Without a word, Linton began walking directly toward the highest viewing platform. Kakashi assessed the situation and decided to follow him immediately.
"Sensei, what's wrong?" Naruto asked, noticing Kakashi's troubled expression.
"It's nothing," Kakashi replied, before asking Genma nearby about the situation. Learning that Sasuke's eligibility hadn't been revoked, he left Genma in charge of overseeing the match, then hurried to follow Linton toward the platform.
Naruto and the others found this strange, but their focus remained on Sasuke's match. Naruto eagerly anticipated Sasuke defeating Gaara and meeting him in the semifinals for their long-awaited showdown.
As the match preparation continued in the arena, Linton reached the top of the highest platform. Just as he arrived, two masked ANBU members appeared in front of him, blocking his path.
"Let him through," came the voice of the Third Hokage from behind them. The Third Hokage, upon seeing Linton, was visibly shocked. However, after a brief moment of composure, he regained his calm. He was deeply curious about how Linton had "returned from the dead," especially since it was he who had killed Linton all those years ago. Linton's death had been certain, even though his body was never found. But seeing Linton alive, looking exactly the same as he did thirteen years ago, left the Third Hokage both surprised and confused.
The ANBU members stepped aside at the Third Hokage's command, allowing Linton to step onto the platform. Kakashi arrived shortly after but maintained some distance, not approaching directly.
"Are you... Uchiha Linton?" the Third Hokage asked, even though the resemblance to his memories was unmistakable. He still couldn't resist asking.
"Of course it's me. Who else would I be?" Linton shrugged.
"Why are you still alive?" the Third Hokage questioned directly.
"What do you think?" Linton responded lazily, not bothering to make up an elaborate explanation. He was merely waiting for his plan to commence, casually chatting with the Third Hokage in the meantime.
"Orochimaru's resurrection experiments?" the Third Hokage guessed, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Orochimaru?" Linton was slightly taken aback, glancing at the Kazekage next to him. "Trust me, Orochimaru would be just as shocked as you are right now."
Orochimaru remained silent, though he was indeed stunned, as Linton had predicted. He was even more curious than the Third Hokage about how Linton had pulled this off. If it weren't for the fact that he needed to keep his identity hidden, he would have asked immediately.
"So, what is your purpose for returning?" the Third Hokage asked, moving on from the mystery of Linton's survival.
Linton glanced below, where Sasuke and Gaara's match had already begun, with both testing each other's skills. Linton knew the match would end quickly, and that the plan would begin soon.
"If I told you I came back to help, would you believe me?" Linton suddenly said.
"Help? With what?" the Third Hokage asked skeptically.
"Well… I hadn't planned on coming back, but while wandering, I stumbled upon some shocking news. Apparently, someone is plotting to overthrow the entire Hidden Leaf Village. After thinking about it, I realized I couldn't just stand by and watch my birthplace be destroyed. I'm just too kind-hearted, so I decided to return and help," Linton rambled on.
"Hmm?" The Third Hokage didn't believe a word of what Linton said. While Linton had left a deep impression on him, they had only met a handful of times, and even thirteen years ago, he hadn't understood Linton's motives. Linton had inexplicably allied with Orochimaru, and now, he was still an enigma.
Returning to help? Nonsense. If Linton had said he was here to destroy the Leaf Village, the Third Hokage would have believed him more easily. Still, he decided to probe for more information. "What's this plan to destroy the Leaf Village you mentioned?"
"Well, I'm not sure I fully understand the current situation either," Linton replied. "I thought something major had already happened, but when I arrived, I was surprised to see everything so peaceful. Kazekage-sama, care to explain?"
"Me?" Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, asked.
"Yeah, because I found a corpse in the desert that looked just like you, Kazekage-sama," Linton said with a grin.
"???" Everyone was stunned by this revelation. What did he mean by finding the Kazekage's corpse?
Before anyone could fully grasp the situation, a flash of light enveloped the area, and countless feathers began falling from the sky. Linton recognized this immediately as the start of the Leaf Village Collapse Plan, realizing that the feathers were part of a genjutsu.
Linton activated his Sharingan, easily dispelling the genjutsu. However, many people in the stands immediately collapsed from the illusion, while several ninja quickly used techniques to dispel it, causing chaos to erupt.
"Begin the operation!" Orochimaru, still disguised as the Kazekage, gave the order, and several ninja leaped into action. In the distance, a loud explosion echoed as a giant snake appeared within the village, likely summoned through a summoning technique.
"Wind—" The Third Hokage began to shout, but before he could finish, Orochimaru wrapped an arm around his neck and held a kunai to his throat.
Without saying much, Orochimaru jumped to the rooftop with the Third Hokage, followed by several ninja disguised as Sand Village ANBU. The Third Hokage didn't resist immediately, sensing that something bigger was at play.
Linton followed them without hesitation. A few Leaf ANBU, including Kakashi, were also in pursuit.
Linton, wanting no interference, saw his opportunity. As Orochimaru's subordinates prepared their jutsu, Linton rushed at Kakashi, delivering a powerful kick.
Kakashi had been focused on the Third Hokage, but his reflexes kicked in just in time to block Linton's strike. However, Linton's strength was overwhelming, and Kakashi was sent flying.
At that moment, Orochimaru's subordinates completed their jutsu. "Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!" A purple, transparent barrier rose around them. One of the pursuing ANBU crashed into the barrier, igniting into purple flames, instantly becoming a human torch.
"A barrier?" The remaining ANBU stopped in their tracks, knowing they couldn't break through without the right techniques.
"Look, there's someone else inside!" one of the ANBU noticed. Aside from the Third Hokage and the Kazekage, there was indeed another person within the barrier—Linton, who had slipped in right after kicking Kakashi.
The Third Hokage noticed Linton but had no time to deal with him. From the rooftop, he had a clear view of the village below. The situation was dire; this was undoubtedly a plan to destroy the Leaf Village. His first thought was that the Sand Village had betrayed them. Glancing at the Kazekage, he asked, "Is the Sand Village breaking the alliance to start a war?"
But the voice that answered him was one of eerie familiarity. "Sensei, have you gone senile?"
"What?" In that instant, the Third Hokage realized the truth. "You… I see…"
"The Leaf is finished," Orochimaru said with a smile.
"I've taught you that nothing is over until the very end, right… Orochimaru?" the Third Hokage gritted his teeth.
Orochimaru, no longer concealing his identity, ripped off his mask. "You will die here, Third Hokage."
"Gentlemen," Linton interrupted, stepping forward. "Can we skip the monologues and get to the fighting already?"
"Linton." Orochimaru turned to face him. He was the only one who knew that Linton wasn't even an Uchiha by blood. "I'm truly surprised to see you again. How did you survive?"
The Third Hokage, overhearing this, realized that Orochimaru wasn't in league with Linton after all, confirming that the two weren't allied.
"You ever heard an old Uchiha saying? 'Good men die young, while scoundrels live for a thousand years.' I haven't caused enough trouble yet, so there's no way I'm dying now," Linton shrugged.
"So you're back to being an Uchiha now?" Orochimaru asked. "I truly don't understand you. Don't tell me you've actually returned to help the Leaf."
"Nervous?" Linton chuckled. "Scared to death, aren't you? I know why you're shaking. Word is you got obliterated by an Uchiha. Pretty embarrassing, huh? Now that you see me, I bet your legs are trembling."
Orochimaru winced at the jab, though it hit close to home. He was indeed wary of the Sharingan, especially since Linton's Sharingan, like Itachi's, was of the Mangekyō variety. Fortunately, after his previous failure, Orochimaru had devised countermeasures, including the Reanimation Jutsu. If he couldn't win himself, he'd summon those who could.
(End of Chapter)