The kunai stabbed down without hesitation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's Shadow Clone dispersed in a puff of white smoke.
Orochimaru's slit pupils narrowed. "So it was a clone the entire time? Damn it… I got careless."
Outside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
The real Hiruzen, flanked by ANBU, walked slowly toward the battlefield, puffing calmly on his pipe.
"Well then, looks like you're the one trapped now… Orochimaru."
The Third Hokage looked at his former student, a hint of nostalgic sorrow in his gaze. "A mistake from long ago… Today, I finally get to correct it."
Orochimaru gestured for the Sound Four to temporarily lower the barrier and conserve chakra, ready to break out at any moment. He offered Hiruzen a mock-casual smile. "So this was all a trap for me, huh? Sensei… you've changed."
Of course, even in defeat, he refused to show weakness. Orochimaru was already preparing to retreat, hoping his words would distract the old man.
"I imagine you understand my decision back then now, don't you?"
He aimed straight for Sarutobi's lingering guilt. After all, Orochimaru had lost his chance at the Hokage title because of his twisted experiments on immortality and was eventually exiled. Now, Hiruzen had seemingly done something just as morally questionable. How could the old man judge him anymore?
Maybe Sarutobi's actions stemmed from age, or from the growing weaknesses in Konoha's leadership. Surely it wasn't like he just miraculously became young again for no reason.
Sarutobi had pulled off a miracle.
Sorry, Orochimaru, your teacher's got cheat codes now.
"We're not the same. You're a psychopath with no morals, while I burn with the Will of Fire," said Sarutobi, puffing on his pipe as he spoke. Meanwhile, behind his back, his fingers subtly formed a summoning seal.
He was calling his true partner: the Monkey King, Enma.
Well… come to think of it, the Sarutobi clan always having only one heir per generation kind of made sense now. Naruto was right after all monkeys were way more useful than toads.
Whatever. Orochimaru was a Tier-3 S-rank rogue ninja. Even without Enma, Sarutobi wasn't afraid.
"I've never heard of the Will of Fire making people younger," Orochimaru sneered. "You're just using the Hashirama cells I left with Danzo."
Old man hypocrisy at its finest.
As he scanned for weak points in the formation, Orochimaru readied himself to lead the Sound Four out.
"You ever heard of aliens?" Sarutobi replied casually.
Clearly, this conversation wasn't going anywhere. The student had long fallen beyond redemption.
"Hmph. Don't start begging this time with 'Sensei, can you really do it?' I've already cleaned up that rogue Danzo. You're no exception. Give up."
"You're too late to grow a spine. I've already surpassed you!" Orochimaru laughed, spotting a weak spot in the defense. He was just about to break through.
But a familiar figure leaned lazily against the wall, arms crossed.
It was the most reliable student Sarutobi had ever had. The one who truly embodied the Will of Fire.
Jiraiya, the Toad Sage.
That idiot showed up too? Perfect. Could this day get any worse?
Orochimaru smirked bitterly. He had no choice now but to go all in.
"Sensei, I brought you a little surprise today."
"Foolish student. I was just about to give you another lesson myself."
The teacher and student clashed, performing hand signs at nearly the exact same moment.
"Reanimation Release!"
Back in the Forest of Death.
The fiery clash between ninja had shifted into something much more primal a war between humans and monsters.
Human versus human became human versus beast.
The colossal, tanuki-like creature Shukaku the One-Tail roared in a frenzy, attacking everything in sight with indiscriminate rage.
Its breath of sand carved deep scars into the land. Its massive claws of sand tore through ancient trees like paper.
Now, neither Lee nor Neji, nor even the Ino-Shika-Cho trio could do much more than dodge for their lives, all while trying to shield their injured teammates from Team 8.
Even Temari and Kankuro, supposed enemies, were scrambling to avoid Shukaku's vacuum blasts and sand claws.
No amount of taijutsu strength or ancient Gentle Fist technique could stop this level of destruction.
How could humans ever defeat a monster?
Only a monster or a superhuman could fight a monster.
Grandpa Third, monkeys and toads can work together, you know…
Konoha's monsters and superhumans arrived together.
Drawn by the chaos, Kakashi's team arrived just in time to witness the carnage.
The battlefield was on the verge of losing half of its participants. Naruto moved with the fastest hand signs he'd ever made in his life.
A massive red-and-black toad the size of Shukaku dropped from the sky.
"Extend, Power Pole!"
"Chief Gamabunta, help me out!"
"I haven't accepted you as my subordinate yet!"
Gamabunta grumbled, but… the kid had called him big bro. And the situation was urgent. Even if he hadn't acknowledged this blond brat, he wasn't about to let him die.
Grumbling, Gamabunta drew his blade. His mouth filled with a massive water bullet cannon that collided with Shukaku's wind projectile.
At the same time, Naruto's enlarged Power Pole struck Shukaku square in the belly, interrupting the Tailed Beast Bomb it was charging. The massive sand tanuki roared and tumbled across the forest floor.
Getting sat on by a toad and jabbed in the gut by a staff must've hurt. In the quiet dark of the Nine-Tails' mind, even Kurama gave a silent nod of approval and channeled more chakra to Naruto.
With the reinforcements from Team Guy, Team Asuma, Team Kurenai, and even the Sand siblings joining the effort, they finally had room to breathe.
From atop Gamabunta's head, Naruto shouted down, "You're too stingy, old toad! Grandpa Enma never acts !"
"Idiot brat!" Gamabunta roared. "This is a one-time deal! Don't get cocky!"
"I don't plan to! Just hold out till Jiraiya-sensei gets here!"
Elsewhere, Sasuke and Sakura were helping evacuate the injured.
Neji carried the unconscious Lee, drained after opening the Gates, and looked back at the monster-infested battlefield.
"Today's one for the books."
With his Byakugan, he saw Naruto using the Power Pole to launch himself toward Shukaku's head, aiming for the hidden host inside.
Sakura and Kasumi watched in awe. Sakura was stunned by Naruto's progress since their training, while Kasumi was amazed that her golden-haired clanmate could be this powerful.
As for Sasuke, stuck watching from the sidelines, a surge of jealousy and frustration boiled inside him.
He wanted that kind of power.
"So it's you, Monkey… Seems like many years have passed," said the First Hokage, his face etched with cracks. He gazed at Sarutobi, now a man clad in the robes of Hokage instead of the mischievous boy in his memory.
"Looks like my jutsu caused you a lot of trouble, huh?" said the Second Hokage, glancing around and quickly grasping the situation. He gave Sarutobi a brief nod.
"It's been a long time, my teachers," said Sarutobi, putting away his pipe with a heavy sigh. "So much has happened."
The mood of this teacher-reunion scene couldn't have been more awkward for Orochimaru.
The First Hokage, a master of suppressing rampaging chakra.
The Second Hokage, god of battlefield warfare.
The Third Hokage, a master of sealing jutsu and manipulation.
Jiraiya, walking intel archive.
And a supporting cast of ANBU, Jonin, and offscreen commentary.
Orochimaru had truly reached the rank of a "half-final boss."
That fat guy from the Sound Four was yelling, "Lord Orochimaru! I'll hold them off! Let them see our true power!"
The other three were chiming in too…
Sure, their spirit was admirable, but maybe read the room first?
Kabuto, the actual smart one, had already slipped away.
"Well then… I surrender."
Orochimaru raised his hands.
One moment later, and Jiraiya's Rasengan would've wiped the smirk off his face for good.
The toad-loving idiot looked like he was in a hurry. He clearly wasn't in the mood for reminiscing.