Swish, swish, swish!
Everyone's eyes shifted to Kirito.
Their expressions were filled with disbelief.
After a long pause, it became clear that Sarutobi Hiruzen had not offered the right price.
For a moment, the atmosphere fell into an uncomfortable silence.
What had begun as a life-and-death battle had now turned into an absurd bargaining session, like a market negotiation.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen heard Kirito's words, his hands trembled with fury. He had pulled out all the stops, even mortgaging the Hokage Building to Kirito, asking him to deal with the two enemies. Yet, Kirito had only defeated them, not killed them. How could he accept this?
But now Sarutobi Hiruzen fully understood the extent of Kirito's power. Even as Hokage, it wasn't easy to challenge him. His calculating eyes narrowed, considering what to do next.
Kirito, maintaining his calm, surveyed everyone with his powerful aura. He said nothing, yet it felt as though he had spoken volumes.
Finally, Kirito spoke to Obito and Orochimaru, who were still locked in a tense stare.
"Alright, I've made things clear. You two don't need to be nervous," Kirito said in a lazy tone.
It was as though he was tired of the constant interruptions to his otherwise laid-back life. Now, he simply wanted to relax.
With that, the farce came to an end.
Obito and Orochimaru, their nerves slowly unwinding, exchanged a look. Since Kirito hadn't killed them, it seemed best to leave. If they decided to resume their assault on Konoha later, they'd be at a greater risk if Kirito changed his mind.
Obito pulled out a mask from his pocket and placed it over his face, preparing to retreat. Once back in the Akatsuki, their intelligence network would learn everything that had transpired here. How would Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki, respond to Obito's deception, pretending to be Uchiha Madara? That was a concern for another time.
However, before Obito could take a few steps, Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his way.
Kakashi's red Sharingan stared intensely at Obito.
"Obito, you can't leave. Explain yourself," Kakashi's voice trembled with emotion.
His long-lost friend had returned, and now he had so many questions to ask, especially after learning the secrets Sarutobi Hiruzen had shared with him.
Obito frowned at Kakashi's sudden confrontation but chose not to respond. He hoped to ignore Kakashi and leave, postponing any confrontation until he had figured out how to deal with Kirito.
But Kakashi wouldn't let him off that easily. He shouted, "Explain yourself! Why did you kill Sensei Minato? Why did you kill your master's wife, Uzumaki Hisayuki?"
Kakashi's voice grew louder with each word, filled with raw anger and confusion. "You can't just leave without answering!"
Without waiting for a response, Kakashi threw a kunai directly at Obito, and it embedded itself just below his feet.
Obito paused, his eyes returning to their usual coldness. He looked at Kakashi, but his face betrayed no emotion. A faint sneer slipped from under the mask.
The sight sent a chill down Kakashi's spine. His body trembled as he demanded, "Why? Why did you release the Nine-Tails and destroy Konoha? Even if you hate me, why target the people of the village?"
Kakashi's words seemed to awaken the other Konoha ninjas. Yes, the person who was about to leave was none other than the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails attack. That night had cost Konoha dearly, with many ninjas dead and countless villagers injured. Now, the person responsible stood before them. How could they just let him walk away?
Kirito may have chosen not to intervene, but the Konoha ninjas were still determined to act. The blood of the fallen villagers stirred up a tide of anger in their hearts.
Jonin from Konoha began to gather at the center of the battlefield, ready to confront Obito and Orochimaru. The first to reach Kakashi's side was Might Guy, still in his green combat uniform, confident in his strength due to the Eight Gates of Ninjutsu.
While the others hesitated, Guy was not afraid. With his power fully unlocked, he knew he could take down both Obito and Orochimaru. However, there was no need for him to go all out—Kirito had already resolved the village's crisis. His task now was merely to hold them off until more senior ninjas arrived.
Obito and Orochimaru were severely weakened after their earlier battle with Kirito. Even if they managed to escape, their chances of success were slim.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame, who had been hiding in the shadows, watched the scene unfold.
Kisame spoke first, "It seems that even if Kirito doesn't intervene, it will be difficult for them to leave this place. Their strength is almost gone."
Itachi, with his eyes glowing red, considered the situation. "Kirito has made it clear he won't act. If we take Obito now, it won't be seen as a betrayal to him. We'll have to answer to Nagato later."
With that, they stepped out of the shadows.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the Konoha ninjas gather and felt a wave of relief wash over him. Even without Kirito's direct involvement, he now knew that Obito and Orochimaru would not be able to leave the village. But then, his thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of two figures.
Two men wearing black cloaks adorned with red clouds emerged, one of them wielding a large shark-like sword. The other had cold, red Sharingan eyes.
It was Itachi and Kisame, members of the Akatsuki.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, and he immediately recognized them. These were the two who had been allowed to leave by Kirito. They had been lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to intervene.
His thoughts shifted. Sarutobi Hiruzen looked toward the Anbu ninja who had reported on Danzo's base. The ninja, wearing a cat mask, met his gaze, realizing what the Hokage had just figured out.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face grew grim. Danzo was dead. Although he had often disagreed with Danzo, they had been close for many years. The loss weighed heavily on him.
The appearance of Itachi and Kisame made everything clearer. They had come to help Obito escape.
Kirito smiled faintly, acknowledging their presence. The two Akatsuki members nodded respectfully to him before making their way toward Obito. There, Itachi and Obito exchanged a brief, silent look before Kisame and the others flanked Obito, their presence radiating overwhelming strength.
Kisame's confident, almost arrogant attitude seemed to suggest that they had no fear of anyone here—except for Kirito.
Realizing the overwhelming odds, the Konoha ninjas stood down. The battlefield fell silent.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened as he stared at the two Akatsuki members. With the arrival of Itachi and Kisame, it became clear that Obito and Orochimaru had no reason to fear Konoha anymore.
Sarutobi Asuma, who had been eager to act, cursed at Kirito. "Kirito, you're still thinking about money? You clearly have the strength to stop them or even kill them, but you're just standing there."
Asuma's words cut through the tension, drawing everyone's gaze to Kirito.
But Kirito didn't react. He simply ignored the insult, remaining calm and composed. Was this the demeanor of a true strong man?
The Konoha ninjas, filled with conflicting emotions, began to reassess the situation. Some felt hostility, others resentment, but there were also those who admired Kirito's attitude.
Naruto, Sakura, Yuhi Kurenai, and others respected Kirito even more, especially after seeing his nonchalant response to Asuma's insult. His calmness left everyone deep in thought.
However, the underlying tension remained.
The situation was far from over. Everyone had questions—especially regarding the past actions of Obito and Orochimaru—and the true intentions of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha's high-ranking officials were now in doubt.
As Obito and the others prepared to leave, they noticed Kakashi's hateful stare fixed upon them. Anger flared in Obito's chest.
His secret had been exposed, and his plans had been ruined. With the rage boiling inside him, he turned toward Naruto and, with a sneer, shouted, "Let's reveal some secrets, shall we? Naruto, your father was Minato Namikaze!"