Naruto joins the fight

Half an hour ago

As I observed the scene unfold, Orochimaru entered the fray, and an idea struck me. I quickly planted a seal on him, ensuring I could easily track his movements later. Once he crossed the threshold, I activated my invisible cloak and used the Flying Raijin technique to slip into the barrier alongside him.

Upon entering, I took stock of the battle. It was clear that the tide was heavily in favor of Hiruzen, who was currently dominating Rasa, the Kazekage. Hiruzen's experience and power were evident as he relentlessly battered Rasa, who struggled to defend against the onslaught of attacks from the Third Hokage. Rasa's sand defenses were faltering under the pressure, and it was clear that the fight was becoming increasingly one-sided.

As soon as Orochimaru entered the fight, the dynamic shifted dramatically. Hiruzen found himself struggling to keep pace with both Orochimaru and Rasa, and the balance that once favored him quickly tipped. In a one-on-one scenario, Hiruzen could have managed; however, facing two formidable opponents was proving to be a daunting challenge.

Just when it seemed like Hiruzen might regain some control, Orochimaru escalated the situation further by reanimating the other Hokages, including my father. The sight of the legendary figures rising once again was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, creating an overwhelming disadvantage for Hiruzen. With the combined strength of the former Hokages alongside Orochimaru and Rasa, the battle became increasingly one-sided, and it was clear that Hiruzen was now in a fight for his life against an army of the past.

As I stepped forward, fists clenched, I couldn't help the fury boiling up inside me. Orochimaru had crossed every line imaginable, using twisted jutsu to reanimate the dead, forcing people like my father and the Hokage to fight against their will. The sight of my father—Minato Namikaze—under that monster's control sent a surge of anger through me that I could barely contain.

Stepping forward, I couldn't hold back a smirk. The whole scene was intense, with five Kage-level shinobi surrounding the old man. It didn't feel right—Orochimaru had twisted everything. Bringing back the First, Second, and even my dad, just to use them as puppets. If he thought I'd stand by and watch, he was in for a nasty surprise.

"Oy oy!" I called out, making sure my voice carried to them. "Don't you think it's a little unfair for five Kage-level shinobi to gang up on an old man?" My tone was light, but I meant every word. Hiruzen deserved better than this.

The old man turned, his eyes widening in shock, but there was this glint of pride in his gaze, something I'd seen in him only a handful of times. "Naruto… You shouldn't be here. This is dangerous!" His tone was serious, but that smile gave him away.

"Come on, old man," I said, grinning back. "What's the point of calling me your successor if I can't back you up once in a while?"

I saw Orochimaru's expression shift, that sneer of his getting uglier as he turned his attention to me. "So, the jinchuriki decided to crash the party," he said, all venom. "No matter. You're just a minor inconvenience, Naruto. I can deal with you once Hiruzen is out of the way."

"Oh, you think so?" I shot back, eyes narrowing as I looked toward the reanimated Hokage. The First and Second Hokage… and my father. Orochimaru was using them like tools, forcing them to fight against the village they loved. It made my blood boil.

"Lord First, Lord Second, Dad… I know this isn't what you'd want." My voice softened just a bit, but I kept my stance steady. I had to be strong—for them, and for everyone watching.

Finally, I turned my gaze to Orochimaru, my resolve hardening. "I'm here to make sure your twisted ambitions end right here. You've done enough damage." I shifted into my fighting stance, my chakra flaring around me, wild and steady.

Time to show him that he messed with the wrong ninja. "Alright, Orochimaru," I said, my voice low and challenging, "let's see if you can keep up. Hokage or not, I'm not backing down."

With that, I leapt forward, heart pounding, ready to fight not only for the village, but for everyone he'd wronged. This was my home. And I'd protect it with everything I had.

I charged forward, forming a line of shadow clones to keep the Hokage occupied, each one moving with precision, flanking, attacking from every angle. The real me sprinted straight at Orochimaru, my eyes blazing with the determination I'd honed over years of training.

"Orochimaru," I said, my voice low and steady, "this ends now."

As I jumped into the fray, everything shifted. Orochimaru's smug grin faltered as he realized I was serious, and I could feel the energy of the fight turning in our favor, even if it was still one heck of a battle. Hiruzen was locked in combat with the reanimated Hokage, while my clones jumped in to support him, blocking and countering attacks from every angle.

I caught sight of the Kazekage, and a thought hit me—why not throw him off his game a bit? "Kazekage, might be easier if you just surrender now," I called out, sidestepping one of Orochimaru's strikes. "Otherwise, I'm not sure how I'll explain this to Temari."

The Kazekage's face twisted with annoyance, and his scowl deepened. "A mere child, advising an adult?" he snapped back. "And you think I'd ever let you take Temari with you?"

I just chuckled, dodging another attack. "Don't get so worked up—it's bad for your health. Anyway, let's be honest: you're running out of steam, aren't you?"

His face went red with fury, and I could tell my words were hitting their mark. It was all part of the strategy. Keeping his attention divided, rattling him just enough to weaken his focus.

I drew my katana, feeling the weight and familiarity of the blade as I moved in close to clash with Orochimaru. Our weapons met with a sharp clang, and for a moment, I couldn't help but feel the thrill of facing off against a Kage-level shinobi again. It's rare to get a challenge like this, and even though I've beaten Orochimaru before, it's… exhilarating.

As we continued exchanging strikes, I asked him in a low voice, "What's going on outside?"

He smirked, barely breaking his rhythm. "Still chaos," he replied smoothly. "But the stage will be ready soon—for you to take. Give it… half an hour."

Half an hour. The plan was falling into place, and with each clash, I felt the anticipation building. Our fight, the chaos around us, everything was aligning for the final move. The winds of change were about to sweep through Konoha.