatted the sand away with a slash!
However, their battle ended there.
Vines burst from the ground, alerting Gaara and Shukaku to danger, a familiar chakra and power...
"Retreat!"
"Akihara Kagura is here!"
"Quick, retreat, Akihara Kagura is back!"
The Sand ninja hurriedly called for a retreat, having been forewarned and witnessing Akihara Kagura's formidable power!
That was the person who could easily suppress the rebellious Mist ninja with his power alone, their capabilities barely surpassing Mist's!
As for Gaara and Shukaku's power...
That was a joke...
Everyone in Sand knew Shukaku had often been bullied outside the village for a year by Akihara Kagura.
"We're retreating!"
Even Gaara had to admit it!
Now, even in Karin's hands, Gaara had suffered twice, let alone facing an enemy like Akihara Kagura who could trample him!
As for the rampaging Shukaku...
This Tailed Beast had suffered enough, quickly retracting into Gaara's body upon seeing the vines on the ground!
A group of Sand ninja hurriedly fled towards the outskirts of Konoha Village, fearing being left behind by Akihara Kagura!
"Hmph, the fight can almost end now."
Gamabunta watched the vines emerging from the ground, puffing on a giant pipe: "As long as Akihara Kagura comes, these aren't his match..."
"Truly terrifying..."
Hatake Kakashi watched the fleeing Sand ninja, slightly relieved: "Just one person's name, enough to scare off all enemies..."
The last person to leave such a deterrent...
Was his teacher, the Fourth Hokage, Minato.
Yet, Akihara Kagura was even more terrifying than Minato, a person who could deter a village's enemies from fighting and truly resolve a battle alone.
Just as Hatake Kakashi thought.
Vines converged to form a tall vine wall, blocking all Sand ninja trying to escape.
Roots burst from the ground, capturing all the Sand ninja present, binding them to the wall, absorbing their chakra.
Akihara Kagura slowly walked into the area, looked at the aftermath, and gave his orders: "Immediately take all the wounded to the hospital!"
"Yes, Lord Kagura!"
A group of Konoha's ANBU quickly responded.
Due to the sacrifice of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Konoha was without a leader, making Akihara Kagura the highest authority in Konoha as the Hokage's assistant.
"Lord Kagura..."
A Konoha ANBU knelt on one knee before Akihara Kagura, reporting in a low voice: "The Third Hokage, sir..."
"I've seen it."
Akihara Kagura's expression remained calm as he softly said: "First, gather the Third Hokage's body, send someone to the Memorial Stone to prepare the tomb, I came a step too late, just interrogated from Shimura Danzo about his conspiracy with Orochimaru..."
"Yes."
The ANBU immediately responded.
This Chunin Exam had seen many unforeseen events.
No one expected that Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo would cause a disturbance at different times, leading to the sacrifice of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, at the exam site.
Fortunately.
Konoha was not without its pillars.
The arrival of Akihara Kagura directly stabilized the morale.
Although many were dissatisfied with Akihara Kagura's way of handling things, it was very clear that Akihara Kagura's power remained formidable, enough to deter any enemies harboring ambitions against Konoha.
Whether it was Sand or Mist, or even a group of smaller ninja villages, as long as Akihara Kagura was in Konoha, they could not pose any trouble.
"Lord Jiraiya has returned!"
This news also boosted the spirits of the Konoha ninja!
The name of the Sannin was legendary in Konoha, idolized by many.
Jiraiya, having been away from the village for a while, had just returned at this moment, also handling a group of enemies attempting to attack Konoha from outside.
A Chunin Exam had thrown Konoha into chaos.
Fortunately, with the presence of Akihara Kagura, all the Sand and Mist ninjas involved in the riots at the Chunin Exam were imprisoned, and the Konoha ninja escorted these rioters into Konoha's prison cells.
"..."
Jiraiya stood on the high platform, watching a group of ANBU gather his teacher's body, turning to Akihara Kagura: "Where's Orochimaru?"
"I've already sent people to hunt him down."
Akihara Kagura furrowed his brows, continuing: "The chaos caused by Sand's ninja drew a lot of attention, allowing Orochimaru and his people to escape..."
"..."
Jiraiya slowly nodded, looking at the body of Sarutobi Hiruzen, and sighed deeply: "To sacrifice himself for the village is a form of fortune for a ninja, at least he didn't have to lie in illness in his old age..."
"But..."
A hint of killing intent finally appeared in Jiraiya's eyes, as he completely gave up hope of bringing back his once close friend: "We can't let Orochimaru go anymore!"
This time...
Orochimaru had gone too far!
In the past, Jiraiya simply thought that Orochimaru had strayed too far on a path of evil, wanting to bring Orochimaru back to Konoha. This time, Jiraiya had to give up all his illusions; Orochimaru was a threat to Konoha!
For Konoha...
It was necessary to kill that former close friend!
Whether Jiraiya could successfully hunt down Orochimaru was unclear, but the Root had already caught up to Orochimaru, a group of them immediately surrounding Orochimaru and the Sound Four.
"Did Akihara Kagura send you?"
Orochimaru stared at Karin and the group of Root, hissing coldly: "That bastard, he wants to tear up the alliance at this time and use my head to pave his way to becoming Hokage?"
"Do you think..."
"You can kill me at this opportunity?"
Orochimaru knew these Root were up to no good, but at this moment his arms were painfully hot, completely unable to use any jutsu.
Wanting to fight...
Surely he couldn't just use the Eight Branches Technique?
"Lord Orochimaru."
Karin, along with a group of Root, surrounded Orochimaru and the Sound Four, still respectful: "Lord Kagura says he can help you resolve the issues with the Reaper Death Seal..."
"That brat has such good intentions?"
Orochimaru's brow furrowed, unwilling to believe Karin's words.
Karin looked at Orochimaru, continuing softly: "If we wanted to harm Lord Orochimaru, we would have started killing by now. Lord Kagura wants to meet with Lord Orochimaru personally, I think there must be important matters to discuss, and Lord Danzo is also at the Root base..."
"..."
Orochimaru fell silent for a moment, then continued: "There's no hurry to meet now, lest the ninja of Konoha become aware..."
"Then we must ask for your forgiveness."
Karin bowed her head, the respect coming to an abrupt halt.
The next moment!
A group of Root rushed forward!
The Sound Four immediately entered the Cursed Seal state, desperately trying to block the Root's attacks, only to face even more fierce assaults!
Unfortunately...
These Root also had the Cursed Seal state!
Each masked Root raised their arms, each arm carrying the Cursed Seal bestowed by Akihara Kagura, the seals turning into black liquid flowing on their bodies, a pair of black wings like eagle wings sprouting from the Root's backs!
Twelve Root easily defeated the inexperienced Sound Four, their Sharingan and Wood Release combined with the Cursed Seals given by Akihara Kagura, making their victory against the Sound Four very easy!
Orochimaru watched helplessly as his subordinates were captured one by one, his gaze gradually solidifying, his eyes fixed on Karin, ready to burst forth and kill at any moment!
"Lord Orochimaru."
"We're not far from Konoha."
Karin seemed somewhat helpless, slowly raising her arm, continuing: "If we cause too much noise fighting, it might let others discover your whereabouts, making it impossible for Lord Kagura to cover for you..."
"..."
Orochimaru had to admit this was also a huge problem.
At that time...
Perhaps Akihara Kagura would really kill him in front of everyone with a strike of thunder, to prevent him from leaking any information.
"I have Lord Kagura's Flying Thunder God mark on my body..."
Karin raised the mark on her arm, speaking softly: "Please trust Lord Kagura's goodwill, otherwise he would have come himself, and Lord Danzo is also waiting at the Root base for you, as there are important matters to discuss."
"I'll go with you."
Orochimaru slowly nodded.
"..."
A group of Root looked at Karin, each casting sidelong glances.
When had this kid learned to wear glasses and tell such big lies, everyone saw how miserably Danzo lived at the Root base.
Late at night.
Konoha gradually calmed down.
The turmoil caused by the Chunin Exam was too great, forcing Konoha to increase its patrol forces, yet everyone knew that this was just the beginning, brewing an even more terrifying crisis.
Sand and Mist had both torn up their alliances with Konoha, and a ninja war was about to erupt, leaving some in Konoha still anxious.
Root base.
Akihara Kagura did not go to the Hokage Tower for a meeting.
Because the two Hokage advisors did not seek him out, the Hokage's assistant, but instead called Jiraiya for a meeting, clearly intending to arrange for Jiraiya to succeed as Hokage.
Akihara Kagura, the Hokage's assistant, was in his office, touching a very terrifying mask in his hands, a mask he had obtained from inside Konoha Village, from a building constructed by the Uzumaki clan called the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Storage Temple.
"Lord Orochimaru has arrived."
Karin was the first to arrive to report to Akihara Kagura.
A group of Root followed closely, bringing Orochimaru into the office, Orochimaru's face still showing displeasure and annoyance.
"Kagura-kun."
Orochimaru saw Akihara Kagura sitting in the chair, the anger on his face gradually dissipating, surprisingly switching to a smile: "At this time, shouldn't you be thinking about how to sit in the Hokage's position? What are you doing bringing me here?"
"To help you resolve the issues with the Reaper Death Seal."
Akihara Kagura put down the mask in his hands, starting to explain the principles of the Reaper Death Seal: "The essence of the Reaper Death Seal technique is to summon the Shinigami, swallowing all souls and offerings into its stomach. I heard part of your soul was sealed by the Third Hokage, Lord Hiruzen, just before his death, and specifically found a way to release the Reaper Death Seal..."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly, looking at Akihara Kagura with interest: "Kagura-kun, did you prepare this in advance? Did you already know I would be sealed by the Reaper Death Seal? Why didn't you warn me about this?"
"Only when a person feels thirsty does the water sold become valuable."
Akihara Kagura sighed, seemingly somewhat helpless: "I was planning to wait until Lord Orochimaru had no options left, then tell you how to release the Reaper Death Seal..."
"But the funeral of the Third Hokage, Lord Hiruzen, is about to be held, and I also wanted to let Lord Hiruzen secretly watch his own funeral. A person's ultimate judgement is his funeral, this moment is very important to him..."
"Unfortunately..."
"The soul of the Third Hokage, Lord Hiruzen, is inside the Reaper."
"Wait..."
Orochimaru felt he might have heard something wrong, his brow furrowing tightly: "Kagura-kun, if I didn't hear wrong, you want the teacher... to watch his own funeral?"