Naruto extended his hand forward.
"Watch out!" the ANBU operative exclaimed in alarm.
Just as Naruto was about to touch it, purple flames surged up, twisting and writhing as they lunged at him, searing his fingers.
"We've tried everything, but there's no way to break through from the outside. It can only be destroyed from within," the ANBU operative shook his head, his tone cautious as he focused on Naruto's fingers.
The burn marks healed almost instantly.
Was this the power of the Nine-Tails?
Or could it be the strength of the Uzumaki clan?
"What about beneath the house?" Naruto asked, glancing at the rooftop tiles.
The ANBU operative shook his head again, "That's also covered by the barrier."
As they spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already restrained Orochimaru's arms, a spectral soul reached out, gripping Orochimaru's soul, forcibly dragging it out.
Time was running out.
Naruto raised his hand, "Step back, I'll give it a try."
The ANBU hesitated upon hearing this, but seeing Karin comply without a second thought made them follow suit, retreating a few steps back.
Chakra surged forth.
A formidable aura emanated from the blond youth, rippling outward.
Words of power chanted.
"The scattered bones of the beast!"
"Spire, crimson crystal, iron wheel."
"Movement is wind, stillness is void."
The ANBU glanced over, while Karin raised her hand to shield her eyes.
The poetic incantation blossomed in Naruto's palm, a dazzling golden lightning.
As fierce as the sun itself.
"What kind of technique is this?" the ANBU was astounded.
He had never witnessed such a large-scale jutsu even before its full release.
A single glance was enough to send shivers down one's spine.
The final words were whispered by Naruto.
"The clang of spears fills the void city!"
"Destructive Art No. 63, Thunder Roar Cannon."
Lightning burst forth, a meteor streaking across the sky, and the thick golden light crashed against the violet barrier, scattering flames wildly.
For a moment, it seemed about to pierce through, creating mottled cracks.
The bodies of the ninja at the four corners trembled uncontrollably, with blood continuously seeping from their lips.
The spell formation had not been dispelled but was forcefully shattered and damaged, and the backlash from chakra caused significant shock to the four of them.
Orochimaru couldn't help but turn his head, the pain of soul extraction unable to suppress his admiration. "What a beautiful technique."
"Those four are spell-casters I carefully selected."
"The Four Violet Flames Formation they conjured together is capable of trapping even someone like my teacher, the Hokage."
"But it was actually broken by him."
"This isn't something that could be taught in Konoha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored the sarcastic remarks from his former pupil.
He too marveled at Naruto's power.
Yet at this moment, he had little energy remaining to pay attention to other matters.
Naruto gripped the hilt of his blade.
The "Thunder Roar Cannon," Destructive Art number sixty-three, was currently the most potent Kido he had learned.
It failed to destroy the barrier.
Nevertheless, having caused damage indicated that with sufficiently strong attacks, it could be completely shattered.
He was about to draw his sword.
Upon releasing it, he would wield attacks stronger than the "Thunder Roar Cannon."
"Naruto." From within the barrier, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head to look at him, forcing a smile and calling his name, "There's no need to try and save me."
"This spell can only be activated by offering one's soul to the Death God."
"My fate is already sealed."
"Do you know?"
"Once, a great hero used this technique to save the village."
"I can never compare to him."
"But now, I will also use this technique to protect the village."
He turned his head back, staring intently at Orochimaru's hands, his breathing heavy.
His lifespan and body had already deteriorated to such an extent.
He could only extract the soul from those hands.
"Orochimaru."
"I am truly old now, and I'm sorry, as your teacher, I wasn't able to correct your mistakes."
"But I will not forgive you."
"I will give you a small punishment."
"Let me take back all the techniques you've learned."
As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke,
the "Reaper" behind him took the short blade from its mouth,
raised it high, and swung it down forcefully.
It severed the soul **of** Orochimaru's hands that had been pulled out.
The Reaper heaved deeply, **and** Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with the First and Second Hokages, and the soul **of** Orochimaru's hands, were devoured into its belly like a feast.
Its eyes grew bright,
its expression more fierce.
It seemed that this offering, both in quality and quantity, had greatly satisfied it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi used his last ounce of strength to turn and look at Naruto, a small smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
His eyes could no longer open, and he couldn't make out Naruto's face.
Only that brilliant golden hue filled his entire vision.
He spoke, his voice incredibly weak: "Where the leaves dance, the flames are ever present."
"The shadow of the flame will burn brightly for the village and cause new leaves to sprout."
"Naruto."
"I'm sorry."
The last four syllables failed to leave his lips, drained of any strength to utter them. But his lips moved, and Naruto understood.
He gazed silently into the distance.
The body wavered and fell, kicking up a cloud of dust that covered the elderly face, which still wore a gentle smile.
The technique ended, chakra dissipating.
The Reaper behind him vanished without a trace.
Orochimaru roared in fury: "You old fool!"
"How can you still smile?!"
"Give me back my hands!"
Naruto desperately searched but found no trace of the "Reaper," whose presence vanished entirely with the departing souls—both "chakra" and "spiritual pressure."
He clenched his fist tightly.
That jutsu.
He had to have it.
The words of Grandpa Third still echoed beside his ears.
Besides "I'm sorry," he also said, "There was once a hero who saved the village with this technique."
Since those words were meant for him, that "hero" must be referring to his father, the Fourth Hokage.
His soul, too, might be sealed within that same vessel, just like Grandpa Third.
"Where's Mom?" Naruto wondered what exactly was that technique Orochimaru had used. Like a malevolent specter, the "Reaper" had ultimately reaped the souls of the First and Second Hokage. Wasn't the third soul meant to be someone other than his father?
Naruto pondered over this when Karin approached, looking over Hiruzen Sarutobi's lifeless body. She asked anxiously, "Naruto, could you see something behind the Third Hokage just now?"
She noticed that Naruto's gaze was fixed beyond Hiruzen Sarutobi, rather than on him.
Naruto turned his head. "Yes, there's a being that Grandpa Third referred to as the Reaper."
"You didn't see anything?"
Karin nodded, and the ANBU operatives who had come closer also nodded.
They saw nothing.
"Judging by the events just now, and considering the fact that only some could see the Reaper, it's likely that the technique the Hokage used was a forbidden jutsu from our Uzumaki Clan," Karin said, gripping Naruto's sleeve nervously. "It's a seal technique called the Reaper Death Seal. Only those who have contracted with the Reaper can see it."
"Naruto, if you can see it, does that mean…"
Her voice trembled with concern.
That technique was extremely dangerous.
Naruto shook his head. "I haven't made any contract with that specter. I just have a special reason that allows me to see it."
"Was it really a technique of the Uzumaki Clan?"
"How can we find that so-called Reaper?"
He refused to acknowledge or call that entity as the "Reaper."
Relieved, Karin shook her head. "That technique is far too dangerous. Even my mother didn't know it, only some rumors she had heard."
She hesitated, glanced at the ANBU operatives, and fell silent.
"I see," Naruto acknowledged, nodding slightly.
He looked ahead.
The Four Violet Flames Formation had dissipated, leaving Orochimaru severely weakened with his hands consumed by purple bruises, being supported by four Sound Ninja.
The prey had been let out of the cage.
With gratitude to everyone who has supported us, let's delve into the story unfolding between the world of shinobi and Shinigamis.
(The End of Chapter)