The Hokage lay silent in a pool of blood, surrounded by the shattered fragments of the village he'd given his life to protect. As the barrier flickered out, reconnecting the rooftop to the rest of Konoha, a circle of ninjas descended upon Orochimaru, kunai in hand, vengeance flashing in their eyes.
Orochimaru staggered back, breathing heavily. He wasn't ready to yield. "Tsunade… she can heal me! I'll take what I need and—"
A figure appeared seemingly out of nowhere, hands in his pockets, white hair gleaming in the fading sunlight. Gojo had arrived.
Orochimaru turned, venom simmering in his gaze, only to meet Gojo's calm, disapproving stare. "Listen, snake-boy," Gojo sighed, leaning casually against a crumbling wall, "threaten Konoha all you want, but going after Tsunade? That's where I draw the line."
Orochimaru's smirk faltered, but he forced out a hiss, barely hiding his irritation. "Gojo... you arrogant brat. You think you can just waltz in—"
With a flick of his wrist, Gojo conjured a small, ominous sphere of black energy that hummed at his fingertips. "Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of you losing this fight." With a snap, the orb shot forward, expanding into a massive wave that swallowed Orochimaru's summoned serpents in a whirling storm of energy, cracking the ground beneath it and leaving a crater in its wake.
Gojo let out a yawn, his grin cheerful yet chilling. "Tsunade is one of us—a part of this village you'll never lay a finger on again."
As the barrier disintegrated, the gathered shinobi looked on, stunned as Gojo effectively "escorted" Orochimaru out of Konoha's business. and by "escorted" meaning shoting a point-blank Reversal Red in Orochimaru face, sending him directly in the sky, speeding off like a shouting star.
Sensing an opportunity, Danzo stepped forward, his bandaged eye glinting with barely concealed ambition. Clearing his throat, he announced, "Now that Lord Third has… left us, Konoha needs a new Hokage." He scanned the crowd, gauging their reaction. "As a senior of the Leaf, I shall bear this burden."
But Gojo wasn't about to let Danzo seize the moment unchallenged. "Oh, Danzo," he mused, tilting his head in mock thought, "With that eye of yours all wrapped up and full of mystery? You do know stitches aren't meant to hold grudges, right?" He winked, flashing a mischievous grin.
Danzo's face twitched in annoyance, and he adjusted his cane with a huff. "Youngsters today have no respect…" he muttered, before turning on his heel. "Mark my words, Satoru," he warned. "Power attracts enemies. Someday, you'll regret this."
"Maybe," Gojo replied breezily, hands in his pockets, "but until then, I'll keep having all the fun."
With a final glare, Danzo departed. Gojo finally turned to the shinobi, their faces drawn and somber as they looked at their fallen Hokage. Gojo sighed, kneeling by Hiruzen's body. He gently closed the Third's eyes, murmuring, "You did look pretty Hokage-like, old man."
The days that followed were heavy with grief as the village prepared to honor their fallen leader. At the funeral, a solemn hush blanketed the crowd. Shikamaru, Naruto, and their friends stood in silence, each carrying the weight of loss in their own way. Naruto clenched his fists, fighting back tears as he remembered the Third Hokage's kindness during his loneliest moments.
Asuma, cigarette hanging from his lips, exhaled a shaky cloud of smoke, muttering, "Go well, old man…"
When Konohamaru broke down, clutching his friends in tears, the depth of his pain was raw and unmistakable. He was mourning more than a leader—he'd lost his grandfather.
Standing to the side, arms crossed, Gojo watched with a surprisingly somber expression. He glanced at Kakashi, who'd returned just in time for the memorial. "Rough timing, huh?"
Kakashi nodded solemnly. "The village will heal… eventually. But it won't be the same."
Then, a soft chuckle echoed through the somber scene. "What's with the long faces?" Gojo smirked, eyes twinkling with mischief. "You guys look like you've just been handed a week of D-rank missions."
A few muffled laughs broke the tension, and Kakashi shook his head, smiling under his mask. "Even here, Gojo?"
"Always." Gojo's grin widened. "It's what the old man would've wanted—us moving on, stronger than ever."